For over four decades Miss Ross has reigned Supreme as the pre-eminent Diva to outclass all others.The records, the hair, the seqiuns, the films, al rise fore the First Lady of Motown
It maybe a cliché, but it's also true. When they invented the term diva there was only one woman who would not only embody all the drama, glamour, excess and cool aloof the term entails, but single-handled take it to a whole other level.
Even the email setting up this rare interview to promote her sumptuous new album” I Love You" came with the request” please address her as Miss Ross at all times."
Miss Ross knows maintaining her status as a living legend means a whole lot more than the latest CD or concert appearance. Since her earliest days of being groomed in etiquette and poise in the Motown"Artist Development" school as a fledging Supreme.
Diana has almost unfailingly projected an alluring, cool glamour. Her recording career has crisscrossed pop, soul, disco, rock,and jazz and yielded more classics than there is space to mention here-amongst them Ain't No Mountain High Enough, Touch Me In The Morning, Love Hangover, Upside Down and Chain Reaction.
Her supposed rivalries and unstoppable ambition are the stuff of rumour and speculation, but are as much a part of her legacy as the records and the performances-and are due to be whispered about all over again with the imminent release of the film version of Dreamgirls-the Broadway musical that borrowed liberally from the story of Diana Ross and The Supremes in its depiction of Deena Jones & The Dreams.
On the day Attitude puts you’re questions to the Diva Supreme herself, we find Miss Ross in a particularly no-nonsense regal mood.
Whether it's thanks to Motown boss Berry Gordy and his old school training to never stray” off message” and the fuel the rumour mill industry, or a particularly fierce diva moment, Miss Ross wasn't too enthralled with some of our readers questions.
Attitude was gutted, obviously, though of course we'd happy have Miss Ross gouge our eyes out with her stiletto heels as when are not worthy of even breathing the same air as her. Anyways, here's Miss Ross...
I just bought your new album "I Love You" and must say it’s my favourite since Red Hot Rhythm and Blues you sound really connected to the songs and your vocals are great! My favourite track is What About Love from the musical of the Color Purple-would you have wanted to be in that?
Daniel Lloyd, Bristol
Diana:
Not really, no. It's a wonderful play, and off course the film was great. I went to see the play on Broadway and there were many great songs in it, but this one really spoke to me.
It's a really good melodic song, with a great message that really spoke to me and it was written by a good friend of mine, Brenda Russell. I tracked down the producer of the play and then I putt in a call to Oprah to let her know I was going to record it.
All the songs on the album are covers, but they're not the obvious choices at all. It seems like a very personal choice of songs.
Diana:
Well, it was my decision that all the songs should be about an affirmation of love. This project was about three years in the making, then it got down to a year when we really got clear about what we wanted the concept to be.
All the songs on the album are covers, but they're not the obvious choices at all. It seems like a very personal choice of songs.
Diana:
Well, it was my decision that all the songs should be about an affirmation of love. This project was about three years in the making, then it got down to a year when we really got clear about what we wanted the concept to be.
We wanted it to be all positive songs. Not about loss or betrayal or jealousy-just great love stories. So the search was on.
I listened to hundreds and hundreds of songs that really spokes to me about positive love lyrics and the songs that we really about love
In Boy Georges autobiography "Take It Like Man" there’s a lot about you and Marilyn and how you became friends and wanted to manage him and then fell out. What do you remember about him?
Alfi via e-mail
Diana:
No, no I think Marilyn was someone who liked me. I don't now this person. I think I met him-just like I've met a lot of people
So, you never really knew him?
Diana:
No, not at all.
When Chic was writing the classic Diana album for you. They based the songs on the idea of where you were in your life at that time-in your mid-30s. Having just moved to New York and enjoying your new freedom.
In Boy Georges autobiography "Take It Like Man" there’s a lot about you and Marilyn and how you became friends and wanted to manage him and then fell out. What do you remember about him?
Alfi via e-mail
Diana:
No, no I think Marilyn was someone who liked me. I don't now this person. I think I met him-just like I've met a lot of people
So, you never really knew him?
Diana:
No, not at all.
When Chic was writing the classic Diana album for you. They based the songs on the idea of where you were in your life at that time-in your mid-30s. Having just moved to New York and enjoying your new freedom.
Nile Rodgers has said that when they wrote I'm Coming Out for you there was a double meaning that they intended but you weren't aware of it. Is that true?
Robert Clark, Clapham
Diana:
(laughs) You now that, the interesting thing about a song to me it’s like a poem. Poetry really makes you think deeper than what the actual lyrics mean.
