Diana Ross: The #1's

ROBERT FERGUSON
January 30 2004, 11:59AM

See, this is why I love you and this site. I am in total aggreement. if ever anyone doubted that Diana is the first and grandest diva ever, she proved it when that helicopter wisked her out of the stadium with the hottest boys dancing and twirling underneath her. Take me higher, and higher and Diana took us there! Love you man and thanks for being in my life.

guest
January 30 2004, 12:51PM

The helicopter routine at the 1996 Super Bowl wasn't the Boss's first. Anyone remember the "Live in Central Park" concert many years ago when she made her grand entrance by way of helicopter? Divine.

I may be wrong, but I believe that a very young Luther Vandross wrote the song, "Brand New Day" from the Wiz soundtrack.

Also, a little known fact about Ms. Ross. Her sister, Dr. Barbara Ross-Lee was the first black female Dean of an Osteopathic Medicine School in the US. She is currently the Dean at NYU's program. Dr. Ross- Lee looks a lot her sister (including the hair).

Kola Boof
January 30 2004, 1:09PM

I absolutely love Diana Ross. When I first came to America, there were four women that I became obsessed with and wanted to BE. It came in stages.

1st...Gladys Knight (age 12-14)

2nd...Diana Ross (age 14-16)

3rd....Toni Morrison (age 16-18)

4th...Alice Walker (age 18/19)

I have to admitt that the only reason I liked Ross, initially, is because when I would sing in church choir as a kid--people were astounded at how identical my singing voice was to this lady called "Diana Ross".

So I went an dug up her recordings and it was true!! I did sound just like her. Of course...my speaking voice sounded more like Brenda Vaccaro's. I hate my speaking voice.

Anyway, I love Diana. I think she's SUCH a grand diva that her actual artistic contributions have been underrated and overlooked.

Her performance in "Lady Sings the BLues" (to me) remains the single most etheral and charismatic performance a black woman has given on screen. I was quite in agreement with James Baldwin's essay about Ross's star drenched portrayal. The movie wasn't about Billie Holiday's LIFE, really...but as a piece of Hollywood melodrama...Diana Ross made it unmatchable. Billy Dee and Pryor, of course, were right on point with her. Excellent!

My absolute favorite Diana Ross songs are the ones that were never hits:

"I'm In the World" (The Boss)

"Summertime" (Red Hot Rythm and Blues)

"Friend to Friend" (Diana)

"My Mistake" (w/Marvin Gaye)

**That entire EATEN ALIVE album--I love it!

.
.
.
.
WE SHOULD...send our love to Diana Ross as her last husband just died last week in South Africa.

His name was Arne Naess and he fell off a mountain to his death. Diana has two sons by him.

Rest in Peace, Arne. And come on OUT again, Diana.

Christopher David
January 30 2004, 1:10PM

LOL Keith! I talk about that grand 'ole helicopter lift in my novel! Only Diana could have pulled that off! Great article!

Kola Boof
January 30 2004, 1:21PM

Just imagine what a star Whitney Houston would have been if she had the "vision" and "dedication" for her career that Ross and Streisand put into theirs.

With Houston's voice, she would have trumped both Ross and Streisand at their own game.

But she lacked "vision".

I love Whitney and hope she gets it together. The christmas album was fantabulous.

**I'm only saying this because I know that two people very close to Whitney come here every week and she really needs to get it together and get some damn sense. Once you pass 40, honey...you get no more free pinches on the cheek for being cute.

It's a tragedy to see such a God-given instrument as Whitney's Voice going to waste and her movie career in the toilet.

She needs to get some career "VISION" and stop being a big ass baby.

Troy
January 30 2004, 1:45PM

--OKAY QUIET ON THE SET!! AND ACTION!! DRIP THE CANDLE WAX D. GO FOR IT!.....

Ah
If there's a cure for this
I don't want it
Don't want it
If there's a remedy
I'll run from it
From it
Think about it all the time
Never let it out of my mind
'Cause I love you
I've got the sweetest hangover
I don't wanna get over
Sweetest hangover
Yeah, I don't wanna get over
I don't wanna get
I don't wanna get...over
Ooh, I don't need no cure
I don't need no cure
I don't need no cure
Sweet lovin'
Sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet love
Sweet, sweet love
Sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet love
Don't call a doctor
Don't call her momma
Don't call her preacher
No, I don't need it
I don't want it
Sweet love, I love you
Sweet love, need love
If there's a cure for this
I don't want it
I don't want it no
If there's a cure for this
I don't need it
Sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet love
Sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet love
Sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet love
Sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet love

