14.06.1978 DONNA SUMMER Last dance, I love you + interview TONIGHT SHOW

In a very important American talk show, Donna presents both "Thank God it's friday" and "Once upon a time".

[@maryannarep]

The day she died i cried all day long. Im 64. I grew up in the best era of music. I loved Donna!

[@craighoward6243]

Me too, Donna was on every turn table. In the summer of 1973 to.1985!miss you always

[@vickylysi7423]

Me too, I'm 66. She was thee best. Amazing voice. Love all her songs

[@Pipo_953]

La mejor era por siempre y todavía escucho su música tengo 60 años vivan los AÑOS 70 y 80 la mejor época

[@chiefd3290]

Donna is one of the very few artists who can flawlessly sing live!

[@normangoldblatt529]

So agree with that

[@MatteBlack2024]

Church and musical theater training. Both are SERIOUSLY lacking in modern pop music.

[@thebeardedseeker5633]

Right?

[@dumfriesspearhead7398]

​@@MatteBlack2024Yep.

[@kimthomas8717]

Her voice is unmatched and flawless 💜

[@americanitalianisrael4008]

THIS IS LIVE FOLKS. ONE OF THE GREATEST FEMALE SINGERS IN THE WORLD. I WAS VERY LUCKY TO GROW UP DURING HER GREAT CAREER. AND DISCO MUSIC. GREAT MUSIC. GREAT TIMES. GREAT PEOPLE. NOTHING WE HAVE TODAY. RIP BEAUTIFUL LADY.

[@ayndowney9401]

Your comments are just perfection, we don't have a single artist performing today that can perform in a variety of genras and master it😊❤

[@longyear8015]

I loved and love Donna forever!

[@traygee403]

ABSOLUTELY 💯

[@kevina4140]

Yep. No backing tracks. No pre-recorded anything. No AutoTune. And as Prince said of the stage "Ain't no computers up here y'all!".

[@rickmontgomery3037]

Agreed and well said! 🙂

[@richalderson6069]

One woman, a microphone and a helluva lotta vocal talent. Donna was a true star. 🌠

[@r.maj.7065]

I think all song was playback in this show. But yeah - she was a great singer and she had many great songs.

[@richalderson6069]

@@r.maj.7065 She's definitely not miming.

[@Johnmag1976]

❤ love forever !! BUT, that night was not LIVE singing at all !!!

[@Johnmag1976]

Donna has never received the gigantic recognition she deserved....extremely famous...but there is still à little missing....what could it be ???

[@richalderson6069]

@@Johnmag1976 Probably the "Disco Sucks" backlash that permanently gave any artist associated with the genre some kind of scorn among critics.

[@coffeeinbed69]

I love seeing her like this. At the top of her game. Young, happy, beautiful and talented. I love you Donna. R.I.P.

[@user-mb9qi6ke9h]

there was never a time donna wasn’t at the tip of her game. Beautiful right up until she left us. RIP Donna. You are so missed

[@alpappalardi7044]

I was one lucky dude in spring break 1980 or 81. It’s so long I can’t remember. My buddy’s friend was Donna’s hairdresser in Fort Lauderdale Florida. They put us front row that night. Most memorable concert

[@wheelieslunchbox]

not really happy. im pretty sure she was abused by her bf around this time

[@b.rahelmejia5334]

She will always be the queen of Disco....

[@annewrenn5014]

Donna's repertoire was so vast. Disco was just one part of her to pigeonhole her with. She had hits in many formats. Ballads, classics, pop, even "Hot Stuff" cld be considered Rock. Donna was taken so young. Despite quietly being so ill, she performed for a charity concert @ month before she passed. Just amazing. Rest in Peace.

[@MAAivoges]

Please she was a pop queen. She ruled the 70s

[@bib2045]

@@MAAivogesdoesn’t make her not THE queen of disco tho

[@aafpeptoe4209]

Donna Summer was way more than disco, she was a for runner and an entertainer par excellence !

[@ssinssg]

Queen of electronic music. I Feel Love will absolutely demolish a dancefloor even now in 2024.

[@andrewcicchetti]

Once Upon a Time is a stunning album in every single way.

