Donna Summer - Crayons
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Free Music Notes for Crayons
Free Music Review: Every Track could be a single. Summer is indeed back!
Hit: 5 Stars
The tracklist on my car stereo moved silently from 12 back to 1, and I knew I had heard something extraordinary. As others have stated, you can hear a youthful exhuberance in Donna Summer's voice on the "Crayons" cd that was lacking on previous one-off tracks (Power of Love, I Will Go With You, etc.) she had recorded. She seems genuinely in control of the project this time as opposed to attempting yet another comeback. In the process, the comeback is her richly deserved reward. Regardless if you consider her just a "disco queen" (although she has a grammy for Rock performance by a female), the power and versatility of her voice cannot be denied when listening to "Crayons".
Stamp Your Feet - The cheerleader spelling is a bit over the top, but by the time you hit the chorus, you're singing along with this "perfect for summer" tune. 9/10
Mr. Music - Although some say the hiphop style is somewhat outdated, I beg to differ. First of all, the song is very catchy (I love Music...I love it, I love it), and I don't need to be part of the East vs. West crews to appreciate a song that even pays tribute to Meredith Wilson's "The Unsinkable Molly Brown". This time around, Donna's unsinkable. 8/10
Crayons - Reggae and Ziggy Marley? Brilliant! Take a walk on the wild side and pick up this cd. 8/10
The Queen is Back - Again, one critic stated the cd is devoid of catchy hooks, although I hear 3 distinctly infectious stanzas in this one song. Overlapping them in the end is just icing on the cake. Wow...she really is back! 10/10
Fame (The Game) - Challenging to try to sing along with the frenetic pace of the lyrics. I can't help but think of Britney, Paris & Lindsay when I hear this awesome track. 10/10
Sand on My Feet - This is definitely hit worthy. It shows the diverse nature of Donna's voice. I hear it and I think of Shania Twain's "Forever and For Always". Great love song. 8/10
Drivin' Down Brazil - Catchy...not my most favorite, but still very cool. 7/10
I'm A Fire - The teaser track that gave Donna a #1 dance track for each of the past 4 decades. Smooth, slick, and oh so commercial. Excellent. 9/10
Slide Over Backwards - What a bizarre song. Donna's voice is wild on this one. The first time I heard it, I was like "what the hell"?, but after a couple listens it's pretty cool actually too. 6/10
Science of Love - Single worthy again...Fun, electronic and upbeat (as is most of the cd), without being faddish. 9/10
Be Myself Again - Anyone who knows how Donna's image was formulated in the 70's and how she became the "queen of love" because of "Love To Love You, Baby" has to hear this song. It shows the dramatic side of being caught up in an image where the reflection isn't always what's projected, and you lose part of yourself in the process. Simply beautiful. 10/10
Bring Down The Reign - My least favorite on the cd, although it's okay. Just tired of the children's choruses on Donna tunes. Beautiful sentiment and Donna's donating proceeds to Darfur, but it's just okay for me. 6/10
It's Only Love - AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME. This is a substitute track for "Fame (The Game)" in some markets, but it needed to be on the cd as well. It's amazing. 9/10
Overall, this is back to form (Bad Girls, The Wanderer) for someone who's voice and talent are so underrated by the public and by radio (play the songs already!). Rock, Disco, Dance, Gospel, R&B, Soul, Pop...I ask you...what can't she sing? 10/10 overall for "Crayons"
Free Music Review: The Queen is back!
Hit: 5 Stars
Donna Summer returns to the fold after what seems like decades in the wilderness.
The album starts of "on the good foot" with "Stamp your feet"; the title says it all; driving percussion, faultless production, and a lyric that sounds like a personal challenge.
Next up is Mr. Music, another hard-driving number - though somewhat lacking in the lyrics department - that just begs to be turned up.
Ziggy Marley shows up on the title track, a funky, bouncy kinda-sorta-reggae number. Highly Enjoyable. The pace slows down for "The Queen is Back", but it is no less relentless.
Fame (the game) has a lyric that sounds autobiographical, but somewhat tongue-in-cheek as she cocks the proverbial snook at the trappings and superficiality of fame. "You're Fabulous! We love you! Fantastic! Now we have all the right property!"
Time for a break; she kicks back, grabs a tall cool one and gets some "Sand on My Feet". Then it's time to hop into the car and take to the streets of Rio with the top down and the radio blaring in "Driving Down Brazil".
The next cut - I'm a Fire - is the album's sole throwback to the Donna Summer of yesteryear, but carefully updated and modernized, though it sounds a little too "synthetic" for my test. A great one for the clubs, though.
"Slide Over Backwards" is the one track that I don't like. A good enough effort, but it sounds like she is trying to an impression of Tina Turner, something she really did not need to do.
"Science of Love" is one of those songs I am not sure if I like or not. She's trying to do a garage-band job; it's "ok", and that's the best I can say.
"Be myself again" is my favorite track. Not because it's slow, but because when you slow the pace down and take away most of the technical flummery and leave only a piano, some light percussion and her voice, and she really shines. The lyrics tell a story of someone who traveled the road to stardom, only to find that they lost their soul on the way; I wonder if it is autobiographical... makes you think.
The album closes out with "Bring down the reign", a song about Darfur. Not the best track on the CD, but not the worst either.
The whole set reeks of hit production values - my only criticism is that some of the cuts sound a little over-produced, but certainly no song fails on that account.
It is hard to believe that her first hit was in 1976 - Thirty-two years ago. Her last major hit - She works hard for the money - is fifteen years in the past. Her last studio album - Mistaken Identity - is seventeen years old. She was 59 years old at the time Crayons was released; she must have had a hell of a makeover for the cover shot...
In the final analysis, however, it is the music that does the talking, and the message is that even now she can run rings around lesser divas that were not even born when she was the Queen of Disco.
The Queen is back. Don't' just stand there - KNEEL!!
Free Music Review: Donna summer's CRAYONS...are very colorful and easy to listen to!!!
Hit: 5 Stars
Donna Summer is probably my favorite female vocalist EVER!!! She always pleases an audience live, and also pleases my ears when I listen to her at home!!
I like every song on the album...but I feel that each song works better individually. It's still an excellent album...but for me...listening to each song from top to bottom makes me want to change the order of the songs...or just add two or three more songs to even out the concept of the album.
Let's talk about the songs. The best Donna songs for me are "The Queen Is Back", "Mr. Music", "Stamp Your Feet", "Science Of Love", & "I'm A Fire".
The other songs that I like to listen to when I'm feeling blue are: "Be Myself Again", & "Sand On My Feet". When I want to feel nuts I listen to "Crayons", or "Fame". I like "Driving Down Brazil" & "Bring Down The Reign"...but they don't match with this collection.
Since I am the biggest Donna Summer fan, I am going to be very picky about her vocals...I feel that the engineers have drowned out Donna's perfect voice. For example, on the song "Stamp Your Feet", Donna's voice doesn't sound as vibrant as it should be because of the latest vocal technology used by singers these days!!! They should just let the queen sing her songs without overpowering her vocals with robotic vocal sounds!!! The robot voice works great with "Im A Fire"...but this robotic sound should not be used throughout the whole song!! I've proved this statement by listening to her sing "Stamp Your Feet" on Entertainment Tonight...and she sounded the way she should have been recorded.
"Mr. Music" is Donna's best song on the disc. Her voice shines, and sounds like Donna. Donna always creates characters for each song...but I feel that she should use her real voice...she doesn't need to sound like anybody else!! Sometimes, in "Sand On My Feet" I almost think Rihanna is singing it!! Another great Donna song is "Science Of Love" because you can tell that she likes the song...and she sounds like herself.
At times, Donna is too breathy...especially on "I'm A Fire" where her voice should have sounded more robust, as on "Mr. Music". I cant wait to hear her do this song live!!!
Sometimes, Donna overpowers her own voice...especially on "Stamp Your Feet"...but she brings her point across very well!!!
I can get used to the idea that Donna has to get older...but I wish she would stop talking about her age, and making fun of it!!! It's cute sometimes, but I feel that as long as she looks good, sounds good, and is healthy...that nothing will stop my favorite diva from singing another 100 years!!! Rating: Donna's voice: A+ Engineering Donna's voice: C Original Compositions: A- Thank you...Kenny
Free Music Review: Donna's Colorful Comeback Rocks!