I don't want it
I don't want it no, NO, NO

MED
January 30 2004, 2:47PM

Thanks so much Keith for the article. I have been fascinated with Miss Ross since the age of 14. However, it wasn't until 1976 (An Evening With Diana Ross) that I got the opportunity to witness a live performance by this lady. She is the ultimate entertainer and no one can work a stage and an audience as she. I am also in agreement with Kola when she stated that Diana's artistic contributions have been underrated and overlooked. She may not have a big voice or do the vocal acrobatics/gymnastics that some of the current artists do, but she knows how to interpret the lyrics to a song as they should be. She believes, as I, in sticking to the melody of the song. I believe that the lyricist and composer should actually recognize their songs when they are being sung. She has recorded some absolutely beautiful songs that have not gotten much, if any, airplay. "When You Tell Me That You Love Me" and "Waiting In The Wings" are two of my very favorites, but unfortunately only diehard Diana Ross fans (and her European fans) probably have heard these two songs. Once again, thanks Keith for the article..and you're right, she is the ultimate diva.

RA
January 30 2004, 4:19PM

Great article. Among the artists from that era, Diana is great, but for me Stevie Wonder is my favorite. Stevie can do no wrong. The man is a genius!

alicia
January 30 2004, 7:04PM

troy!

bet!

i want no cure either

love that song!

peace
ab

truth
January 31 2004, 4:03PM

Damn, RA

Now that's a true Stevie fan for ya.
This dialogue in no way can be interpreted as a call to compare the merits of Mr.Wonder to those of Ms.Ross, but any time true artistic talent is mentioned a Stevie Wonder fan feels the need to call out his name. Almost like a Teretz(sp?)reaction.
I feel ya, bro. That's how much I love Stevie.

truth

iago
January 31 2004, 9:37PM

Love this post, Keith. Just this evening I was reminding a friend of the grandest Superbowl halftime performance of all time. It was, of course, Ms. Ross and the helicopter ride. I'm looking forward to Janet tomorrow, but there will never be another performance like Ms. Ross'. She is the DIVA par excellence!

Jaymillionaire
February 2 2004, 12:29AM

The winner and new Champion of Super Bowl Halftime Drama is JANET JACKSON!!

warsame
February 2 2004, 5:08AM

Okay folks, Dirty Dina is still alive (not sure how well the ol' drunkard is doing but she's still alive), so lets save all the adoration for her death or we won't have anything else to say about her!!!

Fair enough? Now zip-it!

--warsame
p.s.the helicopter move was stupid...the ol' heffa could have gotten a heart-attack.

Troy
February 2 2004, 1:26PM

Thanks Alicia. This article reminds me of what Eartha Kitt once said about fans; 'Yeah they love you but they don't know ME'.
Diana Ross was one of the pioneer phenoms that came along to actually make amerikkka recognize, respect and make equal all these great things promised over here to all in the good ole USA. Soul music will always touch our hearts because of it's powerful message of freedom and love and the time period it represented. Yeah she did disco, jazz and blah blah blah but Diana had it all and it all started with SOUL!
By the way, her two sons are smart as hell and are the one's to watch in the near future; she really protected and educated her kids outside the usual parenting, she gave all her kids exclusive private lessons and the results of which and those kids are really what a class act is all about.

Larry
February 2 2004, 6:26PM

Diana is the perfect example of what sitting on the right dick can do for you in Hollywood.

Compared to people like Chaka Khan, Rachelle Ferrell, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and so on......Diana should be singing backup---IF that.

Larry
February 2 2004, 6:30PM

oh yeah, and let's not forget that she was not even the best singer of the supremes.....

what's up with that???

Just an observation, but it is strange why a group of people who can see that Bush ain't all that as a President (and he ain't) somehow thing Diana is a "phenomenon". Original ho would be more fitting......and for the white man 99% of the time at that.....

Kola Boof
February 2 2004, 7:10PM

LARRY...I think you're painfully naive.

No one has to be the BEST of anything..if you've got the right "Charisma" (which Diana has loads of)...the right LOOK (which in America, is crucial for a black woman)...and the right HUNGER.

Diana Ross would have been a star WITHOUT Berry Gordy. She had charisma, the look and the HUNGER. Not to mention killer instinct.

Chaka Khan may be a superior talent--but she doesn't have Diana's star quality and appeal. Hell...Sarah Vaughn could outsing Lena Horne...but who would television producers rather train their cameras on?

TALENT...means nothing, honey.

Take it from me--an critically acclaimed author published in 8 countries who still has yet to see a breakthrough--because I'm not "commercial" enough or "accessible" enough.

Patti LaBelle was a chit-lin circuit performer for 20 years...20 YEARS...before she broke through, because she didn't have the right "ingredients"...

And no matter what you think...I can assure you that many women with far more talent than Diana Ross have sat on ALLLLLL the right dicks...and come out with Zilch...cause they didn't have "IT".

And don't forget, I've sat on some pretty famous dicks myself. And look what it's gotten me.

FINALLY...I think Diana Ross is an excellent singer with a VERY distinctive and unique voice.

Nobody else sounds like her. And she sounds beautiful...like a Goddess. I love Aretha Franklin, Whitney, Chaka, Tina, etc. BUT when I want inspiration and sensuality in my mood...and SASS...I put on Diana.

Troy
February 2 2004, 9:58PM

Now I must make two t-shirts; One that says Keith Boykin for President and another one that says Kola Boof for President.
Once we come out of this self hatred settling on selling out and the media two-step we are constantly wallowing in, we will see the light. Real black people don't put each other down; they lift them up. Happy Black History Month, y'all! Here's hoping things get a hell of alot better, and QUICK!

Larry
February 3 2004, 9:30AM

@Kola

A typical response.

Notice that in my post it was not "charisma" that I was speaking of...I was raw talent, which I still hold that Diana is much overrated for. Its not rocket science that stardom is not chosen strictly on talent....else Countess Vaughn would be a multi-platinum selling record artist and Britney Spears would be on a trailer park in Lousiana.

And for the record, Lena Horne got just as much if not more props from being "light, bright, and nearly white" than she did charisma. Especially in her day, both the dicks that you and Diana have sat on put together couldn't trump a high yella complexion....

Bernard
February 3 2004, 1:28PM

WOW! What wonderful & intellectual comments / praises of THE diva, Diana Ross. Thank You, Keith for opening the floor so eloquently. And, against my better judgment...just one try at diffusing some of the "hate" coming out of "Larry"...

The first man Diana wanted to marry...and who's child she was carrying at the time (1971)...IS BLACK and his name is Berry Gordy (i.e. their pet name for one another is "Black"...in answer to this age-old African-American, utterly UNSPIRITUAL stance)

However, Mr. Gordy was too involved at the time with his own "white women" to remain faithful to Diana. Nor did he want to "tie down" (and praise GOD...that Berry wasn't that selfish) the NATURAL PHENOMENON that is...AND REMAINS TO BE...MISS DIANA ROSS!

Larry
February 3 2004, 2:02PM

@Bernard...

Berry Gordy????

REALLY Sherlock Holmes?

Who do you think was the owner of the "right dick" I referred to in my first post.

Further, I have no hate for Diana. I simply gave my opinion. Imagine the hypocrisy of the intolerance for varying opinions from a bunch who harps so often about the intolerance diversity of str8 people......sad.

Survivingultimately
February 3 2004, 2:08PM

Although your review hit some major points and was partially complimentary, I have to disagree with the statements in regards to Ross' voice and acting ability: they are both exceptional. Her voice is unique and perhaps before you were born, she was considered a great singer, often besting Streisand in popularity contests. Early on, there were only 2 Black female singers you knew by name: Diana Ross and Aretha Franklin; and, you were either a big fan of one or the other or both. I think people are ignorant of what it takes to make a great pop singer, of which Diana is. A non-great actress rarely is nominated for an academy award, winner of the Golden Globe and the Tony Award, as well as being awarded by the Arts in foreign countries; for LSB, she received accolades equivalent to our racist Academy Awards. She was outstanding in Out of Darkness and reigns Supreme in any acting venture she chooses to display herself in. Anyone doubting her vocal prowess need only listen to Missing You to know the lady can burn it! On what planet is Chaka Kahn more talented, certainly not this one. I don't believe Americans "moved on to Whitney" but if they did, they most certainly have moved away from her now; she should be thriving and in great voice, but her crack infested sound has marred that beautiful sound, as well as her obvious instabilities and lack of mothering skills. Patti can blow, but she will always be limited to the R&B field, never obtaining the international success of Ross, few have. And there's my point, you don't find reviews so ambigous abroad, they simply give her the credit that is due, credit that is earned!

Survivingultimately
February 3 2004, 2:10PM

Although your review hit some major points and was partially complimentary, I have to disagree with the statements in regards to Ross' voice and acting ability: they are both exceptional. Her voice is unique and perhaps before you were born, she was considered a great singer, often besting Streisand in popularity contests. Early on, there were only 2 Black female singers you knew by name: Diana Ross and Aretha Franklin; and, you were either a big fan of one or the other or both. I think people are ignorant of what it takes to make a great pop singer, of which Diana is. A non-great actress rarely is nominated for an academy award, winner of the Golden Globe and the Tony Award, as well as being awarded by the Arts in foreign countries; for LSB, she received accolades equivalent to our racist Academy Awards. She was outstanding in Out of Darkness and reigns Supreme in any acting venture she chooses to display herself in. Anyone doubting her vocal prowess need only listen to Missing You to know the lady can burn it! On what planet is Chaka Kahn more talented, certainly not this one. I don't believe Americans "moved on to Whitney" but if they did, they most certainly have moved away from her now; she should be thriving and in great voice, but her crack infested sound has marred that beautiful sound, as well as her obvious instabilities and lack of mothering skills. Patti can blow, but she will always be limited to the R&B field, never obtaining the international success of Ross, few have. And there's my point, you don't find reviews so ambigous abroad, they simply give her the credit that is due, credit that is earned!

