DONNA'S "MACARTHUR PARK"

**PaulC** · July 25th, 2003, 10:55 AM

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**Outsider** · July 25th, 2003, 11:31 AM

That's one Donna Summer song I don't like.

:evil:

**BrunoRepublic** · July 25th, 2003, 11:55 AM

I love it. I think it is the ultimate disco creation.

**Spacer** · July 25th, 2003, 01:08 PM

It's the most importent crap there is! :lol:

**DiscoMan** · July 25th, 2003, 01:37 PM

Donna was the ONLY singer who ever did anything with that senseless ****!!!!!!!!

She does create a great Disco track, but the lyrics!

That song never made any sense to me at all "left my cake out in the rain ... and it took so long to bake it" give me a break!

I think that it's everything else added to those lyrics that make "MacArthur Park" bearable!

If you really wanna listen to some musical **** you should hear the late Richard Harris attempt to "sing" that song!

Talk about awfull!!!!!!!!!

**BrunoRepublic** · July 25th, 2003, 01:59 PM

Oh no! Oh no! :lol:

**markydefad** · July 25th, 2003, 02:25 PM

AMG says:

AMG REVIEW: "MacArthur Park" is one of those records that one needn't enjoy, or even like, for it to make one miss the popular culture of the late '60s. At no other point in history could an independently produced single, recorded by an actor mostly known for talking his way ( Rex Harrison-style) through the score of Camelot, reach the number two spot on the American charts and become a worldwide phenomenon. Composer/producer Jimmy Webb had already approached the Association, who rejected the song, when Richard Harris, the actor who had just starred in the blockbuster production of Camelot, agreed to sing the song. Once it was done, Harris' vocals mated to a pre-recorded orchestral track not intended for his usual singing register. The song was rejected by Columbia Records but bought by ABC-Dunhill Records. At the time, the Beatles had broken AM radio's prohibition against singles running longer than three minutes and change with "Hey Jude" but, of course, they were the Beatles — when Richard Harris' seven-minute single of "MacArthur Park" broke that same barrier successfully, that was an achievement and a milestone, eventually opening the way for the likes of Don McLean's "American Pie" and so on. As to the lyrics, Webb has been more amazed than anyone over the reams of analysis given what is, essentially, a straightforward ballad of regret over a lost love; it may have been a reflection of the period of pop music experimentation in which it was conceived, which pushed the composer to new levels of lyrical ornamentation, and which invites that kind of examination, but the song is really, simply about a lost love — "someone left the cake out in the rain" being a symbol of the transitory nature of love and romance between two people. The total-immersion production of Harris' recording only added to the power of the lyrics, though Donna Summer's number one hit disco version a decade later proved that the song had legs beyond the late '60s. — Bruce Eder

**billywho** · July 25th, 2003, 02:30 PM

Stunning. Never get tired of it.

Was getting really p*ssed off with the Donna Summer threads a few weeks back though. She's made about eight great tracks, and the rest I could do without hearing again.

But not the "MacArthur Park Suite". It's simply unbelievable, and conveniently lasts about the duration of my car journey into work.

**peppertree5706** · July 26th, 2003, 03:16 PM

Harris version: In the book "Rockin' America" by Rick Sklar, Rick gives a report on the weekly music survey meeting and the reaction of the participants to first hearing MacArthur Park. Dunhill was a subsidiary of ABC but he said that it did not influence his decision as PD of WABC.

Summer version: The lyrics are not what make the record great. They do not even make it good. She could have been singing SCAT lines and the record would have still been great. The beat, instrumentation, just a dose of disco deluxe, first class.

The music makes it and the flow from one song to another. It is missing greatness when the other parts of the suite are removed on the MacArthur Park single.

**bobbchap** · July 26th, 2003, 09:11 PM

Yes, I feel the same way. That was one of the best songs from that era. {Just one mind you, there were a lot others}
I remember going to the skating rink and after the live organ music they would start playing disco. WOW!! I can still remember that as if it was yesterday. Everyone from Chic to Village People to Donna. oooooo! I got goose bumps. It was neat because they would take about a half hour and play songs so people could take their skates off and dance on the rink. Donna's "MacArthur Park" was always a crowd pleaser, and my sister and I would dance like crazy. That is her favorite artist. She has good taste. The gay clubs went nuts when it would start and the dance floors would get packed. People may hate this song...but it does say seventies..seventies...disco...disco. :D

**QUINNY** · July 27th, 2003, 01:17 PM

Utter, utter, unbearable, pretentious, sterile CRAP!!!!!!!!!!
Didn't want to upset ya.
For similar reasons I also hate popular things like the Who's Tommy, Quadraphenia (even though I was a huge fan of the Who), most progressive rock, Jazz at the Carnegie Hall and any other music that attempts to con people by taking itself too seriously or thinks it is sooooooo important.

**FrontPage22** · July 27th, 2003, 01:57 PM

I think I agree. This is my least fave Donna Record.....I never got into "Heaven Knows" or the full "MacArthur park"

**HustleBaby** · July 27th, 2003, 03:40 PM

I love it love it love it :P :D !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Eassssssy Quinny you make it out to be "murder on your ears"!

"MP" is a fascinating song with its debatable lyrics yet Donna is the only one who was able to pull it off so well.

someone left the cake out in the rain
I don't think that I can take it
cause it took so long to bake it
and I'll never have that receipe again.

It may be nonsense however you have to admit that this is the most recognized piece of the entire song. You may not know the other verses but everyone knows that one which I feel it probaly made the song more popular. I love the beginning too!

*DELIGHTFUL*

**QUINNY** · July 27th, 2003, 05:20 PM

Hustle: It was murder on my ears. Ms. Summer or her manager/producers obviously thought that she could/should do for disco what countless bands had attempted for rock/pop. I'm sorry, but IMO, 'concept' albums had no place on a frigging dancefloor. Old Men's music trying to educate the pathetic masses with 'real' music. Do me a favour, please!!!!!

**PaulC** · July 27th, 2003, 06:09 PM

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**darrens** · July 30th, 2003, 05:23 AM

This was THE record that got me into disco music. And it wasn't because of the lyrics, in fact I didn't really notice that she was singing about cakes or icing at the time!

The music in this song is stunning, and even the other recorded versions (Richard Harris, Four Tops etc) are also great - but Donna's version is the business!

This is one song that's not been covered, remixed or sampled in any way since Donna's version (at least, no versions have got into the UK chart) so surely it must be due for a revival for today's record buying public?

**jazz_pilgrim** · July 30th, 2003, 05:43 AM

I hated it. It did nothing for me.

To me it was soulless and sterile, (no EMOTION) and went absolutely nowhere.

The sort of disco music that I hated.

Guess that's a NO! :P

**Forrrce** · July 30th, 2003, 06:06 AM

Why is 'MacArthur Park' the 'ultimate disco creation'?

**QUINNY** · July 30th, 2003, 07:23 AM

I guess that's quite a few who didn't like it and Paul C NO it never filled my dancefloor or anyone else's (in Southampton at least). I didn't know one DJ in my home town who played it extensively. Where were da funk innit?

**PaulC** · July 30th, 2003, 03:50 PM

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**QUINNY** · July 30th, 2003, 04:19 PM

Errrrrrrrr, wouldn't it have been played everywhere if it were indeed such a great Disco record? You can't have it both ways.

**Cmonnow!!** · September 28th, 2003, 01:30 PM

MacArthur Park Suite is my favourite song of all time! (Yes eventhough it's 3 songs plus the reprise!) Lyrics don't have to be about anything profound and meaningful do they? In my opinion this is Donna's best vocal performance and is produced brilliantly by Giorgio. I absolutely love this song to death!!!! And I don't think there'll be another one like it. Out of interest, what is your fave song of all time, be it disco or not and why?

**peppertree5706** · September 28th, 2003, 05:40 PM

I agree. Especially in disco, a song can have meaningless lyrics, even gibberish and be a dynamite song based on the music.

I have known many songs in varied kinds of music which had nothing to say, but were great because they rocked me to the core.

This lyrics test would make any instrumental a bad song. No. Some of my favorites are instrumentals.

**Com King** · September 29th, 2003, 03:59 PM

It's my second Donna fave after "I feel Love".

I find this track wonderful from beginning to the end. Unfortunately it's an underrated track here in France, and I've never heard it on a dancefloor.

To highlight what was said before, I do not personally have a good level of english and I didn't know the lyrics until now, so i guess lyrics are not important in this song outside of english speaking countries.

What is the PRO and AGAINST current score BTW?

**peppertree5706** · September 29th, 2003, 04:14 PM

I Feel Love is my favorite Donna Summer song and one of my all time favorite disco songs.

Those lyrics in McArthur Park would be a challenge to someone who only speaks a little English.