Donna Summer vs. Sam Smith | Head 2 Head

In the 28^th edition of Head 2 Head (2024), Donna Summer and Sam Smith contend for the best rendition of “I Feel Love.”

Welcome to Head 2 Head! On Head 2 Head, we pit at least two musicians performing the same song, comparing their respective performances.  After deliberating, we render a verdict of which performance was the best, or, subjectively, which performance moved us more.  In the 28^th edition of Head 2 Head (2024), Donna Summer and Sam Smith contend for the best rendition of “I Feel Love”. So, without further ado, let the Head 2 Head commence!

1. Donna Summer, “I Feel Love”

I Remember Yesterday  // The Island Def Jam Music Group // 1977 

“Ooh, it’s so good, it’s so good / It’s so good, it’s so good, it’s so good.” Agreed, Donna Summer! “I Feel Love”, the closing track on I Remember Yesterday, is SO GOOD.  The late Queen of Disco was an icon, and “I Feel Love” is a prime example of why. Even so, before Summer sings one “ooh,” the instrumental is iconic too.  Summer penned this top-10 hit alongside producers Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte.  Moroder and Bellotte outdo themselves. “I Feel Love” begins enigmatically and softly. It crescendos into an ultra-groovy, electronic-driven disco cut. The rhythmic synths are insane. Reflecting on the music, it sounds ‘ahead of its time.’ Would  “I Feel Love” sound anachronistic in the 2020s? I don’t believe so.

Backed by such a scintillating instrumental, Donna Summer shines.  The lyrics are few. She keeps it simple, but the execution – the way she sings – is brilliant.  Continuing to “feel love” in the second verse, she sings, “Ooh, fallin’ free, fallin’ free /… Ooh, you and me, you and me…” The third verse is similar, all experiencing love.  To reiterate, “I Feel Love” was a top-10 hit – one of 14 top-10 hits by Summer.  It peaked at no. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified gold by the RIAA.  The word ‘vibe’ is used to characterize modern songs, many of which use less of a conventional form and fewer lyrics. “I Feel Love” is a prime example of a ‘vibe’ from the 1970s that remains fresh approaching 50 years later.

Appears in 🔻:

• Donna Summer, I Feel Love: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 105 (2024)

2. Sam Smith, “I Feel Love”

“I Feel Love” // Capitol // 2019 

In 2019, Academy and Grammy award-winning singer/songwriter Sam Smith covered the iconic Donna Summer classic, “I Feel Love”. That is a tall task. The original is SO GOOD – ahead of its time. In Smith’s hands, they have respectable moments.  The instrumental is a defining feature of the original, with Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte outdoing themselves.  In Sam’s version, Guy Lawrence is behind the boards and maintains a sleek, ear-catching backdrop. The synths are ripe, while the beat is nothing short of hard-hitting – a surefire catalyst to hit the discotheque. Does it one-up Moroder/Bellotte? Nah, but those are tough shoes to feel on an influential recording.

While the production is good, the focal point in this cover is Smith. They sound strong channeling their inner Donna Summer. Their falsetto is potent; ripe. In a song with fewer lyrics and more ‘vibes,’ Smith brings the vibes.  Also, differentiating the 2019 rendition from the 1977, there are some modern vocal effects and tricks.  Is it game-changing? Nah, but given how distinct the original is, you can’t blame Smith and their team for throwing in some tweaks. “I Feel Love” is respectable – enjoyable enough.

The Verdict 👨🏿‍⚖️ 

Ah, the moment of truth! Who did “I Feel Love” better? Who felt the love the most? Was it the influential original by the late, great Donna Summer or the 21^st-century cover by the talented, award-winning Sam Smith?  In some Head 2 Heads, the verdict is more challenging to arrive at. In the case of Donna vs. Sam, it’s easy.  Donna Summer wins hands down.  Why? The influential nature of the original, a recording ahead of its time, that still impresses generations later, is hard to top. While Smith’s cover is respectable, it does nothing to move the needle. What Smith and Lawrence do ‘okay’ on the 2019 version, Summer and Moroder/Bellotte excel at on the original. No shade, but the Queen of Disco remains supreme. All bow down.

Donna Summer vs. Sam Smith: Head 2 Head No. 28 (2024) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Capitol, The Island Def Jam Music Group; Hernán Toro, Los Muertos Crew, RDNE Stock project, Thomas Ronveaux from Pexels]