This Week's Billboard Dance/Club Bits & Final Farewell to Donna Summer

The indy "Somebody That I Used to Know," by Belgian-Australian artist, Gotye, is still going strong, making its way from the 9th spot on the Billboard Dance/Club chart last week to #4, while holding the #1 spot in the  Top 100 chart. It has also topped the UK Singles chart, while Gotye is the first Australian artist to reach #1 in the US since Savage Garden in 2000.

Phil B and Debby Holiday do something rare and a bit amazing on the Dance chart, as well, because their hit, "Never Give Up," making its way down from the top ten in recent weeks, bounced back to #19 from the 21st spot last week. Good going! Available through iTunes.

Ralphi Rosario's cover of the hiNRG classic, "Menergy," features "Another Sleepless Night" diva, Shawn Christopher, powerfully belting out the 1981 Patrick Cowley number that featured Sylvester. It'll make you want to get up and move, not sleep, in its updated and rousing big-room incarnation. Great dj mixes to choose from: Barry Harris, Mark Picchiotti, Giangi Cappai and Ralphi's original "Space Disc" mix. The song's at #23 in just two weeks. Get some menergy! Download tracks at Amazon.com.

Toni Braxton's "I Heart You" continues to make a strong showing, upwardly mobile from #21 last week to #19. Nice to see this artist return to the chart with a hit on her hands. And Jennifer Lopez's "Dance Again" reaches the top at #1 this week. The diva's sitting pretty up there with a catchy tune that brings disco back to your car radio. So, drop the hood and crank it up!

Lastly, the dance-music world mourns the loss of its queen, Donna Summer. Gloria Gaynor ("I Will Survive," "I Am What I Am") added some sweetness to the bitter event by telling Billboard:

"I am deeply saddened personally for the loss of my dear friend Donna Summer. She and I have been friends for a very long time, we were both known as the 'Queen of Disco,' but Donna always referred to me as the 'First Lady of Disco.' A fine lady and human being she was. She will be missed dearly by her colleagues, friends and family. She not only made her mark in my heart as well as others, but she forever changed the way of how America danced and enjoyed themselves. She may have had her 'Last Dance' here on earth, but 'Heaven Knows' it is "dancing with joy for her arrival."

I leave you with FGGK's recent remix of the Cowley/Sylvester hit: