Donna Summer Reaction This Time I Know It's For Real (80s DANCE!) | Dereck Reacts

[@californiahummus]

Donna Summer was way ahead of her time. So so many great songs: She Works Hard for the Money Our Love Bad Girls Working the Midnight Shift On the Radio Heaven Knows

[@thebeardedseeker5633]

i remember being so happy for Donna that the song was not only a hit but also the most disco sounding song she'd done since the 70s. indeed the disco sound had made a comeback by then. after spending most of the decade trying to escape that sound she came full circle and embraced it. i think it went to #3 in '89 but it shoulda gone to #1. the whole album was really good overall. maybe next react to Now I Need You from her 1977 album Once Upon a Time.

[@MrDonanthony]

It actually went to #7 on the Hot 100 and #5 on the dance chart. And yes, it should have at least been #1 on the dance chart.

[@kerronwalker1589]

​@@MrDonanthony actually the song went number 3 in the UK, should have been a number 1 hit for sure though, defs an amazing song tbh.

[@nunogouveia6458]

Donna Summer never disapoints! Her voice is so good for disco/dance music! The writters/producers of this song were the same producers for almost all Kylie Minogue songs from 1987-1992 period. You need to check those early Kylie songs :)

[@gjnoto1]

Also Rick Astley

[@lamusiclover2264]

And Dead or Alive, Rick Astley, Debbie Harry, Divine, Bananrsma... and anyone who was popular at the time had a disco remix by them. They defined High NRG

[@lamusiclover2264]

Yes they're layering her vocals. These producers did that to everybody and in her case, she doesn't need that

[@maxisussex]

I didn't know that, but now that you said it I can hear Sonia like vibes from "You'll never stop me from loving you".

[@douglaswild3852]

One of my favorite Donna Summer songs ever!! Donna Summer was just an AMAZING singer! Wish they would find more unreleased material from her, She left us way too soon. There will NEVER be another singer like Donna Summer.

[@danfrost3043]

In the same way of ABBA, Nobody could do it like Donna Summer, she was one of a kind & this was one of her very best. She almost bagged another UK No 1 with this song, It never fails to lift my spirits & make me happy every time I listen to it. One of the girls walking away at the end in the video is her daughter.

[@discogareth]

The sound of anything written and produced by Stock, Aitken and Waterman dominated the UK charts from around 1987-90. The sound of my childhood. Almost everything they did had this sound.

[@ucandance87]

Thank you for featuring my all time favorite Donna Summer song. Her vocal notes when she goes “This time I know it’s for realllllll” gets me every time to this day. If you’re interested in other Donna songs, may I suggest “Now I Need You”, “Love’s Unkind”, “Sunset People”, “Our Love”, “Protection”, “Supernatural Love”, “Dinner With Gershwin”, “Power of One”, “I Will Go With You (Con Te Partido)” and “Sand on My Feet”. Her discography is absolutely incredible and her voice is unparalleled.

[@jbratchie57]

This was her comeback song, after an absence from the charts, and it was big!

[@bobjacubas6818]

absence for the top 10, not the charts.

[@charlesdavis545]

biggest since #Sheworkshardforthemoney

[@danielarredondo4740]

This is my favorite Donna Summer song ever

[@patrickjoly7830]

No kidding ?

[@joseantoniochambillomartin3248]

Me too

[@darnell49]

A lot of people sleep on Donna Summer's voice. It's so powerful. Like a lot of people from the disco era.

[@charlesdavis545]

That's a church voice, like #Aretha, #Whitney or #Chaka.

[@jeffmalone5557]

Every track on this album is FANTASTIC!!

[@jimmyrodela5515]

A very underrated album, this is one of those albums you can press play and walk away. Beginning to end, every song is brilliant 👋😷

[@geraldcorson9204]

I totally agree, great album!

