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.
I'm A Winner
Diana Ross Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Seven eleven
You'll either take me down
Or you'll take me to heaven
And I'm so glad
I took the chance on you baby
I said I'm so glad
I took the chance on you baby
He don't play by the rules
So listen
Don't you be no fool
Don't you know, you're just a beginner
So look at me now
I'm a winner
I'm a winner
Yes, I am
She's a winner
Yeah, yes I am
She's a winner
Like a roulette wheel
Spinning around in my head
I put my chips on nine
Gamblin' you'd be mine
And I'm so glad
I took a chance on you baby
Say I'm so glad
I took the chance on you baby
My friends all say
We just don't understand it
You play this game
You'll come out empty handed
'Cause here we arrange her
And then shortchange her
But I fooled them, y'all
I'm a winner
I'm a winner
Yes I am
She's a winner
Yes I am
Put that money down
And put 'dem chips on nine
I'm a gambling girl
And I give all I got
So I am at your love
And I hit the jackpot
And I'm so glad
I took a chance on you baby
I'm so glad
I took the chance on you baby
I'm a winner
Yes I am
I'm a winner
Yes I am
In this song, Diana Ross sings about taking a chance on love and the thrill of the gamble. The first verse sets the tone for the song, with Ross saying that she's willing to take a risk on a love that could either take her up to the heavens or bring her down. Despite warnings from her friends about the potential danger of this gamble, Ross insists that she's not a beginner anymore and looks back on her success to declare that she's a winner.
The second verse continues with gambling imagery, comparing her relationship to a roulette wheel, spinning around in her head as she bets on love. Her friends warn her that she could come out of the relationship with nothing, but Ross is confident in her abilities to fool them all and come out on top as a winner. The chorus repeats the sentiment that Ross is a winner, celebrating her success in love.
Overall, the song is a celebration of taking a chance on love, and the thrill of risking it all to come out on top. By using metaphors of gambling and winning, Ross emphasizes the high stakes of love and the sense of empowerment that comes with taking risks.
Line by Line Meaning
I roll the dice
I take risks and make decisions without knowing the outcome
Seven eleven
Referencing the popular dice game, implying the chance involved in making the right decision
You'll either take me down or you'll take me to heaven
The decision made will either lead to a positive or negative outcome
And I'm so glad I took the chance on you baby
Expressing gratitude for the decision to take a chance on the person being referred to
My friends all say he don't play by the rules
Referencing criticism from others about the person being referred to
So listen, don't you be no fool
Warning against making foolish decisions based on the opinions of others
Don't you know, you're just a beginner
Implying that the person being referred to is inexperienced in making these types of decisions
So look at me now, I'm a winner
Demonstrating that taking chances and making risky decisions can lead to positive outcomes
Like a roulette wheel spinning around in my head
Referencing the uncertainty and chance involved in making decisions
I put my chips on nine, gamblin' you'd be mine
Taking a chance in pursuit of something desired
My friends all say we just don't understand it
Continuing the theme of criticism from others
You play this game, you'll come out empty handed
Discouragement against taking risks and making decisions
But I fooled them, y'all, I'm a winner
Proving others wrong and showing that positive outcomes can result from taking risks
Put that money down and put 'dem chips on nine
Encouragement to take chances in pursuit of desired outcomes
I'm a gambling girl and I give all I got
Describing oneself as someone who takes risks and puts in full effort
So I am at your love and I hit the jackpot
Witnessing a positive outcome in love as a result of taking a chance
And I'm so glad I took a chance on you baby
Reaffirming gratitude for taking the chance on the person being referred to
I'm a winner, yes I am
Celebrating the positive outcome as a result of taking chances and making risky decisions
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: NICKOLAS ASHFORD, VALERIE SIMPSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind