Upside Down
Encyclopedia
"Upside Down" is a hit song by Diana Ross
released on the Motown label. It was the first single taken from her 1980 album diana
and hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100
on September 6, 1980. It also hit number one on the Billboard Disco/Dance and R&B
charts. The single was also a big hit internationally, topping the singles charts in Italy, Norway and Switzerland, while reaching #5 in Canada. It also rose to #2 on the UK Singles Chart
, marking the highest peak performance from Ross as a solo artist since "I'm Still Waiting
" in 1971.
The song listed at #62 on Billboards "Greatest Songs of All Time".
) with Aretha Franklin
in mind to record. When Franklin turned down the offer to record the album Motown passed the material and project to Ross
.
However, in a 2011 interview, Nile Rodgers said "Diana Ross was the first big star we ever worked with and we took it very seriously." Rodgers and Edwards interviewed her for several days. "This was the first time in her life somebody cared about who she was; what she was - everyone previously had treated her the way we had treated Sister Sledge - they got her in and said 'Sing this'. We (took a more personal approach)."
The song would be later covered and sampled
by the likes of Salt-N-Pepa
, Kid Rock
, Missy Elliott
, Alcazar
, Puff Daddy, Collette
and MC Lyte
, who had a hit under the "Upside Down" sample in Lyte's 1996 hit, "Cold Rock a Party
(Remix)". The Salt-N-Pepa version was featured on the Space Jam soundtrack
.
The song was later covered by Destiny's Child
during a tribute show honoring Ross and her career on a VH1
Divas
special. Their version is featured on their album Single Remix Tracks
.
In 1994, the song was used in Disney Sing Along Songs: Let's Go to the Circus.
In 1997, Ross performed the song live with British band Jamiroquai
at "The Brit Awards" ceremony.
In 2001, contemporary jazz/fusion group Pieces of a Dream
offered their version from the release "Acquainted With the Night."
A cover of the song appears on Robert Plant
's 2003 album Sixty Six to Timbuktu
album was released
In 2004, Alcazar
sampled "Upside Down" in their song "This Is the World We Live In
".
Side A
Side B
UK 12" #2
Side A
Side B
/Thee, in the phrase: "Respectfully I say to thee I'm aware that you're cheatin'."
Diana Ross
Diana Ernestine Earle Ross is an American singer, record producer, and actress. Ross was lead singer of the Motown group The Supremes during the 1960s. After leaving the group in 1970, Ross began a solo career that included successful ventures into film and Broadway...
released on the Motown label. It was the first single taken from her 1980 album diana
Diana (album)
diana is a 1980 album by American R&B and soul singer Diana Ross, released by Motown. Her 11th studio album, it was, and still is, the biggest-selling studio collection of Ross' career.-Conception:...
and hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
on September 6, 1980. It also hit number one on the Billboard Disco/Dance and R&B
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
charts. The single was also a big hit internationally, topping the singles charts in Italy, Norway and Switzerland, while reaching #5 in Canada. It also rose to #2 on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
, marking the highest peak performance from Ross as a solo artist since "I'm Still Waiting
I'm Still Waiting
"I'm Still Waiting" is a popular song by Diana Ross which first appeared on her 1970 album Everything Is Everything.Written and produced by Deke Richards,"I'm Still Waiting" continued the vein of sophisticated soul as heard on her breakthrough solo hit "Ain't No Mountain High Enough." Despite this,...
" in 1971.
The song listed at #62 on Billboards "Greatest Songs of All Time".
History
The song was written by Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers (of the band ChicChic (band)
Chic was an African American disco and R&B band that was organized during 1976 by guitarist Nile Rodgers and bassist Bernard Edwards. It is known best for its commercially successful disco songs, including "Dance, Dance, Dance " , "Everybody Dance" , "Le Freak" , "I Want Your Love" , "Good Times"...
) with Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin
Aretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All...
in mind to record. When Franklin turned down the offer to record the album Motown passed the material and project to Ross
Diana Ross
Diana Ernestine Earle Ross is an American singer, record producer, and actress. Ross was lead singer of the Motown group The Supremes during the 1960s. After leaving the group in 1970, Ross began a solo career that included successful ventures into film and Broadway...
.
However, in a 2011 interview, Nile Rodgers said "Diana Ross was the first big star we ever worked with and we took it very seriously." Rodgers and Edwards interviewed her for several days. "This was the first time in her life somebody cared about who she was; what she was - everyone previously had treated her the way we had treated Sister Sledge - they got her in and said 'Sing this'. We (took a more personal approach)."
The song would be later covered and sampled
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
by the likes of Salt-N-Pepa
Salt-N-Pepa
Salt-N-Pepa is an American hip hop trio from Queens and Brooklyn, New York, that was formed in 1985. The group, consisting of Cheryl "Salt" Renee James, Sandra "Pepa" Denton, and Deidra "DJ Spinderella" Roper, was one of the first all-female rap crews....
, Kid Rock
Kid Rock
Robert James "Bob" Ritchie , known by his stage name Kid Rock, is an American singer-songwriter, musician and rapper with five Grammy Awards nominations...
, Missy Elliott
Missy Elliott
Melissa Arnette "Missy" Elliott , is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, record producer, and actressA five-time Grammy Award winner, Elliott, with record sales of over seven million in the United States, is the only female rapper to have five albums certified platinum by the RIAA, including one...