Robert Ferguson
February 3 2004, 2:17PM

"great article. Among the artists from that era, Diana is great, but for me Stevie Wonder is my favorite. Stevie can do no wrong. The man is a genius"

There is no musical talent that will ever compare to Stevie Wonder. My favorite Stevie moment was at the Million Man March when Stevie came on stage and started singing (a cappella). I can't even remember the song but there was silence across the lawn and a sense of peace fell over the crowd. Stevie is a gift from God and I love him. By the way, have you seen his son and grandson in the Luther "dance with my father" video? Fine as his daddy!!! kola boof, I tried to order your book. When is the release date????

peace bro's

Kola Boof
February 3 2004, 3:04PM

Hi Robert,

My book comes out on Feb. 10th but it's already available at Amazon.com--they just received 2,000 copies today.

It's also distributed by Baker and Taylor.

Bernard
February 3 2004, 3:35PM

>

Oh, OK...sorry brother man! I guess I read the above example of "opinion" & "tolerance" wrong.

My bad.

Hugs Just The Same,

Sherlock

Kola Boof
February 3 2004, 5:49PM

STEVIE WONDER FANS:

Stevie Wonder is actually QUITE responsible for the publication of my new books. Two appearances on his radio station in Los Angeles led to my work being put back in print...and that's all I'm allowed to say.

Keith...forgive me for plugging so much, but they brought up Stevie Wonder and it's such a wonderful coincidence.

truth
February 3 2004, 9:35PM

Do you think that the younger generation will someday be defending the merrits of Janet Jackson's talents as vehemetly as these decrepid oldschoolers defend Diana Ross. My mom says that as a little girl she wanted to be just like her an Dionne Warwick. I said "who, that fortune tellerchick?"

Kola Boof
February 4 2004, 12:13AM

Dionne Warwick made some of the best pop standards ever recorded circa 1962-1971.

I LOOOOOVE to listen to vintage 60's pop tunes by Dionne Warwick.

She was the BOMB. Janet doesn't even compare to the depth and beauty of Dionne's artistry...not even Whitney can touch Dionne's best material...and neither Whitney or Janet has ever come close to Diana's larger than life glamour or her way with a Pop Tune.

But then...I'm a pop culture historian, so the old stars are NEW to me. LOL

Sorry, "truth" (Smile)

Jeram
February 4 2004, 5:49PM

Maybe fans feel that way about Diana but if you ask any musician about the musicality of Diana versus Aretha, Chaka, or the like, she's not on their level. Unfortunately, most people listen with their eyes and not their ears. Don't get me wrong; I love Diana but I recognize that she doesn't have Chaka, Patti, or Aretha's range ( at least not consistently) or musical ideas when it comes to adlibbing. She tends to be unimaginative in those particular instances (except on the cunnilingus anthem "I Ain't Been Licked" ). In the end though I guess it's like comparing oranges to apples. It's all about preference. I tend to like the big gospel voices. To me and judging by the trend of singing today, that is soul.

survivingultimately
February 4 2004, 10:26PM

You are indeed comparing apples to oranges,and none of those ladies has the universal appeal and pop ability that Ms. Ross possess'. Every musician would not agree with your assessment and gospel music does not define what a singer is, which is why those ladies' voices do not translate well in the pop genre. Aretha's It's my turn pails in comparison to Ross'; Patti whines her way through pop music and for all intents and purposes, Chaka is through and has always screamed her notes which isn't necessarily singing--today her voice is toast. Aretha, while still being able to sing, sounds hoarse; Patti does still sound good, so I can't say anything about her, except why does one with such a beautiful voice feel she has to scream and hollar all the time. I don't hear many "big gospel voices" being considered soul today, but unlike the era all 4 women were factors in, this generation has very little in terms of actual singers or originality. The voices are non-descript and fake and no one can sing anymore. Again, it will be great when Blacks ( and I am Black) will recognize Diana's contribution and talent in the Pop Music field, and even more exciting when they learn what Pop means; by the standard of Pop Music, Diana outsings and outshines all of the above mentioned ladies.

Jeram
February 5 2004, 12:09AM

I, respectfully, disagree. Pop means crossover which means appealing to white people. That's not a bad thing at all. I just think we need to call it what it is. And how many musicians you know surviving? I know many because I work in this field and worked with some of the best. You can't deny that the overwhelming influence of most singer's ,particularly black, has been Gospel. Today's pop is full of that influence now more than ever. Also, for the record I'm talking about musicanship of an artist. There are many singers out there but not all of them are musicians. However, you're right in that Gospel is not the only definition of a singer but then again, neither is Pop. How about R&B? How about Jazz.? Aretha and Chaka can certainly sing it and they scat. While I don't think that scatting necessarily makes a jazz singer, it will certainly trump those who can't. Diana can sing it but can't scat . She can't hear the chord changes that go by in the music like they can. She is a simple pop singer. She doesn't play piano like Arethat can. I don't think she has the versatility or the depth like you all say she does. Diana is wonderful in her own right but Della Reese said it best when she was on Arsenio Hall with Gladys Knight when Gladys claimed she didn't quite have the same crossover appeal as Diana. Della Reese told her "Yes, but when we wanted to feel something, we turned to you". And as far as outsinging goes, all anybody has to do is watch the Motown anniversary special at the Apollo year ago when Patti stepped up to the mic and blew Diana out of the water on "I Want To Know What Love Is". And I have a tape of Diana doing Aretha's "Call Me" which I guarantee is a lot worse than Aretha doing Diana's "It's My Turn". I am a fan of Diana's because of the overall package but if I had to go on just the singing alone, I don't know if that would be enough for me.

Diana Ross didn't get where she is just on her voice. She got their because she was also "aesthetically pleasing" to whites and she knows that which is why she's kept that same weave happening. We actually need to thank her for that. The same goes for her voice. It isn't a "quintessential" black voice if you will. Berry knew this as well which is why he never featured the other girls. It's the reason why Whitney followed after and, particularly, Mariah and now Alecia Keys. All have wonderul voices but it happens to helpt that they look the part. The closer to white you are, the better. I think that's why Whitney started to rebel. Nothing wrong with that either. However, if you just listen to the voices of these people without a visual of the artists, to me it's very clear who stands on top. And for the record, Patti, Aretha, Chaka are able to hold back. When was the last time you saw Chaka perform? I beg to differ on that comment about her being through. You are obviously not a fan of them and that's cool. Being musical to me is not about how popular someone is although if you went by VH1s list, Diana comes out behind the other girls so go figure. The other women above are Singer's singers. You don't hear singers saying that they want to mimic Diana Ross for her singing ability. That's all I'm going to say about it. I'm a fan of all of them but not so much that I can't critic and say that vocally Diana is decent but for virtuosity and versatality it is the other ones mentioned.

Jeram
February 5 2004, 12:23AM

The other's didn't have "It" meaning they weren't thin enough or light enough. Their noses are too big. I just finished watching Henry Louis Gates as he talks to a few aspiring black actresses about the color lines that are still drawn amongst african americans in hollywood. It is still the same thing over and over again. Suffice it to say that Diana's mass appeal again has to do with the fact that she wasn't a stereotypical/typical black woman. White men loved her and probably still do.

Jeram
February 5 2004, 12:42AM

I said I was going to stop but there is one remaining element that I didn't state in the topic above that puts Diana lower down the scale than the other Ladies and that is pitch. Diana isn't always able to execute her ideas well and can get pitchy. She did do a good job on "Carry On" though which was no easy feat after Martha Wash had already done that song.

Kola Boof
February 5 2004, 1:20AM

I most definitely LOOOOVE Gladys Knight, Aretha, Chaka, Patti, Natalie Cole--Jennifer Holiday.

But there is an INTELLIGENCE in Diana's delivery...that sometimes is more touching and intriguing than all the Gut-yelling.

Brenda Holloway, Freda Payne, Tammi Terrell, Ronnie Spector, Lonette Mckee and several others were much more YELLOW-skinned/white featured than Diana...they could all sing their asses off....Ronnie had Phil Spector as a husband and Freda Payne had Berry Gordy as a lover...but they went NOWHERE in comparison to Diana.

It's stupid to compare Diana's "elegant..sexy" SOUL singing to the church singers. It's like comparing the Queen of Sheba's rugged charcoal BALD beauty to Nefertiti's slim, tall, Nilotic FOREHEAD sculptured mahogany look (think Grace Jones versus Iman).

It's two totally different kinds of beauty--but both are BLACK and both are beautiful.

I would not agree that Aretha or Chaka are more talented than Diana Ross. Because it takes much more than just the command of a voice or a writing skill or an acting technique...to move the whole world...you need "IT". And Diana had tons of it.

Plus she was a bitch and that's just what everybody who knew her...DESERVED.

