http://www.blackvoices.com/blogs/2008/01/27/diana-ross-jamaica-funk/

Diana Ross: Jamaica Funk, That's What It Is

By Karu F. Daniels, Blackvoices.com


http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.blackvoices.com/blogs/media/2008/01/diana-ross-white-smaller2.jpg

Michael Jackson isn't the only one singing 'Dirty Diana.'

The folks of the beautiful island of Jamaica are singing the same tune about Diana Ross, who showed locals what she really thought of them – during her main attraction headlining gig of the "2008 Air Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival."

And in true-to-life form, the Caribbean natives showed her what they thought of her too.

Throngs of audience members, estimated at 40,000, heckled and booed the Motown diva throughout her hour-long set last night at the Acquaduct Rose Hall in Montego Bay.

"Jamaica is one of the toughest crowds," a tourism official was overhead saying in a gated V.I.P. section located to the left of the stage, as the boos grew louder and louder through Ross' set.

What was the beef?

Well, "to honor Miss Ross' wishes," unscrupulous concert promoters shut off gargantuan-sized television monitors, which were broadcast at every other concert performance throughout the three-day event -- believed to be the largest staging of the festival.


http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.blackvoices.com/blogs/media/2008/01/diana-ross-smaller.jpg

No one could've imagined the true meaning of what the "wish" would entail, when they first heard the announcement there would be no videotaping Ross' set. Folks located in the nether regions of the venue (which is the size of soccer/football field) couldn't see any of the aging diva's set from any vantage point.

For decades, the Grammy Award-less chanteuse has been known to put on one-hell-of-a show replete with ostentatious costume changes and a litany of music that was once considered the soundtrack of America.

Too bad most couldn't hear the mucho-maned singer bellowing out old Supremes hits like 'My World is Empty Without You,' 'You Can't Hurry Love' 'Baby Love ' and maneuver through solo material such as 'Upside Down,' 'The Boss' and 'Love Hangover,' which appeared – at closer inspection – to be electronically enhanced.

Ross' children Chudney Lane Silberstein, Tracee Ellis and Evan, who sat on the side of the stage to offer encouragement and emotional support to their beloved mom, seemed visibly shaken during the booing, and exited the stage (security guards escorting them to their long black stretch limousine) without speaking to stagehands as their mother sang her signature 'Mahogany/Ain't No Mountain High Enough' medley.

In true diva form, Ross went out on a high note – with her updated version of Gloria Gaynor's 'I Will Survive.'

The way the island locals seemed to feel she can do just that – without them.

Festival spokesperson Carlette DeLeon issued a statement this afternoon admitting that "the much anticipated performance of Diana Ross on Saturday proved somewhat disappointing to many patrons who expected a very interactive set."

"Miss Ross' request to have a restricted display of her performance however, inconvenienced patrons who were left feeling distanced from the stage and her performance," she continued.

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.blackvoices.com/blogs/media/2008/01/diana-ross-black-inverted.jpg

According to DeLeon, TurnKey Productions -- organizers of the Festival – indicated that limited notice of Ross' restriction was given. "Delano Forbes, of Phase Three Productions, noted that image magnification is a standard within the industry and as such, Miss Ross' request for a limited display just before her performance was surprising."

They're insisting that "however in the interest of patrons' enjoyment of the Festival a compromise was reached which saw a controlled display of her entire performance."

Not so says festival-goer Karl Campbell, who told The BV Newswire that he and his girlfriend squandered $614 US for three-day VIP festival passes. "It wasn't a good experience," he said. "She didn't show any consideration to the people in the front, nor the people in the back. It was a disservice for everybody and that wasn't correct."

"It was the only video that wasn't shown and it's an injustice to everyone," Campell, who said the festival was well marketed and promoted on the Internet, added. "The entire show was just the worst."

Even today at the Sangster International Airport, people were still reeling about being short-changed by Ross. "She's a crazy woman," one Air Jamaica patron was heard telling her travel party.

"Many persons attending last night's event were persons who were looking forward to this performance for months," local entertainment television correspondent Candice Buchanan said. "[They were] saving up their moneys to make sure they wouldn't miss this once in a lifetime performance by their favorite star Diana Ross."

"Now for them to get there and be deprived of even a glimpse of Miss Ross was indeed a major blow," she added. "That coupled with the fact that her performance was low energy and filled with lip syncing lead to the [reaction] she received. Apparently Jamaicans felt dissed by the diva and lost interest."

The producers apparently "regret the inconvenience to patrons and sincerely hope that this experience will not negate the wonderful overall experience."

Yeah, okay.

A rep for Ross was not available at deadline today.

