"State of Independence" by Donna Summer

Song#:  1202
Date:  10/02/1982
Debut:  70
Peak:  41
Weeks:  10
Genre:  Pop



Pop Bits:  Summer's second album for Geffen, "Donna Summer," did about as well as the first reaching the Top 20 and going gold, thanks in part to the #10 single "Love Is in Control (Finger on the Trigger)." Geffen was expecting the Quincy Jones-produced album to be a blockbuster, but it didn't even come close. This second single didn't help things by peaking at the dreaded #41 spot. It was the diva's first single to miss the Top 40 since 1978.

ReduxReview:  I truly missed this song back in the day. I don't think I actually heard it until many years later when I bought a Summer hits compilation. Something about the song hit me and I kept replaying it. And then, a few years later I discovered is was actually a Jon & Vangelis song (see below). I love both versions. It's one of those rolling songs that plays like ocean waves, undulating without any true hook. I find it alluring. However, the lack of a repeatable chorus certainly didn't help the single at pop radio. It's unfortunate because folks missed out on a pretty great song.

ReduxRating:  8/10

Trivia:  Double Shot!  1) This is a remake of a song originally done by Jon & Vangelis. It appeared on their 1981 album "Friends of Mr. Cairo." An edited version of the tune was issued as a single, but it failed to chart in the US. It did reach #67 in the UK. A 1992 version by Moodswings that featured the vocals of Chrissie Hynde (The Pretenders) titled "Spiritual High (State of Independence) Pt. II" reached #47 on the UK chart.  2) Quincy Jones assembled an all-star choir to provide the backing vocals on this song. Among the vocalists were Michael Jackson, Dionne Warwick, Lionel Richie, Kenny Loggins, and Stevie Wonder.

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