A nod from Ms. Ross to Donna?

[Leanmean]

I always wondered (yet couldn't quite believe) that in Diana Ross' song "Love Hangover" where the chorus sings, "Love to love you," it was a nod to Donna's "Love to Love You." As time went on and we found out what a b-i-t-c-h Ms Ross is, it didn't seem possible for her to acknowledge anyone!

What do you think?

[DanceMan]

I would like to agree with you had it not been for the fact that these songs were both recorded in 1975, even though Donna's single was released a few months earlier as "Theme From Mahogany's" success delayed Ross' "LH" release.(It was finally rush-released because the Fifth Dimension came out with their version a few days earlier - never heard it!)

Actually, I don't think that Diana in those days had much input into the lyrics and phrasing of her songs as she was still a product of Motown's good girl, do-as-you're-told school of behavior.....Plus, Donna Summer was a nobody to the American/much of the world audience at the time of "LTLYB", so why would Diana and company even give her or her music a second thought....Diana has bigger things to b-i-t-c-h about....then and even now....

[SandraDee]

Ive read extensively about Diana Ross & I just dont agree with this image everyone has of her as a bitch. My impression of her is that she is the ultimate professional who lives for her fans & her children. She is never afraid to take chances with different styles & carries it all off with style & integrity. She doesnt suffer fools gladly & lets them know; is this a sin? Men have done it for centuries & nobody bats an eyelid but because its a woman of colour she gets called a bitch. Sorry, but I feel compelled to defend one of THE most prolific artists of the last century because I feel we'll never see anything like her again in our lifetime.

[DanceMan]

On 2002-10-07 12:51, Steely Dan wrote:
Ive read extensively about Diana Ross & I just dont agree with this image everyone has of her as a bitch. My impression of her is that she is the ultimate professional who lives for her fans & her children. She is never afraid to take chances with different styles & carries it all off with style & integrity. She doesnt suffer fools gladly & lets them know; is this a sin? Men have done it for centuries & nobody bats an eyelid but because its a woman of colour she gets called a bitch. Sorry, but I feel compelled to defend one of THE most prolific artists of the last century because I feel we'll never see anything like her again in our lifetime.

I have to agree with all of what you said Steely --- and then some....First of all, I am her Biggest fan, loving her all the way back to the Supremes - still cannot believe they broke up - anyway, having met the lady, she was always nicest to me - the few short moments I got to be in her presence....I do know that she is one of the last of her era to exhibit style and flair, not only in her music but in her looks and presentation....I would say that she is in a Class all her own, in that respect...However, nobody in showbiz gets to where they get without stepping on/over, kicking out of the way, and sometimes clawing their way thru others to get to the Top.....She is the Ultimate Diva...hooray for that!....but she can also be catty and wicked not just as the protective lioness over her cubs, but just because sometimes she feels she has earned the right...that might make good fodder for the gossipmongers among us, but not good will toward others who are following in her footsteps...nobody ever has that right!...But the thing is, she can and does pull it off best and oh-so-subtle; others, like Whitney, don't quite (and never will) have Ms. Ross finesse.

More Power to her!

[NickNack]

Steely & DanceMan,

Sorry to disagree and I'll be the first to say I am not a history buff on Diana Ross. So as not to destroy Leanmean's thread I'll keep it short:

IF IT'S TRUE (again, I don't have the facts) that she let Florence Ballard die penniless while she did nothing to help, then Ms. Ross is a bitch, IMO. And that's just one of many reasons for my distaste for this woman. So, as Ashford & Simpson said as they waited and waited for Ms. Ross to get to the studio one afternoon, only to have someone call hours later to say she had a headache: "FUCK HER!" They gave the song to Ullanda (McCullough).

[BrunoRepublic]

I don't know if she let Flo die penniless or not; there's also a rumour that Miss Ross gave Flo some money before her untimely death.

But this part has been well-documented: Miss Ross upstaged Flo at her own funeral -- and then left before the service was finished.

Now, does that fit the definition of "classy"?

[DanceMan]

On 2002-10-07 22:07, Graham Start wrote:
I don't know if she let Flo die penniless or not; there's also a rumour that Miss Ross gave Flo some money before her untimely death.

But this part has been well-documented: Miss Ross upstaged Flo at her own funeral -- and then left before the service was finished.

Now, does that fit the definition of "classy"?

I know all these money stories were written about time and time again and published in both Mary Wilson's books as well as All That Glittered which centered on Flo.

I would think that being the superstar that she was in February '76, the fans made it their business to see to it that Diana got rushed, crowded and cheered (and even booed, by some)at that Funeral - and the thing to do to avoid an even bigger media circus/hullabaloo was to slink out of the service discreetly and run back to Berry's awaiting limo.

I am not defending her...I do adore her in my own way, as we adore artists, I am not denying that. But with people like Diana, Aretha and Barbra, et al, you have to see the other side of the story too, and I try to see it from all angles...even why she makes record producers wait...so does Liz...so does Marlon and Barbra...and that doesn't make it right...but they do it anyway because they can....Ullanda couldn't afford that privilege....

Now while she and Berry could have (morally) poured 100 times more out of their pockets to house and feed Flo's kids (and her drinking habit), they weren't obligated to do so...I felt really sorry for Flo, but Ms. Ross wasn't her keeper; and while Diana concentrated on looking up, Flo looked the other way....maybe if they only let her sing "People" at the Copacabana, all this could have been avoided!