Jukebox: Miss Ross

Sorry it’s been so long since I blogged. I moved (ugh!), my job never ceased to kick me in the rear, all the puppy drama left me sad, and Facebook is just too easily accessible and hard to resist.

Anyway, I think we all need a pick-me-up, don’t you? It’s too early in the morning for a cocktail, so I’ve got the next best thing – a Jukebox!

I can’t believe I haven’t dedicated a playlist to this lady before. In addition to being a diva for the world, I feel like I have a personal connections to her. She was my mom’s favorite artist when I was little, which made her mine too. She is from Detroit, like me. She’s an Aries, like me. She was singing since she was a kid, like me. She designed clothes, so, you know. (Did you know she designed ALL the clothes from the movie Mahogany? ALL OF THEM!! Did you see those clothes?! Why she never put out a line, I have no idea. Look at these low budget singers out today with crappy clothing lines – I’m sorry J.Lo, do your ears burn? Crazy)

Anyway, without further ado, cuz she needs no introduction, the lady Diana.

The Boss, Diana Ross. I LOVE this song. Say what you want about disco, but Miss Diana did it right. Listen to this track and not dance. I dare you. Oh, and how CUTE is she in that white, sparkly body suit?! I love this woman. (Oh, and the French translation of things like ‘y’all’ ‘c’mon dance with me, girl’ are hilarious!)

I Thought It Took A Little Time (But Today I Fell In Love), Diana Ross. OMG, OMG, OMG, you guys! I love this song!! My second-favorite Diana track ever! If you don’t know it, (1) shame on you for not owning a Diana ‘Greatest Hits’ collection (this song is on every one), and (2) go to iTunes right now and buy it. Do not pass Go, do not collect $200.

Love Hangover, Diana Ross. This song makes me wish I was an adult of the ‘70s. I wish I were at a basement party, my 14” afro picked out just right, wearing some cute outfit that somehow involved fringe, incense burning, wood paneling on the walls, shag rug under my platforms, just chillin’. That is the image this song evokes to me.

You Can’t Hurry Love, The Supremes. Ok, I wasn’t going to put Supremes on this list because that would make it way too long. But this clip shows lesson #476 on how badass this woman is: check out how her earring falls off, she catches it, and doesn’t miss a move so you almost miss the whole thing. It’s at 1:56. Diva! I think if I were an adult when the Supremes played the Ed Sullivan show, Diana would be to me what Michelle Obama is to me now.

Reach Out And Touch, Diana Ross. C’mon everyone: “We can change things, if we start giving, why don’t you (why don’t you) reach out and touch somebody’s haaaaaaaaannnnnd (Ba-bop, bop, bop, ba-bop, whooooaaaaa)”

Swept Away, Diana Ross. This 80s pop joint was my jam back in the day. And keep in mind this song came out 20 some odd years after the Supremes. Folks talk about Madonna’s staying power and ability to transform herself, rightly so. But Diana wrote the playbook, y’all. Oh, and this was written by Daryl Hall. There’s no going wrong.

Touch Me In The Morning, Diana Ross. Hearing the opening bars of this song can make me stop whatever I’m doing at the time, raise one hand in the air Diana-style, and sing: “Tooooooooooooch me in the mooooooooooor-ning. Thennn just walk awaaaaaaaaaayyyy.” Then I forget whatever it was that I was doing, but it’s ok!

Missing You, Diana Ross. Of course this song is about Marvin, but I can’t help but get sad all over again thinking of how heartbroken she must be over MJ. I can’t imagine.

It’s My Turn, Diana Ross. I appreciate this song a lot more now than I did as a kid. Because it’s my turn to see what I can see. I hope you understand. This time’s just for me.

You Are Everything, Diana Ross & Marvin Gaye. The Diana & Marvin album is so amazing. I know his best-remembered duets are with Tammi Terrell, but Diana+Marvin=magic. Trust.

My Mistake (Was to Love You), Diana Ross & Marvin Gaye. The only thing better than this song, is the idea of it. I’d love to say that to somebody. Too much.

Muscles, Diana Ross. Ok, before you watch the video, remember – Michael Jackson wrote this. For Diana. Before Thriller. MJ! Ok, continue:

Good Morning Heartache, Diana Ross. Did you know Diana was nominated for an Oscar? For plying Billie Holiday in Lady Sings the Blues? And did you know she was robbed, cuz girlfriend played the hell out of that role? If you have not seen it, shame on you! Put it at the top of your Netflix queue now!

Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You Are Going To), Diana Ross. Yes, my Essential. I know I always say Peg by Steely Dan is my favorite song in the universe, but this one comes in a verrrry close second. If this song and movie were all Diana Ross did in her whole career, I would love her just as much. (OH, and I’m STILL looking for that hat she wears at about 1:14. If y’all see one on the interwebs, send a sistah a link!)

Ain’t No Mountain High Enough, Diana Ross. I love the spoken word part. Oh, this song reminds me of being a kid. Love, love, love it.

Endless Love, Diana Ross. I remember when Diana Ross did her concert in Central Park in 1983 live on TV. It was an event, people. An EVENT! Nothing like that could happen today. I remember watching it with my mom like it was yesterday.

So it started to rain. Like, cats-and-dogs raining. They had to stop the show because the electric instruments couldn’t work in the rain without electrocuting folks. But the organizers were afraid stopping the show would cause the people to riot. So Diana started singing ballads – acoustic style – to calm everybody down. Then she told everybody to leave calmly. And they did! And she stayed on stage singing while they did! All on live television! It was insane! And then she came back the next day and put the whole show on again. I love this lady.

I’m Coming Out, Diana Ross. I forgive Puff and Biggie for sampling this, because they did a good job of it. I just hope the kids today know how badass the original was. Oh, and she was so cute on the cover of this album (which I had – on vinyl) with t-shirt on and what seemed like no makeup. Gorgeous!

One Love In My Lifetime, Diana Ross. This track wasn’t a single, I don’t think, but it’s one of my FAVORITE Diana songs. You shoulda seen me singing this in front of the mirror circa 1978. I was killin’ it, y’all!

Mirror, Mirror, Diana Ross. Oh, this was my Solid Gold-era joint! It was written by Michael Sembello (She’s a maniac!  Maniac!) so it had to be good, right? And I wish I could rock sparkly clothes like Diana. *Sigh*.

Why Do Folls Fall In Love, Diana Ross. A fun, fun remake that she nails, of course.

Upside Down, Diana Ross. We should also acknowledge the genius that is Nile Rodgers, who was behind this album. I love the funk-disco-R&B blend of this track.

Chain Reaction, Diana Ross. Ok, y’all know I’m gonna love anything involving a Gibb brother. But A Bee Gees-written song sung by Diana?! Whooo!!! This song has been in the ‘Top 25 Most Played’ playlist on my iPod since I got the iPod. Something about it makes me replay it 14 times every time it comes on. I hadn’t seen this vid in ages. How cute is she?!