HOW’S ABOUT SOME HOT STUFF: “DIM ALL THE LIGHTS” by Donna Summer

"DIM ALL THE LIGHTS” (1979) was Donna Summer's only hit single that she wrote alone, with no co-writers.

She originally wrote it for Rod Stewart but decided she would do it herself.
Hot on the heels of previous back-to-back successes "Hot Stuff" and "Bad Girls" as well as her "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)" duet with Barbra Streisand climbing to #1 at the same time, "Dim All the Lights" was another massive hit for the diva, reaching number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. It was her sixth top five single in a row.

This song also contains the longest sustained note sung by a female artist in a top 40 song in both the US and the UK, at about sixteen seconds.

Here, in this youtube clip, the Diva sings two versions—first as a tribute to the great Rod Stewart when she sings it the way he would. Then, she belts it out her way.

In this live version from 2010, Donna does not hit her sixteen second blockbuster note on “Let it fill you UUUUUUUUUUUUUUPP…” If you want to hear that incredible moment in song, listen to her performance on the record. It is a stunning experience.


"DIM ALL THE LIGHTS”

Dim all the lights sweet darling
Cause tonight it's all the way
Turn up the old Victrola
Gonna dance the night away


Love just don't come easy
No it seldom does
When you find the perfect love
Let it fill you up


Dim all the lights sweet darling
Cause tonight it's all the way, hey baby
Turn up the old Victrola
Gonna dance the night away


Love just don't come easy
No it seldom does
When you find the perfect love
Let it fill you up


Dim all the light sweet honey
Cause tonight it's you and me
No need to worry darlin'
Cause it's for eternity


Love don't come easy
This you know I understand
I want to be your woman
If you'll be my man
Let yourself go freely and I'll
Show you things that you've dreamed of
Don't think that your dreaming
We've found the perfect love
And I'm like a cup
So fill me up


Dim all the lights sweet darlin'
Cause the night is on the way, oh baby
Turn up the old Victrola
Gonna dance the night away


Do what you want
You can use me all up
Take me bottom to top
Don't leave even one drop
No, no, no
Do it tonight
You know the moments are right
Turn my brown body white
Come on, dim all the lights


Dim all the lights sweet darlin'
Cause the night is on the way, hey baby
Turn up the old Victrola
Gonna dance the night away, hey baby
Dim all the lights sweet darlin'
Dim all the lights sweet honey...