[@charlesdavis545]

#Lovesabouttochangemyheart

[@ono1dij]

Donna's voice was AMAZING, I'm glad that her "comeback" with this album did justice with her, I think so many times in her career her voice wasn't recognized as it deserved... And Stock Aitken Waterman did a great job, contemporary sount to bring Donna to a new generation... Miss her so much!!! I think you would like some songs like "Our Love", "Sunset People", "Working the Midnight Shift", "Rumour Has It", "Melanie", "You to Me"... So many great songs to discover...

[@charlesdavis545]

So true. She was underappreciated because of the #Disco stigma. What I loved about Donna was she was versatile; unlike #Whitney or #Chaka she sang each song differently.

[@ono1dij]

@@charlesdavis545 Yes!!! Absolutely yes! There are a few artists hurt by the #Disco stigma, Donna, Gloria Gaynor... Maybe the most injured were the Bee Gees, they had to fight for years to be recognized again, but this is another story

[@charlyacevedo1775]

I love her contribution for Flashdance soundtrack,"Romeo".

[@douglaswild3852]

Yes!! That song is GREAT!! I always thought that could have been another hit for her if they had put it out as a single! Especially if they had tied in a great music video back at that time! Donna has such diversity in her songs, so much more than the “ Disco Queen” that she was known for. Wish they could find more unreleased material from her from back at that time.

[@bobjacubas6818]

Romeo (new wave track) was recorded in 1981, for her project which was cancelled by Geffen. The video was played in medium rotation on MTV in May 1983, it was not released as a single, but the video was used to promotional clip.

[@charlesdavis545]

Yessss! It was from her never released #ImaRainbow album.

[@richardgribble8438]

Miss her so much, the music today is so bad, the talented real singers are leaving us way to early

[@donaldpittman4303]

Donna Summer was one of a kind. There will never be another. Donna Summer was the diva

[@romerjusu3804]

The little girls at the end are Donna's daughters. Grown up now 🤩🤫😍🤓

[@AnthonyMawer-t4q]

I love her

[@brianfinch5748]

I miss her so much. I Feel Love sounds as good today as it did back then. Stock Aitken Waterman collaboration was the first time they ever had a strong vocalist compared to making Divine dance songs.

[@lancenorthey7205]

Great choice, great song by SAW who wrote a ton of disco hits

[@suavehinrg]

Thankfully, the entire "Another Place & Time" sounds very similar to this. It is a very consistent and enjoyable album. I love Donna's mature vocals here! This was a transitional time period which lead to her later career era as both a commanding modern Dance Diva beginning with 1994's "Melody Of Love (Wanna Be Loved)" and her occasional excursions into dramatic Balladry (ex. her album "Christmas Spirit", and singles such as "Anyway At All" and "Wherever There Is Love)."

[@gxl5892]

Donna partnership was magic with Mike Stock, Matt Aitken, and Pete Waterman. 1984-1995 considered one of the most successful songwriting and producing partnerships of all time.

[@terrysmith7671]

One of SAWs greatest collaborations, if not the best, where they truly had the amazing voice of Donna Summer bringing all their top end production tricks coming together. A lot of SAW was tacky pop pap, but sometimes, like this, they got it just perfect x Love ya Dereck

[@BadMoonHorrors]

This one introduced Donna Summer to kids in the late 80s. Stock Aitken Waterman usually focussed on building up younger artists but they also had the right sense when they collaborated with established singers like Donna Summer or Cliff Richard (I just don't have the Heart).

[@spongeworthyvideo]

And the great Laura Branigan

[@renekoenders1937]

In hindsight, I'm so happy Donna did this album with SAW. Her voice and their production are killer together. As others have mentioned SAW also produced the early Kylie albums, instantly recognisable. Check out Kylie's "Better the devil you know" (1990) and "Wouldn't change a thing" (1989) or even the album track "Enjoy yourself" (1989).

[@charlesdavis545]

I loved #Kylie's #Ishouldbesolucky

[@happyhawaii0711]

oh how much i loved this song when it came out. still dancing and singing to it. and i like your t-shirt, Derek !! :-)

[@DereckReacts]

Thank you

[@oceanlover3530]

Love this song by Donna. I had the opportunity to see her in concert here in San Diego on two different occasions, and she sounds absolutely amazing live. She’s got an incredibly powerful voice!

[@mariomaldonado4878]

Donna Summer was the best of her time

[@samuele8442]

Donna è Meravigliosa nel rendere gradevole una canzone che di per sè non lo è.

[@brianlupo6586]

as a gay man, I thought I heard and had all of Donna Summers music, until I came across "No Ordinary Miracle" remixed on DJ Aron or El DJ's channel, OMG🔥! i remember "this time I know it's for real" dancing in NYC clubs, often mixed with "I feel Love". oh and Derrick, Sam Smith did a remake of "I feel Love" there is a unreleased song "the greatest thing" (dirty disco version) by Cher and Lady Gaga, I hope you give it a listen ❣️✌️ thanks for your reaction to this from the Queen.

[@NoMoneyG]

Man, the memories of my Clubbing Days! The club I went to had the "Video Room" with 3 giant screens showing the videos & of course had a dance floor in it, but also a stage where the drag shows were. So double duty room! Not the main Dance floor, but this club had 5 Rooms to pick from! Best time of my Life! Enjoy it while your young! Unfortunately time flies by! Thanks Dereck!!

[@mikeeckhardt4945]

Stock Aitken Waterman are an English songwriting and record producing trio consisting of Mike Stock, Matt Aitken, and Pete Waterman. The trio had great success from the mid-1980s through the early 1990s...

[@JCWiley2300]

SAW was a veritable hit factory in the UK but over here they were mostly known for Bananarama "Venus" and Dead or Alive "You Spin Me Round," both pretty much harbingers of the entire sound of late-80s pop music.

[@samroozen6719]

@@JCWiley2300 And then to think that Venus wasn't even a original song. It was a song by the Dutch groep Shocking Blue. That song was the first ever Dutch # 1 in the US in the early seventies.

[@randychampion184]

@@JCWiley2300 Also Never Gonna Give You Up and Together Forever by Rick Astley and the Loco-motion by Kyle Minogue.

[@SpaceCattttt]

@@randychampion184 "Hand on Your Heart", "Better the Devil You Know" and "Tears on My Pillow" by Kylie were also brilliant. As well as her other hits by SAW.

[@leamgem]

@@JCWiley2300 In addition to writing and producing hits for many, many artists including Kylie Minogue, Rick Astley and Bananarama, SAW also wrote and produced 'That's What Love Can Do' by Boy Krazy which I believe is well-liked in the US? It failed to make the Top 75 in the UK despite loads of airplay back in 1993.

[@robertdinmore1971]

This is a SAW - Stock Aitken Waterman production, they dominated the uk charts during the late 80’s. Other SAW artists include - Dead or Alive - Early Kylie Minogue - Mel and Kim - Bananarama - Sonia

[@lamusiclover2264]

And Rick Astley and many remixes for many artists.

[@charlesdavis545]

How could you forget their biggest success of all; #RickAstley?

[@petegtorcan]

Cowboy boots were big around then, as you can tell. Lol #DonnaForever

[@JimmieJamOfTheDay]

Great Pop song by my all time favorite singer.

[@leegriffin2705]

what? no way! my dereck is reacting to donna summer! one of my favs ! used to dance to this in the clubs back in the day ! wow - thx D!- love ur reactions ! enjoy - love and kindess to u and yours !

[@donwallen9786]

I'm a big time Donna fan!!! My all time favorite id A MAN LIKE YOU...I think you'll love it!!!!!

[@mariostylianou7725]

Hay dude...the best eighties song ever!! A masterful classic!! A great video!! A great legend!! Her voice.. speechless!!

[@lutdesimpelaere2947]

Disco queen Donna . Love it. More please

[@christopherdial3533]

I think all her songs are wonderful

[@vandamme514]

Thank you for this. One of my all time favorite songs. Such a happy song. Love Donna and miss her so much. Great looking music video too.

[@geoffreyrodgers2129]

Yes! This is one of my all time favourite songs. SAW were amazing songwriter/producers, responsible for so many great songs and productions from the mid 80's to early 90's but this track from Donna Summer and the album they produced for her in 1989 (Another Time and Place) was their greatest achievement (among many many great songs and albums). The Donna Summer album didn't have a weak track on it, a pure dance/pop masterpiece.

[@spongeworthyvideo]

I agree...such a great album!

[@citydweller99]

SAW even said this was their favorite album

[@Gioveolympus]

As a second choice from this album, I suggest “Love’s about to change my heart”.

[@JordiVLopez]

Definitely!

[@spongeworthyvideo]

Love that song too!

[@pabloandrescristiancorvala7293]

I entirely agree! One of my Donna's favourites!

[@gxl5892]

Agree 150%, her vocals in Love's about to change my heart incredible!

[@clintongreeff7694]

Love's About to Change My Heart! From the same album! Great song!

[@marksheehan8442]

Loved your reaction to this...it's my favorite song of the entire 80s decade. I listen to this album all the time and use it to work out to. GREAT driving vocals and danceable music.

[@Leftatalbuquerque]

Dereck, what you may not realize is what a return this was for Donna. She had been in radio and club-play wasteland since She Works Hard For The Money in 1983. The Gay Community had boycotted her due to rumours of what she may or may not have said at a concert about AIDS at that time - Money was a very Christian Pop album, and it was the age of the Moral Majority and Ronald Reagan. Disco had been derided and thrown on the trash heap by the Str8 world, and Gays had since formed their own identity and their own clubs, bars and discos in a way that was far more out there than it had been in the 1970's. With this song, and I Don't Wanna Get Hurt, she came roaring back to the gay dancefloors. The gay media was full of letters to the editor as to whether she should be welcomed back or not. She had one thing on her side: her VOICE. Her early 80's replacements had stopped recording or had faded by '89 - Miquel Brown, Laura Branigan, Irene Cara, The Weather Girls... Dance music was splitting into House, Trance, Industrial, Drum 'n' Bass... genres that were, frankly, a poor imitation of soulful, take-your-shirt-off-and-lift-your-arms-into-the-air club anthems. Diana Ross was exploring early hip-hop and Workin' Overtime was not a club hit. Aretha Franklin and Natalie Cole had a few hits, but they did not capture the imagination the same way. Donna came out with this album, which was almost not released due to her disintegrating relationship with David Geffen. Regardless of your views, no one could deny that Donna had been missed and that this album was Dolly Levi's return to the Harmonia Gardens.

[@Jcrash71]

Is a shame she left that record company that produced Another Place and Time and then when went back to being irrelevant again..

[@rw4487]

I LOVE HER HOOP earrings too

[@chrisga9771]

As much as I loved their work with Kylie, Donna Summer's Another Place and Time album remains the classiest record SAW put their names to.

[@Braedensground]

Great Reaction, D! My fave Donna Summer song! I believe those two young girls at the end shot of the video are her daughters. Mimi &? P.S. I haven't seen anyone do a reaction yet to her big hit. ' She Works Hard For The Money 💰 !!!

[@gregorygondron8118]

Love your work, love what you’re doing, and I am a huge Donna summer fan. Listen to “ dim all the lights “and the note she holds at the beginning of the song it’s unbelievable! Thank you for everything

[@albertochaparro1813]

Sorry for the new school but my 70’s and 80s was the best music

[@Jcrash71]

No love for the 60s?

[@charlesdavis545]

Amen!

[@salfordguy69]

Donnas vocals were recorded with the Calrec soundfield microphone. It gives echo but depth to vocals. PWL used it for all productions. Donna needed no backing vocals as such an amazing singer.

[@charlesdavis545]

She literally sang with herself.

[@Juanjp0229]

Yes! This is a great song. Donna Summer was a gem and so amazing! Thanks for reacting.

[@anthonybuckley5872]

You said it ,feel good. I still dance around the house to this,gone are my disco days lol.Thanks Derek,keep bringing us great reviews.Stay safe.

[@michaelmcguire9804]

This is my favorite Donna Summer song. For me it’s a feel good, happy song. Great reaction Derek 😉 ( RIP Donna )

[@eggy1962]

Donna had gone a little quiet prior to this , but it was a great move to get SAW to write and produce for her, Cliff Richard also did same thing ( Just Don't Have The Heart)....as for donna's oldies my favourite is the Macartur park suite on the album Live And More where side 4 (Double album) has continuous medley.

[@haroldg.taladro4008]

I like it. It really sounds so 80s. I am an 80s music guy from PH and I miss that decade so much and I am a Dona Summer & Madonna fan.

[@АсетИбейдуллаев]

Донна Саммер forever 👍 forever. Королева ДИСКО.

[@sarastromseth-troy3323]

I haven't heard this song for ages, but I do remember loving it when it came out in 1989. I was 12 years old. Thanks for reacting to it. Listening to it now, the feeling I get is 'happy.' It has a feel-good, energetic vibe.

[@paulfreelife4111]

She was in her 40s here❤️ i miss her🥺🙏❤️ please react to hot Stuff live performances

[@kawboodle]

Another good one by Donna Summer, is "Stamp your feet (in-studio music video"

[@cmetzger78]

Dereck, this is one of my favorite Donna Summer songs. Probably because I remember when this originally came out. I loved it when I was 11, and I still love it today! Great job! ~Chris

[@npo64]

She was beautiful. Check out her "Loves About To Change." Her vocals are so strong and beautiful.

[@charlesdavis545]

That last long note; "change change chaaaange, my heeeeeaaaaarrrrrttttt"

[@joseaavellanet4322]

One of my favorite tracks from the Queen, Donna Summer. This song is timeless, too the new artists, this is music! You should try, I feel love, Last dance and Mac Arthur Park next time!

[@peterpeter2699]

Thats Music makes you feel good

[@mystisith3984]

Awww. One of those nostalgia feel good songs. 💙

[@songbird989]

Thanks man for posting this video! This is one of my all time Donna Summer songs. Now you really need to react to Last Dance from the movie Thank God It's Friday in which she appears. BTW, I've seen that disco movie countless times! lol

[@Orlando-ms3eq]

One of my favourite SAW songs.

[@MrSunfire1971]

This track and a few more from same CD were used in Miss USA 1991 & 1992 Top 10 announcements which spiked her record sales when aired. Check it out

[@roycerowland6162]

Please do an reaction to Donna Summer's dinner with Gershwin. You would really love her voice on that song.

[@rebelheartcr8599]

This Time I Know It's for Real is one of Donna Summer's best songs. In fact, the whole Another Place and Time is great and has equally catchy songs. For instance, Love's About to Change My Heart is a stand-out track. Her vocals are amazing and it's reminiscent of classics like Last Dance or On the Radio with the slow, ballady intro and then it gets dancey. I've always felt Donna Summer's 80's music releases overall are underrated and I feel that her 80's music is more interesting than her disco music. Maybe it's because I'm not too crazy about disco music and it's been overplayed but I would give more of a chance to her 80's discography. It's quite interesting and varied. Speaking about Stock Aitken & Waterman, I would also suggest reacting to Bananarama. We're talking about a girl group that's been around for almost 40 years but their collaborations with Stock Aitken & Waterman are quite notorious and worth listening to.

[@charlesdavis545]

I agree. Sometimes I can't listen to it because it makes me sad she's no longer around.

[@tarzanisno1]

🧡🧡🧡 Donna Summer ! Played her songs so often that to this day every vocal and instrumental note is embedded in my memory. Let's keep going, Dereck.

[@rw4487]

Love queen of disco

[@mickymuscle]

This is one of my fav from SAW team production

[@RogueWJL]

Donna sounds even better live. Ivor Novello Awards. Her performance is incredible

[@mreburto239]

This was Donna's big comeback song. Incredibly, Geffen records gave the SAW LP a thumbs down and sent Donna packing. She signed with Atlantic and finally climbed out of the years long drought at Geffen.

[@charlesdavis545]

I always said she made a mistake signing with that vulture. He stifled her creativity. If she had gotten #CliveDavis to manage her she would have come back huge.

[@johnpatrickmcaleer7374]

All saw songs are so bright and bubbly

[@walterpanovs]

The Stock/Aitken/Waterman sound was huge for a few years there in the late '80s. All of their tracks had a similar perky synth bounce and programmed drum beat. Donna hopped on board the train (after dipping a bit in popularity in the mid-'80s) that had been making hits for Rick Astley, Kylie Minogue, Dead or Alive, and Bananarama, among others.

[@martinp.1884]

The Queen of disco. I Love Donna Summer.

[@Ciclopea2]

This song is such a time capsule, it has a strong late 80's vibe to it, very catchy too. Donna's vocals are amazing and i just have to sing along lol

[@drunk1998]

you shlould enjoy this: Charice singing All by myself at David Foster and then Donna and Seal as well same show! It's amazing

[@steverdms]

The entire album this song is from has a very similar 80's sound. It was quite good. By the way, loving the new shirt and matching hat!

[@marcgasse3321]

Donna's voice was overwhelming above all!!!

[@samwatling]

Love love love this song - i listen to this pretty much daily - im glad you chose to react to it

[@luisv.124]

I love Donna Summer! I also love your reaction to her, Dereck.

[@loveroftrueandlastingpeace]

A good song by her in my opinion is She works hard for the money

[@davidfrania8990]

Donna Summer's music never fails to make the listener feel good! It's a natural high!!!

[@springstud]

nice video i had the change to see her in concert in houston 3 years before her death

[@dwenujang4407]

This song reminds me of all the good times i had in the late 80’s. This song is one of my top 10 Stock Aitken Waterman Songs. Donna sounded soooo good in this song.

[@MarcusCiambelli]

Love your musical knowledge. Its gives a very unique reaction.

[@peterking8563]

Esta canción te envuelve y te hace bailar a la vez , es de esas canciones que al haberlo escuchado por primera vez te enamora , aquel tiempo no podia salir a la disco pero la escuchaba a todo volumen

[@brentgunderson1349]

This was a monster in the clubs! Love the album cover in the background behind her.

[@ENDTIMEsVideoLibrary]

Finally, someone gets into a Donna Summer tune that is not the commonly known ones.. By the way it was Blue Screen back then.. Donna was amazing!!

[@SuperSuperswan]

Love the energy of the dancers too.

[@paulfurlong3103]

Oh yes my favourite dancing song x

[@paulj.mancil7987]

Do yourself a favor and listen to the 12" version that's over 7 minutes long. It's better than the single version.

[@charlesdavis545]

Love that version, especially the instrumental bridge.

[@fabiobeaverhausen2463]

S. A. W. produced the firsts Kylie's album... Love this album from Donna 💜

[@adamchase5610]

I got this on a cassette in 1989 I was 10. Still playing it at 43.

[@davidsmalley1427]

Donna co wrote the track with the SAW team

[@cindycoostallat1273]

Donna Summer très grande chanteuse ❤️ et pleins de souvenirs 😻

[@Adam_Le-Roi_Davis.]

Dereck, her early tracks did really well, I'd like to recommend a few, starting with 'Rumour Has It'; 'On The Radio'; 'Try Me, I Know, We Can Make It'; 'I Love You'; 'Dim All The Lights'; 'Hot Stuff'; 'Bad Girls'; plus her lesser known (big in Studio 54) track 'Spring Affair' which was taken off of her 'Four Seasons Of Love' album (a forgotten classic these days), please also check out later stuff too, particularly 'Dinner With Gershwin' and All Systems Are Go' you will not be disappointed, I promise!