Don Freeman here. Great episode as always Paul. Firstly the great Quincy Jones & Michael Jackson were directly responsible for me getting my first publishing deal with Warner Chappell Music when they put a hold on my song Carousel which I wrote with Michael Sembello. We recorded the 24 track demo at Larry Carlton’s studio so I have him to thank as well. Even though Carousel didn’t make the first version of Thriller it was eventually added to later versions such as Thriller 25th Anniversary, Thriller Special Edition etc for which I am truly grateful. Now the bridge to Carousel was a diminished minor sequence in half steps I had heard 7 years earlier on Armando’s Rhumba by Chick Corea. I emailed Stanley Clarke and he loved it. As for Jon Anderson I co- wrote 2 songs with him and played keyboards on those as well. They are “ It’s On Fire” and New Civilization which feature John Robinson and my good friend Jimmy Haslip. It was produced by Stewart Levine ( Simply Red). As for the great James Ingram we wrote a song that was recorded by George Duke called “ I Surrender” which was fantastic. I worked with Louis Johnson on a song I wrote with Jeffrey Osborne and Mike Sembello Don’t You Get So Mad. Louis killed that groove. It was produced by none other than George Duke. It was a pleasure working with those people in the studio. Peace ✌️
@dfreeman120 Wow, you responded!! Sorry for fanning out, but I'm a heavy credit reader & those J.O. albums y'all worked on are classics. "Don't You Get So Mad" & "Other Side of the Coin" are my jams, too!! Have a great day & thanks for the music!
Donna's voice soars on the bridge. Her voice is so pure, powerful and beautiful. I don't know why this track wasn't huge in the US. It was massive in Europe.
Donna Summer. My personal number one singer of all times, sharing this spot with Brad Delp, Maria Callas, Luciano Pavarotti, Stevie Wonder, Freddie Mercury, Jon Anderson, Ronnie James Dio, Sting and a few more. But Donna had the most perfect pitch. You could tune your instrument to her voice. In contrast to all the other nr1s, Donna made it look effortless. Even at 63yrs of age she gave a live performance with Seal that was out of this world. As if she was in her prime. I couldn't believe my ears. And she did it while suffering from stage 4 lung cancer. That makes her the nr1 of the nr1s. What an artist, what a beautiful woman, may her soul sing forever in heaven.
I remember that song.. into this day the sound of the synthesizer turn down his voice is so fresh. Quincy's work was always so well crafted.. I think this was as close as he ever came to a real dance song. Even the cover of the album was so different at the time. The whole album is excellent if you have a great loud stereo system it's amazing what comes out.
I was (am) a huge Donna Summer fan and I LOVED that album and that cut. The album marked Summer’s first steps away from Moroder into larger possibilities that cups show even more of her voice. State of Independence for me was one of those cuts that should never have been a single, it didn’t stand a chance in US radio at the time- but it felt like an educated update of I Feel Love with still holds dance club cult status. That was its home. I heard it on the radio and as much as I loved it, the trimmed down 2+ minute version strips the life out of it and only serves to interrupt a radio DJs groove. On the album it was a mesmerizing step into somewhere else, a post-club chill room vibe. A lot of popular albums get ruined for fans by overplay. I was glad this one didn’t hit the charts, it has stayed a bright spot moment on the album for me along with their haunting, very modern rendition of Lush Life!
State of independence was one of Donna Summers greatest hits in The Netherlands ( where btw her career started), love the singer, love the song by Jon Anderson and by Donna Summer
I agree totally with you but I also remember every radio DJ here in Germany and in England complaining about the strange fade-out of the song when they played the album version, with one DJ saying "What a terrible ending to a wonderful song and great recording".
I have to agree 💯, the full length version of this song is like some spiritual mantra that takes me to a higher place. I’d love to hear it after a night dancing watching the sun rise!!!
I’m a huge fan of the Jon & Vangelis collaboration. But when I saw Donna Summer close a concert with HER State of Independence version and brought her daughter onto the stage to sing with her, it was one of the most beautiful musical moments I’ve ever witnessed. I have never since listened to the J&V version without listening to the DS&QJ version right afterwards. Thank You for this wonderful video!
I remember when “State of Independence” came out and I kept my eye on the Billboard chart but was disappointed at the lack of interest in it in the US. I STILL listen to this track down to this day. And we are approaching 2025. In my opinion, this song, the sound of it, and the production of it is a masterpiece! Thanks so much for this post!
It was considered more of an Adult Contemporary song, not the current pop music of the time, which was already moving to New Wave in the early 80s with bands like the Pretenders and a slew of bands from England. A very different sound.
What a cool documentary! I remember this song from Donna Summer's live concert on HBO, and she sang it with her daughter. Her daughter had an angelic quality on the chorus part. I always remembered it and the song because it had so much volume. Thanks for sharing.🙏🏽🫶
@@fixups6536 Not so. She was on a major downward spiral. The Wanderer was a failure, and her turning her back on her gay fans marked the beginning of the end. It was a long way from her peak years of 1977-1979. The world was passing her by. Apart from “ She Works Hard for the Money” in 1983 and a horrible but moderately successful single with SA&W, she was done!
@ Rolling Stone Magazin: best singers Place 22, Disco Queen is Not a dismissed … one of the most influecing music still today, Donna sold millions Singles, Album, ein Grammys… your simple wrong
Donnas State Of Independence has actually hit on three occasions in the UK since release. It reached number 14 on its original run in November '82. Number 45 when reissued to promote The Best Of collection in November 1990. Before finally topping it's original peak in April '96 when it reached number 13. It may never have broke the top ten but it's had a longevity only surpassed by I Feel Love here. Great song, great vocals and great production by the legend Quincy Jones. R.I.P. to both.
Yeah, it never broke the top 10, but was a hit anyway getting in the top 20 so that is the main thing! So why didn't he mentionedi t was a hit in UK and other countries?? Confused!
State of Independence got a lot of radio airplay in Philadelphia in 1982-83. Those of us who were there are very lucky there were DJs who didn't always pay attention to where a song was on the charts-they knew what sounded good. This was and still is one of Donna's greatest musical achievements(The all-star chorus didn't hurt either). I'm so glad that, more than 40 years later, people still have the chance to experience the pure genius that is Donna Summer and Quincy Jones. May they both rest in heavenly peace.
Agreed. I was also a DJ during that period, playing at The Badlands in San Francisco.. My crowd loved it, especially played back to back with Toto's Africa, which came out around the same time.
RIP Legends Donna Summer and Quincy Jones , and thank you both for the legacy of great music you have left us .. 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾😢😢😢😢🎤🎤🎤🎹🎹🎹( never though of a world without Quincy Jones , when it came to music , he was the world)
Thank you for all these informations. I love Donne and I'm a Fan since the early 70’ when she makes ‚The Hostage‘ and 'Lady of the Night‘. When This Album came out in 1982 , I was blown away, when I hear ‚State of Independence‘ for the first time. Nearly the same impact to me like ‚I feel Love‘ in 1977. What a Voice, what a Chorus and what a Song it was. Greetings from Berlin, Germany!
This was a great album. Loved “State of Independence” and “The Woman In Me”. Both received huge airplay where I live. Surprised they weren’t bigger hits.
First single was very different from the second. It was even more of a Quincy track vs. a Donna track, and I loved it on the radio. It charted well, but vanished quickly.
Oh, my gosh, THANK YOU for this video. I loved this song so much, my poor old mom went out to the record store in our little Indiana town and asked the clerk for the Donna Summer record "where she's got her hair all hanging down in her face" so she could buy it for me as a Christmas present. I had no IDEA about that power choir from heaven, though! Truly, Quincy Jones was a genius.
I remember this song because my brother was a HUUUUUGE DONNA SUMMER FAN!!! I couldn’t escape it if I wanted to, but I didn’t want to. I remember the song very well, I must have been 14 or 15. I loved the lyrics and just like everyone who owned albums, I read the credits and knew most of the legendary names in the choir and knew that they pretty much all had hit records out recently. And I remembered fully understanding that when Quincy was creating WE ARE THE WORLD, he was doing the same thing he did for STATE OF INDEPENDENCE on Donna’s album and I was here for it!
First heard this song when I bought Donna Summer anthology in 1993. I was a child during Donna's peak popularity. This track became one of my many faves. Happy you focused on this song.
I’m from the Netherlands and this song, for me, will always be a number one; it’s strong and so spiritual. Now I know why, couldn’t miss out with a line-up like that❤
I had to subscribe because of your indepth details on studio music production. I am very impressed with your historical references and abilities to compare and contrast *with receipts.*
Also something of a test run for Thriller, from the Donna Summer album, is the lead track Love Is In Control. The synth bass and vocodered backing vocals are a precursor to the same arrangements used on PYT.
The Professor of Rock described Donna as the forgotten mega,star. And she was. At the end of the 70s, Bee Gees, Diana Ross, ABBA, Barbara Streisand and Earth Wind and Fire dominated the globe spreading creative magic and energy. They were like gods of olympus to us mere mortals. And amongst that group was Ms Donna Summer. The industry may have tried to forget Donna, but we never will. ❤🙏
"Forgotten"? How is she "forgotten"? If you read the current Rolling Stones, her song "I Feel Love" is used as the basis for emerging music genres. If she's forgotten, it's only by younger people who don't know her music. Certainly not by anyone over 45, who was around when she was still on Casablanca.
I spent a weekend in Amsterdam when this was at number 1 in the Netherlands, the song was being played everywhere! Consequently, whenever I hear it, I'm always taken straight back to that weekend. I guess I'm also lucky that it was played a lot at that time here in the UK, too!
Oh I remember it for sure! At the time I fell into a small niche of being a fan of Yes, Jon/Vangelis, AND Donna Summer (Quincy too!). Thanks for the video, I had no idea of the personnel of that inspired choir!
According to Daryl Hall, MJ told him during the "We Are the World" sessions that he had lifted the Billie Jean bassline from "I Can't Go For That." Hall replied that it was okay because they'd lifted it from somewhere else!
I definitely don’t have a problem remembering it, because I’m a huge Donna Summer fan. I remember being excited about a Quincy produced Donna album. Quincy was known for pulling artists together. He did it a few years before with Stuff like that.
Jon Anderson himself recounts publicly that Quincy Jones told him that he (Quincy Jones), upon listening to the album The Friends of Mr. Cairo (from which State of Independence comes) is what triggered the inspiration for Billie Jean. Given the similarity of the bass lines, there can be little argument on the matter.
Let's not forget that Chrissy Hynde did that same song (and my personal favorite rendition) which was used in the movie thriller, 'Single White Female'. Go check it out and listen to it. Quite incredible. Her group was named, 'Moodswings'.
