The Supremes were a hugely successful Motown all-female singing group active from 1959 until 1977, performing at various times doo-wop, pop, soul, Broadway showtunes, psychedelia and disco. Second only to The Beatles in terms of records sales and chart success, The Supremes were the most successful American musical act of the 1960s, delivering twelve #1 hits between 1964 and 1969, many of them written and produced by Motown's main songwriting and production team, Holland-Dozier-Holland.
Founded in Detroit, Michigan in 1959, The Supremes began as a quartet called The Primettes. Founding members Florence Ballard, Mary Wilson, Diana Ross, and Betty McGlown, all from the Brewster-Douglas public housing project in Detroit, were the sister act to The Primes (later The Temptations). In 1960, Barbara Martin replaced McGlown, and the group signed with Motown in 1961 as The Supremes.
Martin left at the end of 1961, and Ross, Ballard, and Wilson carried on as a trio. After they achieved success in 1964 with Ross as the lead singer, Motown president Berry Gordy renamed the group Diana Ross and the Supremes in 1967. Ballard left the group that same year because of personal differences and was replaced by Cindy Birdsong.
Diana Ross left the group for a history-making solo career in 1970 and was replaced by Jean Terrell. After 1972, the lineup of The Supremes changed frequently, with Lynda Laurence, Scherrie Payne, and Susaye Greene all becoming members before the group ended its eighteen-year existence in 1977.
The Boy from Ipanema
Diana Ross and the Supremes Lyrics
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Oh, how I love him
But he just doesn't see
Tall and tan and young and handsome
The boy from Ipanema goes walking
And when he passes
When he walks
He's like a samba
That swings so cool and sways so gentle
That when he passes each girl
He passes goes - ah
Ooh, but I watch him so sadly
How can I tell him I love him
Yes I would give my heart gladly
But each day
When he walks to the sea
He looks straight ahead, not at me
Tall, and tan, and young and handsome
The boy from Ipanema goes walking
And when he passes goes - ah
I smile - but he doesn't see (doesn't see)
He just doesn't see, he never sees me
"The Boy from Ipanema" by Diana Ross and the Supremes is a song about unrequited love. The singer expresses her strong feelings towards the titular boy from Ipanema, but he does not seem to reciprocate her love. She admires his physical appearance, describing him as tall, tan and young, and compares the way he walks to the rhythm of the samba, which is cool and gentle. However, despite her best efforts, he never acknowledges her presence, and she feels invisible to him. She continues to watch him longingly as he walks to the sea each day, dreaming of the day when he will finally notice her and realize how much she loves him.
The lyrics in this song are beautifully written, with vivid descriptions of the boy's physical appearance and the way he moves. The use of the samba as a metaphor for his walk style adds a layer of sensuality and groove to the song. The singer's pain is also palpable, as she clearly feels the bittersweet sting of unrequited love. In its simplicity, "The Boy from Ipanema" captures the universal themes of longing, desire, and rejection.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, how I love him
Expressing deep affection for the boy from Ipanema
But he just doesn't see
Lamenting unreciprocated feelings
Tall and tan and young and handsome
Describing the boy from Ipanema's physical attributes
The boy from Ipanema goes walking
Portraying the boy from Ipanema's carefree actions
And when he passes
Highlighting the attention the boy from Ipanema receives
Each girl he passes goes - ah
Emphasizing the attraction he inspires among girls
When he walks
Continuing to describe the boy from Ipanema's movements
He's like a samba
Comparing his walking style to a lively dance
That swings so cool and sways so gentle
Further elaborating on his dance-like walk
That when he passes each girl
Reiterating the effect he has on girls
He passes goes - ah
Echoing the previous sentiment
Ooh, but I watch him so sadly
Expressing sorrow and longing for the boy from Ipanema
How can I tell him I love him
Wondering how to express her feelings to him
Yes I would give my heart gladly
Willing to sacrifice for him
But each day
Indicating the regularity of her heartache
When he walks to the sea
Depicting the boy from Ipanema's daily routines
He looks straight ahead, not at me
Painfully acknowledging that he doesn't acknowledge her existence
I smile - but he doesn't see (doesn't see)
Trying to catch his attention, but failing
He just doesn't see, he never sees me
Reiterating her invisibility to him
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Antonio Carlos Jobim, Norman Gimbel, Vinicius De Moraes
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind