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 Hear A Symphony
Diana Ross Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For a feeling that's so new, so inviting, so exciting
Whenever you are near, I hear a symphony
A tender melody pulling me closer, closer to your arms
Then suddenly, oh, your lips are touching mine
A feeling so divine 'til I leave the past behind
I'm lost in a world made for you and me
Ev'ry time your lips meet mine my baby
Baby, baby, I feel a joy within
Don't let this feeling end
Let it go on and on and on now baby
Baby, baby, those tears that fill my eyes
I care not for myself but for those
Who've never felt the joy we've felt
Whenever you are near
I hear a symphony each time you speak to me
I hear a tender rhapsody of love, love
Baby, baby, as you stand up holding me
Whispering how much you care
A thousand violins fill the air now
Baby, baby, don't let this moment end
Keep standing close to me
Oh so close to me, baby, baby
Baby, baby, I hear a symphony, a tender melody
Ah it goes on and on
The song "I Hear A Symphony" by Diana Ross & The Supremes expresses the pure and true love the singer has for her partner. The lyrics express the gratitude the singer feels towards her lover for the love and affection she is receiving. The singer acknowledges that her partner has brought a completely new and exciting feeling to her life, which makes her feel like she is lost in a world made only for them. The symphony represents the feelings of love and the happiness the singer experiences whenever she is close to her lover.
The song depicts a beautiful world that the singer has built with her partner, and she never wants to leave that world behind. She believes that their love is so unique that it can be seen through the symphony that plays around them. As the singer is lost in the world of love, every time her partner's lips touch hers, a feeling of divine happiness overcomes her, which helps her leave all her past behind. The singer doesn't wish to end this beautiful feeling and wants it to continue forever.
Line by Line Meaning
You've given me a true love and ev'ry day I thank you love
You have bestowed upon me genuine love, and I express gratitude for it each day.
For a feeling that's so new, so inviting, so exciting
This love is novel, alluring, and thrilling, creating a fresh euphoria within me.
Whenever you are near, I hear a symphony
Your presence evokes a harmonious arrangement in my heart, mind, and soul.
A tender melody pulling me closer, closer to your arms
A gentle tune impels me nearer to you, yearning for your embrace.
Then suddenly, oh, your lips are touching mine
In an instant, our mouths meet, and an overwhelming sensation of pure bliss washes over me.
A feeling so divine 'til I leave the past behind
This sublime emotion allows me to abandon all previous hardships and focus on this elation before me.
I'm lost in a world made for you and me
I am immersed in a reality exclusively designed for us, where nothing else matters.
Whenever you are near I hear a symphony play sweet and tenderly
Once more, your proximity generates a symphonic sweet and gentle enough to cradle me.
Ev'ry time your lips meet mine my baby
Each instance our lips unite, my darling.
Baby, baby, I feel a joy within
My happiness forms within me, baby.
Don't let this feeling end
Please, do not allow this sensation to terminate.
Let it go on and on and on now baby
Permit this euphoria to exist forever, baby.
Baby, baby, those tears that fill my eyes
My tears, baby, signify not my emotions but those who have not known this elation we are experiencing.
I care not for myself but for those
I do not value my feelings, but instead those who have not relished this bond.
Who've never felt the joy we've felt
The individuals who have never experienced the pleasure that we have encountered.
Whenever you are near
Once again, your presence elicits this enrapturing feeling.
I hear a symphony each time you speak to me
Each instance you converse with me, another symphony commences in my heart.
I hear a tender rhapsody of love, love
I also recognize a loving harmonious composition in my mind, love.
Baby, baby, as you stand up holding me
My baby, baby, as you grasp me upright.
Whispering how much you care
Whispering about how much you adore me.
A thousand violins fill the air now
The atmosphere is filled with numerous violins.
Baby, baby, don't let this moment end
Please, do not let this moment terminate, my darling.
Keep standing close to me
Please continue to remain close to me.
Oh so close to me, baby, baby
Closer and closer to me, baby, baby.
Baby, baby, I hear a symphony, a tender melody
Once more, my baby, baby, I hear a symphony, a soft and delicate tune.
Ah it goes on and on
Ah, it endures continuously.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BRIAN HOLLAND, EDWARD HOLLAND, EDWARD JR. HOLLAND, LAMONT DOZIER, LAMONT HERBERT DOZIER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bill M
Don't know where you listened to radio or what market you were in.
To suggest "knockin the top out of the number one" meant a better artist was in play. No, it was the song itself. The Supremes capitalized on momentum while building their audience. Diana Ross was a vocal fortress and back then it was female voice versus male voice.
Either way, as a radio annnouncer/disc jockey in the 70's/80's, in major markets, our format was Billboard power. In other words, music from the 60's had multiples of talent. And contrary to what you think, the Supremes had an audience as did the Beatles, however less. Number one on the charts did not necessarily mean stronger airplay. Motown, as well as American artists, were potently outnumbered by the British invasion.
If anybody should have been peaking at a number spot, it should have been the British.
So no, while Diana Ross was getting the number 1 spot airplay, she did not own the number one spot, she deserved the ranking, but there was too much on the hit list.
To your reference:
The Supremes "Love Child" (#1 for two weeks), knocked the Beatles "Hey Jude" (9 week # 1 run), Marvin Gaye then took the Supremes off the #1spot with "Heard it Through the Grapevine" and on and on and on.....
Jaylen E. Turner
Here to pay my respects to
Mary Wilson.
In her last video before her shocking death,
she said that this was her favorite song that they recorded.
May she rest in eternal peace.
She’s reunited with her son Rafael,
Florence Ballard,her parents,
and all of the other Motown artists that we lost.😭
Edit:
Mary’s family buried her on
March 16th,2021 beside her son
Rafael who died in 1994 from a
car accident.
Jules Love
Those tears that fill my eyes
I cry not for myself
But for those who've never felt the joy we felt (baby)
Whenever you're near, I hear a symphony
Each time you speak to me
I hear a tender rhapsody of love now, baby, baby
As you stand holding me
Whispering how much you care
A thousand violins fill the air
L. ANGEL LOVE
CONGRATULATIONS TO MOTOWN'S 60TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
AND TO DIANA ROSS AND
THE SUPREMES ALONG WITH ALL
THOSE GOLDEN MEMORIES AND IT'S SO WONDERFUL THAT EVEN TODAY THAT ALL OF OF MOTOWN'S MUSIC
CONNOISSEURS WORLDWIDE CAN STILL ENJOY THEM WITH SAME QUALITY OF ENTERTAINMENT AS
THEY DID WHEN THEY FIRST WERE
RELEASED
Rex Goodheart
Their most majestic, magical song. A thousand violins fill the air INDEED. Can't explain it, but this old man tears up when he hears this. Supremes FOREVER. Forever supreme.
Robert Goines
Nothing to explain. Anyone of us over 50 know exactly what you're feeling. I pray all is well young fella. Motown forever, Forever Motown. God bless. 🙂✌
andrea rothman
I second that.
Frank Borucki
Amen!!
MR. BIR3
I don't know why I love this song so much, it's such an ease flowing rhythm straight to your heart
Mo gLeE
It’s truly magical and no one else could have done it like they did 👌👌👌👌👌👌
MR. BIR3
@Mo gLeE MJs version was nice tho
Michael Norris
This is among the greatest collection ever of singing, arranging, acoustics, lyrics, production and especially the musicians. The greatest time in black music history.
Olu Hamilton
A felt the intro with the vibes was weird, in a beautiful way along with the background 'ooohh's'.
John D Brock
Why black music history? Why not just music history?