This was not the only cover of this song. An outfit called ‘Moodswings’ did one with Chrissy Hynde of The Pretenders performing lead vocals. There are probably other covers as well. It’s just a great song.
ooh! didn't know about a Chrissy Hynde version! thank you! gonna try to find that (no doubt it's here on youtube! ) such a wonderful optimist anthem, love both Jon and Vangelis (original) and Donna Summers.
The real banger from the self-titled 1982 Donna Summer album is 'Love is in Control (Finger on the Trigger)', a Quincy/Rod Temperton co-write that has all the magic you'd expect from that pair in that year. How Geffen managed to fumble the ball in not making this song (and the album it came from) a bigger hit is beyond me. Sidenote for crate diggers, the 12" single (in addition to a seven-minute extended A-side) has a really cool instrumental B-side that features Ernie Watts playing all the lead vocal parts on sax.
David Geffen, like all of the albums he released by Donna Summer, completely dropped the ball on this album. Love Is Just A Breath Away should have not only been a single, but the first single from this album. The commercial appeal of it is just too obvious. It had that Flashdance sound a year before Flashdance was released. To this day it is my favorite song by Donna.
One of my earliest musical memories as a child, my parents were playing it all the time (tape in the car, wish I stll had that tape). At least it charted in Belgium (#4) and Netherlands (#3).
I learn something new every time I watch one of your videos. But I remember this song well. They used to play it quite a bit on the radio (see what I did there?) where I was back then. Donna Summer had a very rich, distinctive voice. Keep teaching and keep on trucking. Peace.
I truly remember that song! This was for me, then a music major (vocal performance) in one of the nation’s best conservatories, a phenomenal training environment. One of my professors teaching choral ensemble actually highlighted this song for us. Now, our ensemble was about 100 members strong, but he asked us to listen to this song, and remarked that this sound was achieved by a fraction of the people we had, but was all due to Quincy Jones and his amazing production methods. He knew “Q” and the amazing craftsmanship he put into every aspect of his recordings, and one of the things he wanted us to hear was that even small productions could be made to seem huge with good methods and very well experienced voices. He was right!
!!! Thanks for covering this amazing song. What an insight on the choir part of this little masterpiece. In Antwerp (Belgium) "Shablamadi-Shablamada" generations of party people have been singing "Ze Kome ni - Ze Kome na" (dialect of "ze komen niet - ze komen nu") which translates to "They won't come - They'll come now" 🙂🙂
One of my all-time favorite songs...both versions! But, Honey! My head exploded when you listed the A List Choir participants...what a glorious combination ~ no wonder this version is just a little bit better 😉💗
great history! I loved hearing those isolated vocal parts - wow, what an insane lineup - I can even hear Mr. Mister "Kyrie" in there with the syncopated bassline
Your research, passion for key detail, and warm educational presentation are amazing. Thank you and Thank you to the souls no longer physically with us in Quincy's All Star Musical Team, Bruce, Rod, N Dugal, David, Jeff and Louis Johnson.
Just by hearing “State of Independence”, i knew that it was special, but i wasn’t quite sure why until now. i had no idea that the choir was an all-star cast. That just blew my mind! i nearly cried. It sounds even more glorious to me now.
Thank you for this. The album was one of my favorite Donna Summer releases. It did move her away from the Giorgio Moroder sound. "State of Independence" should have been a hit in the US especially with it's all star background singers. "Love Is In Control" and "Mystery Of Love" with James Ingram were favorites as well.
David Geffen, like all of the albums he released by Donna Summer, completely dropped the ball on this album. Love Is Just A Breath Away should have not only been a single, but the first single from this album. The commercial appeal of it is just too obvious. It had that Flashdance sound a year before Flashdance was released. To this day it is my favorite song by Donna.
I remember that song! Awesome. Some music that came out, in those days, were just so amazing and inspiring. I believe that is because of the amazing talent that was used, and not just particual corporate industry "artists" who were molded for the company's success. The true creative minds of music and entertainment bring what can attain the higher qualities that people really want to experience.
The centerpiece of this song is when Donna breaks out in the bridge "sounds like a signal from you...". The backing vocalists are a nice touch, but nothing touches that part of the song.
Having the ability to recognize a bass pattern in a background synth arpeggio/sequence is ingenious. That's maximally inspired not stolen. Q. Jones exaggerated in that case. Otherwise, "State Of Independence" doesn't have the slightest thing in common w. "Billie Jean". Audiowise I'd really never detected similarities between those works before. In my lil' country (Austria) "State Of Independence" hat great airplay but the "Donna Summer" Album I'd unfortunately gotten decades later. No matter how hard it partly was to record as a pregnant & under Q. Jone's thumb, it's still her best work so far at least to me.
@africkinamerican Yes & no, since it makes the intro and runs through different (low) volumes through the entire song I'd still feel something's missing if it were totally muted...
I remember this song because I loved every second of it. It has been one of my favourites forever. I can't understand why others aren't as equally mesmerised by it. I often end up confabulating tremendous fantasies when I listen to it.
We can't thank you enough for this further video gem. I bought the album as it was released and I absolutely love it ( despite of the track "Protection"), but all the others completely floored me. Later I found out that a good reason for that might have been who played, wrote and arranged for the album. Definetly one of my desert island records (will there be electric power?), and one which sadly overlooked, all the bass-t from kayo
@@pmberry of course you're right and probably Protection is a better song than any of my writings, but to me, the other tracks on that album are so much more in my realm, sorry, no offense to the "boss" and his highly admired work!
A former bandmate of mine attended U of Miami '88 - '92. The faculty typically arranged for a series of workshops and mentorships to occur annually. I am not sure what year it was but my friend - a bass player - was mentored by Louis Johnson. It was during one of their sessions together that Johnson alleged that Michael wrote a melody over his baseline but never gave him a writing credit for it. Having gone through a similar incident with Greg Phillinganes and the bridge to Don't Stop; Quincy tried to convince Michael to include Johnson in the writing credits. Michael refused. It was then that Quincy came to an agreement with Louis in an effort to make the situation better - and by extension, his brother George - that when he did his next solo album; he would cover a Brothers Johnson song and make it a hit. Not being able to anticipate the success of Billie Jean or Thriller; Johnson agreed, and the result was I'll Be Good To You from Back On The Block.
He gambled wrong! Although the Be Good To You cover was really good, it didn't do anything as a single that I recall. It just got to be on a hit album.
Bizarre. This was a song I heard on UK television way back when it popped and I remember it getting its hook into me on that one exposure, but being a kid, forgetting all about it a few days later etc etc. Pops back into my head a couple of years back, track it down courtesy of the Tubes of Yoo and I understand why it hooked me. It's an unusual 'pop song' - no distinct verse/chorus/verse/chorus/mid-8/chorus out sort of thing, starts off with a scatty, almost rappy ramble then settles into that emotive groove from Summer - then there's the gang vocals (with Stevie Wonder on point if I remember?) church choir perfect. It's a gorgeous track - love it. Really enjoyed hearing some background on it.
Yes. I commented on this as well. "I Robot" by Alan Parson's Project was released in 1977 so I think this song may have been a double or even a triple lift.
Ive loved this song since it came out. Kinda forgot about it until I heard it again several years ago and put it in my library. It always struck me as mystical and showstopping. Thanks for the info on it!
Don Freeman here. Great episode as always Paul. Firstly the great Quincy Jones & Michael Jackson were directly responsible for me getting my first publishing deal with Warner Chappell Music when they put a hold on my song Carousel which I wrote with Michael Sembello. We recorded the 24 track demo at Larry Carlton’s studio so I have him to thank as well. Even though Carousel didn’t make the first version of Thriller it was eventually added to later versions such as Thriller 25th Anniversary, Thriller Special Edition etc for which I am truly grateful. Now the bridge to Carousel was a diminished minor sequence in half steps I had heard 7 years earlier on Armando’s Rhumba by Chick Corea. I emailed Stanley Clarke and he loved it. As for Jon Anderson I co- wrote 2 songs with him and played keyboards on those as well. They are “ It’s On Fire” and New Civilization which feature John Robinson and my good friend Jimmy Haslip. It was produced by Stewart Levine ( Simply Red). As for the great James Ingram we wrote a song that was recorded by George Duke called “ I Surrender” which was fantastic. I worked with Louis Johnson on a song I wrote with Jeffrey Osborne and Mike Sembello Don’t You Get So Mad. Louis killed that groove. It was produced by none other than George Duke. It was a pleasure working with those people in the studio. Peace ✌️
Hi Don! I love the tracks you did with Jeffrey Osborne on the Don't Stop album!! I'm sure it was fun working with the late, great George Duke!!
@@buddyb.525 thanks glad you like them, George was brilliant as a musician and great person!
@@dfreeman120 Let's hear it for the boy. :)
@dfreeman120 Wow, you responded!! Sorry for fanning out, but I'm a heavy credit reader & those J.O. albums y'all worked on are classics. "Don't You Get So Mad" & "Other Side of the Coin" are my jams, too!! Have a great day & thanks for the music!
@@dfreeman120 wow so good to hear from you on here. Would love your socials and to follow what you’re up to these days. Love Carousel btw
Donna's voice soars on the bridge. Her voice is so pure, powerful and beautiful. I don't know why this track wasn't huge in the US. It was massive in Europe.
Donna Summer. My personal number one singer of all times, sharing this spot with Brad Delp, Maria Callas, Luciano Pavarotti, Stevie Wonder, Freddie Mercury, Jon Anderson, Ronnie James Dio, Sting and a few more. But Donna had the most perfect pitch. You could tune your instrument to her voice. In contrast to all the other nr1s, Donna made it look effortless. Even at 63yrs of age she gave a live performance with Seal that was out of this world. As if she was in her prime. I couldn't believe my ears. And she did it while suffering from stage 4 lung cancer. That makes her the nr1 of the nr1s. What an artist, what a beautiful woman, may her soul sing forever in heaven.
“Love is in Control” is outstanding.
Such a GREAT pop song!
Definitely a precursor to the songs on Thriller. It was also written by the great Rod Temperton.
You REALLY need to listen to A LOT more music...
I remember that song.. into this day the sound of the synthesizer turn down his voice is so fresh. Quincy's work was always so well crafted.. I think this was as close as he ever came to a real dance song. Even the cover of the album was so different at the time. The whole album is excellent if you have a great loud stereo system it's amazing what comes out.
I was (am) a huge Donna Summer fan and I LOVED that album and that cut. The album marked Summer’s first steps away from Moroder into larger possibilities that cups show even more of her voice. State of Independence for me was one of those cuts that should never have been a single, it didn’t stand a chance in US radio at the time- but it felt like an educated update of I Feel Love with still holds dance club cult status. That was its home. I heard it on the radio and as much as I loved it, the trimmed down 2+ minute version strips the life out of it and only serves to interrupt a radio DJs groove. On the album it was a mesmerizing step into somewhere else, a post-club chill room vibe. A lot of popular albums get ruined for fans by overplay. I was glad this one didn’t hit the charts, it has stayed a bright spot moment on the album for me along with their haunting, very modern rendition of Lush Life!
State of independence was one of Donna Summers greatest hits in The Netherlands ( where btw her career started), love the singer, love the song by Jon Anderson and by Donna Summer
I agree totally with you but I also remember every radio DJ here in Germany and in England complaining about the strange fade-out of the song when they played the album version, with one DJ saying "What a terrible ending to a wonderful song and great recording".
I have to agree 💯, the full length version of this song is like some spiritual mantra that takes me to a higher place. I’d love to hear it after a night dancing watching the sun rise!!!
A super album which also includes 'Protection', a fantastic song by Bruce Springsteen. Bruce plays guitar on this track.
I’m a huge fan of the Jon & Vangelis collaboration. But when I saw Donna Summer close a concert with HER State of Independence version and brought her daughter onto the stage to sing with her, it was one of the most beautiful musical moments I’ve ever witnessed. I have never since listened to the J&V version without listening to the DS&QJ version right afterwards. Thank You for this wonderful video!
Thanks, I was wondering who the little girl was.
I remember when “State of Independence” came out and I kept my eye on the Billboard chart but was disappointed at the lack of interest in it in the US. I STILL listen to this track down to this day. And we are approaching 2025. In my opinion, this song, the sound of it, and the production of it is a masterpiece! Thanks so much for this post!
It was considered more of an Adult Contemporary song, not the current pop music of the time, which was already moving to New Wave in the early 80s with bands like the Pretenders and a slew of bands from England. A very different sound.
Charted in the U.K. any the way !
Thank you very interesting
What a cool documentary! I remember this song from Donna Summer's live concert on HBO, and she sang it with her daughter. Her daughter had an angelic quality on the chorus part. I always remembered it and the song because it had so much volume. Thanks for sharing.🙏🏽🫶
I'm floored by the amount of top-notch singers providing background vocals for State of Independence.
Donna Summer was HUGE at the time.
It was because of Quincy Jones
Ridiculous. These are probably the last shots of CC before his career imploded. Video Killed the Radio Star!
@@fixups6536
Not so. She was on a major downward spiral. The Wanderer was a failure, and her turning her back
on her gay fans marked the beginning of the end. It was a long way from her peak years of 1977-1979. The world was passing her by. Apart from “ She Works Hard for the Money” in 1983 and a horrible but moderately successful single with SA&W, she was done!
@@kevinhanson6106Are you kidding? This album was the nail in her coffin. One of Quincy’s biggest failures. A fiasco. She never recovered.
THEEE most underrated voice of her century. She sounded more like a horn than a person, her pitch was so perfect and rich
oh no, not underrated...Donna was a world star and she still is it
Stop using that word for everything! Its ridiculous. She was not underated by any means.
@@apollozero you're so right! thnx!
@@MrSteff63She was underrated in that they dismissed her as the Disco Queen. They don't put her up there with the best singers of the last century.
@ Rolling Stone Magazin: best singers Place 22, Disco Queen is Not a dismissed … one of the most influecing music still today, Donna sold millions Singles, Album, ein Grammys… your simple wrong
Absolutely love this song - brings goosebumps every time!!
Donnas State Of Independence has actually hit on three occasions in the UK since release. It reached number 14 on its original run in November '82. Number 45 when reissued to promote The Best Of collection in November 1990. Before finally topping it's original peak in April '96 when it reached number 13. It may never have broke the top ten but it's had a longevity only surpassed by I Feel Love here. Great song, great vocals and great production by the legend Quincy Jones. R.I.P. to both.
Yeah, it never broke the top 10, but was a hit anyway getting in the top 20 so that is the main thing! So why didn't he mentionedi t was a hit in UK and other countries??
Confused!
@@mikekaraokeHe did!
State of Independence got a lot of radio airplay in Philadelphia in 1982-83. Those of us who were there are very lucky there were DJs who didn't always pay attention to where a song was on the charts-they knew what sounded good. This was and still is one of Donna's greatest musical achievements(The all-star chorus didn't hurt either). I'm so glad that, more than 40 years later, people still have the chance to experience the pure genius that is Donna Summer and Quincy Jones. May they both rest in heavenly peace.
I have fine memories of my dad flying down Parkside Avenue, singing state of independence at the top of his lungs
In West Africa too, I remember it frequently on the radio.
Agreed. I was also a DJ during that period, playing at The Badlands in San Francisco.. My crowd loved it, especially played back to back with Toto's Africa, which came out around the same time.
Loved this song as a teenager ❤️ Loved Donna Summer!
RIP Legends Donna Summer and Quincy Jones , and thank you both for the legacy of great music you have left us .. 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾😢😢😢😢🎤🎤🎤🎹🎹🎹( never though of a world without Quincy Jones , when it came to music , he was the world)
Thank you for all these informations. I love Donne and I'm a Fan since the early 70’ when she makes ‚The Hostage‘ and 'Lady of the Night‘. When This Album came out in 1982 , I was blown away, when I hear ‚State of Independence‘ for the first time. Nearly the same impact to me like ‚I feel Love‘ in 1977.
What a Voice, what a Chorus and what a Song it was.
Greetings from Berlin, Germany!
Everything Jon & Vangelis did was utter genius. Always interesting with outside-of-the-box thinking behind every note.
True.
This is one of my favourite watches of ‘24. This bass dude brings it home. Ty algorithm.
This was a great album. Loved “State of Independence” and “The Woman In Me”. Both received huge airplay where I live. Surprised they weren’t bigger hits.
Lets not forget I've Got My Finger on the Trigger(Love Is In Control) Banger of a Song
First single was very different from the second. It was even more of a Quincy track vs. a Donna track, and I loved it on the radio. It charted well, but vanished quickly.
Incredible song. Donna was an incredible singer. One of the very best who ever did it
"State Of Independence" is an anthem that should be sung loud everywhere.
🎯💯👈🏼👍🏼🫵🏼
Loved the original and definitely loved Donna's cover. That album was awesome.
Oh, my gosh, THANK YOU for this video. I loved this song so much, my poor old mom went out to the record store in our little Indiana town and asked the clerk for the Donna Summer record "where she's got her hair all hanging down in her face" so she could buy it for me as a Christmas present. I had no IDEA about that power choir from heaven, though! Truly, Quincy Jones was a genius.
I remember this song because my brother was a HUUUUUGE DONNA SUMMER FAN!!! I couldn’t escape it if I wanted to, but I didn’t want to. I remember the song very well, I must have been 14 or 15. I loved the lyrics and just like everyone who owned albums, I read the credits and knew most of the legendary names in the choir and knew that they pretty much all had hit records out recently. And I remembered fully understanding that when Quincy was creating WE ARE THE WORLD, he was doing the same thing he did for STATE OF INDEPENDENCE on Donna’s album and I was here for it!
Haha
Michael Jackson's Black and White's guitar solo sounds exactly like Donna Summer's Cold Love too! I'm surprised no one talks about that.
I LOVE Donna Summer's version of State of Independence!! The arrangement is stunning!! The chorus singing makes the hairs on both arms stand up!!!
First heard this song when I bought Donna Summer anthology in 1993. I was a child during Donna's peak popularity. This track became one of my many faves. Happy you focused on this song.
I’m from the Netherlands and this song, for me, will always be a number one; it’s strong and so spiritual. Now I know why, couldn’t miss out with a line-up like that❤
The Netherlands also made her first number one while she was in Europe.
One of my favorite channels on youtube. Thank you for the awesome content and education!
No education education for you goes bye bye
I had to subscribe because of your indepth details on studio music production. I am very impressed with your historical references and abilities to compare and contrast *with receipts.*
Also something of a test run for Thriller, from the Donna Summer album, is the lead track Love Is In Control. The synth bass and vocodered backing vocals are a precursor to the same arrangements used on PYT.
So many great songs released in '82 but that is easily in my top 20. Maybe top 5... I gotta think about it.
Donna Summer was a mezzosoprano, not an alto. She hit some of the highest notes in pop music. I love this song!
I believe he meant exploring the alto part of her mezzo range :)
The Professor of Rock described Donna as the forgotten mega,star.
And she was.
At the end of the 70s, Bee Gees, Diana Ross, ABBA, Barbara Streisand and Earth Wind and Fire dominated the globe spreading creative magic and energy.
They were like gods of olympus to us mere mortals.
And amongst that group was Ms Donna Summer.
The industry may have tried to forget Donna, but we never will.
❤🙏
"Forgotten"? How is she "forgotten"? If you read the current Rolling Stones, her song "I Feel Love" is used as the basis for emerging music genres. If she's forgotten, it's only by younger people who don't know her music. Certainly not by anyone over 45, who was around when she was still on Casablanca.
@@fertusherring3476 she doesn't get the recognition the others do
That is a fact. Public yes, industry generally no
Iconic track , with the best vocal gal on the planet , Donna
I spent a weekend in Amsterdam when this was at number 1 in the Netherlands, the song was being played everywhere! Consequently, whenever I hear it, I'm always taken straight back to that weekend. I guess I'm also lucky that it was played a lot at that time here in the UK, too!
Great memory.
Great stuff! Listened to this song hundreds of times and never knew all the people in that amazing choir!
The Donna Summer album is fantastic. Nine incredible tracks.
And who produced the album.
The amazing Quincy Jones.
Oh I remember it for sure! At the time I fell into a small niche of being a fan of Yes, Jon/Vangelis, AND Donna Summer (Quincy too!). Thanks for the video, I had no idea of the personnel of that inspired choir!
According to Daryl Hall, MJ told him during the "We Are the World" sessions that he had lifted the Billie Jean bassline from "I Can't Go For That." Hall replied that it was okay because they'd lifted it from somewhere else!
Heard that story as well
I'd rather believe that story than Q's accusations. By the way Q hated Billie Jean until Michael turned that song legendary at the Motown 25 show.
@@whatthefunkisgoingon3820 Fact is Q kept a good relationship with most people he worked with, but not Michael.
Yeah, Daryl has told this story a few times and I absolutely hear the similarity between "I Can't Go For That" and "Billie Jean."
When I saw the title for this video, I thought it surely had to be about "Billie Jean" borrowing from "Can't Go for That."
Great track from Donna’s best post disco album. So underrated.
That’s a great album. “Lush Life” is one of the best tunes on it.
I love this album!
Excellent video…State of Independence was my favorite track from the album, and gives me chills..
It contains my fave vocal moment of Donna’s. "Sounds….like a signal u call…." She sounds so gorgeous!
You've made me cry. I love this song, both versions!! I've sung it. The info was just great, thank you!! 😊
Charted in the U.K. she performed it on a big TV show on the BBC. I was 14 and bought the single and it still a favourite. Her voice is perfect.
I definitely don’t have a problem remembering it, because I’m a huge Donna Summer fan. I remember being excited about a Quincy produced Donna album. Quincy was known for pulling artists together. He did it a few years before with Stuff like that.
was a fan since day 1 , and still is on my playlist to this day ..just Love it 🤩 and let's not forget " Love is in control " 😁
My favorite Donna Summer song❤
It's a great song. Donna's vocals are wonderful, the choir sounds great- and yes! It's funky too.
Jon Anderson himself recounts publicly that Quincy Jones told him that he (Quincy Jones), upon listening to the album The Friends of Mr. Cairo (from which State of Independence comes) is what triggered the inspiration for Billie Jean. Given the similarity of the bass lines, there can be little argument on the matter.
There is no similarity.
please make a ten chapter episode about Q there is so much to know and so much bass wonder, thank you paul as always
I totally agree.
I remember it. It was a favorite of mine. I’m an every Donna Summer album guy.
Let's not forget that Chrissy Hynde did that same song (and my personal favorite rendition) which was used in the movie thriller, 'Single White Female'. Go check it out and listen to it. Quite incredible. Her group was named, 'Moodswings'.
My favorite version as well!
That version is also on an album called Mood Swings by Vangelis, I love both versions.
I never knew that Chrissie Hynde sung it too. Thanks for the information.
Heard Chrissie's version at the end of that movie--what it was doing there is anybody's guess!--and thank God because I've never forgotten it.
That was the first version I ever heard and I wore it OUT in the early 90’s. I only heard the Donna Summer version later. Beautiful song.
This was not the only cover of this song. An outfit called ‘Moodswings’ did one with Chrissy Hynde of The Pretenders performing lead vocals. There are probably other covers as well. It’s just a great song.
ooh! didn't know about a Chrissy Hynde version! thank you! gonna try to find that (no doubt it's here on youtube! ) such a wonderful optimist anthem, love both Jon and Vangelis (original) and Donna Summers.
The real banger from the self-titled 1982 Donna Summer album is 'Love is in Control (Finger on the Trigger)', a Quincy/Rod Temperton co-write that has all the magic you'd expect from that pair in that year. How Geffen managed to fumble the ball in not making this song (and the album it came from) a bigger hit is beyond me.
Sidenote for crate diggers, the 12" single (in addition to a seven-minute extended A-side) has a really cool instrumental B-side that features Ernie Watts playing all the lead vocal parts on sax.
David Geffen, like all of the albums he released by Donna Summer, completely dropped the ball on this album. Love Is Just A Breath Away should have not only been a single, but the first single from this album. The commercial appeal of it is just too obvious. It had that Flashdance sound a year before Flashdance was released. To this day it is my favorite song by Donna.
absolutely
One of my top 20, maybe top 10, of '82. I was a little kid then. I thought it was Aretha singing that😆
Lush Life is the tune I love
Man I loved that track.
State of Independence is one of her best songs..... when that choir kicks in? GOOSEBUMPS
I loved the Song when it was published in Germany back then. Donna Summer's voice was at the top of her whole career.
Nice historical lessons man Keep going
One of my earliest musical memories as a child, my parents were playing it all the time (tape in the car, wish I stll had that tape). At least it charted in Belgium (#4) and Netherlands (#3).
I learn something new every time I watch one of your videos. But I remember this song well. They used to play it quite a bit on the radio (see what I did there?) where I was back then. Donna Summer had a very rich, distinctive voice.
Keep teaching and keep on trucking.
Peace.
I truly remember that song! This was for me, then a music major (vocal performance) in one of the nation’s best conservatories, a phenomenal training environment. One of my professors teaching choral ensemble actually highlighted this song for us. Now, our ensemble was about 100 members strong, but he asked us to listen to this song, and remarked that this sound was achieved by a fraction of the people we had, but was all due to Quincy Jones and his amazing production methods. He knew “Q” and the amazing craftsmanship he put into every aspect of his recordings, and one of the things he wanted us to hear was that even small productions could be made to seem huge with good methods and very well experienced voices. He was right!
So interesting! One of my favorite Donna Summer songs. It should have been a #1 Top 40 hit for her.
!!! Thanks for covering this amazing song. What an insight on the choir part of this little masterpiece. In Antwerp (Belgium) "Shablamadi-Shablamada" generations of party people have been singing "Ze Kome ni - Ze Kome na" (dialect of "ze komen niet - ze komen nu") which translates to "They won't come - They'll come now" 🙂🙂
I remember this song because I loved and love Donna Summer, Quincy Jones, the songs, singers, and musicians.
I absolutely adore this song. Always have.
One of my all-time favorite songs...both versions! But, Honey! My head exploded when you listed the A List Choir participants...what a glorious combination ~ no wonder this version is just a little bit better 😉💗
The Donna Summer album one of the best albums of the 80s.
great history! I loved hearing those isolated vocal parts - wow, what an insane lineup - I can even hear Mr. Mister "Kyrie" in there with the syncopated bassline
Your research, passion for key detail, and warm educational presentation are amazing. Thank you and Thank you to the souls no longer physically with us in Quincy's All Star Musical Team, Bruce, Rod, N Dugal, David, Jeff and Louis Johnson.
Just by hearing “State of Independence”, i knew that it was special, but i wasn’t quite sure why until now.
i had no idea that the choir was an all-star cast.
That just blew my mind!
i nearly cried.
It sounds even more glorious to me now.
Thank you for this. The album was one of my favorite Donna Summer releases. It did move her away from the Giorgio Moroder sound. "State of Independence" should have been a hit in the US especially with it's all star background singers. "Love Is In Control" and "Mystery Of Love" with James Ingram were favorites as well.
David Geffen, like all of the albums he released by Donna Summer, completely dropped the ball on this album. Love Is Just A Breath Away should have not only been a single, but the first single from this album. The commercial appeal of it is just too obvious. It had that Flashdance sound a year before Flashdance was released. To this day it is my favorite song by Donna.
Wonderful classic, with all my favourite musician singers.
Loved that song ever since 82
It charted pretty well in the UK, reaching numbers 14 and 13 on two different runs, picking up a lot of airplay and dancefloor.
I remember that song! Awesome. Some music that came out, in those days, were just so amazing and inspiring. I believe that is because of the amazing talent that was used, and not just particual corporate industry "artists" who were molded for the company's success. The true creative minds of music and entertainment bring what can attain the higher qualities that people really want to experience.
Thanks for making the most incredible in-depth bass content .You are an amazing teacher of music and bass! keep it coming:
The centerpiece of this song is when Donna breaks out in the bridge "sounds like a signal from you...". The backing vocalists are a nice touch, but nothing touches that part of the song.
Never knew that choir line up ! Got chills hearing that.
Having the ability to recognize a bass pattern in a background synth arpeggio/sequence is ingenious. That's maximally inspired not stolen. Q. Jones exaggerated in that case. Otherwise, "State Of Independence" doesn't have the slightest thing in common w. "Billie Jean". Audiowise I'd really never detected similarities between those works before. In my lil' country (Austria) "State Of Independence" hat great airplay but the "Donna Summer" Album I'd unfortunately gotten decades later. No matter how hard it partly was to record as a pregnant & under Q. Jone's thumb, it's still her best work so far at least to me.
I agree. it's not even really an essential feature of the song.
@africkinamerican Yes & no, since it makes the intro and runs through different (low) volumes through the entire song I'd still feel something's missing if it were totally muted...
Always loved "State of Independence". Got the album. 😎🇬🇧
I remember this song because I loved every second of it. It has been one of my favourites forever. I can't understand why others aren't as equally mesmerised by it. I often end up confabulating tremendous fantasies when I listen to it.
Proud to say I have the remix of this on vinyl, the nu bass remixes 😊❤️👍🏾
Interesting analysis. I've always loved this song. Now I know why.
State of independence did chart on hot 100 it peaked at #41 1982
Fabulous song and a great album!!
I was hooked on this song as a little girl!!!😍
This was my favorite song on that Donna Summer album. I could tell, back then, that it was something very special.
Just discovered your Channel and just want to thank you for introducing me to so many great artists that passed me by. 🙏🏻
We can't thank you enough for this further video gem. I bought the album as it was released and I absolutely love it ( despite of the track "Protection"), but all the others completely floored me. Later I found out that a good reason for that might have been who played, wrote and arranged for the album.
Definetly one of my desert island records (will there be electric power?), and one which sadly overlooked, all the bass-t from kayo
And yet Protection is one of the great Springsteen songs The Boss gave away!
@@pmberry of course you're right and probably Protection is a better song than any of my writings, but to me, the other tracks on that album are so much more in my realm, sorry, no offense to the "boss" and his highly admired work!
A former bandmate of mine attended U of Miami '88 - '92. The faculty typically arranged for a series of workshops and mentorships to occur annually. I am not sure what year it was but my friend - a bass player - was mentored by Louis Johnson. It was during one of their sessions together that Johnson alleged that Michael wrote a melody over his baseline but never gave him a writing credit for it. Having gone through a similar incident with Greg Phillinganes and the bridge to Don't Stop; Quincy tried to convince Michael to include Johnson in the writing credits. Michael refused. It was then that Quincy came to an agreement with Louis in an effort to make the situation better - and by extension, his brother George - that when he did his next solo album; he would cover a Brothers Johnson song and make it a hit. Not being able to anticipate the success of Billie Jean or Thriller; Johnson agreed, and the result was I'll Be Good To You from Back On The Block.
He gambled wrong! Although the Be Good To You cover was really good, it didn't do anything as a single that I recall. It just got to be on a hit album.
@@africkinamerican #16 on Billboard Hot 100, of 1990. Hindsight is 20/20 vision!
Bizarre. This was a song I heard on UK television way back when it popped and I remember it getting its hook into me on that one exposure, but being a kid, forgetting all about it a few days later etc etc. Pops back into my head a couple of years back, track it down courtesy of the Tubes of Yoo and I understand why it hooked me. It's an unusual 'pop song' - no distinct verse/chorus/verse/chorus/mid-8/chorus out sort of thing, starts off with a scatty, almost rappy ramble then settles into that emotive groove from Summer - then there's the gang vocals (with Stevie Wonder on point if I remember?) church choir perfect.
It's a gorgeous track - love it. Really enjoyed hearing some background on it.
The synth bass line you played reminds me "I Robot" by Alan Parson's Project. Same.
Yes. I commented on this as well. "I Robot" by Alan Parson's Project was released in 1977 so I think this song may have been a double or even a triple lift.
Another great lesson, professor
Ive loved this song since it came out. Kinda forgot about it until I heard it again several years ago and put it in my library. It always struck me as mystical and showstopping. Thanks for the info on it!
I loved THiS Song when iT came Out.