I can not believe how disrepectful you article about Diana Ross is [“Diva-Come-Lately,” August 15].
When your name becomes internationally known for nearly 50 years, then you may be justified in writing such a mean spirited article about a performer who has given countless years of enjoyment ot her fans, not to mention the forging of new opprotunities for black performers in the United States.
Excellence is always difficult to be accepted by those who are somewhat less than good at what they do.
Chuck
Palm Springs, CA
This article appears in Aug 15-21, 2007.
“Excellence is always difficult to be accepted by those who are somewhat less than good at what they do”
So is this how Sonny Bono became mayor of Palm Springs in the late 1980s?
The writer was correct: Diana Ross has been mediocre for longer than when she was great. It happens to most every artist who has a long career. This is not to say that she should no longer perform, or record new material; if she does, nobody should expect critics or the public to give her a break because of past accomplishments. It’s admirable that you’ve been a fan of Miss Ross for so long, but you also shouldn’t let that hinder your grasp of reality when it comes to her negatives, and the public perception of them.
That said, Diana Ross most likely doesn’t care about you, so find something worthwhile to get worked up about, such as elderly drivers in your city forgetting to shut off their turn signals while slowly making their way to the country club. Or, perhaps, learning how to spell “opportunities.”
Chuck is “somewhat less than good” at simple spelling and grammar.
The writer was correct, Diana Ross passed her expiry date years ago, and her fans are all assholes for still supporting this has been singer.
Her fans need to get a life!! ONLY good thing is the Ross !!! is well in her 60’s so hopefully she will drop dead soon
Ruben (NY NY)
Ruben I hope you drop dead soon too!
Hang TOUGH, Chuck! The term you’re looking for is HATERS! And this all coming from that “bastion of relevancy & influence”…The Cleveland Scene?? This would be your prime example of an oxymoron!
Oh…and Chuck…get your tickets for THE DIVA’s NEW YEAR’s EVE 2008 appearance at The Greek Amphitheatre in Los Angeles. While they’re all still a-HATIN’…Mama Ross is still a-SANGIN’ and GETTIN’ PAID!!
Lucas
Marina del Rey, CA
All I can say regarding Diana Ross I went as a non-fan to her show in June and she knocked my socks off!! Nothing like when you see her on tv. I was so imppressed that after all these years she still puts on a super show!! Go see her and you will be amazed!!
grammore is over rated
I’m getting a little tired of hearing about Florence Ballard and Mary Wilson and how terrible Diana Ross is. I happen to have been a fan of hers since way back in the early 60’s and I still am. She is a rare talent that is able sing, dance and act which a lot of people wish they had, so they stand around criticizing her because she can. She made that group It was her that always stood out. I heard Mary Wilson sing once and thought she couldn’t hold a tune on her own. Florence Ballard never seemed to shine either, certainly nothing like Jennifer Hudson that supposedly played her in Dreamgirs. It’s hard to imagine that it was actually Mary Wilson that Diana bumped out of the lead by Berry Gordy. don’t know how she could have been the lead singer back in the days the trio sang around the street of Detroit.
Get over it, the people who are jealous and find every petty little thing that Diana does wrong and put it out there like venemous snakes.
Shame on all of you. And Diana, continue what your doing for as long as you can. Because I’ll be watching or be where you’re at as long as I can as well.
It’s interesting how, so far, all the comments posted by Diana Ross sycophants in this forum have displayed deficiencies in grammar and/or spelling. Perhaps it’s time for them to stop watching their “Mahogany” DVD for the 53rd time, and either read a dictionary or enroll in a remedial English class at the local community college.
As for Rick Reed’s comment that Miss Ross is “a rare talent,” actually, she WAS a rare talent; now she’s closer to well-done.
Finally, it’s ironic that Lucas thinks the Cleveland Scene is an oxymoron, because I think of Lucas as a moron. Has the school system that let him graduate been held to account yet? To paraphrase Mr. T: “I pity Marina del Rey!”
I don’t know what you all are so upset about. The writer was correct, however where he misses the mark badly is by comparing Diana Ross to Beyonce. Isn’t that like comparing Shirley Bassey to the lead singer of The Ronnettes
I like many stopped buying Diana’s records in 1980. The last good album she ever made (Diana -with jeans and t-shirt produced by Nile Rodgers) Tje quality of her voice just wasn’t the same after that. Even Nile knew back then that perhaps it wouldn’t be bad idea if he synthesized her voice a little, although at that time it didn’t need it. IT SURE NEEDS IT NOW HONEY. She sounds absolutely dreadful now. What makes it worse, is her voice went from incredibly golden and fantastic to almost horrible.