, Alcazar
Alcazar (band)
Alcazar is a Swedish eurodance group which has established themselves as one of Sweden's most successful music groups with a string of hits since their debut single in 1999. Worldwide, Alcazar sold over 12 million records between 2001 and 2004...
, Puff Daddy, Collette
Collette
Collette is a surname or given name, and may refer to:Surname* Buddy Collette , American jazz musician* Ned Collette, Australian singer/songwriter* Toni Collette , Australian actressGiven name...
and MC Lyte
MC Lyte
MC Lyte is an American rapper who first gained fame in the late-1980s becoming the first solo female rapper to release a full album with 1988's critically acclaimed Lyte as a Rock.-Early life:...
, who had a hit under the "Upside Down" sample in Lyte's 1996 hit, "Cold Rock a Party
Cold Rock a Party
"Cold Rock a Party" was the lead single released from MC Lyte's fifth studio album, Bad As I Wanna B. The original version of the song that appeared on the album was produced by Jermaine Dupri and sampled Audio Two's "Top Billin", the single version was produced by Sean Combs and Rashad Smith and...
(Remix)". The Salt-N-Pepa version was featured on the Space Jam soundtrack
Space Jam (soundtrack)
- Album singles :...
.
The song was later covered by Destiny's Child
Destiny's Child
Destiny's Child was an American R&B girl group whose final line-up comprised lead singer Beyoncé Knowles alongside Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. Formed in 1997 in Houston, Texas, Destiny's Child members began their musical endeavors in their pre-teens under the name Girl's Tyme...
during a tribute show honoring Ross and her career on a VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
Divas
VH1 Divas
In 1998, VH1 debuted the first annual VH1 Divas concert. VH1 Divas Live was created to support the channel's Save The Music Foundation and subsequent concerts in the series have also benefited that foundation. The VH1 Divas concerts aired annually from 1998 to 2004. After a five year hiatus, the...
special. Their version is featured on their album Single Remix Tracks
Single Remix Tracks
Single Remix Tracks is the 2000 Japanese remix album by R&B group Destiny's Child. The album was not promoted heavily and was sold exclusively in Japan where it was an official release from Sony Music Japan. This album was quickly followed up by Survivor which was sold globally...
.
In 1994, the song was used in Disney Sing Along Songs: Let's Go to the Circus.
In 1997, Ross performed the song live with British band Jamiroquai
Jamiroquai
Jamiroquai is a British jazz funk and acid jazz band formed in 1992. Jamiroquai were initially the most prominent component in the early-1990s London-based acid jazz movement, alongside groups such as Incognito, the James Taylor Quartet, and the Brand New Heavies. Other Acid Jazz artists such as...
at "The Brit Awards" ceremony.
In 2001, contemporary jazz/fusion group Pieces of a Dream
Pieces of a Dream (band)
Pieces of a Dream is an American R&B/jazz group from Philadelphia. The group was formed in 1976 by bassist Cedric Napoleon, drummer Curtis Harmon, and keyboardist James Lloyd. At the time, the three were all teenagers...
offered their version from the release "Acquainted With the Night."
A cover of the song appears on Robert Plant
Robert Plant
Robert Anthony Plant, CBE is an English singer and songwriter best known as the vocalist and lyricist of the iconic rock band Led Zeppelin. He has also had a successful solo career...
's 2003 album Sixty Six to Timbuktu
Sixty Six to Timbuktu
Sixty Six to Timbuktu is a greatest hits album and a history of the career of Robert Plant, from 1966 to a recording done at the Festival in the Desert in Mali. The album was released in 2003 and contains songs from Plant's eight solo albums up to the time of its release on its first disc, and...
album was released
In 2004, Alcazar
Alcazar (band)
Alcazar is a Swedish eurodance group which has established themselves as one of Sweden's most successful music groups with a string of hits since their debut single in 1999. Worldwide, Alcazar sold over 12 million records between 2001 and 2004...
sampled "Upside Down" in their song "This Is the World We Live In
This Is the World We Live In
"This Is the World We Live In" is a eurodance song performed by Swedish band Alcazar. The song is the fifth single from their second album, Alcazarized. It was released in the summer of 2004, and became a huge hit, not only in Sweden, but across Europe, and even as far away as China and South Africa...
".
Track listing
UK 12"Side A
- "Upside Down" (93' Remix, David Morales & Satoshi Tomiie mix)
- "The Best Years of My Life" (Album Version)
Side B
- "Upside Down" (Morales Dub, David Morales & Satoshi Tomiie mix)
- "Upside Down" (Album Version)
UK 12" #2
Side A
- "Upside Down"
Side B
- "Upside Down" (Remix by David Morales & Satoshi Tomiie)
Music video
The music video contains no plot and consists mostly of cut scenes together. In some of the scenes Diana Ross poses in different clothes on camera and by the way are also displayed pictures of her.Language
Linguistically the song is notable for its use of the archaic form of the second person singular pronoun, ThouThou
The word thou is a second person singular pronoun in English. It is now largely archaic, having been replaced in almost all contexts by you. It is used in parts of Northern England and by Scots. Thou is the nominative form; the oblique/objective form is thee , and the possessive is thy or thine...
/Thee, in the phrase: "Respectfully I say to thee I'm aware that you're cheatin'."