Crayons

I had the priviledge to see Donna Summer perform @ the Hollywood Bowl this Summer for her new album, Crayons.

I applaud Ms. Summer to record a new album after 17 years. That is a brave woman to endure the record industry at this uncertain time. You could tell her Records exec's wanted her to be sound more modern with hip hop, Ziggy Marly, etc. She thanked them continously throughout the performace. So Donna, wanting to record a new album or believing she could take on hip hop and a new sound, made Crayons.


Yet everytime she introduced a new song during this show, you could see the audience moan and wonder how much more they could endure. We all wondered why is 60 something Donna Summer singing Hip Hop and trying to be like Gwen Stefanni? This new sound she was performing, was beneath Donna, and that stong back beat, heard predominately on most of Donna's songs, was gone.

I understand music must progess, but what makes Donna Summer Donna Summer is her amazing sounds she captured during the 70's and 80's.

Her set was dazzling, with amazing visual effects accompanied with video screens. But after she sung all her new hip hop songs, she returned to her standards and the audience, which seemed to holding their breath for, exhaled and savored every minute.

On a lighter note, Diana Ross performed there a month earlier, and you didn't see Ms. Ross perform hip hop numbers or songs infused with Raggae. And her show was amazing and everyone seemed to have a good time. I think in this record industy, you must know who you are, and don't try to change yourself to reach newer fans. They will either love you or hate you. Know what your sound is, and continue to create it...

Let me just tell you I had a chance to to see Donna Summer 2 years ago in a smaller venue in Pomona, at the Los Angeles County Fair. Her show was amazing. This was 2 years before this new album came out, and you could tell she sorta came out of 'retirement' for this evening's performance. She joked how she just sat on the couch most of the time, and gained a couple extra pounds because of it!

Her stage and visual effects were very limited. I remember she came out of a black and white old piano piece that looked like an old set piece from the 1970's that someone forgot to throw away!

But her show was pure magic. The sound of her pure classics, one after another and a couple covers was amazing. The audience went wild after every song she did, showing how much they adored her.

You could tell Donna was so thankful and appreciated to be back on stage and she said 'It was so good to be so close to Los Angeles, her home (even if Los Angeeles was 25 miles away)' and she started to cry, and paused for a moment, as the audience of mostly females and gay men treated her like the disco diva she is. And there was so much love in the air for Donna. And Donna reciprocated, telling her fans, how much she loved them and how all her songs were about love, finding it, losing it and just love in general. It was so nice to have her so candid, so naked and enjoying the night as one. A remarkable performance!!

Donna, just be yourself. You've done it before, and you can do it again!!!

I bought the new Donna Summer album crayons..and I have to say I like it. Her new cd is entertaining and many songs are very catchy. I had it playing at a get together party to celebrate my new house the other day and everybody was asking what cd are you playing it's so good! Everybody was dancing and had a blast! Two thumbs up! Donna Summer you still make people dance!

I think this is donna's best release since the Bad Girls album. Each song has its own style and meaning. Her voice is timeless and that in its self is a gift. Radio has pretty much ignored her singles stamp your your feet & Sand on my feet both should have been hits on a few formats, but its no big deal radio pretty much is aiming at teeny boppers. Donna should be very proud of this release as i know most of her fans are. There should be a few grammy nods from this work of one of greatest voices ever.Looking forward to more great music from the Emperess!! Thanks Donna we love you!!

This CD was nothing but a disappointment. What a shame to hear such a wonderful voice used for such bad songs and arrangements. This is not worthy of her voice.

BEWARE LISTENER, DONNA SUMMER FANS--DO NOT BUY THIS ALBUM!
I bought this album with the hope that it would be as good as her post Casablanca album "She Works Hard For The Money." Man, was I wrong! I popped it into my car stereo and after one listen I dumped it. Summer's problem is that she is trying to cater to the age-20 bracket of buyers while it was us aging Baby Boomers (yes Donna--YOU ARE ONE OF US!) who made her what she was--the Queen of Disco! Missing were many of the lush orchestrations and nifty bass and drum/cymbal (and even banjo/clarinet) licks that were THE statement on her earlier albums. In the "Crayons" album I found the drum/bass beats to be all the same--MONOTONOUS!! No memorable guitar work here either. Donna, in my mind this disc was a waste of time, money(MINE!) and effort. You should have made an emergency phone call to Giorgio Moroder for his album producing wisdom and axed out the juvenile, "just getting their feet wet" producers you roped in for this one.