I was 12 years old.
It was Bar Mitzvah season in San Diego.
That pretty much meant that for two or three weekends every month.
We would spend two or three hours in a synagogue.
For the service.
And two or three more at a local hotel.
For the reception.
As terrifying as that may sound now, it never got old.
And the schedule of events never really changed:
- Blessing on the bread
- Hava Nagila
- Eat the rubber chicken
- Last Dance by Donna Summer
In that order.
Ok, I left out a few details.
But one thing for sure.
As soon as we heard Donna’s sultry voice, the parents headed for the parking lot.
While the kids headed for the pergo dance floor.
For the final time.
Like Kent Tekulve, Last Dance was the #1 closer in 1979.
The final song at every reception.
It was one of those ballad/disco combo songs.
For the first 81 seconds we got a chance to slow dance.
Which felt like you were going steady.
If you had a partner.
And felt like you had a big L on your forehead.
If you didn’t.
Then.
Just as you were starting to get comfy.
BAM.
Donna kicked it into high gear.
So let's dance the last dance
Let's dance the last dance
Let's dance this last dance tonight
Reading the words on this blog doesn’t quite do it justice.
One second, I’ve got my hands on Jenny’s hips.
The next second I’m Tony Manero.
On a Saturday night.
Moving my feet like they’ve never moved before.
If I wasn’t at a Bar Mitzvah, you never would’ve believed I was Jewish.
That song was what music was all about.
In 1979.
And it still holds up today.
Unlike Boogie Oogie Oogie.
Or Boogie Fever.
Or pretty much anything with Boogie in the title.
Last Dance is a timeless classic.
And so is Donna Summer.
Well, so was Donna Summer.
She died on Thursday.
At the ripe young age of 63.
A victim of cancer.
Donna Summer was Whitney before Whitney.
Christina before Christina.
Mariah before Mariah.
Back in her day, Donna Summer was the queen of the world.
The Queen of Disco.
The only musical act to release three #1 double albums.
The first female to have four #1 singles in a one-year period.
The first female artist to have a #1 single AND a #1 album at the same time.
MacArthur Park
Heaven Knows
Hot Stuff
Bad Girls
Dim All the Lights
No More Tears
On the Radio
I could go on.
Ask anybody who grew up in the 70’s... like me... to name the greatest female voices of all-time.
And Donna Summer.... won’t make the list.
It’s not that she doesn’t belong.
It’s that our memories are too short.
Just like her career.
In 1979, she had more hot singles than Magic Johnson.
Five years later, she was working hard for her money.
So hard for it honey.
But she wasn’t going anywhere.
This hot stuff had turned ice cold.
Other than a guest appearance here.
Or a #18 song there.
The long hot summer had ended.
And it was time for a fall.
She got caught up in a bit of a controversy in the mid-80’s when she allegedly made some anti-gay comments.
Comments she denied ever making.
But nevertheless, the bulb had burned out on her spotlight.
In 2008, Rolling Stone Magazine came out with their list of the 100 Greatest Singers of All-Time.
The same year Donna was nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Donna didn’t make the Hall.
And she didn’t make their list either.
Bob Dylan did.
He was #7.
Clearly their definition of “singer” is different than mine.
But not having the voice which DOMINATED an entire generation was a definite oversight.
Bjork made the list.
So did Toots Hibbert.
Even Mary J. Blige snuck in at #100.
But no sign of Donna Summer.
Now that she is gone, I’m sure there have been plenty of tributes.
But unless you lived through the Disco era.
And attended Bar Mitzvah receptions every other Saturday.
There is no way that you can appreciate the greatness that was Donna Summer.
Long live the Queen.
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