On the thirteenth day of highlighting lesser known Christmas songs (or versions of classics I gravitate to each year), my choice of song is one from 70’s icon Donna Summer. Taken from the 1994 album “Christmas Spirit”, today’s choice is the title track.
With club-thumping anthems throughout the past 40+ years, you might not think of Summer as a serious contender when it comes to Christmas music. My response would be to ask if you realized the singer cultivated her amazing voice by singing in her home church choir in Boston, toured as a member of the cast of “Hair” throughout Europe, and initially began her career as the lead singer of a psychedelic rock band called “Crow”.
It wasn’t until she met producer Giorgio Moroder while recording background vocals for Three Dog Night that an inkling of the superstar she would become was first apparent…oddly enough with a demo she’d recorded in a darkened studio with lots of candles. That song was called “Love to Love You, Baby”.
Hit singles followed – “I Feel Love”, “MacArthur Park”, “Heaven Knows”, “Last Dance”, “Hot Stuff”, “Bad Girls”, “Dim All The Lights”, “No More Tears (Enough is Enough)” with Barbra Streisand, “On The Radio”, “The Wanderer”, “She Works Hard for the Money” and “This Time I Know It’s For Real” – just to name a few.
We wouldn’t have the likes of Whitney Houston or Beyonce today without first experiencing the genius that is Donna Summer. She is the one and only artist to have topped the Billboard album chart with 3 double albums in a row. She is more than the “Queen of Disco”. Need examples? Check out “Highway Runner”, “Protection” (written for her by Bruce Springsteen), “He’s a Rebel”, “Cold Love”, “Nightlife”, “On My Honor” or “Be Myself Again”.
Summer passed away after battling lung cancer (while having never been a smoker) in May of 2012.
Donna Summer is a 5-time Grammy winner (in 3 different genres), a 6-time American Music Award winner, and in 2013 was posthumously inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Her final studio album release was 2008’s “Crayons”, boasting 3 number one dance/club play hits.
If you’d like to listen to the playlist as it’s created this month, preview the tracks and then log into Spotify to listen!
Other Moteventurous Christmas Songs from this artist:
- O HOLY NIGHT
- THE CHRISTMAS SONG (CHESTNUTS ROASTING ON AN OPEN FIRE)
- WHITE CHRISTMAS
- I’LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS
- ROSIE CHRISTMAS (for those who just can’t imagine a non-dance Donna Summer Christmas song, check this tune out below, from 1999’s “Another Rosie Christmas”.)
As always, if there is a holiday song you want me to hear and/or highlight here, add it in the comments below. Enjoy your day!
MOTEVENTURE 
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