Since I came to this country...I don't understand why more black American women aren't straight up cold hearted bitches.

She made people call her "MISS" Ross. I don't blame her!! You should see how they (the publishers) treated me in New York. I don't blame Diana.

Jeram
February 5 2004, 10:12AM

Hi Kola. I never said they were more talented. In overall talent, Diana is definitely a cut above because Diana can sing, dance, and act. I was only talking about the voice in comparison to the other ladies. Diana Ross is an entertainer moreso than a musician. Diana herself will tell you in a minute that she knows that there are many who sang better than her but noone has had that pizzaz that she has. You're right about the other lightskinned singers Kola but that alone doesn't help. Those other light-skinned singers were "ethnic-looking" for whites. I also said that you had to be thin enough too. Diana certainly has that going for her. I think that Patti also falls under entertainer but again even with the nose change, she wasn't light enough and her nose still isn't small enough to win that mass appeal. Look at the singers that came after Diana (Whitney, Mariah, Alecia Keys). They all have that look. If Mariah and Alicia were darker and Whitney's nose was wider, they probably wouldn't be where they are today. I'm not saying that these are the only components to make Diana who she is but those things helped her out a lot.

Kola Boof
February 5 2004, 11:37AM

The only thing I "HATED" about Diana...was that she wouldn't give a black man the time of day.

Granted, Berry had his white girls and Billy Dee married an Asian and also had his white girls--but Diana used to make me sick flaunting and grinning for white men.

I really was sickened during her Central Park concert when she pulled one single white man on stage to show his "muscles" when there was a sea of 1 million black men available. I hated her for that moment.

HERBERT
February 6 2004, 10:48AM

LARRY YOU MUST BE CRAZY! NOPE DIANA ROSS WAS NOT THE "BEST SINGER" IN THE SUPREMES....SHE WAS THE DAMN SUPREMES. IF YOU HAD EVER TAKEN THE TIME TO RESEARCH THE SUPREMES AND THEIR PERFORMANCES AND THEIR MUSIC YOU WOULD SEE THAT DIANA ROSS CARRIED MARY WILSON,FLO BALLARD(RIP),AND CINDY BIRDSONG. THERE IS NO ARGUING THAT POINT. AND ALL OF THE OLD GUARD AT MOTOWN FROM THE WRITERS TO THE EXECS SAY THAT WITHOUT DIANA ROSS THE SUPREMES WERE "BASICALLY NOTHING". SO THE NEXT TIME YOU WANT TO DEBATE DIANA ROSS'S CREDENTIALS YOU GO BACK AND READ THE GUINESS WORLD BOOK OF RECORDS AND SEE WHO THE HELL ONE OF THE MOST SUCESSFUL FEMALE ENTERTAINERS OF ALL TIME IS. AND LASTLY WERE YOU IN HER BEDROOM WHENEVER SHE WAS BEING THE HO YOU CALLED HER? YOU SHOULD HAVE MORE CLASS ABOUT YOURSELF HOWEVER FROM READING YOUR POST YOU SHOW YOUR OWN IGNORANCE.

diana ross fan
February 6 2004, 10:56AM

AND KOLA BOOF THANK YOU FOR DEFENDING DIANA I AGREE WITH SOME OF THE THINGS U SAID HOWEVER NO ONE CAN ACCUSE DIANA OF "FLAUNTING AND GRINNING" FOR ANY WHITE MEN. IF WHITNEY HOUSTON OR CHAKA KHAN OR DONNA SUMMER DID THE SAME THING NOTHING WOULD BE SAID AND MIGHT I POINT OUT CHAKA,AND DONNA BOTH WENT OUTSIDE THEIR RACES FOR HUSBANDS. JUST BECAUSE DIANA ROSS MARRIED 2 WHITE MEN DOES THAT MEAN SHE WOULD NEVER GIVE A BLACK MAN THE TIME OF DAY? HER NAME HAS BEEN LINKED DURING HER SINGLE YEARS TO MANY AFRO-AMERICAN MEN. SO I FEEL WE NEED TO GET OFF THE BLACK WHITE ISSUE. LIKE DIANA ROSS WAS AND IS THE ONLY BLACK WOMEN THAT HAS CHOSEN TO BE WITH A WHITE MAN FROM TIME TO TIME. YEAH RIGHT!!

diana ross fan
February 6 2004, 11:00AM

however kola boof i do have to agree with you on the song choices. i L O V E that EATEN ALIVE ALBUM. aint it the stuff!!!! ooooooohhhhhhh and "SUMMERTIME WHEN WILL YOU COME? I WANNA PUT MY LIGHT THINGS ON......WANNA PUT MY WINTER LIFE AWAY......SUMMERTIME I NEED A SUNNY DAY" yes that song gives me goose bumps!

billy "ross"
February 6 2004, 8:42PM

To Herbert/Diana Ross Fan posts: Your post in defense of Miss Ross are admirable,but,with no disrepect to the both of you or your posts--Miss Ross needs no defending. I have loved this Lady since I was 13 years old and I heard that voice singing ***Baby,Baby Where Did Our Love Go," and my heart stopped as I screamed "who is that girl?" That girl ,as I found out and the world thereafter was Miss Diana Ross. AT the Blessed/Flawless age of 54 Miss Ross has provided me with a canvass of life that has motivated me,thrilled me to new heights,been there for me with her message and music when I needed to be uplifted,given me the wonderful opportunity to meet and make some cherished friends that will be part of my life for a lifetime. And along with another strong Black woman in my life,My Dear Beautiful Mom,they have both given me a foundation that has molded my life since I was 13,notably:(1)Believe in Yourself(2)do not do unto others as you would NOT have them do unto you(3)You are a Strong Black Man capable of doing anything you desire(4)Follow your dreams(5)Let there be no room for ANY NEGATIVITY in ones' Life, its not worth it(6)THINK POSITIVE and (7)Reach...Just Reach.....With that in mind,I could care less what these naysayers have to say about MY Lady. I care not one iota,zilch,nada...Miss Ross you just keep on keeping on for you are the Ultimate Diva.........Billy "Ross"

Larry
February 22 2004, 2:32PM

@Jeram. You said it all......props.

@Herbert/Kola

Once again, you go back to popularity and "diva-ism" to defend Ross, when my ORIGINAL argument 100% critiqued her talent as an artist.

No one has ever said that Diana wasn't "popular", but shit----so is Britany Spears, and moreso than "Miss Ross."

No one has ever said that Diana wasn't a "Diva", but damn----so was princess Die, and more so than "Miss Ross"

The bottom line of my point is that up against any REAL singer's singer...Chaka Khan,Aretha Franklin,Natalie Cole,Lalah Hathaway,Whitney Houston,Mariah Casey,Kathleen Battle,Leontyne Price,Rachelle Ferrell,Kim Burrell,Anita Baker,Celine Dione, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vauhgn, Patti Labelle---hell, even Beyonce (although she is not necessarily a critically acclaimed "singer's singer"), Diana would get that ass BLOWN OUT---even by the white chick. And Celine ain't the only white chick that could blow Diana the hell out on any day either....

She cannot perform the same musical material at the same level. Period.

Fuck fans, we're talking talent and skill.

In the studio. No paparazzi. Just a microphone and a cup of lemon tea.

Diana up against those voices would be like a big tiddy Dallas Cowboys cheerleader trying to join the stage with a bunch of Alvin Ailey Dancers.

And as far as the person who tried to say that Dionne Warwick could outdo WHITNEY....

hold on...

HA HA HA HA!!!

WTF?

I think you actually need pipes to do that. And that, Dionne has never had.

her psychic should have told her to practice harder.

Or maybe she was just never born with the talent in the first place...

RON LEE
March 23 2004, 10:55PM

Hi Keith,your absolutely right about Diana's Superbowl performance it has yet to be beaten.As for as Diana's career it has been a Dream.Diana Ross's senual provocative voice has not only made her a superstar but opened the door for others.Despite her relationship with Mr.Gordy he slept around with quite a few woman some became back ground singers some lead singers many of them could sing well;but none had a voice quite unique as Diana's.Ms.Ross has had more than 70 songs in the top 100,more than 50 in the top 40,more than 17 number 1 hits.She's had six conseutive #1 songs,12top tens and has Ruled the charts from 1964 to 1986 in America and World Wide you may say she ruled until 2000.In the seventies when Diana and all her peers were young and at their heights she was Eagled and focused on her career and raising her kids.At that time many of her peers had addictions of all kids a couple of them you may say were absentee mothers one of them even had to give up custody.Diana through "LADY SING THE BLUES" single handely revived Jazz&Blues Music.She's been nominated for Oscars,Tonies,Emmies,Golden Gobe as well as American Music & Grammies Awards an accomplishment most of her peers can't claim.Also throughout the years Diana has helped alot of careers:"THE SUPREMES"TEMPTATIONS,THE JACKSON-5,BILLIE DEE WILLIAMS,RICHARD PRYOR,MARVIN GAYE,MICHEAL JACKSON,LIONEL RICHIE,JOSE EGLESIS.Diana did tributes to other great singers way back in the seventies.I've yet to see or here Patti or Aretha or Gladys give credit or props to any of our legendary singers that came before them nor have i heard of any of them being directly responsible for anyone in the business today becoming a success.Even today as we speak Diana Ross has sold/out all over Europe.Most of her peers and most R/B & RAP artist can't demand the ticket prices she can and most never will.Right now Beyonce,Missy,Alicia,Tamia are all on tour together because as solo artist they can not fill venues which is supicous because these are award winning performers.Nevertheless,Diana,Cher&Dolly are all selling out venues all over the world while having a problem getting their contemporary stuff played on the air.Diana is performing for 2and a half hours in ten cities.Do you believe Aretha can go ten cities back to back,back to back,back to back and perform at her normal level or Patti do you think Ms.Labelle can sing at here range for 2 or more hours for ten twevle cities straight,I'd like to see it.Alot of you guys for get that when Diana came on the scence who she had to Dethrone to get there.ALL THE LEGENDARY WHITE QUEENS WERE STILL ALIVE.DORIS DAY,JUDY GARLAND.These ladies even visited the Supremes in their dressing rooms.LUCILLE BALL,was totally intimidated by Diana,imagine that.Dorothy Dandridge got to see the new Queen on the block before she died.In short fellors DIANA ROSS,has always been our AMERICAN QUEEN !!!PEACE OUT heard any of her

