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.
Happy Christmas
Diana Ross Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And what have you done
Another year's over
New one's just begun
So this is christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear ones
The old and the young
A merry, merry christmas
And a happy new year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear
So this is christmas
For weak and for strong
The rich and the poor ones
The road is so long
So happy christmas
For black and for white
For yellow and red ones
Let's stop all the fight
A merry, merry christmas
And a happy new year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear
A merry, merry christmas
And a happy new year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear
War is over
War is over
War is over now
The song "Happy Christmas (War Is Over)" by Diana Ross is a cover of John Lennon and Yoko Ono's song with the same title, which was released in 1971. The song's lyrics are a message of peace and hope for the Christmas season, urging people to put an end to wars and conflicts and come together as one. The opening lines, "So this is Christmas, and what have you done, another year over, a new one just begun", are a reflective call for individuals to take stock of their actions and make positive changes in the new year.
The next verse speaks to inclusivity, emphasizing that Christmas is a time for everyone, regardless of their social, economic, or racial background. The line, "Let's stop all the fight", is a reminder that the holiday season is not about division or conflict, but rather a time to focus on unity, love, and harmony. The song closes with the repeated phrase, "War is over", as a hopeful note that a better future is possible if people work together to make it happen.
Overall, "Happy Christmas (War Is Over)" is a powerful call for peace and reconciliation during the holiday season. It encourages individuals to reflect on their actions and make positive changes in their own lives, while also urging society as a whole to work towards a more peaceful and harmonious future.
Line by Line Meaning
So this is christmas
The singer acknowledges that it is Christmas time.
And what have you done
The singer is addressing the listener and asking what they have accomplished this year.
Another year's over
The singer acknowledges the passing of another year.
New one's just begun
The artist notes the start of a new year.
I hope you have fun
The artist wishes the listener to enjoy the holiday season.
The near and the dear ones
The singer includes those closest and most important to the listener.
The old and the young
The singer includes those of all ages.
A merry, merry christmas
The artist wishes the listener a joyful holiday season.
And a happy new year
The artist wishes the listener a happy upcoming year.
Let's hope it's a good one
The artist expresses the desire for a positive upcoming year.
Without any fear
The singer hopes for a year free of anxiety or worry.
For weak and for strong
The artist is including all people, regardless of their strength or ability.
The rich and the poor ones
The singer is including people of all economic classes.
The road is so long
The singer acknowledges that life is full of challenges and hardships.
For black and for white
The singer is including people of all races.
For yellow and red ones
The artist is including people of all ethnicities.
Let's stop all the fight
The artist is expressing the desire for an end to conflict and violence.
War is over
The singer repeats the phrase three times, emphasizing that peace has been achieved.
War is over
War is over now
Writer(s): John Lennon, Yoko Ono
Contributed by Hannah I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.