A Disco Queen Returns: Donna Summer Is Back On a Billboard Chart
“Run,” with writer-producer Toby Gad, debuts on Adult Contemporary, marking Summer's first chart appearance since 2008.
Late iconic diva Donna Summer is back on Billboard’s charts, as “Run,” co-billed with veteran writer-producer Toby Gad, debuts at No. 30 on the Adult Contemporary radio ranking (dated Sept. 13).
The song marks the first appearance on a Billboard airplay chart for Summer, who passed away in 2012, since 2008, when she also hit AC with “Sand on My Feet,” which spent a week at No. 30 on the chart dated that Sept. 20. (Her span between entries, thus, marks a week shy of 17 years.)
Summer strutted to superstar status in the ‘70s, arriving with “Love To Love You Baby,” which reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in February 1976. She earned all four of her No. 1s through the end of the decade: “MacArthur Park” (for three weeks in 1978), “Hot Stuff” (three, 1979), “Bad Girls” (five, 1979) and “No More Tears (Enough Is Enough),” her all-star team-up with Barbra Streisand (two, 1979). That song made history as the first No. 1 duet between two women soloists.
Summer upped her career count to 14 Hot 100 top 10s, last reaching the region with “This Time I Know It’s for Real” (No. 7, 1989).
With “Run,” Gad makes his first Billboard chart visit as a billed artist, augmenting a career that includes two Hot 100 No. 1s as a co-writer: Fergie’s “Big Girls Don’t Cry” (for seven weeks in 2007) and John Legend’s “All of Me” (three, 2014). He co-wrote and co-produced two other enduring top 10s: Beyoncé’s “If I Were a Boy” (No. 3, 2008) and Demi Lovato’s “Skyscraper” (No. 10, 2011).
“Run” first began being promoted to AC radio in June, by Kite Records. Originally released as a midtempo track, a new disco-flavored mix arrived today (Sept. 9). Gad and Summer originally worked on the song for her final studio album, 2008’s Crayons, although it ultimately didn’t make the tracklist.
“Donna was funny, such a warm spirit — we instantly connected,” Gad told Billboard following the release of “Run.” “I was a little nervous at first working with such an icon, but Donna opened up to me immediately as I showed her my first ideas. She loved to crack jokes and had such an immediate sense of humor. She enjoyed big hugs and on the first day it felt like she had already decided that I was part of her family.” —Gary Trust
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A treasure to remember. Fond memories always.
Donna's influence and talent is still here with us. Her light will never go out!!! Thank God she was here!!! Wherever she went she brough joy to everyone!!!!