How Donna Summer conquered America

Marcio** · July 11th, 2004, 05:51 PM

From an interview on the Web :D

Tom Horan - Your first hit 'Love To Love You Baby' in 1976, had a very European sound, not to mention you faking orgasm for 23 seconds. Was it hard to sell to America?

Donna Summer - It started in Holland and went to France and the Benelux countries and kept spiralling. Then the BBC banned it and it took of.

America didn't know what to do with the sound we had. It wasn't R & B, it wasn't a pop sound, and radio wouldn't play it. So we went througt the discos, where people loved it.

Then one radio DJ in New York started to play the long version at midnight every night. He was happy because he would get a 17-minute break, but his ratings started going up, and it snowballed.

:D

**DiscoMan** · July 11th, 2004, 07:34 PM

And guys like me fell in love with her.

**Mario** · July 11th, 2004, 08:45 PM

I used to "love" Donna when she made her "splash" onto the scene! Her sound was definitely "different" at that point and time. I remember my parents "haaated" for me to play "Love To Love You, Baby" because of all of the "moaning!" :lol: But then, again, they used to complain when I'd turn up my Magnavox stereo full blast listening to Aerosmith's "Toys In The Attic." 8)

Personally, I stopped listening to Donna right after one of my very favorite songs, "Heaven Knows." From then onward, I didn't care for her records anymore. I couldn't get into the "Hot Stuff/Bad Girls" style that seemed to take her into new musical directions at that time. And her recordings into the 80's 90's were not really my "cup of tea." :-?

My fond memories of Donna will be from that era of the "Love Trilogy" album and the "I Remember Yesterday" as well as the "Once Upon A Time" era...I still get soooo excited listening to the opening notes on "Try Me, I Know, We Can Make It"...I could just pee in my pants!!! :lol: :lol: Take Care, All 8) Mario

**QUINNY** · July 12th, 2004, 04:39 AM

Hmmm. don't know that her 'sound' was that different. I Feel Love was probably the most radical sounding record she made in the disco period. Now that DID have a different sound to anything else. Though I'm glad it didn't spawn a whole raft of clones.

**BobbyNunn** · July 12th, 2004, 07:06 AM

i don' t really like donna summer... lol i don't know why exept her song "she works hard for the money" and especialy the version from the Grammy awards 1984 !

**buckaroo** · July 12th, 2004, 10:12 AM

Although she was great in the '70s, things went downhill a touch for her from the mid 1980s. And her stint with SAW isn't even worth a mention.

**SandraDee** · July 12th, 2004, 02:40 PM

Originally Written by buckaroo

And her stint with SAW isn't even worth a mention.

But u just mentioned it. :-?

**Videoskooter** · July 12th, 2004, 03:06 PM

I saw Donna live in a discotheque here in my hometown when she just had her fiirst succes with "The hostage" and I like her since that moment. I even spoke to her :D (I was 13 at that time and invited by my niece)

I always liked her voice and the records she made but I also prefer her vintage discostuff and I'm not so found of her later songs. But I do like "State of independence" a lot.

And SAW and Donna? Sorry, I never liked one song of SAW :evil:

Oh yes-almost forgot it-I got a big kiss from miss Donna-still can feel that one :D :D :D

**Nano** · July 13th, 2004, 12:37 AM

What is SAW? :o

Saturday Average Weenie? :P

VideoSkooter: you're a lucky guy.

**BrunoRepublic** · July 13th, 2004, 10:19 AM

Originally Written by Nano

What is SAW? :o

Stock/Aitken/Waterman, who basically owned the UK charts for most of the 80s. Donna's "Another Time Another Place" album was produced by them.

**BrunoRepublic** · July 13th, 2004, 10:22 AM

Originally Written by QUINNY

I Feel Love was probably the most radical sounding record she made in the disco period. Now that DID have a different sound to anything else. Though I'm glad it didn't spawn a whole raft of clones.

(suffocates under the sarcasm)

**discodevil** · July 16th, 2004, 05:33 AM

I really like Donna Summers recording history!

