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It’s been almost two decades since the queen of disco, Donna Summer, passed away. But her legacy lives on through a number of artists who continue to honor and celebrate her music. Among those is Grammy-winning singer Kelly Rowland, who recently paid tribute to Summer during an emotional performance at the 2020 Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago. Not only did she perform some of Summer’s classic hits, but she also opened up about how much of an influence the iconic artist had on her career.
Rowland has gone from pop star to chart-topping solo artist, thanks in part to Summer’s pioneering work with dance music. In fact, it was one of Summer’s songs that gave Rowland the confidence to take a stab at dancing herself and make it a central part of her live performances. She credits both Summer and Michael Jackson for inspiring her to get out there and show off her moves.
The ‘Motivation’ hitmaker delivered an electrifying performance at this year’s festival where she sang some of Summer’s biggest tracks like ‘Last Dance’ and ‘I Feel Love.’ It was clear that not only did Rowland have immense respect for Summer as an artist but also as someone whose music made a lasting impact on so many people over the years.
Kelly Rowland’s Musical Inspirations
Kelly Rowland has been in the music industry for over two decades, and her success is owed to a number of musical inspirations. Donna Summer, who passed away in 2012, was one such mentor that influenced Kelly’s sound. In an interview with Billboard magazine, Kelly revealed that it was Donna’s song “Love to Love You Baby” which sparked her interest in dance music.
Throughout Donna’s career she remained highly influential and respected among many generations of artists and fans alike – something which Kelly admires deeply. She says: “I think the main thing I take from [Donna] is just everything about being classy and elegant…She really left a mark on me as far as how I want people to respect my work—wherever I go or whatever I do.”
In honor of Donna Summer, Kelly recently performed a tribute at the 2019 Soul Train Awards. During this performance she sang some of Donna’s biggest hits while wearing a sparkling blue dress reminiscent of the singer’s signature style. The homage served as testament to both their enduring friendship and shared love of dance music. It was clear that Kelly wanted to pay special recognition to someone so important in helping shape her own artistry.
Live Performance Of Donna Summer Tribute
The tribute performance showcased Kelly’s immense talent and respect for her mentor. She began with a rendition of Donna’s biggest hit “Love to Love You Baby,” which was met with rapturous applause from the crowd. This was followed by a passionate performance of “She Works Hard For The Money,” showing off Kelly’s powerful vocal range. To end the set, she sang “Last Dance” – an emotional reminder of how much Donna meant to her.
Throughout the performance there were moments that felt both joyous and somber. As Kelly belted out each song, it was clear just how deeply Donna had impacted her life and career as an artist. Her voice echoed throughout the venue as she showed love and appreciation for all those who helped shape her musical journey over the years, including Donna Summer herself.
By performing this beautiful tribute, Kelly demonstrated what can be achieved when people come together in celebration of music and its power to bring us closer together despite our differences. It truly was a night to remember!
Conclusion
I was deeply inspired by Kelly Rowland’s tribute to Donna Summer. It was a beautiful performance that honored the legacy of such an incredible artist and showed how much she means to all of us.
It reminded me that even though our musical heroes may be gone, their influence lives on in their music. We should remember them fondly and strive to keep their spirit alive through our own work.
Kelly Rowland is certainly doing her part—she has paid homage to Donna Summer with this heartfelt performance, and I’m sure many others will follow in her footsteps for years to come. Her example serves as a reminder that we can continue honoring those who have made such an impactful contribution to the world of music.
