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.
The Boss
Diana Ross Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Thought I had my degree
In life and how to love
What if you run?
I had a one step plan to prove it
Guide in my pocket for fools
Folly and fun
I was so right, so right
Thought I could turn emotion, on and off
I was so sure, so sure
But love taught me
Who was, who was, who was the boss
I'd defy
Anyone who claimed that I
Didn't control
Whatever moved in my soul
I could tempt, touch, delight
Just because you fell for me
Why should I feel uptight
Love had to show me one thing
I was so right, so right
Thought I could turn emotion, on and off
I was so sure, I was so, so sure
But love taught me
Taught me who was, who was, the boss
Love taught me, taught me
Taught me, taught me
I was so right, so right
Thought that I could turn emotion, on and off
I was so sure, so sure
But love taught me
Taught me who was, who was, the boss
Love taught me (stood right up in my face and)
Love taught me who was the boss
Love taught me who was the boss
Love taught me, love taught me
Love taught me
In Diana Ross's song "The Boss," the lyrics explore the theme of love and who is in control. At the beginning of the song, the singer believes that she knows everything about love and how to control it. She even has a plan in place to prove it, but love ends up teaching her a valuable lesson. The chorus repeats the idea that the singer thought she had control over her emotions and the ability to turn love on and off, but love showed her who was really in charge - the boss.
The singer expresses a sense of confidence and defiance towards anyone who questions her control over her soul. She even talks about how she can tempt, touch, and delight without feeling any sort of guilt, just because someone falls for her. However, love forces her to realize that she was never really in control, and there was always something or someone who was the boss over her emotions.
The song encourages listeners to recognize that love is not something that can be controlled or turned off at will. Instead, it is something that must be embraced and appreciated for its power and influence in our lives. The lyrics of "The Boss" show the journey of the singer's realization that love is the real boss, and that it is something that cannot be tamed or controlled.
Line by Line Meaning
Fancy me
I was prideful and confidant
Thought I had my degree
I believed I knew everything there was to know
In life and how to love
I believed I had mastered both life and love
What if you run?
But what if my lover were to leave me?
I had a one step plan to prove it
I had an ego-driven plan to prove my self-worth
Guide in my pocket for fools
I believed that those who didn't follow my plan were foolish
Folly and fun
I was reckless and carefree with my emotions
Love had to show me one thing
But love had a lesson to teach me.
I was so right, so right
I believed I was always right
Thought I could turn emotion, on and off
I thought I could control my emotions like a switch
I was so sure, so sure
I was extremely confident
But love taught me
However, love had other plans for me
Who was, who was, who was the boss
Love ultimately had control over me
I'd defy
I would challenge anyone who said otherwise
Anyone who claimed that I
I refused to accept anyone else's opinions
Didn't control
I thought I had complete control over my emotions
Whatever moved in my soul
And I believed I could manipulate anyone that I wanted
I could tempt, touch, delight
My seductive powers were ever-present
Just because you fell for me
I would take advantage of anyone who showed interest in me
Why should I feel uptight
I saw no problem with my behavior
Love had to show me one thing
But love would soon teach me a valuable lesson
Love taught me (stood right up in my face and)
Love boldly confronted me
Love taught me who was the boss
Love revealed that it held all the power in our relationship
Love taught me, love taught me
And through this experience, love taught me many things.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, ONErpm, Songtrust Ave
Written by: Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
ReMarcTeesmom 1
My favorite Diana Ross song. She sung the hell out of this and Nick and Val's backgrounds were spot on from the first note.
Oneil Mackey
"The Boss" is my absolute favorite Diana Ross song of all time! 👍🏾
Octagon9
what about that “did i crumble or did I lay down and cry”
i forget the name but that’s a good one too
TIMONTHEGRAM
@Octagon9 that’s I will survive by Gloria Gaynor
Gail Oliver
🙌🏾
Gail Oliver
@Octagon9 … Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive”
Maureen
My absolute favorite Diana Ross song...so underrated...
treehuggerdude4
I know right? I love this song!
Angeles Torne
Hermoso tema que negra diosa !!!! Amo toda esa época tengo 50 años de chica ya me gustaba la musica de los 60 , 70 y 80
Stephanie
Mine too!