Comments on: Donna Summer: The Country Connection

By: Rachael Sarah Williams

Rachael Sarah Williams — Mon, 21 May 2012 14:05:58 +0000

Great post, Kevin. I didn’t know about Donna Summer’s connections to country music. Thanks for filling us in. And RIP, Donna. We will miss you.

By: Erik

Erik — Mon, 21 May 2012 12:37:37 +0000

Donna also covered Reba and Linda Davis’ “Does He Love You” together with Liza Minelli:

By: Ben Foster

Ben Foster — Mon, 21 May 2012 01:44:49 +0000

In what way do you feel Donna Summer is being pigeonholed, Joshua?

If you’re referring to my above comment, I think you may be reading into it a little too far. When I said I was surprised to learn that “Starting Over Again” was written by Summer, it was only because it is not the style of song with which Summer is most often associated. (I don’t think it was specifically written for Dolly Parton, but was rather inspired by the divorce of Summer’s husband’s parents) I wasn’t in any way meaning to suggest that Summer is not a good songwriter, if that’s what you got from it.

By: Joshua Sanders

Joshua Sanders — Sun, 20 May 2012 16:17:21 +0000

What is surprising to me is that this is so surprising. Donna Summer is obviously a talented songwriter and for her to pen something for Dolly does not strike me as a bolt from the blue. If Donna Summer was an orthodontist and wrote something for Dolly, then that would be surprising. But a good song is a good song and to pidgeonhole artists is a little bit unfair to them…not that I think it is ever going to stop! But from a musical perspective, I think Peter Paul and Mary had a lot in common with Earth Wind & Fire. Both groups were really great funk bands in that one instrument plays a fill and then someone else plays a fill and if it sounds seemless than it just sounds like one big instrument….PP&M just sang harmonies, which EW&F didn’t…

By: Jonathan Pappalardo

Jonathan Pappalardo — Sat, 19 May 2012 19:05:22 +0000

Forgot she wrote “Starting Over Again.” That’s been one of my favorite of Reba’s recordings for a long time. Will have to listen to Dolly’s version now.

Excellent as always, Kevin. Love the line, “Whereas Dolly Parton wrote a #1 pop hit by Whitney Houston, Donna Summer wrote a #1 country hit for Dolly Parton.” Can’t believe two fabulous singers with a connection to Dolly died just mere months apart. There are too many great losses already in 2012.

By: bob

bob — Sat, 19 May 2012 01:03:44 +0000

They just played a recording of Donna Summer singing “God Bless America” at Yankee Stadium. What a voice she had.

By: Dan Milliken

Dan Milliken — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:01:07 +0000

Wonderful post.

By: Cha Cho

Cha Cho — Fri, 18 May 2012 12:24:24 +0000

Fierce Mama!

By: Ben Foster

Ben Foster — Fri, 18 May 2012 01:47:09 +0000

Great write-up, Kevin. Nice spotlight of Summer’s contribution’s to country music. Indeed a talented legend gone far too soon.

I was surprised when I learned that “Starting Over Again” was written by Donna Summer. It’s such a great song, and Dolly sang it beautifully.