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.
Ninety Nine And A Half
Diana Ross Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm running low (Lord I'm running trying to make a hundred)
trying to make a hundred (Lord I'm running trying to make a hundred)
Ninety-nine and a half just wont do
I'm running low (Lord I'm running trying to make a hundred)
trying to make a hundred (Lord I'm running trying to make a hundred)
I'm praying loud (Lord I'm praying trying to make a hundred)
trying to make a hundred (Lord I'm praying trying to make a hundred)
Ninety-nine and a half just wont do
I'm praying loud
trying to make a hundred
Ninety-nine and a half just wont do
No it wont do (No no no it wont do)
it wont do (no no no it wont do)
Oh it wont do (no no no it wont do)
It wont do
It wont do
Just wont do
Ninety-nine and a half just wont do
And I'm counting now
You're a survivor
I'm just trying go further
I guess you wont help
you're left behind
Your half of the weight
won't make the grade
You ain't moving
I'm grooving
let me tell you
Ninety-one
Ninety-two
Ninety-three
Ninety-four
Ninety-five
Ninety-six
Ninety-seven
Ninety-eight
Ninety-nine and a half just wont do
You're a survivor
I'm just trying to go further
I'm gonna make a mile
Sure I'll try
Your half the weight
Won't make the grade
Are you moving?
See me I'm grooving
let me tell you 91,92,93....
The song "Ninety Nine And A Half" by Diana Ross belongs to the soul and gospel genre. This song is about trying to reach a destination or a goal, and the necessity of completing it, rather than being content with almost reaching it. The first verse talks about how the singer is "running low" but trying to "make a hundred". And, "ninety-nine and a half just won’t do." The "hundred" in this context could mean anything, like achieving something, or even the distance, but the main idea is that the artist is trying to be a hundred percent successful, and believing that only that would bring satisfaction.
The second verse is about the people around the artist who may slow her down or become a hindrance in her journey. Despite that, her focus is on giving her best and succeeding on her own, even if it means leaving some people behind. The final verse marks a countdown and shows the singer's determination to reach a hundred. The song may have religious connotations as well, with lines like "I'm praying loud", representing the faith and effort that goes into achieving a goal.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm running low (Lord I'm running trying to make a hundred)
I am running low on something and I am trying to reach a goal of one hundred.
trying to make a hundred (Lord I'm running trying to make a hundred)
I am attempting to reach a goal of one hundred and I am seeking divine help to do so.
Ninety-nine and a half just wont do
Getting to 99.5 is not good enough, I need to reach my target of one hundred.
I'm praying loud (Lord I'm praying trying to make a hundred)
I am fervently praying for divine intervention to help me achieve my goal.
No it wont do (No no no it wont do)
Just getting to 99.5 is not acceptable, it is not enough for me.
it wont do (no no no it wont do)
Reaching 99.5 is not going to satisfy me, I need to hit my target.
Oh it wont do (no no no it wont do)
Achieving 99.5 does not meet my expectations, it is not enough for me to be content.
It wont do
Not meeting my goal is not satisfactory and I won't accept anything less than meeting my target.
Just wont do
Hitting 99.5 or anything less than my goal is not good enough.
And I'm counting now
I am now counting as I get closer to my goal, one by one.
You're a survivor
You have managed to survive but I need to thrive and aim for more.
I'm just trying to go further
I'm not settling for just surviving, I'm putting in effort to push myself beyond this point.
I'm gonna make a mile
I am confident and determined to reach my next goal of one mile.
Sure I'll try
I am going to give it my all and put in my best effort to achieve my goal.
Your half the weight
You are contributing but not enough to make a significant difference.
Won't make the grade
Your contribution is not good enough to meet the standard or goal that we have set.
Are you moving?
Are you making progress and putting in effort to help us reach our goal together?
See me I'm grooving
I am making progress and putting in effort, and it is evident in my movement and actions.
let me tell you 91,92,93....
I am getting closer and closer to reaching my goal as I count each step along the way.
Contributed by Alex B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Michael A. McCracken
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