Diana Ross and The Supremes was the new name used by The Supremes from 1967… Read Full Bio ↴Diana Ross and The Supremes was the new name used by The Supremes from 1967 to 1970. It was Motown boss Berry Gordy's idea to explicitly make Diana Ross the group's front woman.

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.

When You Wish Upon a Star
Diana Ross and the Supremes Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

When a star is born
They possess a gift or two
One of them is this
They have the power to make a wish come true

When you wish upon a star
Makes no difference who you are
Anything your heart desires will come to you

If your heart is in your dream
No request is too extreme
When you wish upon a star
As dreamers do
Fate is kind

She brings to those who love
The sweet fulfillment of their secret longing

Like a bolt out of the blue
Fate steps in and sees you through
When you wish upon a star
Your dreams come true

When you wish upon a star
Makes no difference who you are
Anything your heart desires will come to you

If your heart is in your dream
No request is too extreme
When you wish upon a star
As dreamers do

Fate is kind
She brings to those who love
The sweet fulfillment of their secret longing
Like a bolt out of the blue
Fate steps in and sees you through

When you wish upon a star
Your dreams come true

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Diana Ross and the Supremes's cover of "When You Wish Upon A Star" emphasize the power of hope and wish fulfillment. The opening lines suggest that those born under fortunate stars possess the ability "to make a wish come true." The rest of the song emphasizes that this power to make wishes is not limited to stars or the wealthy or powerful, but is available to anyone who possesses the courage to dream and hope.

The song encourages people to pursue their wildest dreams and desires with the knowledge that fate is kind and will ultimately bring them fulfillment. This is evident through the repetition of the phrase "When you wish upon a star, your dreams come true." By painting fate as a kind and loving force, the song encourages listeners to trust in the power of hope.

Overall, the lyrics of "When You Wish Upon A Star" are a testament to the power of dreaming and hoping. They provide inspiration to those who may be feeling hopeless or discouraged, reminding them that anything is possible if they have the courage to believe in themselves and the power of hope.

Line by Line Meaning

When a star is born
Every time a star is formed in the universe

They possess a gift or two
They have natural abilities that make them special

One of them is this
One of those abilities is the power to grant wishes

They have the power to make a wish come true
Stars are capable of using their magic to fulfill people's wishes

When you wish upon a star
If you make a wish to a star

Makes no difference who you are
It doesn't matter who you are or where you come from

Anything your heart desires will come to you
You will get everything that your heart desires

If your heart is in your dream
If your passion and desire are strong enough

No request is too extreme
You can ask for anything, no matter how impossible it seems

As dreamers do
Just like all the idealists and visionaries out there

Fate is kind
Destiny is a benevolent force