She's a Rainbow: A Tribute to Donna Summer

This is a fantastic tribute to Donna Summer, a remarkable 40 year career indeed. Looking back at all those album covers, (especially those of the 70s) brought back wonderful memories, where many little black girls like myself dreamed of sounding (and looking) like her. This article is a great resource for anyone who wants to delve more deeply into the discography of one of the industry’s most talented, beautiful and musically diverse artists.

Comment by Debbie Zinsky from Boston — May 19, 2008 @ 7:18 am

A very informative, moving and deserving tribute to Donna Summer that only Christian Wikane could do justice. He is one of PopMatters’ most talented writers.

Comment by MKY from NY — May 19, 2008 @ 8:03 am

Thank you very much Popmatters, for posting this fantastic essay. It does true justice to the diverse and extraordinary musical talents of Ms. Donna Summer, an artist who has been consistently underrated and under-appreciated by many music critics. By putting her new album Crayons in the context of Ms. Summer’s amazing career and previous outputs, Mr. Wikane, with the help of the people he interviewed, has given us a superb tribute to the true “queen” of music: Donna Summer. I hope that old and new fans alike will appreciate the gem that this album is.

Comment by Richard T. Chu — May 19, 2008 @ 10:47 am

Thanks so much for a very informative and well deserved tribute to Donna Summer.  Well done!

Comment by Jeff T from Washington, DC — May 19, 2008 @ 11:09 am

Wow.  Thank you so much for this very thorough read on Donna Summer.  It really highlights how versatile she has been and still is.  It’s one of the best things I love about her.  Give us more!!  Love it!

Comment by Frank Bruno from Chicago, IL — May 19, 2008 @ 11:19 am

Stay tuned tomorrow for an interview with Donna Summer.

Comment by SysAdmin — May 19, 2008 @ 11:23 am

A really superb synopsis of Donna Summer’s recorded work, with insightful highlights about each album. I’m looking forward to reading the interview tomorrow and downloading the new cd to my iPod. I wish her continued success. She is a true living Legend and hasn’t always gotten the respect she deserves. It irks me to hear people still refer to her as just a disco queen. Those of us who have followed her career past those years know that there is no limit to her diverse talent. To hear Donna sing “Con te Partiro and hold that incredibly high note at the end of the song still gives me chills to this day.  I think she should shock the world and record an album of classic arias next!

Comment by Ledra D. from Baltimore — May 19, 2008 @ 12:08 pm

PopMatters, Kudos to you for such a great read. Who knew all of that. Donna Summer is pretty cool. This goes on my iPod for sure.

Comment by kufio from USA — May 19, 2008 @ 2:15 pm

What a great tribute to Donna! Thank you Christian John and Popmatters! Donna means so much to me that it sometimes is just minddazzling!
What a voice, what a songwriter, what a performer! No other artist touches me more than she does. Keep up with the positive reports on Donna - the world needs to know!

Comment by Jeff M. from The Netherlands — May 19, 2008 @ 2:17 pm

What a great tribute!  She is so underrated and so very often overlooked as an artist, especially on radio that is over populated with younger artists. KUDOS, to POPMATTERS for giving us such an in-depth and informative review and tribute to this great innovative artist and role model.

Comment by Patrick from Los Angeles, CA — May 19, 2008 @ 4:45 pm

Thanks so much for the article. Like the other people who leave comments, I am a big fan of this lady and feel very happy when she gets a quote or recognition because she is one of the most under appreciated singers.

To allow us fans to keep reading and finding out what an incredible artist Donna Summer is, means a lot.

Thanks again!!!

Comment by Alejandro from NYC — May 19, 2008 @ 6:54 pm

Great job (as always) Christian!  You know your stuff when it comes to Donna.

Comment by OrdinaryDIva from Long Island, NY — May 19, 2008 @ 7:21 pm

What a fantastic tribute to the diva of all divas, you have done Donna a well deserved justice, and love all the great quotes from the artists. It’s nice to see someone in the media that recognizes Donna for what she truly is, an icredible talent with no musical limits. So, let’s get the songs from Crayons “on the radio” and let’s blow all those tacky one noted divas off the airwaves… go Donna....love it!!!

Thanks Christian!!!!

Comment by Anthony from Toronto — May 19, 2008 @ 8:42 pm

Some of the critique I’ve read so far (yes I mean you NY Times & Miami Herald) has been so lazy and predictable - as is they skipped through the album in five minutes and wrote what they were planning to before they even heard it. Thank you for a terrific, intelligent, informed, and warm-hearted review.

Comment by Michael G from New York — May 19, 2008 @ 9:03 pm

Christian you are amazing! Thank you for this and future articles about Donna! This workmanship needs a web award! BRAVO!

Comment by Phil from New Jersey — May 19, 2008 @ 9:21 pm

Finally, a comprehensive, well-written article on Summer’s career that nails it!  Her musical landscape is a kaleidoscope of styles and brilliance, and it is great to read an article that acknowledges her accomplishments beyond Disco and Dance. I was 11 years old when my best friend shoved a radio speaker to my ear, and nearly out of breath, said listen, this is it, the one I told you about.  Of course, it was Love to Love You Baby, and she has never stopped surprising me, even shocking me. 
As for her new album, SCIENCE OF LOVE is the best song of her entire career, and IT’S ONLY LOVE isn’t far behind.  Also, check out the amazing, over the top SLIDE OVER BACKWARDS.  Brilliant collection of colors.....  Thanks Donna, and Pop Matters.

Comment by Greg Howell aka SunnyShowers from Hudson, New York — May 19, 2008 @ 11:04 pm

What a brilliant and fun trip through time with Donna’s great albums and songs from the past (and now present as “Crayons” is available online and in stores today!).  I loved that every album is highlighted and discussed in fair detail, along with fan and collaborator comments.  Well done.  I especially loved pointing out Donna’s many “side” songs (or one offs) that were done in between those 17 years.  There is such a great handful of soaring ballads, fun pop tracks and hot club songs worth looking into.  And her “Christmas Spirit” is a perfect holiday album certain to please most with some of her best vocal performances ever (and that is saying something!) and excellent production. 

While I love “All Systems Go” as a synth pop album, “Another Place and Time” as a capturing of the SAW sound with extremely strong vocals and some stronger songwriting as well as “Mistaken Identity” for it’s mix of new jack urban pop with more adult jazz and ballads, those seemed to be the albums where she followed trends.  But I think after that, she had the chance to grow as an vocalist and writer, even if it was one song at a time.  Donna Summer more than most pop artists has aged gracefully along with dance music.  She always brings quality.  Strong vocals, lyrics, hooks...never trash or some awful attempt to relive traditional “disco”.  Dance music never died but you can’t relive “disco” as it was.  And Donna is not just disco.  She is rock, dance pop, R&B;, jazz, funk, techno, traditional ballads and even more....She is music and an album like “Crayons” should be a great opportunity to show that.  I got off on a rant, but it’s a special event in music for sure, and these days, those seems to be rare!

Comment by Vincent from Ann Arbor — May 20, 2008 @ 1:01 am

Thank you so much for this brilliantly written tribute to my all time favorite performer. I am so excited for later today when I can have the new album in my hands! You wrote a very informed piece, I sincerely appreciate it.

Comment by Matt from Holliston, MA — May 20, 2008 @ 2:15 am

I have been reading your tribute to Donna Summer with great interrest. It’s one of the best written ever about the best singer ever, thank you for that! Donna is my favourite singer, ever since as a young boy, I first heard her single “The Hostage” way back in 1974. I can’t wait to have Donna’s new album in my hands and the disc in the player, all summer long.

Comment by Kurt Hartman from The Netherlands — May 20, 2008 @ 3:17 am

Brilliant article on a wonderful person who brings excitement and creativity to this music business.

Comment by Veronica S. — May 20, 2008 @ 8:44 am

FANTASTIC PIECE. To see someone pour through Summer’s excellent catalog is beautiful, she has so much range. I own all of these albums except four, which I am trying to rectify, I’ve also seen Summer live.

She is the embodiment of pop in its most pure artistic form. Great piece! Brava!-QH

Comment by QH from Cincinnati, Ohio — May 20, 2008 @ 12:19 pm

¡Congratulations Christian! This is an excellent and complete article about The Queen; make us remember all decades which Donna has made us enjoy the best female vocalist in whole world. Very appropriate for the new CD release of the Diva. Many thanks for share us it.

Comment by Jorge from México — May 20, 2008 @ 2:31 pm

A very insightful look at all of Donna Summer’s albums.  I really enjoyed reading this article.  A fitting tribute to an amazing performer whose talent defies description.

Comment by Rolando from Miami — May 20, 2008 @ 8:24 pm

I JUST FINISH READING ALL THESE COMMENTS FROM ALL THESE ARTISTS ANS ITS AMAZING WHAT THEY THINK ABOUT DONNA SUMMER,IS LIKE LISTENING TO MY OWN THOUGHTS.I HAVE BEEN ONE OF HER BIGGEST FUN SINCE 1975 WHEN I WAS IN JR HIGH,I MADE ONE MY DREAMS COME TRUE WHEN I ATTENDED ONE OF HER SOLD OUT CONCERTS IN MEXICO CITY IN I994 AND I WAS IN HEAVEN AGAIN A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WHEN SHE CAME FOR FIRST TIME TO DODGE ARENA IN HIDALGO.TEXAS.HER VOICE LIVE IS UNBELIEVLE,I DONT THINK THERES ANOTHER ONE LIKE HER,SHES THE QUEEN OF QUEENS.

Comment by jorge hernandez from mexico — May 20, 2008 @ 9:22 pm

great job. this synopsis was amazing.

Comment by c. harold — May 26, 2008 @ 5:11 pm

The year was late 1975ish early 1976 when I first heard of DONNA SUMMER, & since then...WOW!

Friends and family would always ask me..."What is it about this singer you like? Are you in love w/her or whats your “Fascination” with her?” I would simply respond; “First of all...It’s “Donna Summer & NOT Donna SUMMERS and most definitely NOT DIANA Summer either! (I would get peeved about her name being pronounced and stated correctly! Anyhow, I would respond and tell them “Just listen to her voice. It’s gorgeous and beautiful! I have never heard a voice like hers, and it has literally touched me deep inside my heart and soul!” I have taken friends and family to concert shows here in Los Angeles, and in Las Vegas, and they have become Donna Summer fans and NOT they understand my fascination with Donna.

What a wonderful and informative & indepth piece to read! Christian, you certainly have captured a lot about my/our beloved Donna Summer! Thank you posting and sharing this for all of her vintage and new fans to be able to read about thee “Empress” DONNA SUMMER!

Comment by Sergio G Silva from Los Angeles, CA — June 21, 2008 @ 5:43 pm