But does anyone know, was there a time when she dished out on gays and aids by saying something like "they brought aids on themselves by their lifestye!" "around the time she was born again"

Is this just urban myth?

**Art Figueroa** · July 16th, 2004, 05:40 AM

Originally Written by discodevil

I really like Donna Summers recording history!

But does anyone know, was there a time when she dished out on gays and aids by saying something like "they brought aids on themselves by their lifestye!" "around the time she was born again"

Is this just urban myth?

There are plenty of threads discussing this event. Do a search and you will find them. Please, please, let's not have this discussion again! :-?

Art

**Mario** · July 16th, 2004, 01:08 PM

Hello Art,

With all due respect, as this is an "open/public forum," I must respond to your post. I enjoy visiting this website and others, but I always "get my shorts into a knot" :cry: when I see somone attempt to "sensor" someones posts (which hopefully I am not doing this at present writing.) As a newcomer to this or any other message board, I personally would feel very unwelcome if someone attempted to stop me from posting any of my questions and/or thoughts. This is a really fun website and I enjoy reading what "everyone" has to say...That's when I use my "click" button and move on... I may not be in agreement at times, but I would never attempt someone from sharing their views. Art, I mean you no ill will... :) Again, just a personal observation on my part. Take Care... Mario

P.S. As a Puerto Rican living in Texas... :lol: your location makes me yearn for a vacation to "La Isla Del Encanto!"

**Art Figueroa** · July 16th, 2004, 07:00 PM

I was not attempting to censor discodevil.
:oops: :oops:

Doing a search on a subject can however give him a more complete picture of the type of discussions there have been on this board on this subject.

Art

**discodevil** · July 16th, 2004, 07:18 PM

Thanks Mario! thats exactly how I feel, no offense Art Figueroa! but as a fairly new member I ask questions to old and new members on forums subjects that have been covered from time to time will come up again.

Although its great to look up post to a subject from the past, it is also great to hear of any new insights to a post from new members and older members.

I know where your comming from Art as an established member you often see the same old questions posted, and must think " not again" :roll:

Cheers Guys! I love to love discomusic.com

**NickNack** · July 17th, 2004, 12:17 PM

All of us here recognize the fact that questions will be repeated. And, in many instances we sometimes go ahead and repeat where we've been time and again. Example: "WHAT IS DISCO?" We've done it and done it, mostly at the request of a new member joining in.

I don't feel Art was trying to censor a post but to assist the new poster in looking over the board. This one subject on Donna has been hashed, thrashed and rehashed here to where it is a non-issue. And if I recall, the last discussion was less than 3 months ago. If the thread had begun again, I would have asked that it be stopped and that the requestor research the board. Not only because it's a "been there, done that" deal, but because this question would totally disrupt the thread already in place, which I've come to learn is inappropriate board etiquette.

discodevil: If you can't find the threads on Donna's alleged insult to gays please ask me privately and I will try and put the links up in a different post. I only wish I had seen your request earlier and gotten back to you before all this had taken place.

NickNack
Moderator

**BobbyNunn** · July 17th, 2004, 02:32 PM

Originally Written by Videoskooter

I saw Donna live in a discotheque here in my hometown when she just had her fiirst succes with "The hostage" and I like her since that moment. I even spoke to her :D (I was 13 at that time and invited by my niece)

I always liked her voice and the records she made but I also prefer her vintage discostuff and I'm not so found of her later songs. But I do like "State of independence" a lot.

And SAW and Donna? Sorry, I never liked one song of SAW :evil:

Oh yes-almost forgot it-I got a big kiss from miss Donna-still can feel that one :D :D :D

I have a video documentary from 1983 called " I love you quncy" and aired in Belgium about quincy jones and you can see the making of "state of independance" with Michael jackson in the back vocal

**discodevil** · July 18th, 2004, 03:09 AM

Thats cool if its just an alleged insult to gays, I don't need to know anything.

Ill just put it down to urban gay myth!

Cheers!

**NickNack** · July 18th, 2004, 02:41 PM

I used the word "alleged" because even in our own discussions we reached no firm decision whether she did, she didn't, or her words, if any, were taken out of context.

I leave it up to you. :)