"Upside Down" is a hit song by Diana Ross released on the Motown label. It was the first single taken from her 1980 album diana and hit number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on 6 September 1980. It also hit number 1 on the Billboard Disco/Dance and R&B charts. The single was released a full 4 weeks after the album was released. In its fifth week on the Billboard Hot 100, it made a dramatic leap into the Top 10 (*49-*10). It held down the number 1 title for 4 weeks.
The single was also a big hit internationally, topping the singles charts in Sweden, Italy, Norway and Switzerland, while reaching number 5 in Canada. It also rose to number 2 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 listed at number 62 on Billboard's "Greatest Songs of All Time".
History[edit]
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)."
The song would be later covered and sampled by the likes of 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)". 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.
Upside Down was also covered and released as a single in late 2001 by Australian R & B girl group X3 (Times Three). It followed the release of their first single, and album, 'Girl Like Me'. The song received healthy airplay and was promoted well in Australia but did not chart well.
In 2001, contemporary jazz/fusion group Pieces of a Dream offered their version from the release "Acquainted With the Night."
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 stationery as an example of the car brand's "magic body control." It was also used by Jaguar Cars in a parody of the Mercedes-Benz commercial.
Charts (1980)[edit]
| Chart (1980) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report) | 1 |
| Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) | 2 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) | 3 |
| Canada (RPM 100 Singles) | 5 |
| Canada (RPM Adult Contemporary) | 1 |
| Denmark (Tracklisten) | 1 |
| France (SNEP) | 2 |
| Germany (Media Control AG) | 3 |
| Ireland (IRMA) | 3 |
| Italy (FIMI) | 1 |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) | 2 |
| Netherlands (Mega Single Top 100) | 3 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) | 1 |
| Norway (VG-lista) | 1 |
| South Africa (Springbok Radio) | 1 |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) | 1 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) | 1 |
| UK Singles (Official Charts Company) | 2 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 1 |
| US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play | 1 |
| US Billboard Hot R&B Singles | 1 |
Year-end charts[edit]
| Chart (1980) | Position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 18 |
End-of-decade charts[edit]
| End of decade (1980–1989) | Position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 30 |
Track listing[edit]
- UK 12"
Side A
- "Upside Down" (93' Remix, David Morales & Satoshi Tomiie mix)
- "The Best Years of My Life" (Album Version)
Side B
- "Upside Down" (Morales Dub, David Morales & Satoshi Tomiie mix)
- "Upside Down" (Album Version)
- UK 12" #2
Side A
- "Upside Down"
Side B
- "Upside Down" (Remix by David Morales & Satoshi Tomiie)
Music video[edit]
The music video consists of previously filmed scenes from Ross's other productions over the years cut together with some photographs.
Language[edit]
Linguistically the song is notable for its use of the archaic form of the second person singular pronoun, Thou/Thee, in the phrase: "Respectfully I say to thee I'm aware that you're cheatin'."
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