Ay carumba!!

I love how Diana's ego hasn't changed one bit in 25 years. Gotta love her, but it's funny she still has such ridiculous demands when it's been over 20 years since her last hit. I remember the Supremes "reunion" fiasco, where she toured with two other girls who she never performed with before, and ticket sales were so bad (apparently only 60 seats were purchased at Madison Square Garden) that she scrapped the entire tour after about two or three weeks.

Judging from the 40,000 people in the crowd, you don't have to love her. Click on the link above the story. Some of the reader comments are a scream. Very rude what she did to this crowd, but not a surprise. I hear she's been a nasty bitch-on-wheels since forever.

Judging from the 40,000 people in the crowd, you don't have to love her. Click on the link above the story. Some of the reader comments are a scream. Very rude what she did to this crowd, but not a surprise. I hear she's been a nasty bitch on wheels since forever.
Ain't that the truth. She gives the word DIVA a bad name.

You know, I was actually considering buying tickets to that "reunion" fiasco in 2000. My dad is a Supremes fan and his birthday was coming up, so I was considering buying a pair of tickets so my folks could go. Alas, the tour was cancelled before it came to Cleveland, and before I could buy the tickets. :lol:

I am surprised 40,000 people would go see Diana in concert in 2008 :lol:

I knew she'd be an awful live artist after I saw her on Diva's Live a number of years ago with this massive afro wig that looked like someone poured grape slushi on her head, and she was all medicated and slurring her songs. Diana was great in the Supremes as well as her solo career in the 70's and 80's, but she has just not aged very well musically. And it wouldn't hurt her to be a little less of a bitch. Streisand only gets away with it because she actually can still sell records, Diana hasn't had a top 10 hit since 1985.

I am surprised 40,000 people would go see Diana in concert in 2008 :lol:

I knew she'd be an awful live artist after I saw her on Diva's Live a number of years ago with this massive afro wig that looked like someone poured grape slushi on her head, and she was all medicated and slurring her songs. Diana was great in the Supremes as well as her solo career in the 70's and 80's, but she has just not aged very well musically. And it wouldn't hurt her to be a little less of a bitch. Streisand only gets away with it because she actually can still sell records, Diana hasn't had a top 10 hit since 1985.
I didn't realize Jamaica had a big enough population...I guess the whole country saw her then. :lol:

I do own a couple of her CDs - The Motown Anthology and her self-titled 1970 solo debut. The latter is brilliant but I credit that more to her brilliant songwriters/producers/arrangers, Ashford & Simpson. The stories about her have been legendary over the years - especially regarding her staff, who would be fired over the silliest, most mundane things.

She looks like she's channelling something here. Her eyes look demonic. :eek:

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.blackvoices.com/blogs/media/2008/01/diana-ross-white-smaller2.jpg

She looks like she's channelling something here. Her eyes look demonic. :eek:

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.blackvoices.com/blogs/media/2008/01/diana-ross-white-smaller2.jpg
Are we sure that's not Miss Cleo?? :rofl:

Diana resembles E.T. with hair

I do own a couple of her CDs - The Motown Anthology and her self-titled 1970 solo debut. The latter is brilliant but I credit that more to her brilliant songwriters/producers/arrangers, Ashford & Simpson. The stories about her have been legendary over the years - especially regarding her staff, who would be fired over the silliest, most mundane things.
I've always loved her music, but treating people like crap is no way to go through life. Karma, and all that. Looks like it's starting already.

Are we sure that's not Miss Cleo?? :rofl:
:lol:

I am surprised 40,000 people would go see Diana in concert in 2008 :lol:

I knew she'd be an awful live artist after I saw her on Diva's Live a number of years ago with this massive afro wig that looked like someone poured grape slushi on her head, and she was all medicated and slurring her songs. Diana was great in the Supremes as well as her solo career in the 70's and 80's, but she has just not aged very well musically. And it wouldn't hurt her to be a little less of a bitch. Streisand only gets away with it because she actually can still sell records, Diana hasn't had a top 10 hit since 1985.
Her last Top 10 was "Missing You", wasn't it?

what Diana did to Florence Ballard was unforgivable. I noticed that they completely rewrote that ending for Dreamgirls to make it happy (Dreamgirls is essentially a retelling of the Supremes story with Beyonce as Diana Ross, if you didn't know that by now), but in real life, Diana screwed Flo over, Flo tried to make a comeback but succumed to her addictions, and Diana was spat at when she showed up at her funeral.

Her best work to me remains the diana album with "Upside Down", "I'm Coming Out", "My Old Piano" and the sort, but even that album's history was plagued with Diana's diva behavior and going around and screwing up the mix that Nile Rodgers made for the album because Diana had to be in control.

