Diana Ross’s House Music Playlist
Contents
The legendary Diana Ross shares some of the house music tracks that keep her dancing.
Diana Ross
As the weather gets colder, what better way to warm up than with some great house music? Diana Ross, the legendary queen of Motown, has put together a fantastic playlist of her favorite house tracks to help you get through the chilly months. From deep house totech house, this playlist has something for everyone. So turn up the heat and enjoy!
Early life
Diana Ross was born on March 26, 1944, at Harper Hospital in Detroit, Michigan. She was named after her mother, who in turn was named after her grandmother. Diana’s paternal great-grandfather was a slave who escaped from Georgia during the Civil War. Ross has English, Irish, Scottish, and Native American ancestry. She has stated that her family “lived below the poverty line” and that she does not know where her maternal great-grandmother “came from”. One of Ross’s maternal great-great-grandmothers is recorded as having been a full-blooded Native American.
As a child in the 1940s–1950s, Ross and her sisters were right in the middle of Detroit’s musical renaissance which featured such jazz luminaries as saxophonist Lester Young and pianist Mary Lou Williams. Along with elder sister Lois and younger sister Barbara, Diana sang in a local church choir led by Reverend James Cleveland. The sisters used to listen to all the soul greats on their car radio when driving to see their father at work; Sam Cooke, Jackie Wilson andAretha Franklin were some of their favorites.
Motown years
The Motown Diana Ross is the most enduring image of the singer: the wide-eyed ingénue with a beehive hairdo, who launched The Supremes to global stardom in the 1960s. In Hitsville USA, the Motown Museum, you can visit the studio where Diana and her bandmates recorded some of their best-loved tracks, including ‘Where Did Our Love Go’, ‘Baby Love’ and ‘Stop! In The Name Of Love’.
Diana left The Supremes in 1970 to embark on a solo career, and while her music took on a more personal and intimate feel, she continued to produce hits throughout the 1970s and 1980s, including ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’, ‘I’m Coming Out’ and ‘Upside Down’. She also starred in several movies during this period, including Lady Sings The Blues (1972) and Mahogany (1975).
In 2012, Diana was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Barack Obama – recognition of her huge contribution to music and popular culture.
Post-Motown years
Diana Ross began her solo career with the release of her self-titled debut album in 1970. The album quickly shot to the top of the charts, thanks to the success of her first single, “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.”
Over the next few years, Ross continued to find success with hits like “Touch Me in the Morning,” “Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You’re Going To),” and “Love Hangover.” She also released her second album, Touch Me in the Morning, in 1973.
However, it was 1976’s Diana Ross that would prove to be her biggest album yet. The record included the massive hit single “Upside Down,” which topped the charts for four weeks. The album also featured the hits “I’m Coming Out” and “Lovely Day.” Diana Ross would go on to sell more than five million copies worldwide.
In 1980, Ross made her film debut in The Wiz, an adaptation of The Wizard of Oz featuring an all-black cast. She starred as Dorothy Gale opposite Michael Jackson as the Scarecrow. The film was a critical and commercial flop, but Ross’s performance earned her a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress.
Ross continued to release successful albums throughout the 1980s and 1990s, including 1981’sWhy Do Fools Fall in Love?, 1985’sEaten Alive, 1987’sRed Hot Rhythm & Blues, 1989’sWorkin’ Overtime, and 1993’sThe Boss. She also returned to acting with roles in Lady Sings the Blues (1972),Mahogany (1975),The Wiz (1978), andOut of Darkness (1994).
In 1995, Ross was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Three years later, she received a Kennedy Center Honor for her contributions to American culture. Ross has sold more than 100 million records worldwide and is one of the best-selling female artists of all time.
House Music
Diana Ross, the legendary singer and actress, is also a huge fan of house music. She has been quoted as saying, “I love house music. It’s really my favorite kind of music to listen to.” Diana Ross’s house music playlist is full of deep house, tech house, and progressive house tunes.
Origins
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in the Chicago club scene in the early 1980s. House music is characterized by a four-on-the-floor beat, a consistent tempo, and a house rhythm which is generally syncopated. The earliest house tracks were often simple piano or synth tracks with repetitivefour-on-the-floor beats and off-beat hi-hat cymbals.
Characteristics
There are four main characteristics of house music: a four-on-the-floor kick drum beat, a consistent backbeat, off-beat hi-hat cymbals, and a synthesized bassline. These elements combine to create a sound that is uniquely ‘house’.
The kick drum is the most important element of the house sound, and provides the rhythmic foundation that all other elements are built upon. The backbeat is provided by the snare drum, and gives the music its characteristic ‘swing’. The hi-hat cymbals provide a constant ‘ticking’ sound that helps to drive the rhythm forward. Finally, the synthesized bassline provides a low-frequency bass pulse that completes the four-on-the-floor pattern.
House music is typically between 118 and 135 beats per minute (bpm), and is often characterized by a ‘shuffling’ sound created by the hi-hat cymbals. This shuffling sound can be achieved by using a variety of techniques, including sidechain compression and gating.
Notable artists
Some notable house music artists include:
-Diana Ross
– Nightmares on wax
– the belleville three
– Derrick May
– Juan Atkins
Diana Ross’s House Music Playlist
Diana Ross’s House Music Playlist is a compilation of some of the most popular songs that she enjoys listening to when she is at home. The playlist includes songs from a variety of genres, including pop, R&B, and soul. Ross’s House Music Playlist is a great way to get into the groove and enjoy some of her favorite tunes.
“Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”
“Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” is a song co-written by Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson. The song was first recorded by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell and released as a single on Motown Records’ Tamla label in 1967. The song became a record chart hit in countries including the United States, peaking at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart, number one on the Easy Listening chart, and number 19 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts. The song has been recorded by many other artists including Diana Ross, who recorded her version in 1970.
“I’m Coming Out”
Diana Ross’s house music playlist would not be complete without her iconic anthem, “I’m Coming Out.” This disco classic is the perfect song to get you up and dancing, and it’s sure to put a smile on your face. You can’t help but feel good when you hear this song, and it’s sure to get you in the party mood.
“Upside Down”
“Upside Down” is a disco song written by Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers for American R&B singer Diana Ross. The song was released on June 20, 1980, as the lead single from her album diana. “Upside Down” became one of Ross’s most successful singles, reaching number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number two on the UK Singles Chart. Internationally, the song also peaked at number one in Canada and Ireland, and reached the top ten in several other countries.
In 1999, “Upside Down” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. In 2008, it was ranked at number eighteen on Billboard’s Greatest Songs of All Time list. In 2010, Pitchfork Media placed it at number eight on their Top 200 Tracks of the 1970s list. In 2012, Slant Magazine ranked the song at number thirty-four on their list of the 100 Best Singles of the 1980s.
“I Will Survive”
“I Will Survive” is a song from Gloria Gaynor’s album of the same name, released in 1978. The song was written by Freddie Perren and Dino Fekaris and produced by Freddie Perren. It is a popular disco anthem, conveying a message of strength and pride for gay people. The song became a standard and has been covered by many artists.
“Last Dance”
Diana Ross’s house music playlist features the classic song “Last Dance” by Donna Summer. The playlist also includes other disco and house hits from the 1970s and 1980s, including “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor, “Dance Dance Dance” by Chic, and “Upside Down” by Diana Ross herself.
