Wednesday, December 28, 2022

Forgotten TV: The Donna Summer Special (1980)

 Winter 1980. Disco is on its last legs, as the public's musical tastes are changing yet again, gravitating toward the punk rock sound, and, otherwise, re-embracing traditional pop and rock sounds.

Cbart topper Donna Summer headlined her first special for ABC, airing in January 1980. Part autobiography, part concert, part traditional variety special, Donna retraces the steps of her musical career. Robert Guillaume (Benson) all but steals the show with a mid-show medley of covers ("Midnight at The Oasis", "The Way You Do The Things You Do", "Bridge Over Troubled Water') as an angel comforting Donna.


Donna shifted to a more traditional R & B sound 3 years later with "She Works Hard For The Money".

Rating: A.

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