Donna Summer Four Seasons of Love Concept Album

Donna Summer released her fourth album, Four Seasons of Love, in 1976. This concept album related the four seasons to stages/ phases of love. The lyrics for each season match the mood/tone of the characters' feelings in terms of her lover at the time. In "Winter Melody", the lyrics describe the main character as depressed and lonely, wishing her lover did not leave her. She describes herself as all alone and empty. Her mood is evident through the lyrics-

"Emptiness and just a memory. Love is gone with nothing left for me."
This fits with winter being a dark, gloomy season

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUlaj3b5Whc

Then Donna Summer moves into spring with "Spring Affair". This song has more of an upbeat tone. The author seems to be giddy with anticipation of what this new love affair might bring or might turn into. It seems like she is stuck on this new guy and hopeful that it will turn into something serious when she says,
"Spring affair, spring affair, spring affair
and I'm hung on you
Spring affair, spring affair, spring affair
and we've got something new, me and you, oh baby
Ooh, guess I'm falling much too fast
Ooh, I hope this love is gonna last, I've fallen
Ooh, the feeling's getting really strong
Ooh, gives me strength to carry on, I've fallen, I've fallen
Spring affair, spring affair, spring affair."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZN7hRmyC_cI&feature=fvst


"Summer Fever" describes the love affair that started in the spring now in full force. The author's tone moves from being optimistic and hopeful of a relationship with this person to actually being in the relationship. She lets herself go and is absorbed, physically and mentally, with the other person. This song's tone is sexy, which fits with the carefree, relaxed atmosphere of summer. The author is enjoying herself, is happy, and in love.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UV4HIv6O6Tc

Next the album moves into the song "Autumn Changes." In this song, the author can see her relationship isn't how it was during the summer and something has changed and isn't right. She is questioning her relationship, but it seems like she almost wants to deny her feelings or pretend like nothing is wrong because she is probably trying to rekindle the intense, passionate feelings her and her lover had during the summertime. She states, "This love of ours is gradually fading, something's wrong or someone's faking." It seems he is letting her down and she's almost begging him to keep trying and working at their relationship.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DxKPp96hqM


This album relates ridiculously well to the lyrical sequences we have read this week. The whole album is in the first person. It is from the perspective of the main character and only discusses her inner feelings, not anything actually concrete about the situation. It is all one sided; we never read what her partner is thinking or feeling.