Words really can't express the sorrow and shock I felt today when I heard that Donna Summer had passed away from cancer at age 63.
It's a cliche expression, but I literally grew up with her music. I was a sixth-grader living in Atlanta, GA when Donna was first at the top of the charts, and I recall hanging the front cover of Newsweek magazine on my wall. It featured Donna's rightful title, "The Queen of Disco."
Many were the hours I spent dancing with my sisters in our parents' basement, nearly blowing out my dad's speakers with the thumping bass of "I Feel Love," a song I probably listen to at least once a week to this day.
Both my my sisters sent me texts this afternoon expressing their sadness; I think we all feel like we'd lost a part of our childhood, part of our family. Donna's soaring rich voice had few equals, and it's sad to think it has been stilled far too soon.
In the past few years, my sisters and I were lucky enought to see Donna perform twice. Both concerts were phenomenal. She may have lost the bad-girl figure she once had, but that glorious voice could still tear off the roof.
She will be dearly missed.
After hearing the sad news there were lots of posts on Facebook. I listened to her version of Con te Partiro. Wow, hadn't heard her version before but it took the top off my head!
Posted by: Nigel Pottle | May 17, 2012 at 05:47 PM