I still like the independent, headstrong aura about her like what is Madonna-esque, but she won’t get any of my money to hear her sing anymore. That’s for sure. Yep, I still buy her old records, as do a lot of people, but her new stuff sucks lead. It’s terrible. It happens to all singers. Frank Sinatra didn’t know when to shut up either. She went from smooth as crystal, accurate pitch, lovely lilt, verve and agility – powerhouse soprano, to ….fishing for a note – pitchy hoarse sounding, off key sometimes on key mess.
Those who advocate listening to her sing these days are obviously tone deaf.
Excellence is always difficult to be accepted by those who are somewhat less than good at what they do”
So is this how Sonny Bono became mayor of Palm Springs in the late 1980s?
The writer was correct: Diana Ross has been mediocre for longer than when she was great. It happens to most every artist who has a long career. This is not to say that she should no longer perform, or record new material; if she does, nobody should expect critics or the public to give her a break because of past accomplishments. It’s admirable that you’ve been a fan of Miss Ross for so long, but you also shouldn’t let that hinder your grasp of reality when it comes to her negatives, and the public perception of them.
That said, Diana Ross most likely doesn’t care about you, so find something worthwhile to get worked up about, such as elderly drivers in your city forgetting to shut off their turn signals while slowly making their way to the country club. Or, perhaps, learning how to spell “opportunities.”
Posted at: August 21, 2007 4:18 PM
AnActualClevelander says:
You my friend are an idiot…I just bought the book by Maxine Ballard called Flo The True Story and this is by her sister. The book claims Florence was always a truobled person, The Supremes and Diana had nothing to do with her self destruction, Florence (according to the book by her sister) always had a drinking problem and it only escalated when she did not get what she wanted. It also states that Diana Ross has helped Florence and her children out. You hear Motown people (including Mary Wilson) always complaining where was Diana , when Florence was down & out, but never seem to have helped her themselves. You say Diana is mediocre…well you are dead wrong idiot…just catch one of her sellout shows. Mediocre is someone like you with absolutely no talent. DIANA IS THE ULTIMATE DIVA and will be remembered as that. Instead of bashing her , why not talk about all the doors she has opened for todays Black Female Siongers. YOU ARE A JERK
Diana is still an Icon no matter who likes or dislikes her. Should she had stayed with the Supremes, no…she had bigger dreams of success and if she stepped on a few toes to get there then guess who she has to answer to in the end – God. It is apparent that her dreams and aspirations where a lot higher than her other partners, and perhaps Florences death was too soon, but noone can put their lifes tragedies on one person. Does Diana feel hurt by Florences death, sure she does, she’s human. Her mediocre singing as people call it is as crystal clear now and better than it was when she started out and she has had some good cd’s and some bad one’s just as so many artist today who are just starting out. It’s a sign of the times when producers look for sex, youth and mediocre singing to sell cds. Jennifer Hudson for instance will probably not sell many cd’s because of her size and because of her actual “singing” People dont want singing, they want whining and all of that oooh baby, this and my boyfriend left with my drugs and took my bling bling etc., kind of nonsense. Yet Diana has been taking flack from people throughout her career and she still sells out crowded arena’s around the country which is how many artist make their money. Diana has over 40 years in the business. She’s proven herself a CONSUMATE, SINGER, ACTOR, DANCER, DESIGNER, MODEL, MOTHER, DIVA EXTRAORDINAIRE many times over and when you’ve garnered as many awards as she has you OWN the right to be called a DIVA.
I have read the article with interest and would like to note that the author is factually incorrect when stating that the musical Dreamgirls was based on Mary Wilsons book. The musical was in fact a big hit on broadway for a number of years before Mary’s book was issued in 1986. Mary in fact used the title Dreamgirl no doubt to cash in on the success of the musical.
As is often the case in life fact and fiction become blurred in the pursuit of sensatialism. This unfortunately seems to be the case with Diana Ross.
The media we should all be aware is most concerned with selling copy , not the truth.
I’m 34 and I have been a Miss Ross fan since 8. I’m a pop music fan if it on 100 times a day I will love and the thing that always amaze me is that during the time Miss Ross has not had the biggest record sells or hits, the CD’s she did release were better than what I was hearing on the radio at the time and all her music she release easliy stands the test of time ie: Take Me Higher released in 1995, Force Behind The Power 1991, Everyday is a New Day 1999. And to talk about artist whom are has been mediocre for longer than when they was great the list is endless look at Prince, Madonna, Micheal Jackson, U2, Police,Bruce Springteen, Sting, Cyndi Lauper, Bon Jovi ect… All of them hit the top and fell to the bottom in one decade the 80’s but the are still great artist whom deserve their fame and believe after 50 year as top DIVA 19 number records not including the ones that hit 10; Miss Ross has earned the right to just be Diana Ross and that is it.
