Another bit of my past is gone. Donna Summer, Disco Diva, has died of cancer at age 63. A quick rundown of her greatest hits reads like the first 10 years of my club life. Sure, she had her share of "bad press" through the years, may have made some anti-gay remarks at one point, but I didn't really care. Her music transcended any bitchiness or bad days on her part. Bad Girls, alone, will always make me smile with my Mona Lisa smile, remembering those afternoons folding sweaters and shirts over and over again trying to look busy at Ah Men's in West Hollywood, just waiting to hit the bars that night. I saw Ms Summer in concert in Connecticut once, and it was fairly unmemorable—hot in temperature and short in length. I remember that night more for my old friend Kevin and his Lincoln Mark VII LSC that brought us to the venue, er, um, swiftly, lol. But I also saw her in person once in Los Angeles. I was visiting a friend that worked at David Geffen's office on Sunset, and Ms Summer was walking out as I walked in. I glanced at her and said, "Love to love you, Baby," her first big hit. She looked at me and gave me the finger as she strode towards her awaiting Range Rover, lol. I just burst into laughter. It made my day, it made my night, and it made my month, actually—I was flipped off by Donna Summer!
For that 5 seconds locked in time, and for the soundtrack to my early adult life, I thank you, Donna. I wish you nothing but peace in your next journey. Dim All the Lights, it's our Last Dance, indeed.
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IT SEEMS LIKE JUST YESTERDAY WHEN SHE WAS AT THE TOP OF HER GAME. NOW GONE. SO SAD.
ReplyDeleteRIP
THANKS FOR SHARING.
GRANNY
That's a funny story Casey. I think that's how people should be remembered, with a smile.
ReplyDeleteNow to sit down and make up my list of "People I like to flipped off by."
;)
Oh, I've said enough ridiculous things, and done enough ridiculous things that I can't imagine anyone will ever remember me with anything but a smile, lol. and that makes me smile, too!
ReplyDeleteAnother great diva gone. Was listening to a Donna CD out of my collection, thought I'd check the computer, and low and behold you posted about her passing. Knew you would, you never disappoint;) McArthur's Park is playing right now, one of my favorites. RIP Donna, and thanks Casey!
ReplyDeleteThe PhantomX reappears! Thanks for checking in and don't be a stranger!
DeleteDonna Summer is part of so many memories for those of us of a certain age. One of the most vivid is a memorial service I went to in 1986 for a member of the club crowd that I ran with during the Saint days. It was at the very pretty stone church (Episcopal, I think) on Madison Avenue at about 36th Street. After all the priests in full tat and a lot of beautiful organ music, the service concluded with "Last Dance" as requested by the deceased. And of course, how many Donna Summer songs did we dance to at The Saint or the Monster or the Ice Palace. Memories!!
ReplyDeletePaul, NYC