The Queen of Disco Dominated the Billboard Hot 100 With Two Songs From Her Legendary Album 'Bad Girls'

The Queen of Disco Dominated the Billboard Hot 100 With Two Songs From Her Legendary Album 'Bad Girls' Image via Casablanca Records By  Ryan Louis Mantilla Published 42 minutes ago

Ryan is a lifestyle and culture journalist born and raised in the Philippines. He primarily covers film, television, music, and all things pop culture. Beyond writing, you can find him buried in thriller novels or off exploring the world on occasion. He deeply romanticizes a slow, peaceful life — even though he’s almost always drowning in deadlines (insert skull emoji here).

Sign in to your Collider account Add Us On Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap

The late 1970s marked the full arrival of disco into mainstream culture, bringing prominent artists into the spotlight, including the undisputed “Queen of Disco,” Donna Summer. By the late ’70s, disco had fully taken over the popular music scene. And at the center of the glittering, dancefloor-driven movement was Summer. Born Donna Adrian Gaines, the singer soundtracked an entire era of nightlife and celebration, best known for timeless hits like “This Time I Know It’s for Real,” “State of Independence,” “Last Dance,” “Dim All the Lights,” “No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)” with Barbra Streisand, “She Works Hard for the Money,” “Love to Love You Baby,” and “I Feel Love.” You may or may not recognize her name, especially if you were born long after the golden age of disco. Still, it’s nearly impossible not to have encountered her music, particularly her biggest hits: “Hot Stuff” and “Bad Girls.” These tracks spent multiple weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 chart, solidifying Summer’s status as one of the most dominant and influential artists of the disco era.

"Hot Stuff" and "Bad Girls" Marked a Pivotal Moment in Donna Summer's Career

Both featured on the late iconic singer’s seventh studio album Bad Girls, “Hot Stuff” and its title track “Bad Girls” serve as career-defining moments in Summer’s career. “Hot Stuff,” the lead single from the album, spent three non-consecutive weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100. It also charted strongly, spending the longest run in the top 10 back in 1979. It is especially lauded for seeing Summer — who is typically associated with the disco genre — experimenting with a different sound through a fusion of rock. While “Last Dance” is arguably Summer’s signature song, which gave the singer her first Grammy win for Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female, “Hot Stuff” marked a creative turning point for the singer. It won Best Female Rock Vocal Performance at the 22nd Annual Grammy Awards and proved Summer’s versatility beyond disco.

“Bad Girls,” on the other hand, was a massive success for Summer. It spent a total of five weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart. She made history in 1979 by becoming the first female artist to have multiple songs enjoying simultaneous runs in the top ten of the chart, as “Bad Girls” eventually cracked the top ten alongside “Hot Stuff.” A chart-dominating powerhouse, Summer outdid herself by beating the record “Hot Stuff” had previously set. And while “Hot Stuff” was the only single from the album that secured a Grammy win, the title track received a nod for Best Disco Recording, while “Dim All the Lights” earned a Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female nomination. Meanwhile, the album itself was nominated for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female and Album of the Year. Together with “Hot Stuff,” the track helped her seventh studio album reach iconic status and cemented its multi-platinum certification in the United States. In fact, the album served as Summer’s best-selling and most critically acclaimed release of her career. Thanks to these tracks, Bad Girls reached the top of the US Billboard 200, where it remained for six weeks, making it her longest-running album on the chart. It wasn’t just a career high point for Summer; it is considered one of the best disco albums of all time.

Related Bob Dylan's 20 Greatest Songs of All Time, Ranked

The one and only!

Posts 2 By  J.S. Gornael

Donna Summer Inducted Into Songwriters Hall of Fame 13 Years After Passing

The Songwriters Hall of Fame, led by Academy Award-winning songwriter Paul Williams, posthumously inducted Summer during a ceremony held in Los Angeles on December 15. Having co-written her acclaimed hits like “Heaven Knows,” “This Time I Know It’s for Real,” and “Melody of Love (Wanna Be Loved)” — among a handful of others — the singer-songwriter’s induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame is more than deserved and, arguably, long overdue. She passed away on May 17, 2012, at age 63.

Subscribe to our newsletter for music-history deep dives

Craving deeper stories about disco icons and the songs that changed music? Subscribe to the newsletter for informed music-history features, archival context, and song-level analysis that bring artists like Donna Summer into focus. Subscribe

Subscribe to our newsletter for music-history deep dives

Craving deeper stories about disco icons and the songs that changed music? Subscribe to the newsletter for informed music-history features, archival context, and song-level analysis that bring artists like Donna Summer into focus. Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

“Donna Summer is not only one of the defining voices and performers of the 20th century; she is one of the great songwriters of all time who changed the course of music. She wrote timeless and transcendent songs that continue to captivate our souls and imaginations, inspiring the world to dance and, above all, feel love. I am pleased and honored to posthumously induct Donna Summer into the Songwriters Hall of Fame,” Williams said in a statement.

• Music

Follow Followed Like Share Facebook X WhatsApp Threads Bluesky LinkedIn Reddit Flipboard Copy link Email Close

What To Watch

July 20, 2025 The 72 Best Movies on Netflix Right Now Trending Now The Beach Boys Song No One Expected to Become Their Greatest — and Why It’s Now Their Most Covered Classic The Foo Fighters’ Greatest Song of All Time Was Inspired by the Late Kurt Cobain 10 Must-Watch NC-17 Movies, Ranked