Regarding the Diana Ross concert in Hollywood
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Tina? Check.
Bette? Check.
Cher? Check.
Donna ? Check.
Diana Ross? CHECK!
[Editor's note] On Sunday evening, my BFF Michelle and I got to see the Supreme diva herself from 15 rows away. As one of the legendary musical acts of all time, Miss Ross delivered a litany of career-spanning hits that stretched back to her days as a Motown ingénue up to the pop powerhouse that followed. Indeed, few artists have as many incarnations as Diana Ross. From girl-group Diana to Disco Diana, from Lady Sings the Blues Diana to international pop star Diana, she has seamlessly transcended time and changing styles to become an enduring symbol of grace and talent. And on Sunday evening, she brought out all the Diana's to play.
At 66 years young, Miss Ross hasn’t lost a drop of her talent or charisma. With head thrust back, arms outstretched and that signature smile, Miss Ross soaked up the well-deserved adoration with style. Vamping it up in various sequined costumes, it’s obvious that being Diana Ross is still fun. Dubbed the "More Today Than Yesterday" tour, this concert was about revisiting the past and remembering the memories. Knowing full well what her audience came to hear, Miss Ross gave us exactly what we love her for.
Appropriately enough, Miss Ross opened the show with a rousing version of her anthemic “I'm Coming Out”: instantly proving that she can still sing ‘em like she used to. The funnest moment of the concert soon followed as she sang “Love Child.” As one of our favorite songs, Michelle and I belted that one out as loudly and gaily as we could. Miss Ross kept it classier and sang it with enthusiasm and gusto like the original recording. She then double punched me with "Ease on Down” from The Wiz which practically made me jump up and skip around with joy.
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Perhaps the only song I'd never heard before that night was "It's My House." Released in 1979, it's a sweet simple song that has wormed its way into my heart and iPod. But with lyrics like: "there's my chair, I put it there," how could you not instantly love it?
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Miss Ross saved the best for last by coming out in a voluminous magenta ball gown that only she could work. She then gave some truly terrific renditions of the theme from Mahogany and “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough" that finally brought the sold-out crowd to its feet. She closed with a gaytastic version of "I Will Survive" that I've subsequently not stopped listening to since.
As it turned out, this was the last night of the tour that Miss Ross has been doing since May. So as an added treat, she came out after the encore and thanked us and her band. She then asked the house lights be turned up and led us through "Reach Out And Touch (Somebody's Hand)" while we waved our hands back and forth. It was a heart-warming moment on a night of unforgetable performances.
Simply put: Diana Ross proved that you can take the girl out of the Supremes, but you can't take the supreme outta the girl.
Diana Ross' "Theme from Mahogany"
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