Her last Top 10 was "Missing You", wasn't it?
yep. Chain Reaction hit #1 in the UK in 1986, but that's pretty much it over there as well. She hasn't even placed a song on the hot 100 in America since "Chain Reaction", that's 22 years.

But she really hasn't had any memorable songs since that mid-1980's period either way. Even Donna Summer and Olivia Newton-John have had hits on the chart in the late 90's, but no matter how many times Diana's tried, she just can't chart.

John, have you listened to the 1970 solo debut? I think you'd really like it - "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" and "Reach Out and Touch" were the only hits, but it's full of many more great songs. Plus there are 8 bonus tracks - including 4 from her short-lived sessions with Bones Howe.

yep. Chain Reaction hit #1 in the UK in 1986, but that's pretty much it over there as well. She hasn't even placed a song on the hot 100 in America since "Chain Reaction", that's 22 years.

But she really hasn't had any memorable songs since that mid-1980's period either way. Even Donna Summer and Olivia Newton-John have had hits on the chart in the late 90's, but no matter how many times Diana's tried, she just can't chart.
Probably the most memorable song she's had post-1985 (to me, anyway) was "If We Hold On Together" from the movie The Land Before Time. That song has special meaning to me, because all the girls in my grade sang it in one of our elementary school concerts. :D I still like the song today.

John, have you listened to the 1970 solo debut? I think you'd really like it - "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" and "Reach Out and Touch" were the only hits, but it's full of many more great songs. Plus there are 8 bonus tracks - including 4 from her short-lived sessions with Bones Howe.
I have it (I have a lot of her albums up through "Eaten Alive" from 1985 downloaded) but admittedly have never really given it a fair listen, I've never really found her to be much of an albums artist, since it seems like her albums are generally loaded with forgettable filler cuts.

It is nice to have the complete "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" though, the 3 minute single edit is the one most common on Greatest Hits packages and I like the complete 6 minute version much more

^ I like the long version a lot better, too. :D

gotta love Diana's attempt at an over the top music video

http://youtube.com/watch?v=t8w7CCq036o

some poster on YouTube put it bluntly, almost 8 minutes of Diana looking into a campfire, getting into catfights and getting in the sack with a guy 20 years younger than her :rofl:

gotta love Diana's attempt at an over the top music video

http://youtube.com/watch?v=t8w7CCq036o

some poster on YouTube put it bluntly, almost 8 minutes of Diana looking into a campfire, getting into catfights and getting in the sack with a guy 20 years younger than her :rofl:
Good grief!!!

She looks like she's channelling something here. Her eyes look demonic. :eek:

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.blackvoices.com/blogs/media/2008/01/diana-ross-white-smaller2.jpg
:rofl:


Diana: "C'mon people, I am NOT FEELING THE LOVE HERE....OOOOHM...OOOHM...OOOHM"



Check out this video...I always liked the song but hated the video...the 1:50 mark is hilarious, I guess this is where Madonna was inspired:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=EFJO5LcWGfk

:rofl:


Diana: "C'mon people, I am NOT FEELING THE LOVE HERE....OOOOHM...OOOHM...OOOHM"



Check out this video...I always liked the song but hated the video...the 1:50 mark is hilarious, I guess this is where Madonna was inspired:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=EFJO5LcWGfk
:rofl: OUCH.

^ I like the long version a lot better, too. :D
I agree. I can't stand short versions of songs. I have to have the extended versions, long versions, dance mixes, etc. This comes from having to buy albums, YES ALBUMS THANK YOU, during my young years and if I pay for an album, I expect the WHOLE SONG. My entire music collection is filled with long version songs. My boyfriend can't stand that, he had to ask me to get him short versions for when he burns CD's. :lol:

^ I want the whole versions, too - and that goes for books on audio as well. I can't stand that "abridged" crap!!! :mad:

It's Diana Gone Kabuki Style....just for $199.99, you could buy an afro weave, complete with geisha robes, and an attitude problem that you could one day be DIVA for a day. Surprise your friends and your love ones. Just as Diana Ross says, "It's all in the mind!"

I'm too much...:)

It's Diana Gone Kabuki Style....just for $199.99, you could buy an afro weave, complete with geisha robes, and an attitude problem that you could one day be DIVA for a day. Surprise your friends and your love ones. Just as Diana Ross says, "It's all in the mind!"

I'm too much...:)
:lol: Kabukie style...:lol:

:lol: Kabukie style...:lol:
Did you see her self-designed costumes in Mahogany?? :eek: Scary.

