Cultural Remembrance: Donna Summer, You Will Be Missed!

The world just lost the queen of disco. Growing up, every Nigerian function wasn’t popping until Donna Summer’s classic cut, “Last Dance.” Even if you couldn’t feel your toes or you were so tired, everyone got up on their feet to boogie down to “Last Dance.” I spent many nights on top of my mom’s dresser as a kid jamming to this song thinking to myself “I’m Donna Summer!” Oh the memories this one song gave me. “On The Radio” was my second favorite Donna Summer cut. I enjoyed her last album, Crayons! The fact that she wasn’t inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame disgusts me but we wouldn’t dwell on that right now. So I’m extremely saddened to learn about her passing. She (born: LaDonna Adrian Gaines) will be missed!

Summer is survived by her husband Bruce Sudano, their daughters Brooklyn and Amanda, as well as her daughter Mimi from her previous marriage. source

Here’s are my favorite Donna Summer classics:

“Last Dance”

“On the Radio”

“Bad Girls”

“She Works Hard for the Money”

“Hot Stuff”

“I Feel Love”

“MacArthur Park”

With Barbra Streisand: No More Tears (Enough is Enough)

“Love To Love You Baby”

“TOOT TOOT, HEYYYYYYYY BEEP BEEP!” Get Your Donna Summer Fix on YouTube & VEVO!

Cultural Remembrance is a feature honoring the dearly departed.

Cultural Remembrance: Whitney Houston

Grammy Award winning vocal powerhouse Whitney Houston has passed away at the age of 48. The Newark, NJ star (who discovered by her mentor Clive Davis) was found dead in her Beverly Hills Hilton hotel room and she was in Los Angeles to celebrate the Grammy’s and attend Clive Davis’ annual pre-Grammy concert tonight. She is survived by her mother Cissy Houston, her only child and daughter Bobbi Kristina, her cousin Dionne Warwick, her godmother Aretha Franklin, and her ex-husband Bobby Brown. Jennifer Hudson and Chaka Khan is scheduled to perform a riveting tribute to Whitney at tonight’s Grammy Awards. So sad to hear Whitney is really gone. I hope it was a sick joke but it’s actually true. Not only is this tragic but extremely upsetting. She just wrapped up production on her film, Sparkle and she was also preparing for a musical comeback. Whitney not only had the Voice but she was a gifted actor from her memorable roles in The Bodyguard, The Preacher’s Wife and Waiting to Exhale. This is a vocalist who had I to memorize her music for my grade school graduation and school assemblies. She was THE voice of pop music. Rest in peace, Whitney.

Below is CulturalToast.com’s favorite Whitney Houston songs in no particular order…

Queen of the Night (from The Bodyguard Soundtrack)

If I Told You That (from My Love is Your Love album)

I’m Your Baby Tonight (from the same name album)

I Wanna Dance With Somebody (from the Whitney album)

How Will I Know (from the Whitney album)

Run To You (from The Bodyguard Soundtrack)

All The Man I Need (from the I’m Your Baby Tonight album)

You Give Good Love (from the Whitney Houston album)

Why Does It Hurt So Bad (from the Waiting to Exhale soundtrack)

Heartbreak Hotel featuring Faith Evans and Kelly Price (from My Love is Your Love album)

Could I Have This Kiss Forever featuring Enrique Igelisas

Cultural Remembrance is a feature honoring the dearly departed.