The Friday OT: Donna Summer; I Feel Love

I was young and just getting into music. At the time I should have been into punk and I was to an extent, but at the same time I kind-of-semi-secretly listened to the Genesis concept albums, Led Zep's canon (imagine a time when it wasn't cool to be into LedZep?) or Yes or ELP triple live oeuvres.

And then one Saturday afternoon I heard this song and it was, quite literally, like nothing anyone had heard before. It was amazing, stop-you-in-your-stride amazing in a way it's tough to explain in a world now used to the sounds of the synth. I know that Moroder was the creator of the sound, but I'll always remember Summer's soaring vocals above that sound. It was a musical epiphany and I'll never, ever forget Donna Summer or stop thanking her for the emotions she transmitted.

On the Monday afterwards I had to be in the record shop to buy the single, so I was. In front of me a full-on punk rocker, tartan and studs and metallic embroidery, bought a handful of 45s. As the assistant processed the order, I saw the 5th or 6th one was the same one in my hand, I Feel Love by Donna Summer. It was the day when I began to understand what music was. I'm still trying to work it out to this day, but that was when it started.

Update: Reader 'RC' sends in this article from Canada's Globe & Mail on Summer, her influences and legacy. Worthy reading material and thanks RC.