May/June 1999 Article Round-up
Outlook Magazine (June 1, 1999)
Did somebody say “McDonna’s?”
Another Decade Ends, Another Donna Insurgence
In the late 70s, she was the Queen of Disco, in the late 80’s, the
...”Time Was For Real.” As the millenium approaches, did you really
expect Donna Summer to let the party happen without her at the forefront?
While some will think that she is attempting to ride the coattails of
Cher’s recent dance success, Donna has never abandoned her disco roots
and she is about to show the world how hard she can work for the money. Currently
“on the radio” with a McDonald’s commercial, Donna will soon
step front and center with a barrage of quality entertainment for us to enjoy
into 2000. While the dance fans in the gay community have been able to hear
Donna’s ‘90s dance anthems “Melody of Love” and “Carry
On,” those outside the club world may be wondering “Where is she
now?” Ironically, the show from VH-1 that has asked that question of
many of disco’s biggest stars has also featured Donna herself. And now
it will be VH-1 catapulting Donna right back front and center leaving America
with the definitive answer: “Oh, THERE she is!” This month Donna
is poised to release Live and More Encore, a new album of old and new songs.
The “Live” portion of the album was recorded at a concert at the
Hammerstein Ballroom in NYC in February. VH-1 will air an edited version
of the show on June 20th, two days before the release of the album. The
“Live” portion essentially consists of Donna’s greatest hits,
while the “More” section is as good as or better than “MacArthur
Park Suite.” It includes “I Will Go With You,” a cover of
Andrea Bocelli’s international hit (currently in rotation on WKTU) and
"Love is the Healer." "I Will Go…" was produced by Hex Hector who is
best known for his work with Deborah Cox ("Things Just Ain't The Same," Nobody's
Supposed to Be Here.") “More” showcases Donna’s vocal prowess
while the musical arrangements sweep melodically around her voice in a way
not heard since her 70s work. Look for many remixes for "I Will Go," with
a bonus track as well. As a result of her impending tour, new record contract
with Epic, and national exposure on VH-1, expect a new generation of Summer
fans to emerge this year. Perhaps they’ll be partying with Donna at
Trump Plaza’s Millenium Party on her 51st birthday, December 31, 1999!
© 1999 Outlook Magazine
DMA
HiNRG eurobeat
by Dean Ferguson
Post-Holiday Crunch:
The holiday season is normally a notoriously slow period for new releases
and chart movement, but this winter is a different story. The hits that emerged
between Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve were among the strongest of the year,
with Cher's "Believe" leading the charge. "Believe" took over the top spot
here in the U.S. in late November, just as Thanksgiving dinner was being
served. By the time our chart year closed out (December 15th), it was the
biggest point-total #1 of the decade. Our reporting panel of DJs submits
a biweekly Top 20 list, with points given to each title they chart in reverse
order (#1 gets 20 points, #2 gets 19, and so on). With roughly forty playlists
submitted and tallied each period, the average #1 scores somewhere between
300 and 350 points, but Cher's single finished this last reporting period
with a whopping 709. The decade's previous record holder was Nicki French's
"Total Eclipse Of The Heart" which at one point had a single week total of
680. To find a comparable HiNRG clubland equivalent, one has to go all the
way back to 1989, when Donna Summer's "This Time I Know It's For Real" rang
the #1 bell with 722 club play points.
© 1999 DMA
Billboard May 29, 1999
DANCE TRAX:
by Michael Paoletta
SUMMER MADNESS: Speaking of Donna Summer. Epic Records is slowly but surely
setting the wheels in motion for the June 22 release of "VH1 Presents Donna
Summer: Live & More-Encore!" According to the label's senior director
of marketing/ A&R. Frank Ceraolo, a limited-edition promotional 12-inch
of the album's first single. "I Will Go With You (Con te Partiro) was recently
serviced to club DJs. Produced by Hex Hector, and co-produced by Mac Quayle,
"I will go with you" -which is Summer's reinterpretation of Andrea Bocelli
and Sarah Brightman's "time to say Goodbye"- features incredibly fab remixes
by Warren Rigg, Welcome Production, Rosabel, Messy Boys, Richie Santana,
Trouser Enthusiasts, and club 69. Also included is an extended edit by Hector.
Unfortunately, the single, with its dizzying array of restructuring, and
bonus track (The Hecto-remixed "Love On And On" originally recorded by the
UK's Lorraine Kato) won't be available commercially until July 6." But for
those who just can't wait, the album will be in stores two weeks before that
notes Ceraolo. Of course, that doesn't help Summer's vociferous fans
who want anything relating to the singer sooner rather than later, especially
these highly coveted and much-in-demand mixes.
and on page 94 (from an article about VH1's 100 Greatest Women in Rock
special).....
Donna Summer, also on the list, has a longer view. " I think that female
artists have been coming into their own since the 1960's", Summer says. "But
now, women are making their own statements and taking more control of their
careers, and I really respect that." Summer adds, "One of my greatest
frustrations was having people telling me what to say in my music. I grew
up in the rock 'n' roll era, and I was influenced by Aretha Franklin to the
Rolling Stones to theater to Bonnie Raitt to Joni Mitchell. I have no desire
to do music that bores the living crap out of me. Whether or not the audience
gets the music is not the issue. I won't make a certain kind of record unless
it's what I feel I'm about at the time."
Summer's next album is VH1's Presents DONNA SUMMER - Live & More - Encore!
© 1999 Billboard
Cable Guide (June)
SUMMER NIGHTS
DISCO DIVA DONNA SUMMER STRUTS HER HOT STUFF ON TWO SPECIALS
Disco was pronounced dead decades ago, but Donna Summer isn't ready for her
last dance. In fact, her dance card is full: She has a new recording contract
with Sony/550, a summer tour planned and two VH1 projects this month - a Behind
the Music episode and VH1 Presents Donna Summer: Live and More Encore. Although
she was asked to do the Divas Live '99 concert, "the timing wasn't right
for me and then they said they had a market for me by myself," explains Summer
by phone from her home in Nashville. So the Disco Queen doesn't need to share
the spotlight, but she did consent to share some of her story for Behind
The Music. Still, she says the story won't be complete. "As far as I'm concerned,
the story won't be told until I tell it." To that end, Summer is putting
the finishing touches on an autobiographical musical, tentatively titled
Ordinary Girl., because, she says, "I think I'm pretty ordinary, and it just
goes to show you ordinary people can do extraordinary things sometimes."
Currently she's writing two new songs for an upcoming live record and is
stockpiling others for its follow-up, which she plans to try out on audiences.
"But there are some songs that will always be in every show, like 'Bad Girls,'
'Hot Stuff,' No More Tears' and 'Last Dance.' I gotta do them or they'd stone
me before I left the stage," Summer says, proving that she's still working
hard for the money.
© 1999 Cable Guide
CATHY'S SOAPBOX (May 1999)
Well - the thing that has been on my mind the last few days is Sing Me Sleep
Mommy. So I am devoting my soapbox to that. And before I share my thoughts,
let me share the thoughts of my special guest soapboxer - the one and only
Fabulous Albert. So without any further ado, here's the Fab One's report:
SING ME TO SLEEP, MOMMY - has been released! And now available....on Brentwood
Kids Records. Written on the back cover of the CD jacket:
"Every mother dreams of creating a special bond of love with her child. Now
this timeless collection of soft ballads and beautiful lullabies provides
the perfect setting to share God's Love with her children. You and your children
will want to experience SING ME TO SLEEP, MOMMY over and over again!"
" MY PRAYER FOR YOU "- written by DONNA SUMMER and Nathan P.DiGesare - Sung
by DONNA SUMMER
MY FAB REVIEW :
This ballad is very pretty and soothing to the soul. It is half sung and
half spoken. DONNA SUMMER begins the composition softly and crescendos into
a more powerful delivery as she dances over a luscious piano arrangement
that melts in your ears and then in your heart. The tune styling is very
reminiscent of the songs of Summer's CHRISTMAS SPIRIT CD. For those of you
who adore CHRISTMAS SPIRIT you will enjoy this CD...for those of you who
only prefer the Dance Diva Action..... you will NOT find that here. Trust
me, there will be no remixes on this song, it's religious.... However, this
perfect collection of lullabies is a gem for all DONNA SUMMER collectors.
