5 Reasons Why Rihanna is the Donna Summer of Our Time
11.21.2011
By Jordan Shavarebi
Unless you have an extreme aversion to perfection, beauty, and beating the beat up, you need to grab Rihanna’s Talk That Talk. It’s a meticulously produced, ferocious new album that officially establishes her in-control image as an artist. Any attempt of the media to portray the artist as a victim (the girl’s been through a lot) has been squashed completely with Talk That Talk. And furthermore, she’s completely separated herself from the other ladies in the game—especially (the very beautiful and talented) Beyonce. There isn’t a censored bone in this album’s body—she dives full force into drunk love, cockiness, sex, and eating her… cake. She doesn’t have a president to impress or a husband to be discreet for, and it’s really fantastic.
In many ways, she’s emerging as the dance anthem-maker of our time: the main goals of her songs seem to be an undeniable beat and an addictive hook. She conveys her messages with little dancing, a powerful but unadorned voice, an ostentatious outfit, and the desire to make you move. In short, she is Donna Summer. And here’s why.
1. HUMBLE BEGINNINGS. Rihanna’s Pon De Replay is Donna Summer’s Love to Love You Baby. Their respective breakout songs were obviously commissioned by chauvinistic men who were interested in a strict sex-and-dance angle. But, by the time Donna reached the height of her career, you’d have been a fool to think that she was taking orders from any man, anywhere. Same with Rihanna. She’s the top.
2. AN UNDERLYING RAGE. To even the sexiest and sweetest of Rihanna’s songs, there exists a savage bite. Whether she’s singing about making love or making war, she does so with a palpable rage. The same can be said of Ms. Summer: Last Dance and On The Radio (one about begging a man to dance, the other about a pitiful breakup) are both slaps to the face with a leather glove.
3. WERQING THE STAGE. Both artists have distinct performance styles: little dancing, lots of strutting, and pure torch-singer precision. Rihanna gives little important to choreography in her videos as well, as the reason is simple: she doesn’t need it. Neither did Donna. They do plenty of werq without it.
4. TRENDY LADIES. Donna wore disco like it was her job. She defined an era not only with her voice, but with her silhouette, too. And Rihanna is, without a doubt, the trendiest girl in pop music today. You might’ve hated her red hair and combat boots, but there’s no denying that she draws from the fashions that define our time. And she serves them like Donna used to do: piping hot and ready to imitate.
5. SHE WANTS TO MAKE YOU MOVE. First and foremost, Rihanna wants to make you dance. And wasn’t that what disco was all about? It’s mindless yet amazing, and you can put your hands up and get lost in it. If you’re not already drunk when a Rihanna (or Donna, for that matter) song comes on at a club, you’re going to feel like it by the time the songs is done.
And to sum up: Isn’t it about time that Rihanna covers this song?
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Oh my! I just read this article and can not believe what I read. Donna Summer is and always will be the yard stick of which all great singers will be measured by. Donna has and still continues to belt out songs better than any female around. When comparing Donna Summer to another artist, DON'T!
While I do think that Rihanna does share some similarities to Donna Summer, I don't think she has the talent to be the Donna Summer of our time. She has had great vocal performances lately along with some strutting here and there, but she just doesn't have that strong, clear, beautiful voice and charisma that Donna has. If anything, I feel the next Donna Summer should be Kelly Rowland. All Kelly needs to do is get on her grind and begin selling herself. She needs to be the modern day dance queen. Rihanna is closer to Madonna than Donna Summer in my opinion.
This author must be on drugs...
Rihanna BARELY writes, can BARELY sing, BARELY dances, and BARELY has a brain cell to carry. If it wasn't for Rihanna's writers/producers, she'd be in the same waste bin as the other has beens. OH PLEASE!
I always thought Rihanna was one of the worst "singers" out there...very untrained weak voice.whiney. Donna Summer is the last person she should be compared to.Gwen Stephani maybe....God gave Donna Summer a strong clear voice,The best on the planet and a heart to match.True Charisma.It's not out there now-a-days.
rihanna has syle and guts. love the song, shut up and drive. she has proven that she can
deliver on that point. not to disss her but donna's voice and artistic flare are worlds apart. how
many new singers can hold a note as long as donna can? and with so much conviction and clarity?
rihanna is good. but if u want to be donna summer, learn to write songs, be involved with production
and sing your ass off.
Donna can sing circles around Rihanna (and Madonna, Britney, Beyonce, ect) but since she has an ambiguous relationship to fame, and made her fortune long ago (estimated 75 million), she's allowed any "diva" with a dance beat to be compared to her.
I LOVE DONNA SUMMER AND RIHANNA BUT DONNA HAS THE MOST POWERFUL VOICE OF ANY GENERATION AND HER ACCOMPLISHMENT DOSENT OR CANT BE COMPARED TO RIHANNA AFTER ALL THESE YEARS SHE IS STILL AMONG THE NUMBER 10 SINGER/SONG WRITER OF ALL TIME EVEN WITHOUT A ALBUM FOR SO MANY YEARS. DONNA SUMMER WILL ALWAYS BE DONNA SUMMER AND NO CAMPARISON TO HER SORRY. SHE MADE DANCE MUSIC WHAT IT IS TODAY,.
DONNA SUMMER is ONE AND ONLY, Rihanna is good, I like her a lot, but there's only one Donna Summer forever.
Donna sings. Rhianna whines. Donna rings. Rhianna whines. Donna fly high. Rhianna, why? Rhianna and Britney Spears are in the same nose-drone league. Don't be dissin' the Grand Diva Donna, cause the fans be hissin,' and they let you know what you missin' when you lissten--the sweetness, the sorrow, the love the joy, all the colors of the rainbow, feel me, Donna can do the drone, and the wail, be she is so much more. So, don't be throwin' her name around lightly now. You have been forewarned. SSSSsssssssssss!
Rihanna show cover: C&C Music Factory-"Deeper Love". Rihanna's song "Man Down", is my all-time favorite song from her and love the Video too!! I can relate all about what the Subject was about, trust me.
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you cant judge rihanna just becouse she is "fresh"!!OYou know what i mean...iam yong and i can feel how huge rihanna is to my generation...and you can´t judge also the new genaration!!!she is the most amazing artisit that represents me and my people!Even if you dont like Rihanna you NEED to admit it!
she is the most popular POP singer in this industry and she has ONLY 23!And dont forget that her "TIMBRE"(I dont now how to say this worldd in english )is Timeless...when you hear a Rihanna´s song you KNOW who is the one singing!!!
you cant judge rihanna just becouse she is "fresh"!!OYou know what i mean...iam yong and i can feel how huge rihanna is to my generation...and you can´t judge also the new genaration!!!she is the most amazing artisit that represents me and my people!Even if you dont like Rihanna you NEED to admit it!
she is the most popular POP singer in this industry and she has ONLY 23!And dont forget that her "TIMBRE"(I dont now how to say this worldd in english )is Timeless...when you hear a Rihanna´s song you KNOW who is the one singing!!!
you cant judge rihanna just becouse she is "fresh"!!OYou know what i mean...iam yong and i can feel how huge rihanna is to my generation...and you can´t judge also the new genaration!!!she is the most amazing artisit that represents me and my people!Even if you dont like Rihanna you NEED to admit it!
she is the most popular POP singer in this industry and she has ONLY 23!And dont forget that her "TIMBRE"(I dont now how to say this worldd in english )is Timeless...when you hear a Rihanna´s song you KNOW who is the one singing!!!
I like any story that gives Donna publicity, but she was and is so much more than Rihanna.
A key part being the trailblazer that was Donna in the 1970's. There were other popular women of song in the 70's (Diana Ross, Olivia Newton-John, etc.), BUT none of them were selling singles and albums like Donna. Donna broke the glass ceiling, and the women that followed her from Madonna, to Lady Ga Ga, and yes, Rihanna owe her a debt of gratitude.
All of today's female pop singers owe a debt of gratitude to Donna. I have always said that Donna was and is the first female pop superstar in the modern era.
Donna Summer is the Donna Summer of our time! I like Rihanna, but she is no Donna Summer.
Rihanna has the strength and drive of miss summer, plus her own unique punch! I think it's so refreshing to hear from the voices of tween- 30 somethings and have them know the history of their music. Brilliant article.
what an insult....if anything Kylie is the Donna Summer....a white one but still more Donna then Rihanna..
Donna Summer is a legend and she still is the Donna Summer of our time!
I can't believe you dare to compare them! Donna Summer is a legend. I'm 20 years old and I'm a fan. Rihanna will never have a legacy like Donna has.
And I couldn't agree more with that: <>
Its just a fun entry... Everyone stop getting so worked up. Lets dance!
Please! Rihanna, the new Donna? There has never been a singer that's come along in the last 30 years that can throw down like Donna. And, she's still doing it!
OMG, I can't believe you are seriously considering that this untalented piece of crap is on the same level and Donna Summers, you have got to be kidding me......
just that our donna is being mention with rihanna is good news hope for a duet
Rhianna is great but she's no Donna Summer. No one will ever be another Donna Summer, tears and all after her famous quote out of context that she felt sorry for her (obsessed) gay fans.
If Rihanna had half the vocal pipes as Donna Summer, I might consider it.
What is it with you tween-30 somethings??? If Rihanna is sooooo fierce why can't she be the Rihanna of her time? Why are you dumb bloggers and so called music commentators constantly comparing these current arrogant delusional thieving pop tarts to REAL SINGERS & MUSICIANS.... especially when they are STILL ALIVE!
Donna Summer is the Donna Summer of her time because she is still with us & still recording and she is a GREAT SINGER! Keep her name out of the same sentence as Rihanna, not in the same class.
well said
RiRi as the new Donna? SO not EVER gonna happen.....Based on on sheer power of voice, Ms. Summer could very easily blast RiRi clean off the stage with the strength, depth and length of notes she easily holds. Yes, RiRi rules at present, but there is only (and will only ever be) ONE Queen of Disco...and THAT is Ms. Summer.
Lastly, it will be interesting to see if RiRi will be selling albums in 30 years from now....as our Queen Ms. Summer has done.
While I like both singers, comparing Rihanna vocally to Donna is absurd. Donna is a world-class singer with multiple dimensions too her voice, and she still sound great at 62. Rihanna doesn't seem to have that much range.
Nope. Donna is still the Donna Summer of our time. Rihann'a voice isn't any where near the same league as Donna's.
I could not agree more. Donna Summer is a legend. I'm 20 years old and I'm a fan. Rihanna will never have a legacy like that.
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