Robert Clark, Clapham
Diana:
(laughs) You now that, the interesting thing about a song to me it’s like a poem. Poetry really makes you think deeper than what the actual lyrics mean.
For instance, I´m Coming Out is more about where you are in your life. Like waking up, opening up and being clear about what you want in life. Do you understand?
Maybe growing up or taking a step, or leaving home. It was a time in my life where I had decided to take responsibility for my own life.
I was an adult and I wasn't going to rely on other people to take care of me. It spoke to a lot of people about a lot of things in their lives. It was about saying" yess" to who you are and"yess" to your responsibility. Same thing with the song "Upside Down".
It was about a time when you feel like growing up is confusing and a struggle and you’re coming through it. A lot of the songs to me are not the words but what comes underneath the words.
For you gay fans, I´m Coming Out` was a very important song though. It was an affirmation for them , It can mean that, it can mean whatever it means to you, for your life. It’s an individual meaning.
People don’t think on a mountain when they listen to “Ain´t No mountain High Enough”, it’s about reaching for your dreams.-nothing is unreachable; you have to go for your dreams. It's not about a mountain. It’s more than that. Mostly of my songs give a voice to those that don't have a voice.
I have been a secret rebel through my career because I don't speak about anger and hate, but I use my words trough love. Do you understand? I used my songs to lift people. Sometimes their favourite songs can almost save a life sometimes.
That's why I recorded "I Will Survive”, because in a sense it is a song about survival and it says that tomorrow is another day, life is peaks and valleys and you know nothing is the end and you can survive.
It's almost in that movie, "Gone With The Wind", tomorrow is another day (laughs). Even the song "The Boss" is really just about strength of character. It's not about being the boss and telling people what to do, it’s about taking charge of your own life.
Obviously you hold the Diva crown, but if you had to pass the Diva crown on to someone performing now. Is there any hone who deserves to be a Diva queen?
David Greenwood, Croydon
Diana
I don't now what you mean
I think it means who do you think is good?
Diana
I'll pass it on to you.
Obviously you hold the Diva crown, but if you had to pass the Diva crown on to someone performing now. Is there any hone who deserves to be a Diva queen?
David Greenwood, Croydon
Diana
I don't now what you mean
I think it means who do you think is good?
Diana
I'll pass it on to you.
I'm really excited that the musical Dreamgirls is finally about to come out as a film. What do you think about it? I thought you weren't happy about the supposed parallels between the story of the Dreams in the musical and the real story of The Supremes, but then I read an interview with Beyoncé where she said you had given your blessing to play the role of Deena
Gary Bardot, Hackney
Diana
I did not. I had nothing to do with that play and I had nothing to do with the movie. I have never spoken to Beyoncé about the movie. And no, I was not happy about the play. And no, I did not give my sanction to the movie because no one has ever spoken to me about the movie.
Gary Bardot, Hackney
Diana
I did not. I had nothing to do with that play and I had nothing to do with the movie. I have never spoken to Beyoncé about the movie. And no, I was not happy about the play. And no, I did not give my sanction to the movie because no one has ever spoken to me about the movie.
I don't now anything about it, I never read the script. Beyoncé never spoke to me about the movie and I never spoke to Beyoncé about the movie. I'm totally in the dark about that and I've not given anyone my blessing because no one has ever spoken to me about it.
When you did the video "Muscles"and you were rolling around with all those naked man that was very ahead of its time. Whose idea was that, was that your idea?
Alex O"Connor, Dublin
Diana
You have done your research! That was the video director, it was basically his idea. I hadn't done a lot of videos at that point that was a lot of fun. Didn't I fly in that video to? I did a lot of flying in "The Wiz"as well.
Michael Jackson wrote "Muscles” for you didn't he? There was a point where you were quoted as introducing the song in concert saying,” I don't no whether it's supposed to be Michaels fantasy ore mine".
Diana
What? I don't remember that. You know what? The interesting thing about quotes is people have said things and then things have been repeated, they go over and over again till somehow people think they are fact. Like misquotes and rumours that become real. I don't know if that's true.
There was a rumour that...
Diana
I don't really like to deal with rumours, I would like very much for this conversation to be about music and thins like that. For instance, this new album, there are people on this album who are very, very important: Peter Asher the producer, Steve Tyrell-these people has been very important in making this project.
When you did the video "Muscles"and you were rolling around with all those naked man that was very ahead of its time. Whose idea was that, was that your idea?
