Aretha Franklin vs. Donna Summer- MacArthur Park

Which sangin' diva knocked this out the park?

Category:

Music

Tags:

• aretha
• franklin
• donna
• summer
• soul
• macarthur
• park
• disco
• dance
• singer
• belt
• vocal
• high
• low
• note
• range
• 70s
• whitney
• houston
• mariah
• carey
• dancefloor
• best
• diva
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• mezzo
• coloratura
• melisma
• original

[KyoHanjin]

I love how you are showing Donna Summer off more to those who do not know her nor respect her singing capabilities. Donna has the more conventionally beautiful sound and she uses it well overall. However she had some pitchy moments and was slightly overshadowed by her backup singers....but performed very well.

Aretha absolutely owns this. Her delivery is more simple, yet she's expressing more emotion than anyone else and makes the song more dramatic.

[Chimier]

@KyoHanjin Yes, Donna is really underrated.

[Legend09127]

@KyoHanjin I definately agree with you completely on this one. Aretha sung this better than Donna, and a while earlier if my memory is correct. Aretha took this song much slower, and her emotion as usual incomparable. Yet Aretha could have done 10 other versions to this song if she wanted to, as she can literally sing in almost any genre of music.For Aretha this was tame for her, and if she really wanted to could have hit much bigger notes than this,and at a faster tempo.She owns it !

[DURound]

Like Donna's version better.

[midnight2010sun]

Donna Summer was never underrated. She was the Queen of Disco in the 70's, whereas Aretha was/is the Queen of Soul. Just enjoy both as they are...both are different!! Donna's downfall was when she made a nasty comment about AIDS and gays (big mistake!! by opening her big mouth...she should have known better what to say or what not to say) especially when a huge percentage of her fans are gays!

[Bakin13]

I, too, appreciate that you are showcasing the underrated Donna Summer here. Both versions are astoundingly beautiful to me. Aretha does a tender, soulful, heartfelt version; I was captured quite frankly. Arranged nicely, too. Yet, Donna's version is stylish, pulsating and dramatic. Better perfomances of Donna's version are here on YouTube. I give it to Donna by a slight margin 'cause it's closer to the original, but made it her own. Listen to MacArthur Park Suite from Live and More.

[moneycashlexus]

Aretha's version was strong. But this song was definitely made for Donna and she owned it. There are even better performances of this song by Donna because this one was not the best example.

[TheLaFarandula]

Donna Summer !

[arturoenergy]

I Love Donna Summer, but Aretha is Aretha. I think it is an honor that Donna is comparing with Aretha. Both versions are diferent. I prefer Donna, but I respect Aretha a lot.

[applmac2009]

Aretha.

[serflo59]

Donna's was a bit pitchy, Aretha sounded kind of gospelish! It goes to DoNNA! But both do better versions on other clips I've seen.

[MegaHD3D]

Donna Summer :P I LOVE DONNA