by Darren Richardson's, "Just a thought"
Thursday, May 17 2012
Donna summer
Today summer is already over. Donna Summer was taken from us. The queen of disco the co-creator (with georgio moroder) of dance music we know today
That blitzkreig of a tune “I feel love“ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9e3H6t6j3Rk in ‘77. When I heard that for the first time on Radio Luxembourg dropped by Tony Prince (who I will hear crying when he announced Elvis died) that record changed my life. I was having to put up with chin and Chapman pap, or (grimaces) ABBA or other rubbish aimed at maximum coin and annoyance. Plus showaddywaddy made my ears bleed in pain, Racey were rubbish. And as for the Bay City Rollers………
I feel love smashed convention. Its repetitive synchronised beats, the electronic bass. The pulsating sexual rhythm. Wanting your body to move, to sway to dance. Its was more of a floor smasher than footapper.
It was systematic, syncopated and DISCOMATIC. WHAT A RECORD, and that voice? Donnas voice glided round the rhythms and smoothly wrapped yourself around your ears. That woman could sing and the unused fusion of lady and machine. WHAT A COMBINATION.
There are few records that reinvent the wheel or move me to emotion. That was one of them. Not like today’s rubbish. Some people need to get their ears well and truly SYRINGED. If you dislike that record you are a robot.
Donna brought out a lot of tunes over the years. Love to love you baby’s long version was just intercourse on vinyl with all the groans and moans and breaths. Loves unkind was simply brilliant. Hot stuff was a feel good anthem tune and state of independence was a brilliant take on Vangelis’s excellent original’
Her only let downs? MacArthur park and dinner with Gershwin.
Donna you changed my life and I love you and thank you for it. Your I feel love record cemented my love for electronic music. With Radio Caroline introducing me to WALTER CARLOS (clockwork orange composer) YES, ELP, TANGERINE DREAM, TOMITA, TUBEWAY ARMY, GARY NUMAN (my absolute hero) KRAFTWERK, JEAN MICHEL JARRE, AND ULTRAVOX I have never looked back and Radio Luxembourg introducing me to disco like you Donna and SYLVESTER (RIP) and the brilliant BEEGEES. My record collection and musical taste will always be fruitful and happy. THANK YOU!
In short dear reader with I feel love she will always be remembered by, but WHAT a tune to be remembered. RIP
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