As you probably know, multi-talented singer Donna Summer passed away on May 17th at the age of 63. In recent years, we have lost Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston. Their deaths were tragic - but not shocking. But the death of Donna Summer has both shocked and surprised me. It was only a few years ago I saw Summer in concert at Casino Rama. She had put on some weight, but she looked healthy, and her voice sounded better than ever.
Summer fought her battle with lung cancer in private, and that is quite a feat in this tabloid, TMZ-obsessed society. The announcement of her death had many on Facebook and Twitter messaging tributes such as, "Thank you for being the last voice we heard at so many dances". Or, "You were the voice of a generation." Yet, despite her success, Donna Summer remained an extremely underrated artist.
Most knew Donna Summer as "The Queen of Disco". Indeed, it was a double-edged sword for her. While she peaked during the disco era, Summer was much more than just a disco singer. This was a woman who could sing anything - and I mean anything. She sang country, dance, electronica ("I Feel Love", anyone?) gospel, jazz, opera, pop, psychedelic rock, R&B, you name it. She was also an accomplished songwriter. She co-wrote Dolly Parton's number-one country hit "Starting Over Again" with her husband, Bruce Sudano. She also wrote the lovely but underrated "Sometimes Like Butterflies", which was eventually recorded by Dusty Springfield in the mid-'80s. Summer was also an accomplished and successful painter.
I didn't get the chance to grow up in the disco era, so my introduction to Donna Summer was through her post-disco, '80s hits "She Works Hard for the Money" and "This Time I Know It's For Real". While she did have some hits following her disco heyday, Summer struggled to find the same level of success throughout the '80s and '90s. By this time, she had become a Born Again Christian, and an ugly - but unsubstantiated - rumour haunted Summer for the rest of her career. There were allegations that Summer had made remarks following a 1983 concert that AIDS was God's way of punishing gay men for an immoral lifestyle. Summer would deny the rumour for the rest of her career, but it never seemed to go away despite her denials.
Following her death, I was surprised - but also pleased - to learn that many record stores and online retailers were selling out of Donna Summer CDs. No doubt, music lovers wanted to remember late nights dancing to Summer's endless string of disco classics such as "Spring Affair", "Heaven Knows", "Hot Stuff" and, of course, "Last Dance". It's a shame it has taken her death to bring a re-evaluation and a new appreciation of Donna Summer's music. Perhaps now some of Summer's lesser known material will receive more attention.
One of my favourite Donna Summer albums is one of her least known, and perhaps an odd choice. It's her 1994 Christmas album, "Christmas Spirit". It was released in conjunction with her 1994 best-of collection, "Endless Summer". It's one of her best albums - superb orchestrations, some new songs mixed with classic Christmas songs (including a powerful version of Amy Grant's "Breath of Heaven"). And then, of course, there is the singing. Summer's gospel vocals soar throughout the album. If you like Christmas music and do not own this album, give "Christmas Spirit" a chance this Christmas.
I know I'll be playing it this Christmas. Not just because it's a fine Christmas album, but to remember one of music's finest voices.
Summer's music lives on, remaining the soundtrack to our Saturday nights.
R.I.P. Donna Summer.