Hit: 5 Stars
After 17 years since her last studio album, Donna has returned to the spotlight with her smash CD "Crayons". It's a mixed bag, Donna-Style. Her flawless, strong vocals are back once again. The Queen is back indeed! Having grown up in the mid 70's, I've always liked Donna's singing and her songs. Crayons is right up there with the best music of 2008.
"I'm a Fire" is flaming and stands out among the tracks, with its mix of Disco and modern-day "light" club-sound. No wonder it's turned out to be Donna's first remix single! "Stamp Your Feet" is a perfect opener and totally rocks. I've both these CD singles here at home. Crayons is quite laid-back and not entirely dancy or club-floor sounding as I thought, which isn't bad. There's also a rock-edge mixed with Pop, Reggae and electronica. All these styles intertwined with Donna's full, in-your-face, throaty voice, makes this CD a true winner. Track 6 (Sand on My Feet) is so floating and rich with beautiful vocals and lyrics. I'd say it's an "Easy Listening" type of song and very summery through and through. You'll notice they put Donna's voice through the synthesizer quite a bit through the CD, but it works pretty darned well.
Lots of thought, heart and soul went into this recording. Track 9 (Slide Over Backwards) is very entertaining with its country style and very amusing vocal style. Chorus line is fun and the whole song could've worked very well in Tina Turner's repertoire. I think this is Donna's most electic album to date, and definitely worth playing for family & friends.
The CD is housed in a lovely black digi-pak with a fully illustrated booklet (16 pages). The digi-pak is a tri-fold layout. The interior middle section features the same closeup eye shot as on Donna's "I'm a Fire" cd single cover. Right flap holds the CD and the left flap holds the booklet. All photos of Donna are beautiful and she's looking ageless. the outside of the left flap features another photo of Donna.
Crayons is a definite winner for your summer listening & beyond. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to discover a true legend. I'm glad Donna is back because there are too many commercially fake & obnoxious Divas out there, if they even deserve the title "Diva". Crayons is perfect for putting on your Ipod, for there isn't a song you won't like. So go and get yourself this CD and let Donna heat up your summer.
Free Music Review: The Queen is Back ! Four decades of music!
Hit: 5 Stars
What a bliss! The QUEEN (or should it be Empress by now?) is back! Four decades of music and songs she provided us. Mostly co-written or written by Miss Summer herself. This album stands out as a wonderful up-to-date piece of work. Again Donna Summer have proved herself as one of the most important vocalists! This album shows again that Donna can do anything she musically wants. It's incredible to see that she's still in control! What an artist, what a voice! Well....... what to add more...
Of course I'm a fan since Donna's disco days, but I always admired her for using different 'colors' and musical directions to keep us surprised. We remember the albums THE WANDERER, I'M A RAINBOW, MISTAKEN IDENTITY, CHRISTMAS SPIRIT etc. So this new album adds to the flavour.
To electronic? Well... ever heard I FEEL LOVE, OUR LOVE, NOW I NEED YOU? If any artist liked to experiment... Donna was! Always ahead of everybody else. Remember the reactions Brian Eno and David Bowie made on I FEEL LOVE... it was 1976!
Not Donna's Disco? Is an artist a good one if she/he sticks to a few masterpieces or genres only? Or is real artist one who paved the way to new areas, new grounds, new experiences? The masterpieces of Donna's disco days are musical milestones now. But to re-copy them? Let other singers do that stuff. Donna Summer have already proved herself during the disco days and there is too much quality stuff out of that period that it would be dull to make more! Let Donna go on!
But ok.... it's FOUR decades now, and Donna refuses to stop and limit herself to disco alone. This album shows her kaleidoscopic skills. Wonderful. A good addition and developement to her earlier work. Sad that it took so long (17 years) to complete it, but it was worth the wait. And Donna deserves to be waiting for. What a class and uncomparable! Stylisch and with a good spirit. That's the Donna we learned to know during the last 40 years. Let's hope she keep us wondering and suprised. She cannot be missed in the global musical minds of music lovers.
P.S. the pictures on this album are wonderful. Photoshopped? Well, what's NOT photoshopped or corrected these days.... would you look so good after a photoshop session?? (joking).