Diana Ross' Top Twenty Songs

Diana Ross is a bona fide icon. With a music career spanning five decades, she's left an enduring legacy on the American music and pop culture scene for years to come. Beginning as one third of the legendary Motown girl group, the Supremes, and moving on to a highly successful solo career, she's left an impression that's hard to match. As a successful and glamorous black woman in the 1960's, Diana Ross' presence in the spotlight inspired the lives of many who had never had such a role model to look up to before. Take a look at this clip from the Oprah Winfrey show on February 25^th to hear Oprah describe the huge impact Diana Ross had on her life.

Of course, without some great music Diana Ross would never have reached the heights she's reached and influenced the many who have come after her. In her career, she's left us with a vast and incredible catalog of great songs that have touched many. I've been a fan of Diana since 1980, and in that time I've come to know almost all of her music, and after careful consideration I've chosen what I believe to be the top twenty songs of her solo career. Many of these you'll know, and some you may not, but I'm sure many of these songs will hearken memories from your own life. Enjoy!

#20 - I'm Still Waiting

This 1971 tune wasn't much of a hit here in the United States, reaching its peak position at #63 on the singles charts, but it was Diana's first #1 single in the U.K. as a solo artist. Like many of her earlier songs, this one tells a story, that of a young girl who's in love with an unattainable older gentleman she's known since childhood. You can take a listen to it right here .

#19 - Last Time I Saw Him

This 1973 song is about a naïve young woman who believed her man was coming back just because he told her so. Her naiveté glares through the lyrics:

I gave him money, I know I invested well.

Mama doesn't trust him but he loves me I can tell.

The song was recorded with a country flavor and was in fact reworked into a country song by singer Dottie West, who charted with her own version on the country charts at the same time as Ross' version scored on the pop charts, peaking at #14. Watch Diana perform "Last Time I Saw Him" with Jim Henson's Muppets here .

#18 - Remember Me

"Remember me as a sunny day that you once had along the way..."

I just love that line! This single, written by master songwriting duo Nicholas Ashford and Valerie Simpson, was the first single off of Diana's second album, "Surrender," following her chart topping "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" back in 1970. The song was done in classic Ashford and Simpson style and was Diana's first of many tales of heartbreak, though the meaning in this song can be applied to many situations. Watch Diana perform the song in Las Vegas back in 1979 right here .

#17 - Muscles

This 191982 top ten single was famously written by Diana's close personal friend Michael Jackson and showed off the more risqué and sensual side of the singer. Watch the video for "Muscles" here .

#16 - I Love Being in Love With You

This one was off of Diana Ross' little known 1985 collaboration with Barry Gibb, "Eaten Alive." Though never released as a single, the song is beautiful and Gibb's background vocals blend in perfectly with Ross'. Take a listen to it here .

#15 - You Are Everything - duet with Marvin Gaye

This oft-covered song, off of the duo's 1974's "Diana and Marvin" album, didn't fare nearly as well as the original (sung by the Stylistics). In fact, the song was never even released as a single here in the U.S., but the ballad is very soulful and just a great listen every time! Check it out right here .

#14 - Swept Away

This mid-eighties collaboration with then popular singer/songwriter Daryl Hall was somewhat of a comeback for Diana as it was her first notable hit since 1982's "Muscles" three years earlier. Take a look at the video for this hard driving dance tune right here .

#13 - It's My House

This is another Ashford and Simpson composition off of Diana's 1979 disco record, "The Boss." The song is a slower paced tune with a soothing, relaxed sound. Take a listen to it here .

#12 - It's My Turn

This Carole Bayer Sager written song is from the soundtrack of a 1980 film of the same name. The tender ballad reached #9 on Billboard's Hot 100 charts that same year. Check out a wonderful performance of "It's My Turn" here .

#11 - Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)

Anyone who was around in the 70's surely remembers the commercial adaptation of this one by a certain telephone company. The song, written once again by Ashford and Simpson, was Diana's first single as a solo artist and peaked at #20 on the Billboard charts. It's a longtime favorite of the singer, who makes it a special part of all of her shows. You'll see what I mean when you check out this performance .

#10 - I'm Coming Out

I'm sure that neither Diana Ross nor the writers of this song, Chic's Nile Rogers and Bernard Edwards, had it in mind that this one would eventually become one of the all time gay anthems when they recorded it. All in all this #5 song from 1980 is good fun all the way through! Check it out here .

#9 - Chain Reaction

This pleasant, Motownish song, written by the Bee Gees for her album "Eaten Alive" brought in a whole new audience for the singer back in 1985. Watch the video for it here .

#8 - The Boss

This disco song, off Diana's 1979 album of the same name, reached #19 on the Billboard charts and is among the all time favorites of hardcore fans of the diva. Check out a lively performance of "The Boss' here .

#7 - Missing You

The song was recorded in 1984 for Diana's "Swept Away" album and was written by Lionel Ritchie in tribute to the recently slain Marvin Gaye. Diana and Marvin were close friends, having both started out with Motown during the 60's. They recorded a lot of music together, including one of my favorites, "You Are Everything." This one reached #10 on Billboard's Hot 100 Charts in early 1985 and is beautifully written and performed. Though the song was written or a specific purpose, I believe most anyone who's ever lost someone in their lives can relate to it. Check out the video for "Missing You" right here .

#6 - Upside Down

This one is one of Diana's most recognizable songs, having hit #1 on three different Billboard charts (Hot 100, Disco/Dance, and R&B) here and scoring just as big internationally. Off of the 1980 album "diana', this is the second song on the list written by Chic's Nile Rogers and Bernard Edwards. Check out "Upside Down" here .

#5 - Love Hangover

"If there's a cure for this, I don't want it..."

This sultry, sexy #1 song from 1976 remains as one of Diana's all time biggest hits. Take a listen to it right here .

#4 - Endless Love - Duet with Lionel Ritchie

This oft-covered love song penned by Ritchie turned out to be the biggest selling song of Diana Ross' career and is one of the best loved songs of its kind. Watch the duo perform the song right here.

#3 - Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To?)

This tender and beautiful ballad was from Ross' second and not so successful movie from 1975. The song hit #1 in the US and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Song. Take a look at a montage of the film while listening to the song here.

#2 - Touch Me in the Morning

This beautiful ballad from 1973 was one of Diana's longest charting records, spending 21 weeks on Billboard's pop charts, peaking at #1. The song is full of heartfelt lows and dramatic highs and is always a great listen. Check out "Touch Me in the Morning" here.

#1 - Ain't No Mountain High Enough

This one is hands-down Diana Ross' signature song! For this one, the singer completely changed the original version from an upbeat and rhythmic duet to a "six-minute opus, complete with spoken lyrics." The song was her first #1 single back in 1970 and remains today as a classic for all time! Take a look at a 1981 performance of the song here.

So there you have it, my picks for the 20 best songs from Diana Ross as a solo artist. I hope you've enjoyed this little trip down memory lane and took some time to reminiscence!

For more on Diana Ross, check out Diana Ross: My First Diva

Sources:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/5434610/musical_reinventions_a_roundup_pg2.html?cat=33

http://www.chartstats.com/songinfo.php?id=5658

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diana_Ross_discography

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Last_Time_I_Saw_Him_(song)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theme_from_Mahogany_(Do_You_Know_Where_You%27re_Going_To)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_Are_Everything

http://www.lyricsfire.com/viewlyrics/diana-ross/last-time-i-saw-him-lyrics.htm

http://www.ohm1.com/dianaross.htm

http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=5881

http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=8565

http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=16438