Till next time The Very Fabulous Albert
-----
And now for my comments:
OK - I got the Sing Me Sleep Mommy cd and I have fallen absolutely and totally
in love with the song My Prayer For You. The more I play it, the more I love
it. I have NOT stopped playing it since it fell into my hands the other
day. You know - I've followed Donna's career for the past 20 years. I have
hung on every note she has ever sung, and by now I should know how truly
talented she is. And yet I was STILL surprised and overwhelmed when I played
My Prayer For You. That's the amazing thing - that after all these years
Donna can still have that effect on me. And so here I am, in my own forum,
wanting to say so much.......... but finding out that words fail me. This
song touches me in a way that is beyond words. So I guess all I can really
say is: Thank you Donna. Thank you for sharing this song with us. Thank you
for touching my soul.
"To God who organized the sky, and still finds time for you and I .....
This I promise will forever be true ........ my prayer will be for you."
© 1999 Fabulous Productions and The Donna Summer Tribute Site
Epic, VH1 Making it Summer's Summer (Billboard June 12, 1999)
By MICHAEL PAOLETTA.
NEW YORK--Summer officially begins June 21. On the evening before, music
cable network VH1 will premiere "VH1 Presents Donna Summer: Live &
More--Encore!." a concert taped Feb. 4 in New York (Dance Trax, Billboard,
Feb. 20) as well as a "Behind The Music" episode spotlighting the artist.
Two days later, on June 22, Epic Records will issue the concert's accompanying
album, "VH1 Presents Donna Summer: Live & More--Encore!." While Epic
Music Video will release the video version of the concert, which includes
four additional songs. The album will be available in a variety of formats:
single CD, limited-edition double-vinyl, and a limited-edition CD/VHS box.
"It's really looking like it's going to be Summer's summer." says Frank Ceraolo,
senior director of marketing/A*R at Epic. "To say that we're excited about
this project would be an understatement. It's a dream come true." Lee Chesnut,
VP of A&R at the label, concurs. "To work with her is to realize what
a professional she is." she says. "This is only the beginning for Donna at
the label. We are truly committed to her." Epic signed the multimillion-selling,
five-time-Grammy-winning Summer to a multi-album deal earlier this year (Dance
Trax, Billboard, Feb. 13). According to the singer, it's been a long time
coming. "It feels good to have a label to call home." says Summer, who has
recorded for Oasis, Casablanca, Geffen, Atlantic, and Mercury. "More importantly,
it feels like the label I should've had all along." "VH1 Presents Donna Summer:
Live & More--Encore!," features live performances of classic Summer
recordings, including "MacArthur Park," "Hot Stuff," "Bad Girls," and "No
More tears (Enough Is Enough)," all of which reached No. 1 on The Billboard
Hot 100. The live portion of "Encore!" also includes "My Life" a new song
Summer wrote with Pete Waterman, Paul Berry, and Gary Miller. The track is
taken from the singer's forthcoming Broadway musical, "Ordinary Girl"
Additionally, the album spotlights two new studio tracks" "Love Is The Healer,"
penned by the singer and Nathan DiGesare and produced by DiGesare, with
additional production by the team of Chris Cox and Barry Harris (aka the
remix outfit Thunderpuss 2000)' and the set's first single, "I Will Go With
You (Con Te Partiro)." For "I Will Go With You," which was produced By Hex
Hector and Mac Quayle, Summer reinterpreted "Time To Say Goodbye," an operatic
ballad originally recorded in Italian by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman
and included on Bocelli's "Romanza" album. "I told Bruce (Sudano, Summer's
husband) that I wanted to do the consummate dance recording of the century."
