In 1959, Ross was brought to the attention of Milton Jenkins, the manager of the local doo-wop group The Primes, by Mary Wilson. Primes member Paul Williams convinced Jenkins to enlist Ross in the sister group The Primettes, which included Wilson, Florence Ballard and Betty McGlown.
In 1976, Billboard magazine named her the female entertainer of the century. In 1993, The Guinness Book Of World Records listed her as the most successful female artist ever (the title is now attributed to Madonna), partly due to her combined total of eighteen number-one singles, six of them recorded solo and the remaining dozen from her work with the Supremes.
Ross was also one of the few pop singers to find modest success in the acting world winning an Academy Award nomination for her role as Billie Holiday in the 1972 film, "Lady Sings the Blues" as well as having hits with other film roles such as "Mahogany", "Out of Darkness" and "Double Platinum", not to mention her role in "The Wiz".
Ross has been awarded many lifetime achievement accolades from many organizations and media outlets: she has been featured on BET, Soul Train, and awarded multiple times at the NAACP Image Awards, the Kennedy Center Honors in 2007 and given the Grammy Lifetime Achievement in 2011.
Ross' professional vocal collaborators have included the following during her career: Marvin Gaye, Lionel Richie, Rod Stewart, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Julio Iglesias, Jose Carreras, Placido Domingo, and Smokey Robinson, among many others.
Got To Be Free
Diana Ross Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Gotta be, gotta be free
I've got to be free
Gotta be, gotta be free
Long goodbyes, stolen glances
Can't explain all that's happened in our past
I'm tired of creating lies to be alone
More and more you make me
Afraid to come around
You take the pleasure out of being in love
And being down and down and down and down and down
For the one who's there for me
All I really want to be is free, yeah
I've got to be free, got to be free
Gotta be, gotta be free
I've got to be free, got to be free
Gotta be, gotta be free
You don't know why, haven't got a clue
In the dark about why I am leaving you
You can't expect me to go on this way
No, I cannot stay, I will not stay
More and more you make me
Realize what I have home
What's taboos exciting
But sometimes it just gets old
Sometimes it just gets old
For as long as I am me, boy
All I really want to be is free
I've got to be free, got to be free
Gotta be, gotta be free
I've got to be free, got to be free
Gotta be, gotta be free
I've got to be free, got to be free
Gotta be, gotta be free
I've got to be free, got to be free
Gotta be, gotta be free
I've got to be free, got to be free
Gotta be, gotta be free
I've got to be free, got to be free
Gotta be, gotta be free
The song "Got To Be Free" by Diana Ross is about a woman who has come to the realization that she needs to break free from a toxic relationship in order to be happy and true to herself. She is tired of creating lies to be alone and living wrong, and is growing more and more afraid to be around her partner. She is leaving him without explanation because he doesn't know why she is unhappy, but she cannot continue to stay with him any longer. She acknowledges that being in love and being down is not healthy, and she wants to be free to be true to herself and find happiness.
Overall, the song is about finding the courage to break free from a toxic relationship and choose happiness over staying in something that is not good for you. It is important to prioritize our own well-being and do what is necessary to live a fulfilling life, even if it means leaving behind someone or something that we thought we needed.
Line by Line Meaning
I've got to be free
I need to break away from the restrictions and limitations placed upon me.
Gotta be, gotta be free
This sentiment is so crucial, it has to be repeated.
Long goodbyes, stolen glances
Our relationship is fizzling out so that when we part, it will be a long goodbye full of painful, furtive glances.
Can't explain all that's happened in our past
I can't put into words all of the things that we've gone through together.
I'm tired of creating lies to be alone
I'm sick of making excuses just to have some time away from you.
I'm living wrong, we're living wrong
Our relationship is not healthy and it's time to end it.
More and more you make me afraid to come around
Your behavior is becoming increasingly unpredictable and erratic, and it's making me scared to be around you.
You take the pleasure out of being in love
Your actions have sucked all the joy and happiness out of being in a loving relationship.
And being down and down and down and down and down
This situation is constantly bringing me down and I can't take it anymore.