Melissa wrote:
>
How wrong you are?! Have you read “Diana Ross.. A Lifetime To Get Here” by Tom Adrahtas? Maybe you should. Check out the last chapter entitled ‘I Love You.’ Then you will see how much Diana cares about her fans. It’s my story and it’s all true considering the tragic circumstances surrounding it. Diana Ross cares deeply about her fans. She does not have to a trumpet blower every time she does a good deed for someone like some celebrities we know.
Diana has staying power… longevity. Let’s see how many people remember some of the so-called talent of today 40 + years from now.
My comment above is in rebuttal to the one posted by Melissa who says that “Diana Ross most likely doesn’t care about you…” Perhaps it is the other way around Melissa… NO ONE CARES ABOUT YOU!
Dear Diana,
As a young, black female, I just wanted you to know how much I appreciate and respect you. I know it was tough for you to get where you’re at and people still want to knock you down. When I see you and your kids I am so proud of you and the great example you have shown to people ( especially white entertainment people)that you can raise a family successfully in the “biz” and still hold your head up high.
Thank you Diana and to the Ross family…
There is defiantly some GREAT element of cruel, anti-woman, anti-African-American element displayed in the article:
[“Diva-Come-Lately,” August 15].
AND:
As far as my grammar and spelling are concerned…I could not care any less about what you think of it…still does not excuse rudeness, bigotry, and cruelty.
ONCE AGAIN THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DUMP ON THE PEOPLE WHO MADE AMERICA DIANA ROSS SHOULD BE SHOWN THE RESPECT SHE DESERVES I RATHER THINK ITS THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WHO ARE WASHED OUT SEND HER TO EUROPE WE WILL TREASURE HER FOR WHAT SHE IS PRICELESS
I’ve been a Ross fan since 1964. I for one am sick and tired of all the Ross bashing. The fact that this woman is sixty-three and is still performing live to sold out crowds is indictive of her star power. Of course her voice is not as it was in her prime–who’s is? However it still holds magic for this fan. Americans make me sick with their disposable mentalities. If you are not the latest flash in the pan, you are considered a has been. So immature and different from the Europeans. All I can say is her fans get it–her non fans don’t. End of discussion.
People need to give that “I hate Diana Ross” mess a break and let it go! It’s been going on for years and has put a stop to nothing the lady sets out to do. The truth is she is a great entertainer and is very talented and extremely well respected within the entertainment community! She has set records in the industry and is a force to be reconed with. She has been crowned the worlds greatest femele entertainer and is among the sucessful female recording artist ever! And you know who made this possible? The vast amount of people around the world who happens to make up the listening public; a plublic who made their own decissions to spend their hard earned dollars on “Ross” made music, films, concerts, tuned into her many “TV” specials, etc. Fact is, the public made her what she is today. They like what they saw and heard so they spent and went to see! Money and actions talk! Bullshit walks!!! And she is still on top of her games at “63” yrs young! Sell out concerts and apperances around the world! How many other entertainers in her age bracket and have a carreer span like hers is still out ther going strong and making it happen like DIANA is? And simply put, she really loves what she does and does what she loves for her fan base! When you see her live, you’ve truely been entertained on the real!
Dear Diana,
I want you to know how much you and your music helped my mother get us through tough times after my daddy decided to leave us as kids. I remember her crying to Touch me in the Morning, Its my Turn, Remember Me, Endless Love, and all your other songs, hoping, praying that he might come back.
My daddy never returned, but you will always remain in our families heart.
Thank you for inspiring!
Love Kimberly
Avengers of Florence Ballard, naturally you have to deflect to spelling and syntactical errors of Ross supporters, as you haven’t any other leg to stand on in your criticism of MISS ROSS! Now go get a REAL job besides Net Spelling Police!!! Ah the advent of the net, where English majors get a chance to shine too, because they don’t shine at the bank!
It’s really a shame that our legendary black divas like DIANA ROSS an AMERICAN QUEEN,gets better treatment,love and respect from EUROPE and over seas than here in this HYPRICRTICAL,RACIST,REPUBLICAN, BILLY GRAHM INFLUENCED(I can go on)DOUBLE STANDARD of a country like this one. Why is it that people can’t be appreciated just because of talent. If your not shaking your ass and looking like a skinny BIMBO your in,but for how long? Listen up ”HATERS”!!! Any singer or actor coming out today won’t get any where near what MISS DIANA ROSS and others on her level has accomplished.For the that matter last as long either.
Diana Ross did more for black music than all those vapid and illiterate rappers ever did. She is adored by both whites and blacks.