CONCERT REVIEW — Diana Ross Reached Out And Touched My Hand, and My Heart
If you want a truly objective review of entertainment legend Diana Ross’ Northern California performances a couple of weeks ago, read someone else’s. Ross and I have shared a love since I was 13 years old, and to quote a favorite R & B jam from my youth, ain’t no stopping us now.
At the Mountain Winery, Ross reached out and touched somebody’s hand.
That hand was mine.
In doing so, by the end of her fantastic show, Ross embodied the words of that solo career-launching classic by making my world a better place, while also making me and a handful of others in the front row the objects of envy.
Who could blame them? I have to tell you that, as I looked into Ross’ still stunning, 80-year-old eyes, placed perfectly by God on her still nearly flawless face, I felt a bit like Icarus staring at the sun, fearful that I might gaze into Ross’ visage too long and do myself some serious damage.
But I couldn’t look away. I just couldn’t. We exchanged just a few words — I’ll keep them between us — before she slowly and gently released my trembling hand. She had to close out her standing-room-only show, after all, and get to her next gig, where another rabid fan undoubtedly awaited her.
What of Ross’ concerts themselves, you may ask? That night’s was the first of a three day string of them. I was lucky enough to attend the first, in Saratoga, and the last, at the Hard Rock just outside of Sacramento.
Non-hand-holding highlights included a pitch perfect version of “Don’t Explain” from Ross’ Oscar-winning 1972 film Lady Sings The Blues, an equally enticing “Touch Me In The Morning” (don’t I wish, Miss Ross!), a spot-on string of Supremes-era bops, a rousing “Ease On Down The Road” from The Wiz (during which I cut a rug with a total stranger), a rafters-raising version of “The Boss,” and a few selections from Thank You. Two evenings later, on Sunday, Ross wow’d once again, with an even longer set from that latest album.
Some Sacramento concert goers expressed disappointment that Ross didn’t revisit LSTB in Sacramento. I wasn’t — I’ve often said that, after so many years in the biz, Ross has earned the right to sing whatever the hell she wants to. Whenever she takes the mic, to quote another of her chart-toppers, I’ll be there in a hurry. On that, she can depend and never worry!
Another surprise from both nights was Ross’ duet with her eldest daughter, Rhonda Ross, on Thank You’s “Count On Me.” The looks that Mama Ross gave her little one as they warbled made me envy their relationship, and wish I had that with my own mother.
The younger Ross even performed a short set in the middle of the show, giving her mom a few minutes to make one of her almost-mandatory costume changes. I would think that most people would find it hard to be the adult daughter of Diana Ross, let alone take the stage with her. I know that I would, but Rhonda has always seemed to step into that reality quite confidently. As I think about that, I realize that she doesn’t have much choice.
The third song from Rhonda’s set, a trio of her original compositions, was quite beautiful. I hope she asks her mother to record it.
Diana Ross’ Hard Rock show also granted fans a rare glimpse of the legendary performer’s penchant for perfection. Early in the concert, Ross was left center stage to manage technical issues with a recalcitrant sound system. After beating her mic with her hand-held fan, Ross bellowed “What is wrong with this machine — they can’t hear me,” just before a stage hand was dispatched to set things straight. As she famously told broadcaster Barbara Walters decades ago, Ross has standards, and woe be unto a colleague of hers to does not live up to them. After that Sunday night’s faux pas, I feared that someone with the Hard Rock found themselves on the unemployment line Monday morning.
To sum the weekend up, Diana Ross is an international treasure that music fans are lucky to still be able to enjoy. Some of her contemporaries, like Aretha Franklin and Tina Turner, are gone. Others should have hung it up years ago. Ross is still packing them in, while meeting or exceeding expectations…as she always has.
And from that megawatt smile on her face — that face! — she still seems to be having the time of her life.
Me, too, Miss Ross.
Me, too.
