I feel love
Sam Smith just released a version of Donna Summer's mid-seventies opus I Feel Love. I think this song is absolutely iconic and that Donna's vocals are almost mystical in it . I also think that Giorgio Moroder's production of this track basically set the blueprint for what we know today as electronic music (and House and Garage and Trance and TripHop and so on and so forth). Guy Lawrence, one half of Disclosure who produced Sam's version, basically owes Giorgio a debt of gratitude for having crafted such delicious treat.
Sam's vocals here are super airy (and super high, damn!) and the music is totally on point. Of course, reimagining such a seminal work is dangerous, because the original is so completely awesome and has touched so many people. The original, released at the peak of Disco and before toxic masculinity and racism would give birth to the Disco Demolition movement that Steven Dahl's would unleash on the black, queer kids who enjoyed Disco the most, was a revelation. For white, straight, cisgender men Disco was a threat they tried to kill. For queer kids of color, it was the kind of music that spoke their language. Yep. People's 'love' for rock music was basically thinly veiled racism and homophobia. Not more and not less.
But Disco survived in songs like I Feel Love. A song that now, forty years after Donna got everybody in a trance while singing it, and forty years after Steven tried to silence the sound of gay clubs, has found a new life. Disco is still alive in House music, in EDM, in the remixes that we dance to in clubs and house parties all over the world.
Disco is dead. Long live Disco.
And here's Donna's original. In all its eight minute glory. This version has always made me think of very, very good sex. It makes me think of teverything that leads to hat moment when you just know that he's going to cum. When his whole body tenses and his breath becomes labored. When he talks dirty to you through clenched teeth. When his dick gets rock hard and he grabs you for deal life and you just know that he's hit the point of no return. That's what that song reminds me of.
Wanna dance?
XOXO
Hello
Sam kind of reminds me of Jimmy Somerville here, which ain't a bad thing.
ReplyDeleteOh my gay god yes! Jimmy should put more stuff out. He did I Feel Love with Marc Almond and it was EPIC. I Feel Love is cannon in queer circles.
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I've tried, and tried, and really tried to like Sam, but I just can't bring myself to like his music. He just doesn't do it for me. Bob, upstairs, reminds us of Jimmy Somerville, whose "I Feel Love" I still beebop to in the shower – and is indeed a classic to me. And to be honest, I'm still stuck with Elderbrook & Rudimental's "Something About You." That face, and that song, keeps me up at night every night and I'm blaming you for my insomnia.
ReplyDeleteJimmy Somerville is iconic. Bronski Beat was epic. I think he’s so sexy! That Rudimental son (and video) are absolutely awesome. That face IS unforgettable. I accept the responsibility. I love that four by four on the dance floor.
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Sam’s impossibly high notes throughout the song are kind of haunting. They do a good job of covering Donna’s iconic anthem.
ReplyDeleteI won’t say anything about your reminisces of Donna‘s version. 😘
XOXO 👨❤️💋👨
LoL. You should know....
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Ditto what Walter said.
ReplyDeleteYep. I wonder if Jimmy Somerville would come to any of the Pride celebrations in the states. I’d love to go see him...
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I think it might be sacrilegious to remake this Donna Summer song. She. IS the song...and sam Smith gets quite frankly ,on my nerves. Like Walter i tried to like him....but it isn't working.
ReplyDeleteDonna IS the song. I’m telling you, I get on a fucking trance when they play that in the clubs. I’m also partial to the super long version of McArthur Park and No More Tears. I love my classic disco songs!
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Sadly, I must agree with everyone here. All I feel is a need to reach for a bottle of sangria and drown my sorrows on my manservant Clive's lap. He's just come in from doing yard work and is all sweaty and smelly. Now that makes me feel something.
ReplyDeleteWe need pictures of Clive after doing some yard work. Before he showers. Preferably naked.
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It's okay. If someone wanted to remake it, it should have been a baritone. This sounds too much like an imitation of the original.
ReplyDeleteI actually like that his notes are helium high. Donna’s vocals were ethereal. And it would be interesting to hear a baritone try it, really...
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I have liked a few Sam Smith songs...but this is one of them. Sounded like a cat in heat. I liked his earlier stuff when he came first hit the scene.
ReplyDeleteOMG Stay With Me is my jam!
DeleteI also love Latch and La la La.
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Want to dance... after that description of sex I think that I either need a cold shower or to spend a little quality time with myself! Lol
ReplyDeleteHaha
DeleteThe good thing about both sex and dancing it’s that both can be done a deux or solo, my dear.
XoXo