[@Nightflyer720]

Good Lord, not only a thick, rich, glorious voice but the most amazing connection to the lyrics and such incredible stage presence. There was just no way this woman wouldn’t be a star. When Donna stepped on that stage, she came to play and stayed to slay. I feel blessed to have grown up with her in my lifetime. RIP, Legend.❤️

[@rafaelramirez1507]

I love your comment 👍👍

[@connievino4226]

Me too ❤.

[@mrob75]

Donna Summer made our world such a happier place…She left us too soon. 😢

[@localwear1]

When she looks at the camera 🎥 it’s hypnotic. I swear she’s looking right at me. Amazing 🥲

[@grego5284]

You are so right! 😎

[@jayhayes4432]

LoL🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@rtususian]

She actually WAS looking directly at you and I am extremely jealous!

[@JP-nk4sv]

Couldn’t agree more. The new documentary shows how truly gifted she was. Beautiful in every way.

[@gotti6969]

Totally agree! No one had the stage presence that Donna had!

[@britishuntouchables2883]

DONNA SUMMER is outstandingly gifted with a beautiful voice. No one sings like her. Sadly, we are losing talented singer's.

[@rtususian]

If I remember, Johnny usually didn't have too many disco/dance type of singers on his show, at least on the nights when he was there, so he must have really admired Donna.

[@uploadvidz4490]

I don't blame him at all

[@ericdavis6261]

​@@uploadvidz4490 loser!

[@MisterBeauJanGels]

Typical 21st-century celebrity-worshipping attitude. After hearing Johnny's intro preceding "Last Dance", I would guess she was booked to promote the film.

[@richardbutterfield412]

What a brilliant live vocal!!!

[@wptaries]

Yessir!👏🏾

[@MysticStranger]

Donna Summer’s voice and tone are so pure and unmatched!

[@shviewjames126]

Donna Summer got the voice and music that can make you cry and dance at the same damn time! Last Dance always gets me. Brilliant Vocalist.

[@PaulPaid]

Well said.

[@gxl5892]

Amazing Donna!!!!! I Love You just gives me goose bumps. She just runs on stage and in seconds gives this incredible vocal without any hesitation...WOW!!!

[@rileylowell3937]

Not only beautiful voice but the way she talks is so down to earth great personality so beautiful women so missed

[@valentaestewart8000]

Dang!!!! This was one beautiful woman. Her husband and family were so blessed to have her and so was all of her fans.❤❤❤ RIH

[@justinneill5003]

Of all the disco divas who have come and gone, I can honestly say that this woman was, is and always will be my very favourite.

[@iguillo]

I was ten years old when 'Thank God It's Friday" came out, and my dad took me and my sister to see it. I thought Donna Summer was the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen. LOL! Still do!

[@marianospears3626]

30 years old and looking so young!! Beautiful soul you had Donna!! Always remembered as the kindest soul and queen of disco

[@MrChristian]

What a gorgeous and talented lady, wow!!!

[@RaeJ22]

I was born in 92’. I’ve been on a Donna Summer binge for weeks now. Many songs/performances I’m discovering for the first time. What charisma & powerful vocal ability she had. She’s the definition of a star 🌟

[@naturalblackbeauty92]

Me too fr!!!!!

[@rc2464]

She was the absolute Queen of the Disco Era. No one could touch her. Left us way too soon. #RIPDonnaSummer

[@miguelfiguereo6112]

She just had it all! Beauty, voice, talent, personality, sensuality , I mean all,all...

[@zacheryspencer]

Such a beautifully natural voice and talent! The world will never be like this again. A place locked in time:)🙋🏼🩷

[@nicolas4you]

One of the most amazing performers of her, or any generation. The absolute total package of beauty, talent, class and grace. It's really hard to compare anyone to her when you really think about it. Her looks alone are hypnotic and when you pair that with her voice and stage presence you get goose bumps. She is absolute magic. I was crazy about her in 1976 when I was 16 years old and still crazy about her to this day RIP Donna the undisputed Queen of Disco!!

[@batmaan10]

She was just brilliant! Super talented and easy to talk to! She was a trailblazer and is forever an Icon

[@nealbaker9360]

Beautiful, talented, and no lip syncing. I always see you swinging on the crescent moon. Love and respect. RIP

[@petegtorcan]

Talent. Confidence . Beauty. Grace. Always and forever ❤

[@porkfied]

She sang great I miss her,nothing like her anymore.

[@williamrodriguez3606]

Donna Summer always will be the magical and beautiful "Miss Universe of the Music". Nobody can do it like Donna Summer.

