Upside Down

"Upside Down"
Single by Diana Ross
from the album Diana
B-side	"Friend to Friend"
Released	June 25, 1980
Genre	Disco[1]
Length	4:05
Label	Motown
Writer(s)	Nile Rodgers Bernard Edwards
Producer(s)	Nile Rodgers Bernard Edwards
Certification	Gold (RIAA)[2] Silver (BPI)[3]
Diana Ross singles chronology
"It's My House" (1979) "Upside Down" (1980) "I'm Coming Out" (1980)

"Upside Down" is a song written and produced by Chic members Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards. It was recorded by American singer Diana Ross and issued as a single on June 25, 1980, as the lead single from her self-titled tenth studio album diana. The song hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on September 6, 1980. It also hit number one on the Billboard Disco and Soul charts. The single was released a full four weeks after the album was released. It held down the number one spot for four weeks.

The single was also a big hit internationally, topping the singles charts in Sweden, Italy, Norway, and Switzerland, while reaching number five in Canada. It also rose to number two on the UK Singles Chart, marking the highest peak performance from Ross as a solo artist since "I'm Still Waiting" in 1971. It also earned her a British Phonographic Industry silver disc award for sales in excess of 250,000 copies.

The song is listed at number 62 on Billboard's "Greatest Songs of All Time."^[4]

History

The song was written by Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers (of the band Chic).

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)."^[5]

Music video

The music video consists of previously filmed scenes from Ross's other productions over the years cut together with some photographs.^[6]

Chart performance

Weekly charts Chart (1980) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report)[7] 1 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[8] 2 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[9] 3 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[10] 1 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[11] 5 Denmark (IFPI)[12] 1 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[13] 1 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[14] 3 France (IFOP)[15] 2 Germany (Official German Charts)[16] 3 Ireland (IRMA)[17] 3 Italy (FIMI)[18] 1 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[19] 2 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[20] 3 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[21] 1 Norway (VG-lista)[22] 1 South Africa (Springbok Radio)[23] 1 Spain (AFYVE)[24] 15 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[25] 1 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[26] 1 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[27] 2 US Billboard Hot 100[28] 1 US Billboard Hot Disco Singles[28] 1 US Billboard Hot Soul Singles[28] 1 US Cash Box[29] 1 US Record World[30] 1

Year-end charts Chart (1980) Position Australia (Kent Music Report)[31] 15 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[32] 12 Canada (RPM Top 100 Singles)[33] 52 France (IFOP)[34] 40 Italy (FIMI)[35] 8 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[36] 7 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[37] 17 South Africa (Springbok Radio)[38] 11 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[39] 4 US Billboard Hot 100[40] 18 US Cash Box[41] 4 All-time charts Chart (1958–2015) Position US Billboard Hot 100[42] 77

Covers, samples and uses

• The song would be later covered and sampled by 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)."^[43] 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 Mickey's Fun Songs: Let's Go to the Circus with a different arrangement and lyrics.
• 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."^[44]
• In 2004, Alcazar sampled "Upside Down" in their song "This Is the World We Live In."
• In 2013, the song was used in a Mercedes-Benz commercial featuring chickens being moved around while their heads remain stationary as an example of the car brand's "magic body control."^[45] It was also used by Jaguar Cars in a parody of the Mercedes-Benz commercial.^[46]

See also

• List of Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles of 1980

References

1. Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Fireside. p. 704. ISBN 0-394-72107-1. the sessions produced such disco classics as "I'm Coming Out" (...) and "Upside Down.
2. "Gold & Platinum – Diana Ross". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
3. "Certified Awards". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
4. The Billboard Hot 100 All-Time Top Songs (70-61) at the Wayback Machine (archived June 6, 2011). Billboard. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
5. "Twenty First Century Music". Twenty First Century Music. November 10, 2011. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
6. "Diana Ross – Upside Down". Dailymotion. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
7. "Australia No. 1 hits -- 1980's". World Charts. Retrieved June 15, 2013.
8. "Austriancharts.at – Diana Ross – Upside Down" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved June 15, 2013.
9. "Ultratop.be – Diana Ross – Upside Down" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved June 15, 2013.
10. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 0244." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 15, 2013.
11. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 4701a." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 15, 2013.
12. "Billboard – Hits Of The World". Billboard 92 (46): 87. November 15, 1980. ISSN 0006-2510.
13. MusicSeek.info – UK, Eurochart, Billboard & Cashbox No.1 Hits at the Wayback Machine (archived June 14, 2006). MusicSeek.info. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
14. Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin - levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
15. "InfoDisc : Tous les Titres par Artiste" (in French). InfoDisc. Select "Diana Ross" from the artist drop-down menu. Retrieved June 15, 2013.
16. "Offiziellecharts.de – Diana Ross – Upside Down". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved June 15, 2013.
17. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Upside Down". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved June 15, 2013.
18. "SINGOLI – I NUMERI UNO (1959-2006) (parte 3: 1980-1990)" (in Italian). It-charts.150m.com. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
19. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Diana Ross - Upside Down search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40. Retrieved June 15, 2013.
20. "Dutchcharts.nl – Diana Ross – Upside Down" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved June 15, 2013.
21. "Charts.org.nz – Diana Ross – Upside Down". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved June 15, 2013.
22. "Norwegiancharts.com – Diana Ross – Upside Down". VG-lista. Retrieved June 15, 2013.
23. "South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (R)". Rock.co.za. Retrieved June 15, 2013.
24. Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
25. "Swedishcharts.com – Diana Ross – Upside Down". Singles Top 100. Retrieved June 15, 2013.
26. "Swisscharts.com – Diana Ross – Upside Down". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved June 15, 2013.
27. "Archive Chart: 1980-08-09" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved June 15, 2013.
28. "Diana Ross – Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved June 15, 2013.
29. CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending SEPTEMBER 13, 1980 at the Wayback Machine (archived September 15, 2012). Cash Box magazine. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
30. RECORD WORLD #1 Hits 1980 at the Wayback Machine (archived May 27, 2003). Record World. Geocities.com. Retrieved May 9, 2015.
31. "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – Top 100 End of Year AMR Charts – 1980s". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
32. "Jaaroverzichten 1980" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved April 24, 2014.
33. "Top Singles – Volume 34, No. 6, December 20, 1980". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
34. "TOP – 1980" (in French). Top-france.fr. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
35. "I singoli più venduti del 1980" (in Italian). Hit Parade Italia. Creative Commons. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
36. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1980" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
37. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1980" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
38. "Top 20 Hit Singles of 1980". Rock.co.za. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
39. "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1980" (in German). Hitparade.ch. Hung Medien. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
40. "Top 100 Hits for 1980". The Longbored Surfer. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
41. The CASH BOX Year-End Charts: 1980 at the Wayback Machine (archived September 15, 2012). Cash Box magazine. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
42. "Greatest of All Time Hot 100 Singles". Billboard. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
43. "Diana Ross – Anthology". Vibe 9 (5): 164. May 2001. ISSN 1070-4701.
44. Edelstein, Paula. "Pieces of a Dream – Acquainted With the Night". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
45. Stone, Jason (October 2, 2013). "Ad break: Mercedes-Benz chickens, Carlsberg Premier League push". The Guardian. Retrieved December 23, 2013.
46. Kurczewski, Nick (December 18, 2013). "A fowl rivalry: Feathers are flying between Jaguar and Mercedes-Benz!". Daily News. Retrieved December 23, 2013.

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics