Vedere girare sul piatto il logo della Motown Records è un'emozione. La storia della black music riassunta in 33 e 1/3 giri al minuto.
Diana Ross è parte della storia della storica casa discografica di Detroit, è lei la "suprema" delle "supreme". Nel 1980 esce il suo "Diana" che scalerà le classifiche di tutto il mondo grazie ai due tormentoni "Upside Down" e "I'm Coming Out" prodotti dal duo degli Chic Nile Rodgers e Bernard Edwards con l'aiuto di tutto il loro storico gruppo, dalla sezioni fiati, agli archi fino alle coriste. Il risultato finale poi pubblicato è però relativo ad una versione del disco rimaneggiata successivamente per levigare i più marcati accenti disco, questo porterà i due a chiedere di non essere citati nei credits finali senza ottenere però l'approvazione della Motown. Il successo straordinario di "Diana" cancellerà ogni ricordo di questo episodio. "Diana" è un disco molto godibile, forse non ha la freschezza del soul-pop sbarazzino delle Supremes (andate a recuperare assolutamente il disco con i Temptations) ma si lascia ascoltare con molto piacere. Il singolone spacca classifiche che lo apre, "Upside Down", è noto a tutti ed è forse l'unico brano che si avvicini ai suoni più tipicamente disco mentre in "My Old Piano" è più velata. "I'm Coming Out" possiede un incipit molto particolare dettato dalla tipica chitarra funk di Rodgers, dal canto di Diana e da una batteria impegnata per i primi venti secondi in fill di tom tom singhiozzanti molto riusciti. Il resto scorre piacevole fra ballate, "Friend To Friend" e brani più funk come la chiusura con "Give Up".
Nel 2003 è stata pubblicata la versione con i mix degli Chic e le tracce vocali originali della Ross, la versione ufficiale del 1980 infatti presenta una reincisione di tutte le parti cantate, e le parti strumentali estese che erano state tagliate dall'ingegnere del suono Russ Terrana.
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01 Upside Down (04:06)
I said upside down
You're turning me
You're giving love instinctively
Around and round you're turning me
Upside down
Boy, you turn me
Inside out
And round and round
Upside down
Boy, you turn me
Inside out
And round and round
Instinctively you give to me
The love that I need
I cherish the moments with you
Respectfully I say to thee
I'm aware that you're cheating
When no one makes me feel like you do
Upside down
Boy, you turn me
Inside out
And round and round
Upside down
Boy, you turn me
Inside out
And round and round
I know you got charm and appeal
You always play the field
I'm crazy to think you all mine
As long as the sun continues to shine
There's a place in my heart for you
That's the bottomline
Upside down
Boy, you turn me
Inside out
And round and round
Upside down
Boy, you turn me
Inside out
And round and round
Instinctively you give to me
The love that I need
I cherish the moments with you
Respectfully I say to thee
I'm aware that you're cheating
But no one makes me feel like you do
Upside down
Boy, you turn me
Inside out
And round and round
Upside down
Boy, you turn me
Inside out
And round and round
Upside down
Boy, you turn me
Inside out
And round and round
Upside down
Boy, you turn me
Inside out
And round and round
Upside down you're turning me
You're giving love instinctively
Around and round you're turning me
I see to thee respectfully
Upside down you're turning me
You're giving love instinctively
Around and round you're turning me
I see to thee respectfully
I said a upside down you're turning me
You're giving love instinctively
Around and round you're turning me
02 Tenderness (03:51)
Tenderness is the best
Tenderness I confess
Tenderness is the best
Tenderness nothin' less
Love me with a tender touch
Kindness I need very much
It is so hard for me to trust
But deep inside I know I must
Love me all through the night
Hug me 'till the first rays of sunlight
Be sweet, make me unafraid
'Cause tonight I'll play with you
Please be gentle
Tenderness is the best
Tenderness I confess
Tenderness is the best
Tenderness nothin' less
Love me, try to be understanding
Tenderness is all that I'm asking
Don't feel like I'm making conditions
I wanna to overcome my inhibitions
Love me all through the night
Hug me 'till the first rays of sunlight
Be sweet, make me unafraid
'Cause tonight I'll play with you
Please be gentle
Tenderness is the best
Tenderness I confess
Tenderness is the best
Tenderness nothin' less
Love me with the tender touch
Kindness I need very much
It is so hard for me to trust
But deep inside I know I must
Love me all through the night
Hug me 'till the first rays of sunlight
Be sweet, make me unafraid
'Cause tonight I'll play with you
Please be gentle
Love me
Kindness
Love me
Hug me
Please be gentle
Tenderness is the best
Tenderness I confess
Tenderness is the best
Tenderness nothin' less
Tenderness is the best
Tenderness I confess
Tenderness is the best
Tenderness nothin' less
Try to be understanding
Try to be understanding
04 I'm Coming Out (05:25)
I'm coming out (I'm comin')
I'm coming out
I'm coming out
I'm coming out
I'm coming out
i'm coming out
I'm coming out
I want the world to know
Got to let it show
I'm coming out
I want the world to know
I got to let it show
There's a new me coming out
And I just had to live
And I wanna give
I'm completely positive
I think this time around
I am gonna do it
Like you never knew it
Ooh, I'll make it through
The time has come for me
To break out of the shell
I have to shout
That I am coming out
I'm coming out
I want the world to know
I got to let it show
I'm coming out
I want the world to know
I got to let it show
I'm coming out (comin)
I want the world to know
I got to let it show
I'm comin
I'm coming out (comin)
I want the world to know
I got to let it show
I've got to show the world
All that I wanna be
And all my abillities
Ther's so much more to me
Somehow, I'll have to make them
Just understand
I got it well in hand
And, oh, how I have planned
I'm spreadin' love
There's no need to fear
And I just feel so glad
Everytime I hear:
I'm coming out
I want the world to know
I got to let it show
I'm coming out (comin)
I want the world to know
I got to let it show
I'm comin (x3)
(the music bridge)
course x5
I'm, I'm comin OUT!
I have to shout
that im comin out,
i have to work it out
I have to let it out
o yahh ......
06 My Old Piano (03:55)
Love is called
My old piano
I have a ball
With my old piano
My baby entertains
The real life of my parties
But still retains
In all the dignity
His international style
Exudes an air of royalties
His eighty eight key smile
Is so pleasant to see
Love is called
My old piano
I have a ball
With my old piano
My old keyboard
Won't stand for a corner
He demands the middle of the room
Your heart disolves
While he tips you so gracefully
'Till you're involved
In a babygrand affair
Love is called
My old piano
I have a ball
With my old piano
He entertains
The real life of my parties
But still retains
In all the dignity
His international style
Exudes an air of royalties
His eighty eight key smile
Is so pleasant to see
My old keyboard
Won't stand for a corner
He demands the middle of the room
Your heart disolves
While he tips you so gracefully
'Till you're involved
In a babygrand affair
Love is called
My old piano
I have a ball
With my old piano
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