[@semejanteael]

Gorgeous and very special and talented lady of song! Awesome times!

[@wp9847]

TV would never let songs go on this long now! These were the best songs! RIP Donna Summer

[@RobertSmith-iw2kb]

Johnny did what he wanted.

[@Andre-sj8mu]

Beautiful, just beautiful.

[@josephsolomon8623]

Donna Summers is the most beautiful gorgeous sensuous sexy mesmerizing woman I have ever seen the queen of disco I mean she is so damn gorgeous best voice in the business I can't believe that we lost her way too soon

[@romerjusu3804]

Summer not SummerS

[@kcn-qt6fc]

She made singing look effortless. Beautiful Donna Summer

[@michaelgarel4279]

My God...She was incredible!!! 😍 Missing you, Donna. No Summer will ever be the same without you 💝

[@kevinrestall4467]

Donna Summer. Power, Stunningly good looking, amazing voice and i love the way she interprets the music and dances. She was a legend. She can sing live with such ease. No one compares to her... RIP xxx

[@liveandmore]

Can’t have enough of this video. She’s thrilled with all the success she’s achieved so far. Donna was about to release LIVE AND MORE, which showed the world that she was much more than a disco music singer.

[@jeffreymiller9808]

Remember hearing “Love to Love You Baby” on A.M. Radio when I was in grade school, I was completely mesmerized….You we’re wonderful and will always Live on in People’s Hearts 💕

[@rogerdjs]

All Hail the one and only Queen of Disco!!!

[@deronreed2945]

she was soooo much more then a DISCO SINGER

[@gotti6969]

She ruled every genre that she chose to do!

[@lunnouxhinds8464]

I just love her.

[@fjohnson5906]

No autotune. Just live greatness!!

[@PhilipBarrett1]

As I broadcast Engineer I can attest, in the analog world of the late 70’s, aside from some tube compression, what it hear is what it really was - incredible. In fact, the tape they recorded to at the time would have only captured a portion of the full bandwidth of the live audio, so it would have been even that much better live

[@Its_Shaun_the_Sheep]

The Pre-Whitney gal. She was magic

[@jstevenj1]

🎵"That old black magic called love"🎶...

[@meganhall9746]

No auto-tune or lipsynching. Just talent.

[@NashAndreLouisWNorat]

She’s Gorgeous ! And a phenomenal Voice ! And great performance and Acting skills ! She’s a true Music Legend and Diva !

[@bjfcmorphil]

Fascinating period. She was just about to record "Live and More" . Thank you so much for posting. What a Star with stage presence, personality ,beauty and of course the BEST voice ever!

[@raycarter8070]

I agree. she didnt need a hundred backdancers smdh. Today's artists lmao!

[@joecalhoun5303]

Best woman ever

[@joecalhoun5303]

Best voice.....yep

[@faddy24]

Donna "one take and it's done" Summer, my favourite black female singer by a golden mile. Comes across as an authentic and lovely soul too.

[@williamMikmaq222]

She said it herself..... She was born to succeed. What an incredible human. Love& Respect Always. Boston, Massachusetts.

[@DannyintheSpirit]

I had such a crush on her when I was a kid. Beautiful lady, beautiful human being, beautiful voice. She is with Jesus now.

[@nwilson120]

Donna's brilliant performance of "Last Dance" was pivotal to it winning the Oscar for Best Original Song.

[@ks1227]

I’m so glad to see her singing I Love You here, not one of her biggest but one of my favorites! RIP Donna!

[@lucasdeoliveira1821]

She's my favorite american singer.

[@williamivery212]

She was my favorite in the 70s even though I am a very masculine man she was my favorite and she always will be

[@jfmax2000]

Oh God That is My Baby.... She was So Absolutely Astonishingly Beautiful and Such an Amazing Vocal Talent and a Very Unique and Pleasing Personality and Extremely Intelligent... The Total Triple Threat.. I Love and Miss You So Donna.. Rest in Power My Most Beautiful Angel Princess 💝💝💝💝

[@donhall7871]

I never saw this clip and I must say I was moved to tears seeing such a vibrant young talent.Donna will forever be loved and missed as an original artist and impossible to replicate. ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@ramonpurugganan6865]

Best live performer of disco.

