RC@5: diana by Diana Ross

Record Club covered this album five years ago. I gave it another listen this week. Here are some thoughts.

diana

Diana Ross

Week 74: June 28-July 4, 2020

Feels like there's a lot to touch on when it comes to this album and this week in RC history and all the great reviews for the album. But first, let's just mention this important point: sometimes, it's just real nice to revisit a great album that you haven't heard in a while. I love diana. One of the strongest albums we've ever covered in Record Club, just in terms of craft. Maybe it doesn't have that special something that makes it connect to me in a deep and unexplainable way. That's fine. I cannot deny the songwriting here. Eight absolutely bangers. Great album.

Some other thoughts:

— Sometimes I'll reread album reviews that I've written, just as a way to keep sharp and remember where I've come from and what I can do to improve. I very rarely revisit my diana review. It's just kinda boring, ya know? I know the whole point was that "you can write however you want," and that's very true. If someone else wrote in the style of "I'm going to write about each song individually," then I'd love it. But I think that I am personally past that point. That doesn't scratch the itch that I have within me.

— Unless I'm forgetting something, this is the first time that I've dangled the carrot of "donating money to good causes" in front of potential blog writers. I don't know if it works to get the blogging flowing, but I guess the reviews themselves are a moot point if I'm donating money. Maybe the time is ripe for another one of these events. It's been about a year and a half. My financial situation has extremely stretched right now, but I think it would be worth stretching it even further if I get a good idea.

— I thought and still currently think that donating to BLM is a good idea. In retrospect, I think it was helpful to donate to this charity at this particular time, as it served to definitively place Record Club and Puke on Your Birthday on the political spectrum, in case anyone was unaware before this moment. E.g. I remember at least one cop leaving the Facebook message (that served as the main communication for RC at the time), unremarked upon but done for obvious reasons. That's a net positive, I'd say.

— A couple mentions of the Your Favorite Movie interview for Mahogany, which even five years ago already felt like a missed opportunity. I was woefully unprepared regarding knowing who Diana Ross was and the impact of that movie based on her stature as a musical artist. I've recently been thinking about redoing those interviews. Not now, but maybe in a few years, like before I turn 40 or something. I'd love to talk to every interviewee again, do another interview about the same movie, see how things have changed in the decade in between. I haven't spoke to Vea in years. I have no idea where she is. So I guess if I wanted to talk to her about everything I now know about Diana Ross, that would take some effort.

— I regret making a big deal about the story with Diana Ross and her initial reaction to learning what "I'm Coming Out" was about. More emphasis should have been placed on the fact that she very obviously came around eventually, to the point where she is an LGBTQ icon. I think that I have some work to do in learning to be more gracious to the idea that humans have the capability for change. I also think that not having that grace is one of the core reasons that progressives have a tough time advancing their ideals. We're too prone to attack our own, instead of focusing that passion outward. 

Anyways, good album. Real, real good album.