Alex O"Connor, Dublin
Diana
You have done your research! That was the video director, it was basically his idea. I hadn't done a lot of videos at that point that was a lot of fun. Didn't I fly in that video to? I did a lot of flying in "The Wiz"as well.
Michael Jackson wrote "Muscles” for you didn't he? There was a point where you were quoted as introducing the song in concert saying,” I don't no whether it's supposed to be Michaels fantasy ore mine".
Diana
What? I don't remember that. You know what? The interesting thing about quotes is people have said things and then things have been repeated, they go over and over again till somehow people think they are fact. Like misquotes and rumours that become real. I don't know if that's true.
There was a rumour that...
Diana
I don't really like to deal with rumours, I would like very much for this conversation to be about music and thins like that. For instance, this new album, there are people on this album who are very, very important: Peter Asher the producer, Steve Tyrell-these people has been very important in making this project.
You know the song "I Want You" on the album, did you now that my brother wrote that with Marvin Gaye? We made "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" into a New Orleans-style march. That was really a concept that came up actually in the studio when we are recording.
I loved the idea of doing that song. It's the anniversary of Queen right now. Did you know that?
Anyway, Peter Asher is a very special, he has a classical musical training and he knows about chords and tones and textures.
Anyway, Peter Asher is a very special, he has a classical musical training and he knows about chords and tones and textures.
Even recording the string sections with these musicians was such a treat. A lot of artists don't go into the studio anymore, they do things with Pro Tools and they're not really there. There are a lot of artists today that don't do anything with real musicians. Did you now any of that?
I get the impression that you've been more involved in this album, that it's more close to you than some of you other albums in the last ten years or so.
Diana
No. I've always been involved in my music. I know it’s something people don't really know because people don't ask that question, maybe because they're more interested in other things.
I get the impression that you've been more involved in this album, that it's more close to you than some of you other albums in the last ten years or so.
Diana
No. I've always been involved in my music. I know it’s something people don't really know because people don't ask that question, maybe because they're more interested in other things.
I'm always involved with the instrumentation of the music, selection of the musicians, who the producers are, witch studio are used.
All the things behind the scenes. There are a lot of things that go into making a cd, there's a lot of telephone calls and emails before a record is made, a lot of that goes into the record. It doesn't just appear a lot of work goes into a record.
In Andy Warhol’s diary’s, he said that your giant open-air Central Park concert in 1983 was the most incredible thing he had ever seen. He called it” the event of the century”. What are your memories of that night bad were you afraid of getting electrocuted when it started to rain?
Diana
That was such a night. It was a moment in time that will always stay in my memory. When it started to rain it was like a monsoon! I felt like a parent on the stage, I felt responsible for all the thousands of people there, and I wanted everyone to be safe, so I stayed on the stage to actually try to talk everyone calmly out of the park and make sure no one got hurt.
In Andy Warhol’s diary’s, he said that your giant open-air Central Park concert in 1983 was the most incredible thing he had ever seen. He called it” the event of the century”. What are your memories of that night bad were you afraid of getting electrocuted when it started to rain?
Diana
That was such a night. It was a moment in time that will always stay in my memory. When it started to rain it was like a monsoon! I felt like a parent on the stage, I felt responsible for all the thousands of people there, and I wanted everyone to be safe, so I stayed on the stage to actually try to talk everyone calmly out of the park and make sure no one got hurt.
Was it one of the biggest audiences I've ever played to? I don’t now; I’ve performed to a lot of big audiences. I didn't now Andy was say that. He was a good friend of mine, a very interesting character. He did a portrait of me and my children and the cover of my "Silk Electric” album.
What is your favourite cover of one of your albums?
Duncan Black, Manchester
Diana
There's one that goes way, way back where I'm sitting on the floor with an apple in my hand. It wasn't my first, well; it could have been the first by myself maybe. I don't know, there’s been so many. I look like a little Biafran child, a little skinny thing.
Your so-called"lost"album from the early 70s,"Blue"was released earlier this year. There's rawness to your voice and a kind of magic in that period when you are filming "Lady Sings The Blues". What was going on there? Were you submerging yourself into the character of Billie Holiday?
Ed White, Somerset
Diana
I'm not sure what was going on in my life during that time. I recorded those songs right after finishing the film. That was the only time when I wasn't in charge of my own recording career. I stayed in the studio the entire time recording.
What is your favourite cover of one of your albums?
Duncan Black, Manchester
Diana
There's one that goes way, way back where I'm sitting on the floor with an apple in my hand. It wasn't my first, well; it could have been the first by myself maybe. I don't know, there’s been so many. I look like a little Biafran child, a little skinny thing.