[@stephenfermoyle4578]

love her miss her gone way to soon RIP sweet lady

[@charliereed9925]

As a South America kid my dream was to move to Hollyd and meet my idol. Glad to say my dream came true and Donna was all you could expected, humble, gracious and beautiful 💚🙏🏻🧘🏽‍♂

[@danlivni2097]

Donna had an incredible voice. She is missed.

[@catsmeow4003]

We miss you Donna Summers ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

[@williambarney2874]

Stunning, Love her confidence and sincere interaction with Johnny. She was Amazing in everyway!

[@mickdenis6630]

5 sold out shows in 1978, 8 sold out shows in 1979 at the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles. The day after her last show in 1979, a recording session was schedule for her to record a duet with Barbra Streisand. No More Tears (Enough Is Enough) was recorded.

[@joshgellis3292]

Not many or NEARLY enough songs in HISTORY are like this one in general! It starts out somber, then switches gears! Impressive AND intrinsically AWESOME for THAT!

[@Deepestrueblue]

Thank you for this. She was so beautiful and that voice is legendary. RIL Ms Donna x

[@rf6724]

Donna Summer: always flawless and live even better than on records.

[@jgg59]

I’ve been looking for this with a great quality finally. Last Dance she sounds amazing but my personal favorite is I Love You

[@Leftatalbuquerque]

I Love You has always been my favourite as well.

[@devinsummer3022]

I love you was my wedding 1st dance

[@pressplay7918]

I LOVE YOU, my favorite.

[@williamivery212]

All I can remember is that beautiful voice and beautiful face coming up as a kid I was in love ❤️❤️, I'm for real. Rest in peace baby 💞 I really do love you when she passed I cried for weeks😢.😢😢😢

[@d.e.b.b5788]

This was the best live performance of hers that I've ever seen; I guess she knew the importance of getting it perfect on the tonight show, because she'd be seen by millions who would never forget this performance, and it would go down as the definitive quality of her singing. Many can't match their studio perfect sound; here, she proves she can do it, absolutely perfect, LIVE.

[@wptaries]

Say Word!💯

[@felix-sz4mw]

Da kann Madonna mit ihrem Gekrächze einpacken!

[@BarkleyConners]

She wrote some of the songs on Bad Girls as well

[@cocochanel1029]

Negro plzzzzz …. She has always did it perfect and was seen by millions way before any tonight show.

[@k.h.8509]

Yup!! No internet

[@MaryBeth1965]

Loved this in 1978 as a 13 year old girl. Had a crush on my classmate Robert. He and Donna are both gone now,sadly. Life is fleeting. Enjoy it. ♥ 🎶

[@mindybroffmantakara8287]

What an incredible singer! Such a strong pure voice!! Seeing her in person is a concert 🎶 I will never forget! RIP DS🎶🎶🎶

[@bengtlindqvist9309]

Not one in a million nor in a billion, just a unique person who made and still make the world a better place with her wonderful voice. Will be admired 2123

[@themotownboy1]

What a voice!! Live vocals that are flawless!!

[@lunnouxhinds8464]

Donna Summer had it all and more. Love her and always will.

[@RobRoyR8R]

Donna really does have a strong voice. Rest Well Superstar.

[@jeffzloczower2886]

Missing the good times ! Donna Summer was amazing. You could feel her songs. Love you forever , The True Queen of Disco. Here's Johnny ! King of Night Time.

[@joekouyoumjian2601]

Johnny could have done the whole 90 minutes with Donna Summer alone and it would have been more than enough entertainment for the audience. R.I.P. Donna.

[@eddiegreene7334]

Did this woman ever sing one note out of key? …I seriously doubt it. Amazingly gifted and what a beautiful stage presence. A real star! Adore her.

[@wbtothey]

I had the pleasure of seeing her perform live on 14 different occasions over many years and she never ever disappointed Her vocals were always pitch perfect and flawless Miss her so so much

[@dumfriesspearhead7398]

​@@wbtotheyHer voice is so effortless. There's no forcing or straining.

[@kaseywithak1332]

Donna Summer is a Goddess!

[@gregsuedockrell1724]

Miss her

[@alovetrilogy]

great quality!

[@cristiancizmar]

Thank you, the quality it's the reason because I decided to post something that was already on YT...