For the one who's there for me
I want to be free for someone who truly supports and cares about me.
All I really want to be is free, yeah
Ultimately, my biggest desire is to be unencumbered and liberated from this situation.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHARLES PENDLETON, NICOLE JOHNSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
TIMCATPRODUCTIONS
LOVE this song!!!!!
Israel aka The lion of Judah Mason
I always thought this was a riding ass song. Motown a&r Dept sucks big time Even with Thier current roaster of artist like the young Kevin Ross "no relation to Diana". but they don't have a clue as to do with this bro, or Migos , man these cats been lost for years things like what should be released or sometimes even more importantly what version of the song should be released. I HAVE TO SAY STARTING WITH FORCE BEHIND THE POWER & DIANA SOUND WAS BECOMING LESS POP SOUL AND MORE URBAN, JAZZ ,SOUL ,POP." TAKE ME HIGHER " I KNOW BLEW MAINSTREAM RADIO OUT THE FREAKING WATER ! AWE WHERE DID THIER POP QUEEN GO? did they for get the funk soul jazz of " surrender" everything is everything" or " Diana #1 or " Diana #2" don't forget one of the most soulful albums ever " touch me in the morning " her take on "imagine " and the" brown baby save the children medley" inwhich she produced herself by the way; says it all. but mainstream media didn't know how to add this new fresh confident soulful jazzy yet can be pop diana into rotation. and Motown's a &r Dept really sucked ass and didn't do what it should have done.. every day is new day is diana best solo none berry effort period it screaming here's my heart and soul. it's full of everything that makes a hit record except a freaking good a&r guy or girl.. I remember it actually started back on " working overtime " an album with great lyrics and awesome moments like" this house" and " what can one person do" to name a few. but Motown's a and R dept not knowing how to package a lady of Diana's statue missed big time chances with her. not knowing that one placing her at the right places, having her been seen with the right people , and always always use the right dj and make different mixes. even with songs like " take me higher" which was Motown's biggest dance song that year . the a&r folks didn't pick up on it , not even by mid year! they could have revitalize it by using it in commercials or placing it in movies, getting the damn song everywhere until the public either like the shii or hate it because they can't get it out of their heads. hey berry knew that better then anyone. he saturated the magazines ,tv and, airwaves with Diana because he knew her spirit and personality is what sells. and it's what out sells and shine all her music combined. That's the reason why I believe that in 2017 only diana and not Cher, Barbra, not even Celine or toni B. but! diana is the only one who not only sell out but even add extra shows in Vegas in 2017 and not have any dancers, light shows or theatrics of any kind period. and don't get half naked, girate or act like she's 20 or 30 but act like the way a lady a diva her age should. like a LADY thank you the 1st lady Diana
gmoneyhollywood
I also thought this was a great souful CD and one of better works since returning to Motown. Her welcome back CD in 89 was the tip of the iceberg and should have been far more welcomed on both R&B and Pop radio. The Take Me Higher CD should have been the same. I think that was her best album in the 90s and her second best collaboration of All-time behind the Diana Album produced by Bernard & Nile. The Force Behind the Power was a very good album, but it was made for Global Success. America couldn't embrace that Style and Sound coming from Ross. It was a sound of the 60's and 70's Supreme style, but was a sound to capture places like Japan, England, France, and Italy. It was European flair all the way. All of her music during this era was made for a Matured Audience, not so much in age, but a Listener overall Musical mindset. People who could very quickly assess and determine what's great music and what isn't.
I agree with the right marketing all of her CDS on the 90's would have and should have lit up the charts producing at least a total of 10 top ten hits from all three CDs combined and that is on the conservative side. Meaning, there could have been even more. Her albums in the 90's were all Sublime!
She is by far the most embodied Pop female Entertainer of All-time!
