Tuesday, July 25, 2017
Persistent earworm alert LXVIII
Hearing a short fragment of a tropical melody made me recall a tune I haven't heard in decades. In 1983, Donna Summer had a huge hit with "She Works Hard For The Money." Although there will always be those who need to hear Summer's admonishment, I think another song of hers released that same year holds up better. In "Unconditional Love," Summer makes a direct request sound joyous and palatable in a way that not every artist could pull off. The song's tropical arrangement is a large part of its appeal. I don't think I ever heard "Unconditional Love" on the radio after 1983, most likely because it didn't crack the top 40. It should have been a hit, though, and it still warrants at least occasional airplay today.