Cheryl
April 21 2004, 9:44PM

HELP! YES, MISS ROSS IS FABULOUS! HOWEVER, I NEED FILM FOOTAGE OF HER DOING 'AINT NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH' FOR MY 8TH GRADERS TO PERFORM. HIT ME UP.

Boehland Andie
May 3 2004, 10:02AM

Government is too big and too important to be left to the politicians.

Barton Julia
June 30 2004, 12:22PM

To be a human without passion is to be dead.

frank
July 6 2004, 5:31AM

DIANA, WILL ALWAYS BE THE BEST. POINT BLANK AND PERIOD.SHE IS THE DIVA OF ALLLLLLL, DIVAS.

Thom
July 6 2004, 11:01PM

Great article and review man. It's so easy for Afr-Am's to get caught up in their own jealousy of each other that when one of us has "vision" and refuses to settle to reach our dreams...they become the targets of their own race. Diana Ross has endured this her entire career and it's time for black fols to "get over it"> White America just loves to see the divide and conquer and they've been watching it in this lady's case for over 40yrs. Criticized for not being "soulful like Ree", not the "musician of Miss Ella" nor the "depth of La Holiday"..but Ross has never been given her own due for being "more daring than Ree", "more versatile than Miss Ella" and being a "summa cum laude of the Billie Holiday finishing school". This is why Steisand's name will always be mentioned before Ross. Takes critics, both black and white, a while to look through her skin color to see the soul of a owman who knew how to use her vocal talent to it's fullest, earned acting accoldaes w/o ever having any training and serving as an icon of inspiration for those of us who refuse to settle and dare to dream. God Bless her.

Thomas
Phx, AZ

Thom
July 7 2004, 11:25PM

One more thing...this "Larry" person who keeps placing these venomous responses and attacks against Miss Ross...son, pardon me, BOY (the white racist word) do you kiss your mammy with that mouth?

Thom
July 7 2004, 11:26PM

One more thing...this "Larry" person who keeps placing these venomous responses and attacks against Miss Ross...son, pardon me, BOY (the white racist word) do you kiss your mammy with that mouth?

yvonne
July 13 2004, 1:05PM

If you listen to Diana Ross sing the a capella rendition of "Strange Fruit", or the concert version of "Missing You". These are two songs that show off Diana's vocal ablity. There are many singers who can style a song and make it so completely unique and beautiful. Diana Ross, Nancy Wilson Cleo Laine just to name a few, have this ability. Listen to Robert Flack's "Summertime" and then give Diana's a spin.
Ms. Ross will put you in the summertime mood.

Yvonne
NYC

john
September 18 2004, 2:29AM

What is the latest on DIANA? Concerts? New CD? Post any information.

Courtney
September 18 2004, 11:01PM

Her son Ross is so SEXY

nakia demetrius
October 6 2004, 7:10PM

diana is on tour now.......
got to ticketmaster.com and see the itenerary she has now...dates are being added.......

that person who mentioned britney and diana names in the same breathe..needs their ass WHOPPED!
you obviously don't know talent.....

also..dionne warwick paved the way for all the divas from the 60s to date...yes even diana......
and in her prime...just 20 years ago...dionne would have blown whitney right off the stage........
dionne holds her own world records....check your musical history........

hal and burts arrangements for dionne was that obviously for a soft mellow white singer like an anne murray......dionne is straight out of the black church and can give even now many gospel artists a run for there money in her 60s.........

diana haas held her own and she is good....all teh divas i know give her her props...the stuff miss madonna dig in her girly show...the boss did on televison in the 70s........

anyway......go see her live..you'll see why we can't get enuff of the queen of motown...