Music News

Donna Summer is the subject of a new HBO documentary examining the disco icon’s life both on and off the stage.

Love to Love You, Donna Summer will premiere on HBO and HBO Max on Saturday, May 20 at 8 PM ET/PT. Per Warner Bros., the film features ” … a wealth of photographs and never-before-seen home video footage – often shot by Summer herself – and provides a rich window into the surprising range of her artistry, from songwriting to painting, while exploring the highs and lows of a life lived on the global stage.”

Additionally, the film features insights from Summers’ three daughters, her siblings, her two husband and her frequent collaborators.

The trailer for Love to Love You, Donna Summer can be viewed below.

 

5 Classic Rock Disco Tracks We All Love (Admit It!)

Rock and disco: They’re two genres that are sworn enemies. But during disco’s heyday, it managed to sneak its way into songs by some of the biggest rock acts ever.

One of the best examples is KISS, whose 1979 studio album Dynasty is known for being heavily influenced by disco. The biggest hit off the album is “I Was Made For Lovin’ You.” Despite being a hit on the Billboard Hot 100, it’s a track that continues to divide some fans and even members of the band.

In fact, Gene Simmons said in a new interview that he absolutely hates one part of the song. That part? All the high register “Do, do, do” backing vocals.

“I hate it to this day, ” said everyone’s favorite blood-spitting Demon. “Except, stadium-fulls of people … they jump around like biblical locusts … ‘Do, do, do’ … and so I play along.”

In honor of Simmons’ love-hate relationship with the song, here’s a brief look at five classic rock disco tracks we all love. Admit it; it’s hard to deny these earworms.

  • KISS - 'I Was Made For Loving You'

    This ridiculously catchy track features a songwriting credit from Desmond Child, who also helped co-write massive hits for Aerosmith (“Angel,” “Dude (Looks Like A Lady)”), Bon Jovi (“Living On A Prayer,” “Bad Medicine”) and Joan Jett & the Blackhearts (“I Hate Myself For Loving You”.)

  • Blondie - 'Heart of Glass'

    This song was controversial for two reasons:  Blondie was a punk band and because the song features the phrase “pain in the ass,” which made some radio stations nervous to play it.  What a simpler time!

  • Pink Floyd - 'Run Like Hell'

    While not an overt dive into disco, you have to admit that this track from The Wall is definitely disco-influenced, at the very least. (And it’s just such a killer groove.)

  • The Rolling Stones - 'Miss You'

    Play “Miss You” at any wedding, and I guarantee the dance floor will be immediately packed. Plus, this might be the hookiest hook Mick Jagger and Keith Richards ever wrote.

  • Rod Stewart - 'Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?'

    A list about classic rock disco tracks just isn’t complete without this Rod Stewart gem. We’ve all danced to it in front of our bedroom mirrors. We’ve all cranked it while in the car. And if you say you haven’t, you’re either a liar or just don’t know how to live.

Erica Banas is a rock/classic rock news blogger who's well-versed in etiquette and extraordinarily nice. #TransRightsAreHumanRights