Diana Ross: I Love Her More Today Than Yesterday

Tom Campbell writes:


I’m Diana Ross’ biggest fan and harshest critic. Almost every day I listen to her music and/or watch her classic performances on YouTube. The Motown mythology, the glamour, the bitchiness, the self-obsession, the 45-year songbook, and all those damn Dreamgirls comparisons – none of it can compare to seeing her live. In 1982 I was blown away at my first Diana Ross concert – one tiny woman in the round captivating a stadium full of fans at the Boston Gardens. Twenty-five years later, I had the chance to see her current “I Love You” tour twice in the last five days.

On Friday, I attended her concert at the not-so-glamorous Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio with great trepidation. After her belly-flop performance on this year’s American Idol, could she still deliver the diva-licious qualities that have made me love her all these years? I am happy to report that Miss Ross is still the Boss, still reigns Supreme, and can turn a crowd "Upside Down." In between five full costume changes, she gave a soulful, heartfelt, full-voiced performance, including hits I’ve never heard her perform live: "My World Is Empty Without You," "The Boss," "It’s My House," "Ease on Down the Road," "Fine & Mellow," "Don’t Explain" – mixed in with anthems of my gay youth – "Touch Me In The Morning," "Ain’t No Mountain High Enough," "I’m Coming Out," and more. The tragic quality of the venue, a super-sized gymnasium with a tiny, crowded stage, only reinforced what a giant and timeless talent Diana is. With a live mike and no backup dancers or pyrotechnic support, it was Diana in the spotlight, the lady and her song, and she delivered like it was 1982…or 1978…or 1968…or…. I couldn’t help but wonder how and if Madonna or Britney or Janet or maybe even Beyoncé would be able to deliver their brand of magic in the same venue 20 years from now.

So last night I went back to the Gibson (Universal) Amphitheater for more. The venue was more gracious and appropriate for a star, but this would be a night full of family and emotion. Diana heaped on extra songs, love, and shout-outs to her kids, Tracee, Chudney, Evan, and Ross. Sitting in the two rows in front of me, they all greeted each other warmly with hugs and kisses and spent the night singing and dancing enthusiastically along with their mom. She even dedicated and vamped with the band an impromptu version of “My Man” to “Black” aka Berry Gordy, Motown’s legendary founder, Diana’s mentor, and father of Diana’s first daughter and love child, Rhonda. (Personalizing the lyrics, she teased, “2 or 3…4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9…girls has he that he loves as much as me....”) I couldn’t help but watch in awe as Gordy, sitting 12 seats to my left, got off on every lick of hits like “The Boss” and “It’s My House”, as if he was at the mixing board, hearing them for the first time.

In the final encore, just like on Friday night, Diana introduced the title track from her new CD “I Love You,” a sweet lullaby of a song. She revealed that today had been a hard day for her, that her father had passed away that morning. She went on to say that this was the last night of her tour, and that all day she had been acting as if...holding it together to perform tonight. She explained to her friends and family in the rows around me that she wouldn’t be able to see them after the concert as planned, that she would be rushing to the airport to catch a flight to Detroit. “Chico [her brother], you need to come backstage now so we can get into the car," she mothered. "You need to come back now.” So a procession of Rosses slowly filed through the audience to the backstage as she sang the simple lyrics to her song "I love you." Her kids joined her onstage in the final moment. As the audience stood teary-eyed and applauding, Tracee helped Mom gather up all the bouquets she had received during the evening. As Diana and children walked arm-in-arm into the wings, the band and background singers were left standing alone, unsure of what to do next. So they did what they had done every other night of the tour, they broke into a reprise of Ross’ cover of “I Will Survive.” Without Miss Ross on lead vocals, the upbeat refrain was a chilling counterpoint to the image of a loving family huddled together, surrounding the glittering Diva, proud mother, and grieving daughter.

– Tom Campbell

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