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Donna Summer Works Hard For The Money--and For The Comps Too

By Michael Musto, Monday, Jun. 9 2008 @ 12:00PM
Comments (29)

Last week, '70s legend Donna Summer gave a mini concert at Mansion to promote her new CD, Crayons, serving up a nice mix of oldies and newies, all in such great voice we momentarily forgot she's a granny who's no longer the sylphlike queen of Studio 54. Her set consisted of:

"MacArthur Park." As insane a song as ever, but she totally rocked out on it.

"I'm a Fire." A number from the new CD. Not a classic. Not a fire. But by now Donna was already crying at the audience response to her sheer survival. She said Crayons has launched her on a whole new career: "I didn't know I'd have to work so hard, but I'm glad I do!"

"Bad Girls"/"Hot Stuff." Two sick disco treasures. She belted and vamped the shit out of these.

Another song from the new CD. Not a classic.

A few bars of "Smile," her favorite slow song. Lovely and unexpected, though Diana Ross really nails that one for me.

And finally, "The Last Dance," the rare song that goes slow, fast, slow, and then fast again. Donna made it sound like it won't be her last dance. I'll have more in the column.

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More About:

  • MacArthur Park

Comments (29)

bethesda says:

Didn't she say AIDS Kills Fags Dead?

Posted On: Monday, Jun. 9 2008 @ 12:15PM
musto says:

No, many, many years ago, she supposedly said "God made Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve," but she denied saying it and sued a magazine that said she did and won. So where does that leave us?

Posted On: Monday, Jun. 9 2008 @ 12:23PM
gloria gain-more says:

She's still a talent but still musically lost.

Posted On: Monday, Jun. 9 2008 @ 12:32PM
Gwen Verdon, Mitzi Gaynor, and Norma Desmond says:

- WOAH -

Now that is a W-I-G if we've ever seen a WIG.

XxX White Ladies who have cold chocolate ice cream at Serendipity 3.

Posted On: Monday, Jun. 9 2008 @ 1:54PM
Girl Ditzi says:

Remember the good old days, when artists used to shit out a gem every week? What the hell happened? I know it's not my impending advanced age talking. Music is not the same. In fact, dare I say it's d-d-d-d-dead? Thanks, Britney Spears et. al! I hope your riches haunt you bitches!

Posted On: Monday, Jun. 9 2008 @ 2:03PM
Girl Ditzi says:

As far as Miss Summer's goes- I was taking a walk along the lake here in Chicago (please don't barf- I used the "C" word!!). I thought about MacArthur Park, started to whistle it, and just felt incredible. It is but one of many of Donna Summer's songs that stand the time test. She may not produce gold now( who does?!), but she once did, and often. I love that hoochie!

Posted On: Monday, Jun. 9 2008 @ 2:10PM
Girl Ditzi says:

I don't like to be presumptuous, but I always barf when I use the "C" word!

Posted On: Monday, Jun. 9 2008 @ 2:33PM
The Late Tallulah Bankhead says:

Donna's an icon, no doubt about it.

Posted On: Monday, Jun. 9 2008 @ 3:01PM
e.j. tweaker says:

"Thanks, Britney Spears et. al! I hope your riches haunt you bitches!"

Where have you been, karma has already visited Brit-Brit, she's an unhappy, non-creative MESS! (Not that she ever was creative!)

I wish Donna had done "MacArthur Park Suite" with "Heaven Knows", etc. But glad she's out there, sounding good. You don't sound too positive on her new stuff???


Posted On: Monday, Jun. 9 2008 @ 4:32PM
Girl Ditzi says:

The last thing I of Donna that moistened my lady parts was L FEEL LOVE remix by Rollo & Sister Bliss. Ages ago! I was 7 years old then!

Posted On: Monday, Jun. 9 2008 @ 5:00PM
Richard T. Chu says:

Her new album Crayons rocks! And the singles are potential radio/club hits. "I'm A Fire" had already gone to no. 1 on the Billboard Dance Club charts and "Stamp Your Feet" will hit the top spot in a week or two. I read that she sang "Science of Love" at the concert. Wish I was there to hear it! That's one of my favorites in the album, along with the title track, "Fame (The Game)," and "Sand on My Feet." Thanks Donna, for not rehashing oldies songs or merely sticking to one genre of music. I wish other artists would be more adventurous like you have, musically. But I guess very few could equal your versatility as an artist, or your terrific voice as Musto points out.

Posted On: Tuesday, Jun. 10 2008 @ 11:51AM
e.j. tweaker says:

Don't like her pics, they're too photoshopped, like the one above, the blue contacts, yuk! Present yourself more honestly Donna.

Posted On: Tuesday, Jun. 10 2008 @ 12:06PM
Greg Howell says:

Some of these post goes to show you how rumors get started. People are still saying things she said that weren't even rumored. Listen to the recent Sirus Out interview she did. She is far from homophobic. The opposite. Recently, in a German magazine, when asked - again- about the rumor, she responded, What happened, was not by me. As an artist you have no control over what is written about you, and then read by perhaps one million people, and some people will believe that it is true. You can not go to each one and take it back. I must continue my life and I remain faithful. But my career started in gay clubs. I love my people, and this is the truth. And for many years I have done benefits for AIDS, because this is my contribution to the people who have made me great."

Guys, lay off her and stop spewing hatred toward something you heard that you heard that you heard you heard. PLEASE!

Posted On: Tuesday, Jun. 10 2008 @ 3:11PM
Russ says:

Actually Donna never said anything about AIDS and God. That was the Phelps Clan. I believe she refers to the gays as her peeps—at least that's what she said in a recent radio interview.

Oh, and by the way, Donna's new CD Crayons is killer.

Posted On: Tuesday, Jun. 10 2008 @ 5:41PM
frank says:

Some of these comments are just nasty! Can we say bitter queens!

I bought the new Donna Summer CD, Crayons, and it is one most fabulous albums she has ever put!! Give it a few listens and tell me you don't agree. Stamp Your Feet remixes are awesome as well.

Posted On: Tuesday, Jun. 10 2008 @ 5:50PM
Toby says:

Donna you rock!!!!!!!!!!! Always have & always will. Wigs & all. Photoshopped or not. Rumour true or not true you are the queen of queens & you will reign forever so all you bitches out there watch yaw a$$es cause THE QUEEN IS BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted On: Tuesday, Jun. 10 2008 @ 7:00PM
Punanny says:

DONNA SUMMER is THE QUEEN! Err.. Make that EMPRESS! End of story. It's called show business, fool. Present yourself any way you want Donna and I shall humbly bow to you! Haters to the rear please! Keith Olberman and I thank you, Musto.

Posted On: Tuesday, Jun. 10 2008 @ 8:18PM
chris says:

i love donna summer!!! i think her song the queen is back is a gift to all her gay fans!!!

Posted On: Tuesday, Jun. 10 2008 @ 8:35PM
Cha Cha Walters says:

I think what she had said that freaked everyone out was that AIDS may have been a punishment from God for the gays going against his will.

I noticed something the other day that goes back to what Girl Ditzi said about the lack of good music -- there have been more CDs released in the past year by Divas and Divettes than I can ever remember and we have pretty much nothing good to show for them.

Just of what I can think of in the last 12 months:
Madonna, Mariah, Kylie, Donna, Mary J., Cyndi, Celine, Janet, Alanis, Britney, Kelly Clarkson, Robyn, Ashlee Simpson, Mandy Moore, Goldfrapp, Alicia Keyes, Ashanti, Dannii Minogue and Natasha Bedingfield...I know there are more, so forgive me for omissions.

Apparently we are in the post-hit era of music. I am sad now.

Posted On: Tuesday, Jun. 10 2008 @ 8:56PM
musto says:

I'm a moron. I remembered the "Adam and Steve" flap, but not the alleged AIDS remarks. The woman is clearly either a big dummo or deeply misunderstood!

