Donna Summer - State of Independence | The Story Behind The Song | Top 2000 a gogo

[@hallson2917]

R.I.P Quincy Jones and DONNA!

[@weath1881]

I think she's right when she says it's one of the best songs ever recorded.

[@rickyparrilla2426]

I had no idea all these legendary artist did background vocals for this great song. I fell in love the first time I heard this song. Donna you are Greatly missed.

[@TeddyBear-ii4yc]

There's rumoured to be a reggae version by someone... it's not hard to see as it's basically reggae anyway. 👍

[@Xacman37]

Fun fact. This is the same night that the song we are the world was born. This is where the idea came from, why Donna wasn’t included is a mystery but my thoughts are, she just had two children, and she was busy being a mama.

[@steverdms]

I miss her so much! What a legend! Her voice will live forever.

[@freddielaker2]

she sadly missed by a lot of us who loved her voice..... x

[@anibalcesarnishizk2205]

It is a pity,indeed.

[@TheLoveSignGuy]

The words of this spiritual masterpiece came from the soul Jon Anderson of YES. A true man of love, and joy.

[@tperk]

This is a remarkable song from start to finish. And as if it wasn't enough to get all those great voices together for the choir, their harmonics were produced to the level of gospel performance.

[@clbernier2]

This is a masterpiece!!!!!!! Her voice is so underrated…God Bless you Donna Summer for giving us your voice!!!!! ❤️❤️❤️

[@fabiwilliams4644]

I find this song so spiritual & nobody else could've sung it better. Miss you Donna

[@atariandre5014]

You’re wrong. Jon & Vangelis’s original is WAY better.

[@carmencakes4695]

@@atariandre5014is it who are they

[@raymondhartmeijer9300]

@@carmencakes4695 Jon Anderson was the singer of Yes, he was a duo with the famous musician Vangelis. They wrote and recorded the song in 1981

[@SweptAway529]

Phenomenal song that oddly peaked at #41 here in the US - Europe got it right sending the song into the top ten throughout many countries!

[@mrs.schmenkman]

She is still one of my favorite vocalists

[@papasy3748]

This song is slowly becoming my favorite of all time, it has everything you could hope for in a piece of music, poignant, euphoric, melancholy, funky, incredibly well-made. RIP to the queen

[@tonynegron1927]

👍 Love her version of that beautiful song. 🌹 D.S. (1948-2012) 🎤 My favorite "Diva". Class of '83!

[@thesatisfiedcustomer4869]

What a woman. What a voice. She Is the GOAT for me when it come to female vocalists.

[@seanwood8883]

💯

[@enricovankeeken1624]

@@seanwood8883 ❔i don*t rEAlly like disco (music) Donna*s is dIfferent though / Germany mUst have influenced her music alOt / i feel love will Always be played in clubs / the minimalistic beat of that song brings you in some kind of trance ... and just mAkes you wanna dAnce❕

[@gotti6969]

ABSOLUTELY!!

[@gotti6969]

ABSOLUTELY!!

[@rocky01ist]

Still miss Donna so much

[@jimmydaves]

I think most people have forgotten that Donna Summer was right in the middle of a huge controversy in the 80-82 years because of her derogatory comments about gay people. Gay people felt betrayed since they were the ones who were playing her music in clubs and discos long before she was being played on the radio. Her huge gay following turned their backs on her and refused to play her music. Donna even did a press conference regarding this. Just check her record sales from 79/80 vs 81/82. It wasn't until 1983 when she released "She works hard for the Money" that Donna was mostly forgiven, and her music was being played again in the gay clubs and discos. I even remember that people were saying this was her "comeback" song. Also, this was Donna's last major hit. As my mother used to say, "don't bite the hand that feeds you".

[@reog3279]

The 'Adam and Steve' story was a lie spread by the religious right that hoped defaming Ms. Summer would end the popularity of disco music, crush discos as safe spots, and end homosexuality.

[@stephencraig7130]

You left out the most important fact regarding that situation. She didn't say it. The magazine paid her Dearly for printing something she didn't say! She didn't bite anything except the hand of the devil!!! Get it right!!

