Diane Ernestine Earle Ross (born March 26, 1944), better known as Diana Ros… Read Full Bio ↴Diane Ernestine Earle Ross (born March 26, 1944), better known as Diana Ross, is an American soul, R&B and pop singer and actress born in Detroit, Michigan. Ross is one of the most successful female artists of her era, both due to her solo work and her role as lead singer of The Supremes during the 1960s.

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.

Shockwaves
Diana Ross Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Blood pressure's rising
Can't catch my breath
Every time I hear footsteps coming nearer
These strange vibrations
I can't resist
The feeling scares me so
I lose control

My head is shaking
And my knees are weak
I feel the ground moving under me

You're sending,
You're sending me shockwaves, shockwaves
You're sending,
You're sending me shockwaves, shockwaves

This strong sensation
Is burning in me
Every time I hear you whisper in my ear
Got to have hold of my heart
Like gravity, I can't try to hide it
No way to fight it

My hands are shaking
And my knees are weak
I feel the ground moving under me

You're sending,
You're sending me shockwaves, shockwaves
You're sending,
You're sending me shockwaves, shockwaves
You're sending,
You're sending me shockwaves, shockwaves
You're sending me,
You're sending me shockwaves, shockwaves

Heaven knows I tried
To keep my sanity
But mama never told me
What a man like you could do to me

Hey, shockwaves
Hey, shockwaves

You're sending,
You're sending me shockwaves
You're sending,
You're sending me shockwaves
You're sending,
You're sending me shockwaves

You're sending,
You're sending me shockwaves

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Diana Ross's song "Shockwaves" describe the intense feeling of being overwhelmed with emotion and physical sensation in the presence of someone who has a powerful effect on the singer. The first verse describes the feeling of being on edge and losing control when someone is approaching. The second verse describes the burning sensation that spreads through her body when she hears the person whisper in her ear. The chorus repeats the phrase "you're sending me shockwaves," emphasizing the intense physical and emotional response that the person is provoking.

The singer explains that she has tried to resist these feelings, but has been unable to keep her sanity in the presence of this person. The repetition of the phrase "shockwaves" emphasizes the overwhelming impact that this person has on her life.

The song is a classic example of Ross's soulful style, and features a driving beat and passionate vocals. It speaks to the intensity of love and the overwhelming feeling that can come with falling for someone. The lyrics are raw and honest, conveying the singer's vulnerability and the power that this other person has over her.

Line by Line Meaning

Blood pressure's rising
I am getting more and more anxious with every passing moment.

Can't catch my breath
I am feeling overwhelmed and panicky.

Every time I hear footsteps coming nearer
The sound of footsteps approaching is causing me intense fear and apprehension.

These strange vibrations
I am experiencing unusual and unsettling sensations in my body.

I can't resist
Despite feeling frightened, I am unable to stop the feelings that are overcoming me.

The feeling scares me so
I am terrified by the sensations I am experiencing.

I lose control
I am unable to manage my emotions and reactions.

My head is shaking
I am physically shaking due to the intensity of my emotions.

And my knees are weak
My legs feel shaky and unstable.

I feel the ground moving under me
My sense of balance and stability is being impacted by my emotional state.

You're sending, You're sending me shockwaves, shockwaves You're sending, You're sending me shockwaves, shockwaves
Your presence and influence are causing me to experience intense physical and emotional reactions that feel overwhelming.

This strong sensation
The feelings I am experiencing are intense and difficult to ignore.

Is burning in me
The intensity of my emotions is overwhelming and all-consuming.

Every time I hear you whisper in my ear
Your words have a powerful impact on me and affect me deeply.

Got to have hold of my heart
I am deeply affected and impacted by my feelings for you.

Like gravity, I can't try to hide it
My emotions are too strong to be ignored or suppressed.

No way to fight it
I am powerless against the strength of my emotions and the impact you have on me.

My hands are shaking
I am physically shaking due to the intensity of my emotions.

But mama never told me What a man like you could do to me
I was not prepared for the intense and overwhelming impact you would have on my emotions and my life.

Hey, shockwaves
These powerful and intense feelings I am experiencing can be likened to shockwaves.

You're sending, You're sending me shockwaves
Your impact on me is causing me to experience powerful and overwhelming emotions that feel like shockwaves.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS

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