What makes This Time I Know It's for Real by Donna Summer notable?

The title track became one of Summer's biggest hits, reaching No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and solidifying her place in the pop and dance charts. Its success helped reestablish Summer as a relevant artist in a rapidly changing musical landscape, influencing the emerging house music scene. By 1989, Donna Summer was transitioning from her disco roots into a more contemporary sound. This album marked her return to the music scene after a period of relative commercial decline in the late 1980s. Released as a single in early 1989, it showcased her ability to evolve while still embracing the dance elements that defined her earlier work.

How many songs are on This Time I Know It's for Real?

This Time I Know It's for Real has 3 tracks, running approximately 14 minutes.

This Time I Know It's for Real

Donna Summer · 1989

14 min · 3 tracks · contemporary R&B

A vibrant blend of house beats and disco flair, celebrating love with Donna Summer's powerful vocals front and center.

Spotify Apple Music

YouTube Music YouTube Deezer Bandcamp SoundCloud

Own it: Amazon eBay

Top tracks — play these first

→
This Time I Know It’s for Real (extended remix) — This extended remix highlights the infectious energy and rhythmic drive that made it a dance floor staple, showcasing Summer's vocal prowess.
→
It Makes You Feel Good — This track embodies the upbeat and euphoric essence of summer love, with catchy melodies that reflect Summer's signature style.
→
This Time I Know It’s for Real (instrumental) — The instrumental version allows listeners to appreciate the production intricacies and blends of house and disco without vocal distraction.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

Instrumental

45 /100

Lowland

Higher than 5% of albums we've rated

The single blends house and disco elements effectively but lacks depth for long-term engagement.

What we noticed

The extended remix of the title track features a prominent house beat that drives the rhythm, while Summer's vocals soar over layered synths.
The instrumental version of the title track emphasizes the production's danceable groove, allowing listeners to focus on the arrangement without vocals.

Composition 25% of the score: 6/10
Craft 20% of the score: 7/10
Durability 25% of the score: 5/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 6/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 4/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Breakthrough — Reestablished Summer's relevance with a major hit after a period of decline.
Themes: dancefloor revival· late '80s nostalgia· R&B transition
Career context: By 1989, Donna Summer was transitioning from her disco roots into a more contemporary sound. This album marked her return to the music scene after a period of relative commercial decline in the late 1980s. Released as a single in early 1989, it showcased her ability to evolve while still embracing the dance elements that defined her earlier work.
Stylistic neighbors: Chaka Khan· Gloria Gaynor· Kylie Minogue