[@jimmydaves]

@@stephencraig7130 Ok, wait a minute! How do you know she didn't say those things? I went to Donna's concert in the summer of 1979 - it was great. Then a couple of years later, I had several friends of mine who had gone to her concerts and reported that they were so disappointed in her comments and remarks that she made during her concert regarding gay people and AIDS. Ok, who am I to believe? My friends had no reason to lie. And I don't remember Donna suing any newspaper or magazine either. I do remember watching her press conference regarding this subject and she seemed genuinely sorry and upset. Whether Donna made those comments or not, I will never know, but I do know that controversy had an effect on her career.

[@voiceimage]

You didnt have enough time here. You are missed. This Anderson/Vangelis song is one of the best ever, and you NAILED it.

[@denonhd8]

So, no mention of Jon Anderson (Yes) & Vangelis (Aphrodites Child) as the composers - and original performers, on their “Friends of Mr. Cairo” album.

[@twistedworld635]

Yeah, kind of pissed me off too. Wanted to rant about it, but think I'll just add to this comment and see if we can get this to appear at the top of the comments. The entire video I was thinking; wasn't this created by Vangelis? When is he going to appear?

[@monicasojka2738]

Truly!!! Love the original!!!

[@mr_don_key]

typical for the NTR to not do proper research on the origins of tracks. Only popularity counts, not the REAL deal. (sure the description on youtube says the proper credits (Jon and Vangelis) but since this documentary is from 2008, it's not IN the video. so this video description: I call that improper damage control.. SHAME ON YOU NTR! Just delete it all together, and interview Jon and Vangelis instead

[@teemusid]

It's the 4th best song on that album.

[@zuur303]

@@mr_don_key tantrum.gif

[@AirDOGGe]

I was already a big YES fan when I discovered this song on the Jon & Vangelis album in the early 1980s. I only discovered this version within the last month, but Donna did a very good job. How did I miss this? Jon Anderson is such a gifted songwriter.

[@29mirstudio]

Her voice is warm syrup dripping down my body.

[@karenkalasy8251]

Her voice is so spiritual and I had many records of hersxx

[@seattlejayde]

I have to say THIS Donna Summers segment is SUPERBLY edited! VERY VERY VERY well done! Thank you!

[@alphatrion100]

Dutch television.

[@NYRNGR1]

Summer.

[@DiverBand]

Donna Summer….Gorgeous!

[@stephenord3403]

That list of musicians, jeepers. Thanks black America 🇺🇸. Love 💘 from England

[@philmccracken179]

White people made this song. Quit kissing ass🤮

[@stuartj1968]

One of very few tracks that gives me goosebumps.

[@zentraveler1834]

This has been one of my top five songs of my lifetime.

[@bakkerem1967]

Remember this song from the eighties, it was one of the first songs I really liked. Still epic composition !

[@quantize]

both versions are fantastic, a tribute to Vangelis' genius

[@cyounger5716]

Mostly written by Jon

[@steveoglesby4120]

@@cyounger5716 That's Jon Anderson from YES. His version from his solo album "Change We Must" is the definition of EPIC. kzbin.info/www/bejne/f5Kbm3mrn9-KpLM

[@atariandre5014]

Absoluut schandalig dat de NPO dit destijds gemaakt heeft zonder zelfs maar te vermelden dat dit fantastische lied gecomponeerd is door Jon Andersson en Vangelis en ook door hun is opgenomen en ja ook nog eens stukken beter. Dit is veel te gelikt, met alle respect voor Donna.

[@raymondhartmeijer9300]

Ik kan me een clipje herinneren waarin Donna juist zegt hoe prachtig en spiritueel de songtekst van Jon Anderson is, wat haar mede overtuigde het nummer op te nemen. Maar ik denk dat dat ergens weggeknipt is. Of het was uit een ander interview

[@atariandre5014]

@@raymondhartmeijer9300ze zegt wel zoiets over de tekst maar Jon & Vangelis worden echt nergens genoemd, niet door Donna en verder ook niet. Leo Blokhuis zat zeker te slapen.

[@chrisclarke7828]

There are times in our lives when something is amazing . This is. How sad we lost Donna early and also many more mentioned here.

[@bmw3842]

It truly is a great song ..

[@w.a.m.vandenberg178]

Dont forget that this song comes from Vangelis with Jon Anderson. RIP the Master Vangelis 😢🙏🏻

[@HeyLisa]

I prefer the Jon & Vangelis version

[@MariaJuarez-oc7zq]

@@HeyLisa Please. Their version has no life, no soul.

[@NathanCelica]

@@MariaJuarez-oc7zq Excuse me? Their version is so much more musical. Donna's version almost sounds bland in comparison

[@MariaJuarez-oc7zq]

@@NathanCelica Get your hearing checked and quickly.

