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.
Money
Diana Ross Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But you can give them to the birds and bees
I need money
That's what I want
That's what I want, yeah
That's what I want
Your love gives me a thrill
But your love can't pay my bill
That's what I want
That's what I want, yeah
That's what I want
Money
Lots of money
Whole lot of money
Lots of money
That's what I want, yeah
That's what I want
Money don't get everything it's true
What it don't get, I can't use
I need money
That's what I want
That's what I want, yeah
That's what I want
That's what I want, yeah
That's what I want
Money, money
Is what I want
A whole lot of lean green
That's what I want
Give me money, money
Is what I want
That's what I want, well
Now give me money
Ow, money
Wow, yeah, you need money
Now, give me money
That's what I want, yeah
That's what I want, yeah
The lyrics of Diana Ross's Money is a song about the singer's love for money above all else. In the first verse, the singer notes that the best things in life are free, but they are not enough to pay the bills. The chorus then repeats the phrase "I need money, that's what I want," emphasizing the singer's desire. In the second verse, the singer notes that while their lover's affection gives them a thrill, it cannot pay the bills. The bridge acknowledges that while money does not get everything, the singer can only use what it can buy. The song then ends with a repetition of the chorus, emphasizing the desire for money over all else.
One interpretation of the song is that it speaks to the American dream of financial success above all else. The song speaks to the idea that money can buy happiness and give someone a better life. However, the song also acknowledges that the love and affection of others cannot be bought with money.
Overall, Diana Ross's Money is a commentary on the importance of financial success in American culture and the dangers of valuing money above all else.
Line by Line Meaning
The best things in life are free
Although there are things in life that are priceless, these things won't be of use when it comes to meeting my basic necessities.
But you can give them to the birds and bees
These things don't have any practical use and can be given away for free without affecting my financial situation.
I need money
I have financial needs that require money to meet them.
That's what I want
I desire money to fulfill these financial needs I have.
Your love gives me a thrill
Although your love is important to me, it won't help me in meeting my financial demands.
But your love can't pay my bill
Love doesn't have any practical use when it comes to paying my bills or fulfilling my financial needs.
Money
I am emphasizing the importance of money to me by stating it as a single word.
Lots of money
I need a significant amount of money to fulfill my financial needs.
Whole lot of money
I need an immense amount of money to fulfill my financial needs.
Money don't get everything it's true
While I know that money isn't the solution to everything, it's still essential for meeting my basic financial needs.
What it don't get, I can't use
Even though money doesn't have a use in certain situations, it's still crucial for fulfilling my basic financial requirements.
Money, money
I am reiterating my need for money.
Is what I want
I want money to meet my financial requirements, and that's the only thing that can help me in this regard.
A whole lot of lean green
I need a massive amount of money to fulfill my financial needs, which I am referring to as 'lean green.'
Give me money, money
I am demanding that I need money, and I need it now.
Now, give me money
I need money, and I need it immediately to fulfill my financial requirements.
Ow, money
I am emphasizing my need for money, showing that it's causing me pain or distress.
Wow, yeah, you need money
I am reminding myself that I need money, and it's important to focus on fulfilling my financial needs.
That's what I want, yeah
Money is the only thing that can help me fulfill my financial needs, and that's what I want.
That's what I want, yeah
Reiterating my need for money to fulfill my financial requirements.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Janie Bradford, Berry Gordy Jr.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind