DIANA ROSS STILL RULES

STEVEN SPILLS © 101

DIANA ROSS REIGNS SUPREME

Seeing Diana Ross in concert for the first time when I was fresh on the gay scene at eighteen-years-queer was a thrill. I had always loved her music, movies and overall diva dominance. Who could forget her unbelievable performance in 1983 battling the pouring rain in Manhattan’s Central Park dressed in a fierce sequin catsuit?! As I sat in awe at her Eaten Alive tour positioned in front of me seated in the very front row was Nashville’s own Diana Ross impersonator, Rita Ross. “Rita,” Pucci to his friends, was all decked out in a white dress, red nails and big Ross hair ready for any moment to be shared with his idol.

Our second row seats gave us the inside excitement of the entire evening and the moments that ensued. Sure enough, Diana stopped mid-performance between numbers and came over to generously bring Rita up onstage with her to entertain for a very brief spot. This was such a special time for Pucci and all of his friends there with him. I was thrilled to be part of it all! The Tennessean newspaper ran a photo of the two on the front page and it has circulated for years.

Just last week we headed over to Fantasy Springs Casino to catch Madame Ross in concert. After grabbing some quick food inside the hotel we strolled over to find our floor seats inside the venue. Now to call them seats is misleading if you are to believe that they are in any ways comfortable because they most definitely are not. Just picture white wooden folding chairs pushed together like sardines. For the ticket prices they charge they could at least provide better seating if they expect to hold concerts there successfully. It seems the best seats may be the cheaper seats in the back since you’re elevated and away from the masses.

I always try to position us on the ends of rows because I like to have some space. I’ll check back for show tickets until I get seats where I want them. Luckily the tickets for Diana were exactly where I would have picked them. Seats 1 and 2. However, I put us on the floor and I’m guessing she didn’t want big screen projectors because they weren’t on so visually the show was often awkwardly between heads. Another reason to sit on the end, I was able to scoot us slightly to the left to improve our visual!

The show started only a few minutes late and Diana Ross looked amazing! She still has her voice. There’s no denying that. Miss Ross gave us a total of five costumes changes including dresses of beads and sequins in the hues of red, hot pink, gold, white and yellow. She offered over two dozen of her hits including the melodic “Love Hangover,” brilliantly written number-one chart topper “Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You’re Going To)” and the concert’s grand finale and gay anthem “I Will Survive.” I was thrilled that we went and saw Diana perform!

But unfortunately I must admit there were places I wanted more from her. For instance I can’t sing “Baby Love” verbatim without seeing lyrics but I had hope that she could. She must have gotten lost because she turned around laughing it off with her background singers and kept going. The show was chock full of her music catalogue but without any description of why and where and how so that left me slightly empty. Song, song, song, song, “Ah memories!” song, song, song, costume change, repeat. I really didn’t expect her to sing my personal favorites like the vintage dance floor filler “Swept Away,” haunting “Pieces of Ice” and epic tearjerker “Remember Me” but I wouldn’t have minded a bit of conversation with her. Again, she was amazing. I want to finish on a positive because she still has it and there are no regrets other than where we sat and the wish that the venue provided more comfort.

OK. Quick story and I’m out… It was my senior year of high school and I had just come out of the closet not caring much of what people were thinking at this point. For the yearbook we had to give our academic accomplishments, future goals and a quote that represented us. After naming my numerous extracurriculars and dreams I ended with the following quote and wouldn’t change a thing today: If you need me, call me. No matter where you are. No matter how far. Just call my name and I’ll be there in a hurry. On that you can depend and never worry. Thank you, Miss Diana Ross. You’re still supreme!

2011 © PULP