Posted On: Tuesday, Jun. 10 2008 @ 9:05PM
musto says:

PS: I think she explained away the AIDS remarks by saying she hadn't realized how major AIDS was--she thought it was something on the level of herpes or something. And ven scarier, I think she was being sincere!

Posted On: Tuesday, Jun. 10 2008 @ 9:07PM
sphynx64 says:

so happy for donna return !!! a wonderful voice and still a diva.

Posted On: Wednesday, Jun. 11 2008 @ 2:31AM
sphynx64 says:

so happy for donna return !!! a wonderful voice and still a diva.

Posted On: Wednesday, Jun. 11 2008 @ 2:31AM
JASON says:

THERE ARE STILL MANY PEOPLE WHO THINK OF AIDS AS GETTING THE FLUE.

HAVE TO ADMIT DONNA IS NOT TOO BRIGHT (HELLO BRITNEY, PAULA, WHITNEY, ETC ETC, LOL) AND SOMETIMES HAS A WEIRD BITCHY SENSE OF HUMOUR, BUT SHE'S DEFINTELY NO HOMOPHOBIC.
I KNOW THAT SHE HAS SOME CLOSE GAY FRIENDS AND IS RESPECTED BY GAY ARTISTS LIKE ELTON JOHN, GEIRGE MICHAEL, RUE PAUL AND BARRY MANILOW (OOPS!)

THE CD IS BRILLIANT, ALTHOUGH I HAVE A FEELING THIS WILL BE A BIGGER HIT IN EUROPE THAN IN THE US. CHEERS!

Posted On: Wednesday, Jun. 11 2008 @ 4:31AM
reggie says:

Donna is a legend and I amso proud she is a survivor. In spite of all the garbage that has been thrown at her she remains true to herself and loyal to her fans both gay and straight. She is a treasure I am so happy to that she has new music out that is contemporary and fresh. Crayons is a marvel and not to be missed. God Bless Donna Summer!!!!

Posted On: Wednesday, Jun. 11 2008 @ 8:36AM
Toby says:

Donna, You always marched to a different drum! You are the best & a force to be reckoned with! Crayons is your best work ever so if the few out there who don't like it, F@ck 'em if they can't take a joke!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted On: Thursday, Jun. 12 2008 @ 6:38PM
B. Brown says:

If Donna Summer never utters another syllable, every gay man, women and shemale that has patted their left toe to a techo song, or who, perhaps, grooved to Madonna's "Caught Up", has Miss "I Feel Love" to thank. And any DJ or artists who's ever played, mixed, or breathed on a 12" single should be praying at the alter of She of 16-minute Orgasm--that's right baby, Miss "Love to Love You Baby" herself, Donna Summer! Donna is the light that shines on that Great Disco Ball in the Sky--to which I say shine on Sweet Sista, shine on!

Posted On: Thursday, Jun. 12 2008 @ 6:52PM
Dave says:

She may or may not have made comments against gay people in the past. At the time she was reported to make those comments, she was in the throes of her born again Christianity which she credits from saving her from deep depression and suicidal tendencies. She has since made clear she is not against gay behavior, and I don't think she said it just to revive her career. She has also been active with aids benefits.

Time to let the controversy die. Donna Summer is an under appreciated artist. She again makes great music with "Crayons" and I'll I can say is "welcome back"

Posted On: Friday, Jun. 13 2008 @ 9:53PM
Mick says:

I had the privilege of seeing her at Jones Beach in Long Island on July 19, when a friend invited me to go in place of someone who had backed out. She was phenomenal!! The crowd was going wild even before getting into the amphitheater. Car after car in the parking lot had its radio blaring with some album throughout the last three decades. And then emerged Donna, donning sparkling purple looking and sounding magnificent! The new CD more than rocks! With each song bringing a different genre and emoting a different theme, the CD greatly lives up to its name "Crayons." You can tell there is something more deeply intimate and inspirational than ever influencing this particular album. Thank you Donna!

Posted On: Sunday, Aug. 3 2008 @ 11:34PM

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