The Supremes were a very successful Motown all-female singing group active … Read Full Bio ↴The Supremes were a very successful Motown all-female singing group active from 1959 until 1977, performing at various times doo-wop, pop, soul, Broadway showtunes, psychedelia, and disco. One of Motown's signature acts, The Supremes were the most successful African-American musical act of the 1960s, recording twelve #1 hits between 1964 and 1969, many of them written and produced by Motown's main songwriting and production team, Holland-Dozier-Holland. The crossover success of the Supremes during the mid-1960s paved the way for future black soul and R&B acts to gain mainstream audiences both in the United States and overseas.

Founded in Detroit, Michigan, United States 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 the mid-1960s with Ross as the lead singer, Motown president Berry Gordy renamed the group Diana Ross & the Supremes in 1967, and replaced Ballard with Cindy Birdsong. Ross left the group for a 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.

My Funny Valentine
The Supremes Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

My funny Valentine
Sweet comic Valentine
You make me smile with my heart

Your looks are laughable
Unphotographable
Yet you're my fav'right work of art

Is your figure less than Greek
Is your mouth a little weak
When you open it to speak
Are you smart?

Don't change a hair for me
Not if you care for me
Stay little Valentine
Stay!
Each day is valentine's day

Is your figure less than Greek
Is your mouth a little weak
When you open it to speak
Are you smart?

Don't change a hair for me
Not if you care for me
Stay little Valentine

Stay, oh stay!
Each day is valentine's day

Overall Meaning

"My Funny Valentine" is a song about appreciating the unique qualities of a loved one. The song's opening line, "My funny Valentine," can be interpreted as a term of endearment for someone who may not fit traditional beauty standards but is still loved and cherished by their partner. The second line, "Sweet comic Valentine," further reinforces this idea of finding humor and joy in the quirks of one's lover.

The third line, "You make me smile with my heart," expresses the emotional connection between the singer and their loved one. The next two lines, "Your looks are laughable / Unphotographable," suggest that the person may not be conventionally attractive, but they are still beautiful in their own way.

The final stanza repeats the questions posed earlier in the song about whether the person's figure, mouth, and intelligence match up to societal expectations. However, the answer is a resounding "no" - the singer loves them just the way they are and wants them to stay that way. The song's final line, "Each day is valentine's day," emphasizes that the love between the singer and their Valentine is not confined to a single holiday and is something that is celebrated every day.

Line by Line Meaning

My funny Valentine
My peculiar Valentine

Sweet comic Valentine
Amusing yet adorable Valentine

You make me smile with my heart
You fill my heart with joy

Your looks are laughable
Your appearance is humorous

Unphotographable
Cannot be captured by a camera

Yet you're my fav'right work of art
But you are my favorite masterpiece

Is your figure less than Greek
Is your physique not perfectly sculpted

Is your mouth a little weak
Do you struggle with speaking

When you open it to speak
When you start talking

Are you smart?
Are you intelligent?

Don't change a hair for me
Do not change yourself for my sake