Stamp Your Feet - Donna Summer's New Single

It's official: Donna Summer's new single - "Stamp Your Feet".

Donna's voice has a deeper quality on this recording. Though it could be how her vocals were treated in the mix, I think it's just a natural progression of her voice. Donna's unmistakable presence is still there. Such power!

Lyrically, this is an empowerment song; one of those "I've been down before, but I got up again. Be Strong!". The Production is very clean. Thumping beats are met with rich synth pads. Musically, the bass reinforces the chord changes without any addition moment, giving that deep open sound similar to some New Age compositions.

The song starts with a pep-rally chant (think of Gwen Stefani's "Hollaback Girl" if you must) where Donna spells out "S-T-A-M-P". A few bars later, the grand pads come in to smooth it out.

Verse glides along with electronic accents swirling around in the background. The melody feels a little more free-formed than a structured pop song. Not something that you can easily sing along to, unless you're one of those devoted Donna fans who lip-synchs to her songs in the mirror!

Chorus brings it together with a declaration to "Stamp Your Feet On The Ground. Make It Really Loud" (obviously, this song is not intended for anyone who lives in an apartment building). Then the next line... is she's saying "Make a big ass sound"?!?! You tell me! Vocals in the chorus have that filtered effect which seems to be popular right now (Janet, Paula Abdul...).

Overall, I feel like this single was made to appeal to a more contemporary audience rather than to give us another Donna "classic". I do like the song, but I wish the verses were a little more melodic. I'm wondering if radio will give her a chance with this one.

I'm looking forward to her new album. Welcome back , Donna!

Comments

[EricMontreal22]

Nice to read a review of my fave divas "comeback"--I still have a hard time even believing we're gettign an album--having been told off and on for so long at least since 1999 and her failed never released Sony project.

Sounds... interesting at least and I look forward to hearing it. They've already released/leaked another track from the album in various remixes for clubs, I'm a Fire and the vocals are great, the song seems pretty good though the tribal mixes are a bit uninspired I'm afraid... Still great to have ANYTHING from her.

[El MarvelOso]

Thanks. Since I'm a musician, I tend to be a little more technical about the arrangements. Hope it's not too nerdy.

I can't believe it's a full album either! I've heard of so many deals that came and went, I though that this would be just another one.

I've heard that they have issued a club single too.

Did you ever get that iTunes only single she had a few years ago? "I Got Your Love" or something like that. They were going the Kylie route on that one.

[Paul]

I think people will be pleasantly suprised with this CD.

I think Stamp your feet is a kind of classic Donna Summer with a contemporary twist that should do well on radio and encourage the non summer die hards to buy the CD. Donna is currently working on a video for the single.

There is a few real killer tracks on the CD including Mr Music and Crayons. The best of the bunch is still getting the finishing touches on it but it has the working title "The Queen is back" although that is likely to change for the final cut.

Suprisingly in my opinion the weakest tracks so far "I'm a Fire" is the one that has been chosen as a pre club release prior to the official single coming out next month.

Expect a press realease towards the end of this month from Pure Tone who are also arranging some major TV appearances for Donna over the next few months.

Donna's new site which is fantastic should also be up and running by the end of March begining of April.

[EricMontreal22]

Haha yeah I have I got Your Love--I have the physical CD single release (which even for a dance single didn't have too many mixes)--like I said I'm a bit obssessed. I really liked it actually, partly because at the time most of Donna's "one off" dance releases were just her booming away with her full, admittedly powerful, voice and this time she was using her vocals differently, like she used to. But I admit it's not mind blowing...

I'm a Fire--the Sebastian mix anyway--has really gorwn on me since the last day--I think I like it best of most of her stuff at least int he past 8 years since Love is the Healer so if it's the least interesting track on the album, that's really good news for me...

Can't wait to follow the progress on this--a track listing, etc. :)

E

[El MarvelOso]

"The Queen Is Back"! I hope Aretha doesn't get upset again. Thanks for the information, Paul!

[El MarvelOso]

Wow, I never knew there was a physical CD single for "I Got Your Love". When we saw Donna here at Jones Beach a little while ago, she said that it was a "little ditty" just to do something. I'm glad iTunes gives an outlet for artists to do singles that way.

[EricMontreal22]

Yeah Amazon still has the single listed I think--at least used. Some of the mixes are pretty good though nothing crazy. Rumour is it was done for her 2000-2001 Sony album (the one she worked with Metro, fresh from their Cher success, and L Perry among others on)--the song somehow ended up as background on a Sex and the City episode--a slightly different version with diff lyrics. Fans apparantly flooded Sony asking about the song and it was finally leaked physically and on itunes--I believe with quite good club success. I wish the other songs we've heard snippets from that session--her website used to have clips of Valley of the Moon and Adonai--that will most likely not appear on this album would get released digitally as well.

I *think* the two Giogrio Moroder tracks that were hastily tacked onto the end of her last of 1000s of GH CDs, The journey, so us fans would buy it were also from those sessions--one of which, I Will Live for Love is pretty uninspired and cliched and was a dance mix from a song she did for a children's musical--but the other of which, still in demo form, That's The Way it Is is a really appealing little midtempo track that any Donna/Moroder fan owes it to hear (the track was written with Keith Forsey who did lotsa work on Bad Girls).

[EricMontreal22]

Me again :P it's funny she said it was just a "little ditty" and nothing more--sometimes Donna can be her own worse ennemy especially when it comes to promoting new tracks (did she ever even sing it live?)

[Ben]

Donna sang about 2 minutes worth of IGYL at PNC Bank Arts Center in NJ. It sounded amazing...she stopped short of singing the full legnth of the song letting us know that it was just a little bit.

[EricMontreal22]

That's great--she probably didn't remember anymore lol--she has a bad habit of that with the songs she doens't sing over and over... It's a shame--adding a new song (and not just a cover like Nights in White Satin--as much as I love that) to her concert would be great. I'm glad she's going to re-tool her setlist for the new cd.

http://www.donna-tribute.com/images/crayonscover.jpg seems to be the new cover :D

[El MarvelOso]

The new cover looks great. Makes her look very young.

I'm glad she finally has a full album. It was a pain collecting all those one-off singles and compilations just to hear something new.

[Xman]

She looks amazing!!! The song is great, I heard it yesterday and its playing in my head ever since. I know shes gonna kick some major butt with this CD! Move over you so called divas... Donna has entered the building!Video???? Although, she has the worst videos ever.. excluding "She works hard for the money"

[El MarvelOso]

Yes, the chorus is stuck in my head (and my partner's head too!) We keep on singing it.

Donna has a great fan base. I'm sure the CD will do very well on it's first week.

Video? You mean you didn't like the "running man" dance on "This Time I Know It's For Real"?!?

[EricMontreal22]

It's true she looks much thinner in her CD cover--but I think it's a smart move--it looks really modern and like the kind of CD I could actually see a non hardcore fan picking up and checking out...

HAHA Hopefully this is a decent video--i'm impressed as Burgundy didn't even make one for Chaka Khan (rumour is they've already prebooked Donna on many talk shows for April, so it seems they expect a success). Still nothing for me can top her Supernatural Love video with her playing a vengeful woman who travels thru time to track down a man (played of course by Donna's husband Bruce Sudano). Camp classic--though going through youtube you realize how awful nearly all of her vids are (I Will go With You had a cheap but classy video that got nearly no play otuside gay video bars that featured a pre soap opera/stardom Josh Duhamel)

[El MarvelOso]

Actually, there was a video for Chaka's "Angel", but it was SO low budget (just her singing into a mic). Maybe the label didn't pay for it.

You're right. I really don't think about "video" when I think of Donna.

[rob]

also love the solitaire mix. do you think they will release i'm a fire in europe commercially? the c-craig mix could work there

[Paul]

Some good news for Donna fans in Europe, after touring the US over the summer months Donna will be heading to Europe for a number of live shows.

Donna should be in the UK around late Oct/early Nov to do shows in London, Manchester and Glasgow.

A number of shows in other Cities around Europe are also being lined up.

You heard it from me first

[El MarvelOso]

Thanks for the info. What about here in the US?!?!

[Paul V]

Donna back in Europe? Finally! Let's hope Belgium will be on her list. Antwerp will certainly welcome Donna with open arms after her stunning performances here during the concerts of Night of the Proms in 2005 where she was the headliner every night. I went to see her twice. Com'on Donna, let your fire burn here sooo bright

[Patrick]

STAMP YOUR FEET is so catchy...and I've only heard the 1:14 short clip of the song! Love it! Donna Summer should have a huge hit with this song!

[xolondon]

This song is amazing, though I do think they overdid the autotune on the vocals. It's subtle, but it's there.

[El MarvelOso]

yea, I hate when real singers use audio techniques that are meant for bad singers. I know they're trying to update the sound, but it's not necessary.

It's amazing how her voice has stayed intact. (Unlike Stevie Nicks, Deborah Harry, etc.)

[Paul]

Donna's official site at http://www.donnasummer.com will be up and running soon and will have clips of some of the tracks from Crayons

[El MarvelOso]

The site should have been ready when all the initial hype was going on!

[Paul]

Donna's concerts at the Hollywood Bowl in August will be filmed for release on DVD later later this year

The DVD will be titled Dance the night away