Israel aka The lion of Judah Mason
I always thought this was a riding ass song. Motown a&r Dept sucks big time Even with Thier current roaster of artist like the young Kevin Ross "no relation to Diana". but they don't have a clue as to do with this bro, or Migos , man these cats been lost for years things like what should be released or sometimes even more importantly what version of the song should be released. I HAVE TO SAY STARTING WITH FORCE BEHIND THE POWER & DIANA SOUND WAS BECOMING LESS POP SOUL AND MORE URBAN, JAZZ ,SOUL ,POP." TAKE ME HIGHER " I KNOW BLEW MAINSTREAM RADIO OUT THE FREAKING WATER ! AWE WHERE DID THIER POP QUEEN GO? did they for get the funk soul jazz of " surrender" everything is everything" or " Diana #1 or " Diana #2" don't forget one of the most soulful albums ever " touch me in the morning " her take on "imagine " and the" brown baby save the children medley" inwhich she produced herself by the way; says it all. but mainstream media didn't know how to add this new fresh confident soulful jazzy yet can be pop diana into rotation. and Motown's a &r Dept really sucked ass and didn't do what it should have done.. every day is new day is diana best solo none berry effort period it screaming here's my heart and soul. it's full of everything that makes a hit record except a freaking good a&r guy or girl.. I remember it actually started back on " working overtime " an album with great lyrics and awesome moments like" this house" and " what can one person do" to name a few. but Motown's a and R dept not knowing how to package a lady of Diana's statue missed big time chances with her. not knowing that one placing her at the right places, having her been seen with the right people , and always always use the right dj and make different mixes. even with songs like " take me higher" which was Motown's biggest dance song that year . the a&r folks didn't pick up on it , not even by mid year! they could have revitalize it by using it in commercials or placing it in movies, getting the damn song everywhere until the public either like the shii or hate it because they can't get it out of their heads. hey berry knew that better then anyone. he saturated the magazines ,tv and, airwaves with Diana because he knew her spirit and personality is what sells. and it's what out sells and shine all her music combined. That's the reason why I believe that in 2017 only diana and not Cher, Barbra, not even Celine or toni B. but! diana is the only one who not only sell out but even add extra shows in Vegas in 2017 and not have any dancers, light shows or theatrics of any kind period. and don't get half naked, girate or act like she's 20 or 30 but act like the way a lady a diva her age should. like a LADY thank you the 1st lady Diana
netizen999
100%.
gmoneyhollywood
Man, I'm feeling you!. You summed it up quite well. Ross should have had more commercial success in the 90s, starting with the Force Behind the Power CD, which was a combination of mainly pop but a few R & B cuts, like the duet with Al B Sure, (No Matter What You Do) !and the house song that was on the CD, called Your Gonna Love It. However, you are absolutely right about the Take Me Higher and The 1999 Everday is a New Day CD. That was a pure Soul and Urban sound and should have done very well on the R&B charts, hands down. She had about 7 strong tracks that could have easily hit the top ten off both those CDs. However, a few of the best sounding songs were not even packaged on the US version of both of those CDs. That was her best decade of releasing great quality music with three strong albums that were pretty much flawless from top to bottom. Wow, I still think the 1980 Diana album with Friend to Friend, Have Fun Again, Now that you're Gone, and My Old Piano was her best body of work, the Take Me Higher CD ranks second and was her best body of work in the 1990's from era. I thought the Workin OT CD d closed out her 80's work which brought her back to Motown and was banging and off the charts. It was completely unappreciated. Finally, you were 100 about the Everyday is a New Day cd, which was a complete Masterpiece with 1. So They Say, 2. SUGARFREE, 3. Every Day is a New Day,
4. Not Over You Yet 5. He Lives In Me 6. CARRY On, 7. I'm Gone. Just outrageously good. You said it. She was not packaged and promoted right. If it was Berry running things that whole album would have been featured on the made for television movie with Brandy. Easily, it would have most likely duplicated the $10M copies or more that the Diana album did in 1980 with Upside Down leading the way. You know your stuff! I want even comment on the 70s. She rude the 70s. Every album that was recorded was pure solid gold. My favorite during that era was the Boss. However, I can't dismiss her love songs which were all mesmerizing. One of my favorites from that era was It Took A Little Time to Learn About Lovin! Just sick! Ross could have easily broken the charts similar to how Mike dominated only if she was packaged right. You said it!