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.
tenderness
Diana Ross Lyrics
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Tenderness I confess
Tenderness is the best
Tenderness nothin' less
Love me with a tender touch
Kindness I need very much
It is so hard for me to trust
Love me all through the night
Hug me 'till the first rays of sunlight
Be sweet, make me unafraid
'Cause tonight I'll play with you
Please be gentle
Tenderness is the best
Tenderness I confess
Tenderness is the best
Tenderness nothin' less
Love me, try to be understanding
Tenderness is all that I'm asking
Don't feel like I'm making conditions
I want to to overcome my inhibitions
Love me all through the night
Hug me 'till the first rays of sunlight
Be sweet, make me unafraid
'cause tonight I'll play with you
Please be gentle
Tenderness is the best
Tenderness I confess
Tenderness is the best
Tenderness nothin' less
Love me with the tender touch
Kindness I need very much
It is so hard for me to trust
But deep inside I know I must
Love me all through the night
Hug me 'till the first rays of sunlight
Be sweet, make me unafraid
'cause tonight I'll play with you
Please be gentle
Love me
Kindness
Love me
Hug me
Please be gentle
Tenderness is the best
Tenderness I confess
Tenderness is the best
Tenderness nothin' less
Tenderness is the best
Tenderness I confess
Tenderness is the best
Tenderness nothin' less
Try to be understanding
Try to be understanding
The song "Tenderness" by Diana Ross is a plea for kindness and gentleness in a relationship. The singer acknowledges that trust is hard for her to give, but she knows that it is necessary. She asks for understanding and tenderness from her partner, and promises to reciprocate. The song is all about vulnerability, asking for what you need, and the importance of tenderness in a relationship.
The lyrics make it clear that the singer has been hurt in the past, and that trust does not come easily to her. But she is willing to try, and is asking for her partner to help her through it. The repeated refrain of "Tenderness is the best" emphasizes the importance of this quality in a relationship. The song is a testament to the power of vulnerability and the transformative effect that a little tenderness can have.
Overall, "Tenderness" is a heartfelt and vulnerable song that anyone who has struggled with trust and intimacy in a relationship can relate to. It is both a plea and a promise, and shows the power of kindness and understanding in building a strong connection with someone.
Line by Line Meaning
Tenderness is the best
Diana Ross strongly believes that tenderness is the most important quality in a relationship.
Tenderness I confess
She openly admits that she desires to be treated with tenderness.
Tenderness nothin' less
Diana Ross expects nothing less than tenderness from her partner.
Love me with a tender touch
She asks to be loved with a gentle and caring touch.
Kindness I need very much
She acknowledges her need for kindness.
It is so hard for me to trust
Her fear of vulnerability makes it difficult for her to trust others.
But deep inside I know I must
Despite her fears, she recognizes the importance of taking risks and opening up emotionally.
Love me all through the night
She desires love and affection throughout the night.
Hug me 'till the first rays of sunlight
She wants to be held closely until the morning comes.
Be sweet, make me unafraid
Diana Ross needs her partner to be gentle and caring, and to help alleviate her fears.
'Cause tonight I'll play with you
She's inviting her partner to be intimate with her.
Please be gentle
She wants her partner to be careful and considerate in their lovemaking.
Love me, try to be understanding
She asks her partner to show empathy towards her.
Tenderness is all that I'm asking
Once again, she highlights the importance of tenderness to her.
Don't feel like I'm making conditions
She's not trying to make a demand; rather, she's asking for something that she needs.
I want to overcome my inhibitions
She aspires to break down the walls that prevent her from fully experiencing intimacy.
Love me
A simple request for love.
Kindness
She emphasizes her need for tenderness and kindness.
Hug me
She desires the physical touch of being hugged.
Try to be understanding
Once again, she asks her partner to show empathy.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: NILE RODGERS, BERNARD EDWARDS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind