Donna Summer Releases New Album
Why the Queen of Disco Belongs in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Jun 14, 2008
“Queen of Disco” Donna Summer released her new studio album Crayons in mid-June after introducing latest single "Stamp Your Feet" on the American Idol finale. It has generated fairly positive reviews and a surprising debut within the Top 20 of the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart she proves that at nearly 60 years old, she still retains some artistic life. Yet her past accomplishments are more than enough to warrant an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Hopefully, the nominating committee will not overlook her again when it begins the 2009 induction process this fall.
Madonna Was Inducted before Donna
Earlier this year it was reported ad nauseum that Madonna gained induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. That honor was not off base but to be honest, she deserves it more for being a boundary-pushing pop culture icon than a groundbreaking musician. Objectively speaking, Madonna is not an amazing singer or a prolific songwriter; she is really just a very good disco artist.
That assessment is not meant as a pompous put-down – who can resist frothy singles like “Cherish” and “Borderline” or ignore her command of the concert stage – but rather a reality check that Madonna has been better at co-opting musical trends than actually creating them. By the time Madonna slid into the public eye Disco had been renamed Dance but it was the foundation set in the 70s that Madonna used to build her persona.
Yet Madonna scored an induction the first year she was eligible while Donna Summer, a key builder of that foundation, has been eligible for years and was under consideration again last year.
This Queen Has Earned Her Throne
“Queen of Disco” Donna Summer truly earned her royalty during her mid-70s peak and the fruit of her efforts speak for themselves. She went from cooing sex kitten to fully formed musical personality within 5 years, proving herself as a real artist rather than a producers’ pet. With producers Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellote many trendsetting creations were unleashed such as the first extended dance remix (“Love To Love You Baby”), the inaugural techno track (“I Feel Love”) and the initial blending of Disco and Rock (“Hot Stuff”). Donna Summer proved to be a great singer who could carry “Last Dance” at the Oscars but, more unexpectedly, she also was a formidable songwriter who at least co-wrote the bulk of her biggest hits such as “Bad Girls” and “On The Radio.”
Perhaps the “Disco Sucks” backlash from the late 70s still lingers in the minds of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame voters. But plenty of time has passed to allow a proper assessment of Donna Summer’s accomplishments. It just seems inconsistent to recognize Madonna without giving notice to an artist that set the stage upon which she splayed herself.
Perhaps Madonna can put in a good word for Donna Summer; she owes her more than she might realize.