Your so-called"lost"album from the early 70s,"Blue"was released earlier this year. There's rawness to your voice and a kind of magic in that period when you are filming "Lady Sings The Blues". What was going on there? Were you submerging yourself into the character of Billie Holiday?
Ed White, Somerset
Diana
I'm not sure what was going on in my life during that time. I recorded those songs right after finishing the film. That was the only time when I wasn't in charge of my own recording career. I stayed in the studio the entire time recording.
People think you go into a studio just record a cd project but that's not really the truth. I go into the studio and record all the time, every time I find a song of love. I even have to the studio inside my home and as an idea come up, I just record.
So at that time I went into the studio and would record these songs and they would be put on something they call "the self”"and Berry Gordy sold Motown and hiss publishing company to Universal and I guess Universal are trying to get their money back.
When they sold Motown they hired someone to take the entire catalogue and that includes everything Diana Ross had recorded at Motown. I don't know how this process works*. I'm on the outside. I'm an artist. Then what happened is.
I run into this person at the Polo Lounge in Los Angeles and he says; "I'm releasing one of your records at Starbucks' and I said "Oh, yeah?" I mean, it was news to me; no one had contacted me or asked me anything.
Same thing as Dreamgirls, did David Geffen call me and tell about Dreamgirls? No! I don't know anything about Diana "Blue", nor did I know anything about Dreamgirls.
What happened is they released Diana "Blue" and It became a big success and Universal is now releasing it internationally. And that's it. But it was never intended to be an album at the first time I recorded those songs.
They took those songs and got a great photo shoot from the time and came up with that title. That's the way record companies work. Bottom line is the concept is a good one. I like the songs and I'm happy with it
Have you ever seen the film Trevor about the suicidal little boy who spends all this time lip-synching to your records?
Matthew Holmes. Birmingham
Diana
Yes I have! My British publicist first talked to me about Trevor and it's so good. It's wonderful. It was released in America, it’s a wonderful film. It won an Oscar for Best Short Film.
Have you ever seen the film Trevor about the suicidal little boy who spends all this time lip-synching to your records?
Matthew Holmes. Birmingham
Diana
Yes I have! My British publicist first talked to me about Trevor and it's so good. It's wonderful. It was released in America, it’s a wonderful film. It won an Oscar for Best Short Film.
It's very much homage to four tongs and what it's like to grow up on the outside of things. Yes and there's now an organisation in America called the Trevor Project. Did you know that? It helps kids o be able to get through their lives and talk to their parents
I'm a huge Patti Labelle fan and a huge Diana Ross fan too. I read about the supposed rivalry between you two stretching back to when you were in The Supremes and she was in the Bluebells. Is there any truth in it?
Adrian Lester. Coventry
Diana
Never Absolutely not Patti and I are best friends Never, never, never. There's never been any falling out between me and Patti. We've always been best friends and no one should try and create something like that.
Didn't you all meet up at Oprah Winfrey's Legends Weekend?
Diana
Yes. It was wonderful, moving, exciting Three days of the most special, over- the-top events. Oprah is a one-of a-kind person, there is no one else like her
When will you do a book? You obviously did Secrets Of The Sparrow - do you have any plans to do another book at any point?
Carl Paxton. Leeds
Diana
No, not at all Not right now. Do you want me to retire, to stop and write a book? It takes a lot of time. I could only do that if I were to stop doing what I do and I'm not ready to do that right now
Miss Ross’ new album” I Love You” is out now on EMI Records
I'm a huge Patti Labelle fan and a huge Diana Ross fan too. I read about the supposed rivalry between you two stretching back to when you were in The Supremes and she was in the Bluebells. Is there any truth in it?
Adrian Lester. Coventry
Diana
Never Absolutely not Patti and I are best friends Never, never, never. There's never been any falling out between me and Patti. We've always been best friends and no one should try and create something like that.
Didn't you all meet up at Oprah Winfrey's Legends Weekend?
Diana
Yes. It was wonderful, moving, exciting Three days of the most special, over- the-top events. Oprah is a one-of a-kind person, there is no one else like her
When will you do a book? You obviously did Secrets Of The Sparrow - do you have any plans to do another book at any point?
Carl Paxton. Leeds
Diana
No, not at all Not right now. Do you want me to retire, to stop and write a book? It takes a lot of time. I could only do that if I were to stop doing what I do and I'm not ready to do that right now
Miss Ross’ new album” I Love You” is out now on EMI Records
