Joi dimineața a murit Donna Summer (poreclită la noi, în anii ‘70, Doina, iar pe numele din buletin LaDonna Adrian Gaines), supranumită Regina Disco (potrivit Associated Press, nu era încântată de acestă „încoronare” fiindcă: „I grew up on rock ‘n’ roll”, iar aceste rădăcini se simt, cum remarcă AP, în piesa She Works Hard for the Money) datorită influenței pe care a avut-o asupra acestui gen în epoca ei de glorie din deceniul al VI-lea al secolului trecut. Artista avea 63 de ani și suferea de cancer, dar a fost vivace până în ultimele săptămâni.
De-a lungul carierei a avut numeroase succese de top, fiind și prima cântăreață care a avut 3 dublu-albume consecutive pe locul I în Topul Billboard, și a primit 5 Premii Grammy. În 2010 a ratat însă intrarea în Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, dar este în Dance Music Hall of Fame, la fel ca hitul său I Feel Love. Ultimul succes (ținând cont că a murit, putem zice așa) l-a avut în 2010, când To Paris With Love a ajuns în octombrie pe locul 1 în Topul Billboard. În perioada 1976 – 1984 a avut în fiecare an o piesă în Top Forty din Billboard Hot 100.
Succesul din anii ‘70 a dat-o însă peste cap, a devenit dependentă de medicamente și a încercat de mai multe ori să se sinucidă, iar în 1979, după o cădere nervoasă, a devenit religioasă de rit protestant. Tot atunci a spus că nu va mai cânta Love to Love You Baby, piesa care a făcut-o celebră, dar după un sfert de secol a început s-o interpreteze din nou.
Associated Press a grupat reacțiile mai multor artiști, dintre care am selectat următoarele (pe celelalte le puteți citi la adresa http://music.yahoo.com/news/celebrities-react-death-donna-summer-200502660.html):
"So shocking to hear about the passing of Donna Summer. In the 70s, she reigned over the disco era and kept the disco jumping. Who will forget "Last Dance." A fine performer and a very nice person." — Aretha Franklin
"I was shocked to hear about Donna. She was so vital the last time I saw her a few months ago. I loved doing the duet with her. She had an amazing voice and was so talented. It’s so sad." — Barbra Streisand
"When you lose a friend you feel like they are gone forever.that is not true with my dear friend Donna. She was a queen, THE Queen of Disco, and we will be dancing to her music forever." — Liza Minnelli
"Her records sound as good today as they ever did. That she has never been inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame is a total disgrace especially when I see the second-rate talent that has been inducted," he said. "She is a great friend to me and to the Elton John AIDS Foundation and I will miss her greatly. — Elton John
"Rest in Peace dear Donna Summer. Your voice was the heartbeat and soundtrack of a decade." — Quincy Jones, via Twitter
"Donna and I had a friendship for over 30 years. She is one of the few black women I could speak German with and she is one of the few friends I had in this business." — Chaka Khan
"She not only made her mark in my heart as well as others, but she forever changed the way of how America danced and enjoyed themselves. She may have had her ‘Last Dance’ here on earth, but ‘Heaven Knows’ it is dancing with joy for her arrival."— Gloria Gaynor
"So sad to hear about Donna Summer. I adored her voice. May she rest in peace." — Joan Collins
"My deepest condolences got out to the family of Donna Summer regarding the passing of a true legend." — Bret Michaels, via Twitter
"Few singers have impacted music & the world like Donna Summer! It’s the end of an era. Peace & prayers 2 all who loved her." — Gloria Estefan, who posted a photo of herself with Summer on Twitter
"Donna Summer had a dynamic voice and unique musical style that helped define the dance music genre in the ’70s. She also was an artist who crossed many musical genres…" — Recording Academy President Neil Portnow
Florin Silea
Foto: Pure People
