CLASSIFICATIONS
11 years ago Donna Summer, the 'Queen of Disco' left us
On 17 May 2012, exactly 11 years ago, Donna Summer ascended into heaven due to lung cancer, at the age of 63. She was one of the most famous singers in music history, rising to fame in the 1970s with hits such as 'Love to Love you Baby' and 'I Feel Love'.
Born in Boston, she can boast two singles on the Rolling Stone 500 list of the best songs of all time. In her career, she has also sold over 150 million records, as well as winning six American Music Awards and five Grammy Awards.
Described as "The Queen of Disco", Donna Summer has also encompassed many other musical genres in her lyrics, such as soul, R&B, gospel and Rock 'n' Roll.
Di Casablanca Records - eBay itemphoto frontphoto back, Pubblico dominio, https://commons.wikimedia.
11 years ago Donna Summer, the 'Queen of Disco' left us
On 17 May 2012, exactly 11 years ago, Donna Summer ascended into heaven due to lung cancer, at the age of 63. She was one of the most famous singers in music history, rising to fame in the 1970s with hits such as 'Love to Love you Baby' and 'I Feel Love'.
11 years ago Donna Summer, the 'Queen of Disco' left us
Born in Boston, she can boast two singles on the Rolling Stone 500 list of the best songs of all time. She has also sold more than 150 million records in her career and has won six American Music Awards and five Grammy Awards.
11 years ago Donna Summer, the 'Queen of Disco' left us
Described as 'The Queen of Disco', Donna Summer also encapsulated many other musical genres in her lyrics, such as soul, R&B, gospel and Rock 'n' Roll.
11 years ago Donna Summer, the 'Queen of Disco' left us
'Love to Love you Baby', the album that brought her worldwide success, was driven by the title track that lasted a full 17 minutes. This song set the tone for all the dance music that would be produced from then on. The idea of a track about 17 minutes long even scared Summer herself, but her faithful colleague and producer Moroder said he wanted to make a sexy & sensual track.
11 years ago Donna Summer, the 'Queen of Disco' left us
Donna Summer has won some of the most prestigious awards, including six American Music Awards and five Grammy Awards; she also performed a song, 'Last Dance', whose author was awarded a Golden Globe and an Oscar.
11 years ago Donna Summer, the 'Queen of Disco' left us
In 1992, she was awarded a star by the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2013, after her death, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
11 years ago Donna Summer, the 'Queen of Disco' left us
Donna Summer can also boast the title of being the first artist to have three double number one albums in a row on the Billboard 200 chart, and four number one singles in the same calendar year. Composer and producer Giorgio Moroder (her trusted friend and collaborator) described her work with her as 'the beginning of electronic music'.
11 years ago Donna Summer, the 'Queen of Disco' left us
Donna Summer has received many tributes over the years. "Beyoncé's 'Naughty Girl', included in the album 'Dangerously in Love', takes up the opening tune of 'Love to Love You Baby'. Furthermore, Madonna sampled 'I Feel Love' in the song 'Future Lovers' from the album 'Confessions on a Dance Floor' and sang part of the song during the performance of 'Future Lovers' during the Confessions Tour in 2006.
11 years ago Donna Summer, the 'Queen of Disco' left us
Donna Summer's other accolades were, for example, 24 gold and platinum records in the US, 19 silver records in the UK.
Rankings
21/09/2023
The well-known US magazine Rolling Stone in 2021 has updated the list of the 500 most beautiful songs of all time.
The ranking was first published on December 11, 2003 and was compiled by a jury chosen by the editorial staff, composed of 172 musicians, music critics and experts in the recording industry. Subsequently, the ranking was changed twice: the first in 2010, the second in 2021, when 254 songs that were previously not present were added.
Obviously, there is nothing more subjective than music: these songs are considered the best according to the criteria defined by Rolling Stonemagazine, but each of us has his own personal ranking of the best songs ever. Here, however, is the Top 20 of Rolling Stone.
Rankings
19/09/2023
In 2008, 'Rolling Stone' compiled a list of the 100 best singers of all time.
This ranking was compiled 15 years ago by 180 people, including several musicians (e.g. Bruce Springsteen, Rod Stewart, Justin Timberlake, George Michael, Keith Richards), journalists and music experts.
On 1 January 2023, however, 'Rolling Stone' published an update of the ranking that revolutionised the list, especially with regard to the Top Ten. As the well-known US magazine was keen to point out, this ranking does not only take into account technical and vocal abilities (it is not a list of the best voices of all time), but also the originality of the vocal timbre, the record catalogue, the writing ability and the musical legacy of the singers in question. Here are the top 20 positions.