explains the singer, who is an ardent Bocelli fan, and whose songs are published
by Sweet Summer Night Music (ASCAP). "While we were talking, Andrea's version
of the song was playing in the background. All of a sudden, Bruce said, Turn
it off--that's the song'. So, since no official English lyrics exist, I decided
to reinterpret it." According to Chesnut and Ceraolo, Epic will be working
hand in hand with VH1 on this project. "The network is giving us a lot of
promotional time, as well as multiple airings of the concert and 'Behind
the Music" episode," Ceraolo says. VH1 VP of music talent Bruce Gillmer confirms
this, adding, : By the week of June 7, we'll have a significant promo campaign
going. In addition to spots promoting the two premieres, we'll offer direct
sales of both the CD and home video. "We'll also pull a performance from
the concert to run as a video clip. Of course, we'll be playing the video
for 'I will Go With You,' too". On June 24 and July 2, she will appearing
"The Rosie O'Donnel Show" and "Today', respectively. In addition to Summer's
TV exposure, Ceraolo says, clubs will play a major role in the setup and
execution of the project. DJs were serviced with a promotional 12-inch of
the remixes of "I Will Go With You" on May 21. Scheduled for commercial release
July 7, "I will Go With You" went to radio June 1, according to Ceraolo,
who envisions the single making inroads initially at dance-leaning
rhythm-crossover and AC stations, and then spreading to mainstream top 50.pop
formats. Rhythmic to 40 WKTU New York began playing the buoyant track May
13. "We've been getting great phone response," says Frankie Blue, the station's
PD. "Donna's been a core artist for the station since day one, so people
are really excited to hear something fresh and new from her." Retailers agree.
"Donna always does great for us," says Tim Devin, GM of Tower Records' Lincoln
Square location in New York. "I'm looking forward to this album. I see it
immediately popping into the store's top 25." Adding to the project's visibility
will be the inclusion of "MacArthur Park" on "Pride 2K,' a label CD sampler
to be given away at gay-pride events nationwide in June. And on June 18,
Summer--who is managed by Stan Moress of Nashville-based Moress-Nanas
Entertainment and booked by Rob Heller of the Los Angeles-based "William
Morris Agency-embarks on a five month tour.
© 1999 Billboard
Liz Smith's column (June 7, 1999)
Donna Summer is coming to VH1. The one-time disco superstar, still in amazing
voice, appears in her first-ever televised concert, "Donna Summer: Live and
More" on June 20. Summer's hits--: "Last Dance," "Bad Girls," "On the Radio,"
"She Works Hard for the Money," etc.-became virtual anthems for an era of
careless, dance-till-you-drop good times.... © 1999 Liz Smith
Next Magazine (June 4, 1999)
"Club Control" Heartbeat News
by Louis Morhaim (Excerpts)
Summer is just about here, everybody! Of course you know the season is just
around the corner--but I'm talking about the first and last queen of disco
and beyond. Donna Summer, baby. There is so much buzz, anticipation and confusion
going around about what will probably be the biggest set of releases this
summer. I will do my best here to sort it all out and report about it to
you as clearly as possible. As I've written many times before, things tend
to change quite a bit in this business--but the following seems to be etched
in stone... On June 20th and 22nd VH-1 will air the pre-recorded "Live and
More...Encore" (at 10 PM and midnight) preceded by "Behind the Music--Donna
Summer" (at 9 PM and 11 PM)...<snip>... July 6th is the street date
for the single "I Will Go With You" PART ONE AND July 20th for PART TWO.
These will be available on CD maxi (two parts) and 12" vinyl (two parts)
containing remixes by Warren Ricc, Welcome, Hex Hector, Club 69, Rosabel,
Messy Boys, Richie Santana and Trouser Enthusiasts, not to mention a bonus track, (you guessed it) the much-in-demand and inordinately controversial
"Love On and On!" If all that is not enough, Summer will be appearing throughout
June and July on Rosie, The View, The Today Show and a special feature in
the July/August issue of Mixer Magazine. Whoa daddy--a queen's dream come
true!!
© 1999 Next Magazine
The Advocate
"Its Donna's summer--and ABBA's adolescence"
The original queen of gay disco, Donna Summer, is staging a comeback attempt
with full support from cable channel VH1 and EPIC records. On June 20, VH1
will broadcast "Donna Summer: Live & More," a concert taped February
4 in New York, followed by a new "Behind The Music" installment about the
singer. Two days later the album version of the show will be released by
EPIC. And in honor of times gone by, the album--which includes versions of
Summer classics such as "MacArthur Park," "Hot Stuff," and "Bad Girls"--will
be available on vinyl (that's those big black platters of music, for those
of you who don't remember) as well as CD....The story then goes onto ABBA
teens. (a group of teens who have remade "Mamma Mia" into "Take Me To Your
Heaven."
© 1999 The Advocate
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