[@SteveAttwood]

I bought on 12" at the time and her opening vocal still gets me all teary.. Its an epically emotional song.. Kudos to Jon & Vangelis for their original writing and recording which Q kept quite faithful to...

[@jochemjonker3362]

Als kind,raakten de songs met Donna Summer me al,het begon bij het nummer "the Hostage".Die zomer was ik met mijn ouders en zus op vakantie op Schiermonnikoog, hat een Philips draagbare radio en hoorde dit nummer,met het telefoongesprek als intermezzo in het nummer. Ook de hits die hierna kwamen,waren top,waren vaak ook richting wijzend qua muziek ontwikkelingen(Love to love you baby" heeft tamelijk veel raakvlakken met bands als Kraftwerk). Ze maakte niet bepaald inhoudsloze disco,terwijl de stijl van Disco altijd is beschouwd,als muziek met weinig diepgang,message en oorspronkelijkheid.

[@rabit818]

Hair raising moment (in a good way) when Donna hit the high notes. Donna and Whitney are simply one of the greatest.

[@seanwood8883]

Wow, I just thought that was just a normal backing band/choir, not the likes of all those megastars such as MJ, Christopher Cross, dionne Warwick, stevie and the rest. State of independence is just surreal and outta this world literally. A real masterpiece

[@rde4017]

I'm still not sure which is the best version of this unspeakably beautiful masterpiece.

[@TheFilwud]

The original, I always though Donna's lacked feeling. There was a very "up" feeling in the originals, Donna's feels a bit mechanical to me.

[@6stringstrum]

Waanzinnig nummer, waanzinnig geproduceerd, waanzinnig gezongen!

[@tom080955]

Truly our disco royalty, this was our queen...she is missed The song by Jon Anderson and vandelis was brightened by her version

[@rdtkga]

Love all versions of this song. Jon Anderson And Tobmobile version is my personal favorite.

[@arbonne1805]

Mine too.

[@mr.mealldaylong8013]

I SWEAR...I 👂👂to ATLEAST 3-4 DONNA SUMMER SONGS EVERYDAY yo...💯🔥

[@joandominguez1941]

Great song..the voice❤

[@ΒΑΓΓΕΛΗΣΚΑΖΑΚΗΣ]

The beat of "STATE OF INDEPENDENCE" used by Quincy and Michael Jackson in the "BILLY JEAN" . Quincy was listening the album " THE FRIENDS OF Mr CAIRO".

[@curtissly439]

born in the sixties. thought i was an expert in 70's and 80's music. did not know the history of this song. first time listener.

[@prog1962]

Dit nummer heeft altijd mijn stem voor de top 2000.Sinds The Hostage een van mijn favoriete zangeressen

[@MarcKloos]

Met Sjef van Oekel?

[@prog1962]

@@MarcKloos Jawel...dat ben ik dus...reeds

[@markleon411]

I was such a big fan of Jon & Vangelis and I was horrified when Donna Summer recorded this song. It deflected all attention away from the original. Then I started to appreciate this version for what it is and the incredible choir on the recording.

[@SmartRobot-wc2fb]

Mark Thorne-Barbosa: Like Lavoisier believed, "matter was neither created nor destroyed in chemical reactions". Regardless of the original, which only a few people these days know about, this version is a pop-gospel-funk infused spiritual experience, like Donna herself said here. So, why bother?

[@tiedupsmurf]

Great voice Great days Great tooooon

[@elove2.038]

Legends!!!

[@SaturdayKitchenLive]

Rip Donna Summer.

[@petermeeuwis8194]

And your a great singer

[@edwinprasing8992]

I think her version is the best, but i'm missing credits in this video for Jon& Vangelis....

[@TensegrityEnergy]

@3.29 good old Bruce. Without that man many great songs would not have sounded so great.

[@kervinrodriguez1833]

Rip Donna😢

[@macsnafu]

Donna Summer sang a Jon Anderson and Vangelis song? What an unusual connection. Especially since Donna's voice is lower than Jon's! ;-)

[@seattlejayde]

I love her

[@pedrosalinas9979]

She was so f...freaking sexy. God may have her in Heaven. Rest in peace so called Black Panther, Queen of Disco, Donna the predecessor of Madonna.

[@Joyanddaniel]

No, not in the same sentence please

[@marionnye3690]

loved this song ...i always thought it was when she became a christian s this song is very spiritual xRIP Donna

[@BloemencorsoNL]

RIP Vangelis 17-05-2022 > Precies 10 jaar eerder Donna 17-05-2012

[@pmlbeirao]

Vangelis was the composer. Lyrics written and originally sung by Jon Anderson from Yes.

[@anthonya.antonio]

This song was way ahead of its time and was not radio-friendly for 1982. If it was such a great song, why wasn't it more popular? As the second single, it didn't give the album the push it needed and after a few weeks, both the album and song fell off the charts. The song did well in some parts of Europe, Holland.

[@Leftatalbuquerque]

The followup should have been Mystery Of Love.

[@anthonya.antonio]

@@Leftatalbuquerque Agreed. Perfect single

[@Fabian-jl3hb]

It was huge in europe. American mainstream pop radio's were less receptive to Donna's music since the disco demolition day.

[@rdo1231]

legend

[@richardbutterfield412]

One of the best songs ever recorded in the history of music! Quincy and Donna - a recipe for excellence.

[@JackN808]

There is more to this song than what we hear. Every time I hear it it makes me cry for joy. This song was Donna's song to the Father of Lights, Jesus Christ whom she was a follower of. 🙏🙏

[@orsonkaart1853]

Excellent !

[@SniffyPoo]

Miss Donna

[@rokapali69]

This song is written by Jon Anderson (YES) and Vangelis and they never mentioned in this video, Why??

[@harlandted]

Omg. Thank u

[@Summerfan69]

They should included some clips of the big starts singing the chorus in her State of independence music video!

[@Marlon-sw4nw]

What are you talking about?.. from 2:52

[@Marlon-sw4nw]

What are you talking about..? from 2:52

[@STR82DVD]

Outrageous!!!!! Not a bloody word about Jon Anderson or Vangelis. Not a bad cover but credit where bloody credit is due. Shameful.

[@bsquared4604]

Hunter Bungay she may have talked about it, it just didn’t make this video.

[@cdeekay3420]

Take a fucking Xanax!

[@mikearchibald744]

Yes, they could at least have MENTIONED who wrote it and performed it. Most of the songs in this series have stressed the songwriters, so to not even mention who wrote a song that the singer goes on and on about how great it is, thats just bizarre. I didn't even know Donna Summer even covered this, I only know it from Jon's first album 'Animation'. As soon as they started talking about it I started to wonder if Jon had just done a cover, which seemed odd (apart from his christmas album). But anyway, it probably adds to his pension and its quite a thing to write a song that brings all these people together, but thats sort of what Jon Anderson tries to do. Thats Jon Anderson guys, the guy who WROTE the song, and to my mind did a better job with it too:)

[@bgs03548]

Eric Clapton recorded JjCales Cocaine. It made it possible for J.J. to buy a new car and stuff. They become great friends too. If artists don’t copyright songs, what can ppl do?

[@Dionysus4776]

Great story behind the song again, but please change the first sentence of the description for the video. It should be something along the lines of; "Donna Summer, who passed away in 2012, tells us the sto..." and even that doesn't feel totally right. Please have a translator check this over.

[@harrynac6017]

Skip the beginning, end the story with "in 2012 she past away"?

[@Jeff_P-1988]

looks fine in Dutch, I'm pretty sure auto translation messed it up.

[@gcooper642]

Jon Anderson has such a unique way of crafting song lyrics... anyway 40 odd years later I've just realised the lyrics aren't This state of independence shall we, it's shall be. Lol

[@peter_aka_hamamass]

To me only the J&V version has pure magic ❤️ RIP Vangelis 🙏

[@raymondhartmeijer9300]

I'm a big Yes-fan, but I disagree. Quincy Jones and Donna made something very special from the original, for me, the Donna Summer version is the better one

[@quantize]

nah, nothing hits you like that final wall of vocals, they're both great, the original is more naieve, the Summer version is funkier and more epic.

[@cal_nevari]

@@raymondhartmeijer9300 I agree. And I am a big fan of Jon Anderson and Vangelis and the versions of YES that include Jon Anderson. But I really feel more of an emotional charge from her live version and her studio version of State of Independence than Jon & Vangelis' version. Which is still very good imo.

[@lynby6231]

Yeah she turns it into a dance song and it loses everything

[@GoodMrDawes]

Awesome

[@richiereverb]

No Mention of the writer and composer Jon Anderson and Vangelis . What a stunning song ! Written by Englishman Jon Anderson from YES !

