Donna Summer - Crayons
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Free Music Notes for Crayons
Free Music Review: True talent Endures - ALL HAIL THE QUEEN
Hit: 5 Stars
As an ardent Summer fan I have been waiting for years for this CD. It hasnt been officially released over here yet but thanks to AMAZON I now have a copy of the US (albeit without the bonus track 'it's only love) release, and it hasnt left my CD player yet.
What to make of this 'colourful Summer' - like her 1987 release All Systems Go and 1991's Mistaken Identity at first listen it sounds strange and unlike anything she has recorded previously. But like those two releases which have divided camps (those that love them and those that dont) Crayons grows on you each time you listen to it and is destined again like the aforementioned CDS to become one of my all time favourite Donna Summer recordings.
It's interesting that many people still perceive Summer as a 'disco artist' when in fact she has been anything but since 1980's The Wanderer (which was pure Rock), Summer as an artist has never been afraid to experiment and refuses to be pigeonholed into one particular category. Crayons allows her to really let her creative juices flow from the rousing anthem Stamp Your Feet, to the Bluesy Slide Over Backwards (another voice in her already Chameleonlike range - just awesome) to the retro disco of I'm A Fire. The title track Crayons featuring Ziggy Marley is catchy and should be a sure fire Summer Hit. Whilst Science Of Love with its excellent vocals could be another pop hit single - to me it has a throwback feel to the 80's (and could easily fit on All Systems Go).
My favourite has to be the acoustic sounding ballad Sand On My feet and the spine tingling Be Myself again.
Donna Summer is an icon, a legend and a True Talent that has endured, all hail the return of THE QUEEN. Do not miss the opportunity to rediscover the many colours of Summer.
One minor gripe is with the 'marketing' of the CD and the emphasis on the '17 years' which makes it sound as if Summer has been idle all those years...yes it has been 17 years since Mistaken Identity but Summer has released many quality singles including: I Got Your Love, I will Go With You, You're So Beautiful, Hits Compilations A Christmas CD, a Live album and dvd, and an autobiography which have kept her in the public eye.
Free Music Review: Addicting disc for those who aren't living in Donna's past...
Hit: 5 Stars
While the last 17 years have only given us lone single releases here and there (plenty enough to fill an album or two if compiled together), Many people have struggled with even those tracks, always expecting Donna to give us the next "MacArthur Park". Times have changed. Music has changed. Donna's vibe has consistently tapped into those new sounds through a smart selection of producers and remixers. Quite frankly, all the types of pop and dance music I listen to now are reflected in this CD. And all this talk of Donna's voice not being the same--personally, I find her voice has matured to a richer, more controlled timbre, and I welcome the diversity of vocal techniques she uses to make each performance sound different.
A majority of these songs are so addicting I can't stop listening to them, and several are ripe for fantastic dance mixes. Stamp Your Feet sounds great in its original form and becomes a club `stomper' in the remixed forms on the CD single--same for I'm A Fire, although the best remix of that song has not been released commercially as of yet. Mr. Music has a great hip hop rhythm and a sort of `crunk' synth riff. Crayons is a bouncy electro pop track. The Queen Is back is a fantastic hard hip hop track with powerful diva vocals and backing vocals and a lyrical theme that long time fans can appreciate. Fame (The Game) is another club stomper with great synths, grinding guitar sample, and a harder electro vibe. Science of Love has an infectious chorus and more edgy soul/hip hop rhythms. Be Myself Again is Donna pulling off one of her stunning moody and atmospheric ballads. And for those smart enough to get their hands on the special edition release with the bonus track "It's Only Love", you get a 7 minute, disco infused electro house track.
Other tracks include the smooth groovin' sand on my feet (very summery track), the offbeat "drivin' down brazil", the harmonica heavy, country and blues influenced jam "slide over backwards", and the chanting, tribal vibe of "bring down the reign."
Bottom line--I cant' stop listening to the latest Donna Summer CD, and am thrilled to have a full length disc from her at last.
Free Music Review: Caliente Summer
Hit: 5 Stars
I have been a Donna fan since I first heard her moan her way through "Love To Love You Baby". In the past I looked forward to the different musical influences that would be infused into her "disco" music especially the massive double vinyl "Bad Girls" release. Over the years she has recorded several full length releases after the disco craze with mixed reviews and popularity-think "Cats Without Claws" or "Mistaken Identity". While I loved most there were some that left me scratching my head and thinking "what happened"? One thing I couldn't deny whether I agreed with the direction of the music or not was "the voice". Some have it and some don't, it's that simple. Apparently that doesn't matter much anymore just listen to the slew of "singers" that have hits, it's all about the beats and or sample. One has to wonder would any of these songs be hits if it were not for the sample/hook borrowed from past massive hits. There are no samples on this release. That being said the voice is right on target as usual albiet there is some vocal manipulation on some of the tracks. The songs and lyrics range in style but all have a contemporary sound to them that can be matched head to head with anything out in the market today on pop radio. I love most of the songs and like the others. This CD as a whole is well worth the cost, she does look wonderful in the pictures (what that has to do with a singer I've yet to figure out). If you want a straight forward dance CD this is probably not for you. Look to Madonna's Confession release, Cher's last 2 releases or a dance artist that makes only that type of music. In other words save the money, buy the dance remix singles and you'll be very happy. If you want a CD of music that takes you through several moods/styles, hence the name "Crayons", won't bore you after a couple of listens and want stellar vocals this CD will give you your money's worth. There's everything from the raggae influenced Crayons to the disco loungy I'm A Fire to the arena anthemy Stamp Your Feet and even a summery breezy calypso song titled "Driving Down Brazil". Some ballads, some rock influened cuts you name it, it's on here.Free Music Review: And You Thought It Would Never Happen ...
Hit: 5 Stars
After countless remixes of "I Feel Love" and lots of GREATEST HITS packages "with two new tracks" ... the hard-core Donna Summer Fans ~ The Friends Unknown ~ really began to lose faith that we would ever see a full-length CD of all-new material.
We waited. We waited. We waited.
Well, the wait is over.
CRAYONS - Donna's first CD of all-new material in 17-years - does not disappoint. Gone forever are the Disco Days of "Hot Stuff" and "Heaven Knows". Donna Summer is a well-respected, 5-time Grammy Award winning songwriter and artiste' - not just a singer who can hold a note for 15 bars. (see "Dim All The Lights" ... "Let it fill you
No stranger to challenging herself and going for the unexpected, she crosses over many music genres on this CD - as she has in all of her post-SHE WORKS HARD FOR THE MONEY work - and has produced a very nice album that is very pleasant and easy to listen to. While I must admit that I actually prefer when Donna sings in full voice and shows you her God-given talent as a vocalist, the studio effects placed on her voice do grow on you after a few listens.
TRACK LIST:
1. Stamp Your Feet
2. Mr. Music
3. Crayons (featuring Ziggy Marley)
4. The Queen is Back
5. Fame (The Game)
6. Sand On My Feet
7. Drivin' Down Brazil
8. I'm A Fire
9. Slide Over Backwards
10. Science of Love
11. Be Myself Again
12. Bring Down The Reign
STAND-OUT TRACKS:
"The Queen is Back"
"Sand On My Feet"
"Stamp Your Feet"
"I'm A Fire"
"Drivin' Down Brazil"
I have listened to this CD countless times over the last month, and I must say that it has been worth the wait. Dancing Queens and Chelsea/West Hollywood Boys will revel in the remixes of released tracks as they come out. But for variety and diversity, this album is a standout. Go get yours today.
And then check out www.donnasummerlove.multiply.com
Free Music Review: Move Over Madonna, The Original Dance Diva Is Back
Hit: 5 Stars
Donna Summer's first studio album in 17 years is not only a welcomed surprise, but a living, breathing example on how Summer's talent and stamina can never be erased. She's certainly had an accomplished career and one not without numerous struggles and challenges. Though she was labeled "queen of disco" throughout the 70's(and rightfully so)Summer wanted recognition as a more in-depth artist. 1979's Bad Girls remains one of the most successful recordings of her career, and if you were to listen to that album now, you'd see how Summer pulled off a diverse collection of every kind of music that was considered modern for 1979. Flash forward to 2008 as Crayons has the original dance diva on the pulse of contemporary music but still providing her own stamp on every song.
Following Bad Girls, Donna shifted to Geffen Records, which later proved as a bad mistake, but only because David Geffen didn't share her vision and even underrated her recordings. 1980's The Wanderer had Summer on an artistic and musical ascent that continued from the Bad Girls album, but that recording went mostly unnoticed, and then 1981's I'm A Rainbow, another great recording, never got released(it was later released in 1996)which was rather astounding because it would have been a hit as Summer was still as diverse and in touch with the musical genres of that era(buy a copy of I'm A Rainbow and you'll see what I mean)and I can't help but think that Crayons is sort of like Summer's modern-day opportunity to show the many facets of her talent and emotions as she once did on 1981's I'm A Rainbow, but of course Crayons is fresher and better and will have all the true Donna Summer fans remembering why we loved her so much. She remains diverse and colorful and her powerhouse voice is as powerful and magnetic as ever. Plus the songs themselves will have you wanting to get up and dance again. Check out "Mr.Music," "Fame(The Game)," "I'm A Fire," and "The Queen is Back,"(and she certainly is)to name a few. Donna, next time don't stay away so long.