Hot Stuff (Donna Summer song)

"Hot Stuff"
Artwork for Italian release
Single by Donna Summer
from the album Bad Girls
B-side
  • "Journey to the Centre of Your Heart"
  • "Heaven Knows" (Brazil)
  • "Bad Girls" (Japan)
Released April 13, 1979
Studio Rusk Sound Studios (Los Angeles, California)
Genre
Length
  • 3:47 (radio edit)
  • 5:14 (album version)
  • 6:46 (extended mix)
Label Casablanca
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Donna Summer singles chronology
"Heaven Knows"
(1978)
"Hot Stuff"
(1979)
"Bad Girls"
(1979)
Audio sample
"Donna Summer – Hot Stuff"

"Hot Stuff" is a song by American singer Donna Summer from her seventh studio album Bad Girls (1979), produced by English producer Pete Bellotte and Italian producer Giorgio Moroder and released as the lead single from Bad Girls in 1979 through Casablanca Records. Up to that point, Summer had mainly been associated with disco songs but this song also showed a significant rock direction, including a guitar solo by ex-Doobie Brother and Steely Dan guitarist Jeff "Skunk" Baxter. It is the second of four songs by Summer to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100.

In 2018, a remix by Ralphi Rosario and Erick Ibiza entitled "Hot Stuff 2018" went to number one on the US Dance Club Songs chart.

Reception

Billboard claimed that "Hot Stuff" has a "strong R&B, soulish feel" along with a "fiery" vocal performance from Summer. Cash Box said that the song "has an exciting newness to its rock/disco sound" with "power guitar chording, interesting synthesizer lines and unusual Summer vocal." Record World called it a "splendid rock disco tune."

Awards and legacy

"Hot Stuff" won Summer the Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance in the inaugural year the award was given out.

In 2010, the song was ranked No. 104 on Rolling Stone's list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time".

Chart performance

"Hot Stuff" was certified Platinum by the RIAA and remained at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for three non-consecutive weeks, and spent the longest time in the top ten in 1979: fourteen weeks. The song also topped the US Dance Club Songs chart, with Summer's follow-up "Bad Girls" as a double A-side. "Hot Stuff" was the seventh biggest song of 1979 in the US. The popular 12" single edition of the song plays the full 6:47 version of the song and then segues into "Bad Girls" 4:55 version.

The Pussycat Dolls version

American dance troupe The Pussycat Dolls used elements of the song on "Hot Stuff (I Want You Back)", which appears on their 2005 debut album PCD.

EliZe version

Dutch pop singer EliZe released a cover in September 2008, which peaked at no. 11 on the Dutch charts.

Chart (2008) Peak
position
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) 27
Netherlands (Single Top 100) 11

Kygo version

"Hot Stuff"
Single by Kygo and Donna Summer
Released September 18, 2020
Genre Dance
Length 3:19
Label Sony
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Kygo
Kygo singles chronology
"What's Love Got to Do with It"
(2020)
"Hot Stuff"
(2020)
"Gone Are the Days"
(2021)
Donna Summer singles chronology
"Hot Stuff 2018"
(2018)
"Hot Stuff"
(2020)
Music video
"Hot Stuff" on YouTube

On September 18, 2020, Norwegian DJ Kygo released a remixed version of the song.

Background

In a press release, Kygo noted that Summer was one of his favorite artists of all time because of her brilliant catalogue and unmatched vocals. He hopes that this version will continue to bring the joy that the original track has.

Music video

A music video to accompany the release of "Hot Stuff" was first released onto YouTube on September 17, 2020. The video is directed by Bo Webb, starring Outer Banks cast members Madelyn Cline and Chase Stokes. The music video details a blossoming love between the two as they dance the night away amidst blue and purple hues.

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.

Charts

Appearances in other media

See also