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Upside Down || is upside-down

Published September 22nd, 2007 in Uncategorized

“Upside Down” is a song by Motown legend Diana Ross. It was the first single taken from her 1980 album “Diana” and hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on September 6, 1980. The single was also a big hit internationally, reaching #2 in the UK.


History

The song was written and produced by Chic masterminds Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards, apparently on a whim after Ross told the legendary songwriter-producer duo that she wanted a song her children could dance to.

The song would be later covered and sampled by the likes of Missy Elliott, Puff Daddy and MC Lyte, who had a hit under the “Upside Down” sample in Lyte’s 1996 hit, “Cold Rock a Party”.

The song was later covered by Destiny’s Child during a tribute show honoring Ross and her phenomenal career on a VH1 Divas special.

In 1994, the song was used in .

In 1997, Ross performed the song live with British artist Jamiroquai at “The Brit Awards” ceremony.


Trivia

When the song hit number one on Billboard Hot 100 and Black Singles Chart, it made the then 36-year-old Ross the oldest female artist to have a number-one single before she beat herself a year later with her Lionel Richie duet, “Endless Love” after she turned 37. The streak was broken by Tina Turner’s number-one single, “What’s Love Got to Do with It?” three years later. Since then, songs by a 53-year-old Cher (”Believe” in 1999) and a 42-year-old Madonna (”Music” in 2000) have since eclipsed Ross but she remains the fourth oldest female artist to have a number-one charted single in the U.S.

“Upside Down” 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.