[@alovetrilogy]

@@cristiancizmar Please post more of Donna! I’m loving your content :)

[@kendricjonrs8581]

She displayed more charm, personality, and wit within an 18 minute span, than most recording artist display in their entire careers. The shame of it is that the machine/system today wouldn't be open to the idea of her being the pinnacle star as she was in the late seventies. Diana Ross and Barbara Streisand probably wouldn't admit it today, but accolades notwithstanding; Donna Summer had at least 2 or 3 years where her pole position in the ' It Girl' race was unquestionable.

[@ayndowney9401]

You are absolutely right, but she has also a large repertoire of classical and opera music 🎵🎶 that is incredible. Check out her the range is amazing 😍🤩

[@ah4856]

I don't know about Diana, but Barbra would have to give her props because she went toe-to-toe with Streisand on "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)" and Donna held her own (except for the alleged fainting from holding a note too long, but this recording session took place the day after the last Universal Amphitheater concert, or so the legend goes. And their voices blended beautifully unlike the Streisand/Dion duet.

[@daniellepreyar]

I love her. So classy, beautiful and talented. 🥹💖

[@CookieZ3353]

She is so underrated as a talent in the black or music community. They always cite Aretha who was a phenomenal talent, but DS had a truly unique sound and voice. I spent my late teen years dancing in the disco clubs to her music and I'll never forget that era. It was great!!!! In the latest documentary about DS, produced and directed by her daughter, there's a clip of her singing "She Works Hard For The Money" while she's in her backyard and it sounds just like the recording. Died too young. I had a chance to see her live in an amphitheater in Concord California in the '80's. I miss you DS!!!

[@gregoryvelez8595]

Mine too!! There's a magic about that song. I ❤ the full version when she sings "he said I love you too".aagghhh 😩. Definitely in my top 5 favorite all time Summer songs and probably a strong Contender for #1. The top 5 vacillate from time to time

[@bhbluebird]

That Boston accent really coming through. I always liked this lady -- lots of talent behind that glitz and she always seemed like a kind person.

[@mikewhite1687]

Rest in peace Donna. Thank you for being with us. I'm glad I lived in that era.

[@mikeriegle4237]

So beautiful and talented, let her music live forever!!!

[@MrTonyBrooklyn]

WE LOVE YOU!!!!!! R.I.P. DONNA!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@rtususian]

In the 70s and 80s Donna Summer was my favorite singer, and then later on I discovered Deborah Cox as well, who also has a fantastic voice.

[@renoreez6775]

Please don't bring anyone else up while Donna is singing. Hahaha

[@grego5284]

Deborah cox has a great voice, but not many hits. Donna Summer had it all, beauty, great voice, and a multitude of hit songs. 😎

[@donaldperrotta8514]

Stunning beauty with God given talent !!!!! ❤

[@billygalanis4015]

Might have been the strongest applause ever on the Tonight Show.

[@ah4856]

The auto play put this on after I watched "The Donna Summer Special," (I was wondering why the theme song to the "Tonight" Show was playing on my computer). This is a wonderful snapshot of history as Donna was hitting the big time (in the USA). She's about to do the Universal Amphitheater concert, she tells Johhny, which will be recorded and released as the double album "Live and More," being her first number one album (along with a number one single "MacArthur Park"), not to mention being the first of 3 double length albums to hit the number one spot, consecutively, becoming the first recording artist to achieve that. Her voice is incredible: soft and child-like whispers one moment to full throated power belting the next! I never get tired of hearing it. But it just isn't that she has such a wonderful vocal gift, she's also a great storyteller acting out the songs, so they become much more than just some nice sounding ditties: her delivery makes you feel the song on a visceral level. I grew up on singers like Summer (Streisand, Mills, Carpenter, Ross, Khan, Labelle, Parton, etc.), which is why I can't get into newer artists (the most recent I had any interest in was Winehouse and that's not that recent - Beyonce has a lovely voice but she doesn't do it for me and neither does Swift). Thanks for the OP for putting this up. I never saw this before.

[@GFY11]

Wow! What a performance! Thanks for posting!

[@jaimebracamonte1833]

it made me explode in applause !

[@thesilverladylifts2708]

Voice like butter. I was just a kid but had older siblings who were disco queens. Forever a fan!

[@angelagail5653]

What a beautiful voice and beautiful face too! Just gorgeous!

[@philmenges9887]

God, she was *gorgeous*! Always loved her throughout the disco era.