Diana Ross Kubuki style warnings:

Side effects made include bitchiness, fetishes to boob touching, pill popping, diva-isms, resulting to be the next female Michael Jackson, not having a hit since 1985, ego problems, thinking you are a god, yelling at poor people, resulting to addiction of booze, being booed, but above all: You're an Academy Award winner and even Diana Ross says: "That's quite enough."

:crazy: I'm too much.

:brent

Diana Ross Kubuki style warnings:

Side effects made include bitchiness, fetishes to boob touching, pill popping, diva-isms, resulting to be the next female Michael Jackson, not having a hit since 1985, ego problems, thinking you are a god, yelling at poor people, resulting to addiction of booze, being booed, but above all: You're an Academy Award winner and even Diana Ross says: "That's quite enough."

:crazy: I'm too much.
:rotflmao:!!!!!!!!!

Judging from the 40,000 people in the crowd, you don't have to love her. Click on the link above the story. Some of the reader comments are a scream. Very rude what she did to this crowd, but not a surprise. I hear she's been a nasty bitch-on-wheels since forever.
I think this whole thing is great. She's such an overrated diva with not enough talent to back up her ego, which is bigger than Jamaica itself.

I used to talk to a guy who lived in Beverly Hills and had countless encounters with singers and movie stars. But Diana Ross is the worst experience he's ever had with a star, he said you can't comprehend what a bitch she is unless you've actually met her face to face, and he won't listen to her music now, and he's met Madonna and Barbra Streisand and said both were unpleasant, but at least had positive things to say about meeting them, but with Diana, she's just a stuck up bitch. :lol:

What's so funny is that Diana's ego hasn't died down at all in the past 25 years, in reality she's at the stage in her career where she should be doing free concerts at the state fair. After all, we got Pat Benatar to do one of those and her last album sold more than Diana's last five :rofl:

Diana: The Casino Circuit Concerts!

Diana: The Casino Circuit Concerts!
as the opening act for Morris Day And The Time :lol:

as the opening act for Morris Day And The Time :lol:
:rofl:

Wow, my respect for Diana has just gone down tremendously.

I used to talk to a guy who lived in Beverly Hills and had countless encounters with singers and movie stars. But Diana Ross is the worst experience he's ever had with a star, he said you can't comprehend what a bitch she is unless you've actually met her face to face,
I've been hearing that for years. I get and even find the diva thing kind of amusing. You know, they want water flown in from France, and lobster flown in from Maine. It's indulgence and ego at its worst, but it's not rude to other people. Diana screams at her help, is rude to fans, etc. Love Hangover, and her Supreme's era are the best, imo. I know she was a good solo artist, but not really my cup of tea.

I used to talk to a guy who lived in Beverly Hills and had countless encounters with singers and movie stars. But Diana Ross is the worst experience he's ever had with a star, he said you can't comprehend what a bitch she is unless you've actually met her face to face, and he won't listen to her music now, and he's met Madonna and Barbra Streisand and said both were unpleasant, but at least had positive things to say about meeting them, but with Diana, she's just a stuck up bitch. :lol:

What's so funny is that Diana's ego hasn't died down at all in the past 25 years, in reality she's at the stage in her career where she should be doing free concerts at the state fair. After all, we got Pat Benatar to do one of those and her last album sold more than Diana's last five :rofl:
I have read the same things abt her. That of all the ego-inflated famous people, she takes the cake.

I will say though she does have the talent. She is a beautiful and fabulous singer. She has earned her spot as one of the greatest female singers ever and with the records to prove it.

I just wish the flamboyancy and the diva-ness (if there is such a word) that she exudes were not true. I don't see how being rude to people makes Diana feel any better. Where does she come off being that way? She knows what it is like to be a black woman and have people be rude to you simply for being black. I am sure she had her moments of people teasing her, being rude to her, etc.

However, divaness can be said abt a lot of female singers and actresses.

it's amusing that Diana is still rude to fans. Considering her last album to even sell over 100,000 copies was in 1991, you'd think she'd try to be a little nicer to the twenty people left who'd actually buy a new cd or a concert ticket from her.

I think this whole thing is great. She's such an overrated diva with not enough talent to back up her ego, which is bigger than Jamaica itself.
:lol:

my sister and her friend both met her once and they both told me that she was a jerk

Diana Ross makes Scott Baio look like a saint. Baio might be a jerk, but he admits his flaws and his habits. Diana, on the other hand, is much of a devil and such a control freak. She thinks being a diva can let you be a bitch all year long. I feel sorry for your sister and her friend to meet such a rude person. To heck with her. To add to that final notice, she wasn't much a singer, anyway. She should have thanked Berry Gordy, Chic, The Bee Gee, etc. for their contributions, but she believes that using her diva-isms is a way of life. Gee. What a hag. Flo and Mary had the better voices, yet Berry Gordy shoved them in the side-lines in the 60s. Let Diana Ross take her life to a reality show for once.