[@seattlejayde]

I happened on this and was EXCELLENT!

[@keef71]

i prefer this to the original, but why NO mention of jon & vangelis?

[@raymondhartmeijer9300]

I'm positive there is more interview from this show somewhere where she mentioned what a great lyric Jon had wrote, and how she saw the spiritual nature of it. I think they cut some bits out for KZbin

[@etierik]

@@raymondhartmeijer9300 I don't think so. Top2000 a gogo always has these 5 minutes shorts. They probably had more material, but they didn't broadcast more on tv.

[@raymondhartmeijer9300]

@@etierik mmh then I probably saw her talking about the song on a different show

[@DickyLee01]

It does not matter Donna did not write this song. She was the perfect lead vocal and talent behind this song. It reaches beyond politics.

[@Alan_Matu]

It may have been written by Jon & Vangelis but it was only ever an album track for them until they finally released it in 1984, these interviews are about the songs and why the artists recorded them not about who wrote them. It's not like she tried to pass it off as her own creation and states very early on that she wishes she had written it, which gives you some indication of what she must've thought of the original, and why she went ahead and recorded it because it wasn't for the money, cover versions don't pay very well because all the royalties go to the writers and publishers. If you want another great version try listening to Moodswings - Spiritual High (State Of Independence) Part II with Chrissie Hynde on vocals.

[@Burps___]

Chicago 💜 #DonnaSummer.

[@leonardpattison2816]

Love too Love U Baby

[@bricharloe4337]

Donna rules

[@wajobu]

The Jon & Vangelis version is far more joyful, and the studio voices contribute to the atmosphere. Nothing better than the original.

[@TheMoises1213]

May she RIP 😔❤️

[@danielberiain5580]

Bonita version de un tema de vangelis. Es interesante oir la version original antes de poder opinar

[@tiffanystewardbenn7922]

Can someone tell me when this video was made? I thought she past on b4 Oboma because president

[@Top2000agogo]

This interview is from 2008, actually on the day that Obama became president. She passed away in 2012.

[@68404]

And MIchael Jackson stole the riff for Billy Jean.

[@hesselklijnstra4188]

❤️

[@sillygoose9070]

So you avoid telling the 'story behind the song'... It was written by Jon Anderson and Vangelis.

[@ArnoldVeeman]

Nice song... Great message... By Vangelis 🙃🤦🏾‍♂️ Next time be more accurate!

[@graziacavasino8884]

Lyrics by Jon Anderson

[@sandraatkins2539]

Beautiful, talented Ms. Donna Summer we miss you so.

[@jamielim5059]

There’s only one Donna Summer 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 Irene Cara looks and sounds like a younger version of her 🙏🏻

[@daniellastuart3145]

The Jon & Vangelis version is far more joyful, and more

[@geob3963]

I’m glad we have both.

[@russnoe4603]

No it isn't. Baloney.

[@zonsven]

wowwwwww

[@TeddyBear-ii4yc]

I don't know what she'd took or if her memory issues are due to her age but she was making it up as she went along. Did they play SOI at Obamas inauguration with DS leading a host of black music royalty? It's all so confusing?

[@LPJISKOOL]

She should have been part of We Are The World!

[@AntonioCarlos-yh8kw]

A Donna Summer era uma vocalista de muitas vozes, podia cantar várias estilos vocais e musicais, um dom que nunca vi em outras cantoras. Infelizmente essa música foi subestimada na parada e rádios americanas. A Donna faz muita falta no cenário musical da atualidade que anda muito pobre em termos vocais.

[@JustLocal]

I heard she wanted to be a rock singer!

[@JimmieJamOfTheDay]

She was a Rock singer. She was in a Rock band before she became famous. She was also known for having said something along the lines of, "I'm a singer who sings. Categorize the song but don't categorize me!"

[@Summerfan69]

She got some rock songs in her 80’s album look for ‘Protection’ by Bruce Springsteen in 1982 same album from State of Independence, also Highway Runner & Cold Love from the album The Wanderer.

[@MERVILLE3]

And the mystery remains, how did they avoid Wonder ruining with one of his harmonica solos?

[@tammierose5043]

💫🌟💫

[@FundamentalsUK]

Only watched for mention of Jon n Vangelis , she did a good cover but the writers n original should get a mention!