It should be titled Diana: The Bitch Is Back and Uncorked. Leave Your Brain Out The Door- Says the New York Times.

my sister and her friend both met her once and they both told me that she was a jerk
Oh wow, really? That is sad. When I have met famous people, I have had positive vibes from them. I hope I never run into one who is in a foul mood or something because I WILL GO OFF ON THEM! ;)

LOL@Diana got booed and heckled at a Jamaica concert hahahahahahahaha. That's what her ass gets for being rude and stuck up to people just because she's a star. Celebrities tend to have a mentality that they're all that just because they're famous and they got a lot of money. It's very rare that i hear about entertainers who are humble and they don't think they're all that. I remember when Diana Ross got dissed by black comedian Paul Mooney at BET's Comedy awards about 3 or 4 years ago. Paul was dissing her because at the time she had gotten arrested in Arizona for drunk driving. Her daughter Tracey got mad at what Paul said and got out of her seat and walked out. Steve Harvey who was the host of the show hugged Tracey backstage and Steve made some comments after the show telling Paul that it wasn't cool of him to diss Diana. F*ck what Steve said. What Paul said about Diana was funny and if people can't take a joke, that's too bad.

LOL@ugly album cover picture of Diana on her self titled album that came out in 1970 hahahahahahahahahahahahaha. Damn that's a ugly picture of her LOL. That album cover picture scares me LOL. I heard about how she treated Florence Ballard. That wasn't right at all. Diana went to her funeral? Why would she show up at her funeral knowing that they didn't get along? Florence should've had the strength to go on after she left the group instead of using drugs or whatever addiction she had. I was surprised she died young. She was a cute woman.

I am surprise her and your sister had to endure such idiotic behavior from a diva like Diana. How she ever befriended Michael Jackson is beyond me, but I guess they are all alike: They both hadn't had a hit in years.
They should have been married in 1981 when Diana was single again. They were made for each other. The perfectionist and the diva with people problems.

The real Diana Ross.

The real Diana Ross.
OH DEAR LORD!!!!!!!!! :eek:


:brent

OH DEAR LORD!!!!!!!!! :eek:


:brent
I goofed around in my Paint Program. Just kidding folks, I don't think she's the devil, lol.

I goofed around in my Paint Program. Just kidding folks, I don't think she's the devil, lol.
:rofl: Good job Janice. I don't think she is the devil either...ROSIE O' DONNELL IS. ;) Add Charlie Sheen to that too. :lol:

The real Diana Ross.
Stop spoling her new concert pics! ;)

Stop spoling her new concert pics! ;)
:lol:

I think Janice "enhanced" the pics, if you ask me. For the better. :lol:

breaking news!!! Diana just pulled a Britney and shaved her head

http://us.movies1.yimg.com/movies.yahoo.com/images/hv/photo/movie_pix/universal_pictures/e_t__the_extra_terrestrial/et2.jpg

breaking news!!! Diana just pulled a Britney and shaved her head

http://us.movies1.yimg.com/movies.yahoo.com/images/hv/photo/movie_pix/universal_pictures/e_t__the_extra_terrestrial/et2.jpg
TA DA!!!!!

:rofl:

Diana hasn't been human for eight years. She continues to morph into a cross between a warped out Oprah with a bit of MJ thrown in the mix. Add tequilla and she'll be drunk the next day.

breaking news!!! Diana just pulled a Britney and shaved her head

http://us.movies1.yimg.com/movies.yahoo.com/images/hv/photo/movie_pix/universal_pictures/e_t__the_extra_terrestrial/et2.jpg

I LOVE IT!!!! :rofl:

What the hell was Barry smoking when he slept with that "thing"....Flo and Mary were much prettier and talented.

LOL@Dean Winchester posting a picture of ET and saying that's what Diana looks like hahahahahahahahahahahahaha. LOL@88survivor calling Diana a thing hahahahahahahahahaha. I don't know why Berry Gordy had sex with her either because Mary and Florence are cuter than Diana. I should say Florence was cuter than Diana.

Hey I just remembered, I read somewhere that actress Debra Winger was the voice for E.T. :eek: I was shocked when I had read that.

That she was. You probably thought she spoke regularly, but she could immitate voices pretty well, too. She is that talented. She even did a good job with a male voice in Made In Heaven, too.