Vocal Battle | The Supremes (Original Lineup): Diana Ross, Florence Ballard, Mary Wilson
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- Опубликовано: 7 сен 2024
- Names appear in order of vocal weight, from smallest to largest.
Vocal battle showcasing the original lineup of the real-life Dreamgirls, The Supremes who became and remain the most successful US vocal group of all time with 12 total #1s on the Billboard Hot 100 (10 of which they earned as this lineup between 1964-1967).
Solo recordings have been used sparingly as Flo only recorded one album worth of songs for ABC Records after leaving Motown in 1968 (after her firing from The Supremes in '67), whereas Diana and Mary have released multiple solo albums after leaving/disbanding the group.
Mary shared leads on most 70s post-Ross Supremes recordings and thus a lot of her notes are from this period, whereas she and Flo had very few lead spots on albums and live performances between 1964 and 1967 and thus there are many notes for Flo before this period.
VOICE TYPES (in their prime years)
Diana Ross: Light Lyric Soprano
Florence Ballard: Spinto Soprano?
Mary Wilson: Lyric Mezzo-Soprano
I think Flo had a more diverse voice. Diana had a pop Broadway, and Mary had a jazzy bluesy voice. They all could have solo artist.
She IMO did not.....
@@williammials6080 …. Gordy gave Ross voice training. Flo and Mary got nothing! Natural voice And talent - Florence.
Diana is not a great singer, but, then again, neither am I. Can't hit not one damn note! LMAO. 🤣
Flo as a classical singer would've been heaven
Mary's tone is incredible! Wow! I love all incarnations of the Supremes from the original too the cast aside last line up! Slaychelle, this was really amazing! Thank You! Finally Mary gets some shine.
+Leki Jolo No problem, thanks for commenting :D A more in depth follow-up is coming very soon :)
Flo and Mary's voice are just amazing, proper strong soulful sound to them.
Flo was a beautiful soprano.
If this was a poll, I would vote Flo for sure.
FLO, FLO, FLO!! 😍😍
Flo was not a soprano. She sung bass, Mary sung Soprano
@@theteatv2348 Yes she was. Singing lower harmonies within a group doesn't make you a bass. Bass is a male voice type. When you listen to her voice alone you'll hear all of the qualities of a soprano. She had a bright and high lying voice. She can't be anything other than a soprano.
@@ThePianoguy89 so again my point is Flo was singing Bass and Mary soprano. Your thesis wasn't needed, required, or desired. 🖐
@@theteatv2348 It's still wrong. She didn't even sing bass notes. How could she sing bass if her lowest note is a C3? She has never sung any bass notes. Singing lower harmonies is not equivalent to being a bass. Mary Wilson was actually a mezzo soprano and Florence was a soprano.
@@theteatv2348 Florence sang the soprano harmonies in the group and Mary sang alto or tenor. Occasionally they would switch, sometimes with Mary on high and Diana on the lowest, like when Flo lead Ain’t That Good News
WOW awesome. I love all their voices and when melded together they were pure magic. Diana sounded amazing in 62.
Yesssss this video is everything! All 3 could sing honey. Mary's tone is amazing. Florence's soulful voice is great. I love Diana's sweet, unique voice. Legendary video, you better slay Slaychelle!
Angelfully Thank you!!! I had to represent for the greatest! My generation needs to know the talent that paved the way
+Angelfully i love Florences voice the best
DJ Me too, and she and Mary could really harmonize
its rare to come across a group that all 3 were capable of singing lead. mary and florence should have been given many more leads. diana had the perfect voice for the HDH songs they were releasing but this group had talent bursting at the seams. such a shame berry gordy didnt see the potential of all 3 girls.
+divine williams Right! I totally agree and each with their own unique style, sound and approach to a song. The 60s-only follow-up to this video is coming soon...trying to cut it down from 25 minutes + and failing miserably LOL.
divine-- that is what all of our writings are about how sad Gordy ruined this group with his greedy narrow mind on only one -- Diana--- they ALL had it.. and Diana could have gone after her other goals... but NOT destroying her peers doing it>>>>
He saw it. Accd to Mary's Book, he felt Diane's was more commercial sounding, which it was. But we all know the other 2 didn't get leads because it was designed to push Ross into the forefront
Florence did sing lead on their sing "Aint that Good News" but Berry did limited this group's potential. Yes, Diana could had sang lead commercial cross over audiences but Florence and Mary could had sang some B side songs. They really would had became a girl supergroup. Berry was either controlled by Diana or very limited in crearivity and innovation
They all sound so awesome! I can’t even pick a voice. All beautiful, powerful, unique and distinct!
This was well put together. I always knew Mary was talented, but listening to this I am blown away. She has great tone and pitch. She could really attack those high alto/low soprano notes. Diana and Flo were really good also. I wish Flo would have looked at her termination from Motown as an opportunity to truly reinvent herself and her career. I wish Mary had done the same thing after Diana left.
+Mike Harris They were each talented in their own right which makes it so aggravating when people try to malign various individuals in girl groups. The whole purpose of a trio or quartet is for each voice to blend creating a harmonious sound. I think both Flo did try to reinvent herself and her career post Supremes. Sometimes lightning doesn't strike twice and maybe it just wasn't meant to be. Mary made it her mission to carry on the Supremes and rode that train until it reached its final destination.
Yeah, Mary did ride it until the wheels fell off and I applaud the effort she put into keeping the Supremes alive and keeping their legacy alive afterwards. I wonder if Mary and Diana will ever truly reconcile their differences. Only time will tell.
They were blackballed by Gordy. He played dirty games with their careers.
@@mikeharris468 I love Mary for keeping the legacy alive. Not hating on Diana, I just wish she'd left the group when the original trio were together. I think she thought she'd out grown them and wanted to do her own thing which was cool. That way she could have pursued her solo career and maybe Mary and Florence could have replaced her and went on. I think Berry was too vindictive and controlling which led to him destroying people's careers when they wouldn't bow down to him. Not taking away any of the good things he did do but he has to also be accountable for the wrong he did as well.
Great video! Thanks for putting it together. Too bad Mary and Flo didn't get a few more leads....
I keep on coming back to watch this video! It's soo good. You put a lot of effort on this video, and I thank you for that!
They have similar ranges, and this prove that arguments like "Mary can't do high notes" or "Diana doesn't have the same range as Flo" are completely wrong.
This video is everything!
The Supremes Archive Thank you so much 😊🙏🏾 I love your channel. I wanted as you mentioned to put those lies to rest. ALL of The Supremes are great singers with the iconic original 3 having their own distinct styles which blended so beautifully together.
Mary is really underrated for her contribution to the group and her voice! One Night With You is just divine.
And yes their ranges were quite similar and expansive but their approach so individual.
Had they been around now in the age of streaming they would have each had successful solo careers.
My personal opinion of the girls' voices: I agree with the person who commented that Flo's voice is a soprano/mezzo hybrid voice called the Dugazon. She was able to sustain notes F 5 and higher for long periods of time, like a soprano, yet she had really good 3rd. octave notes too; something a typical soprano won't have. As for Diana and Mary, they are both lyric mezzo-sopranos, but Diana has a light, bright tone like Madonna (who I think of every time I hear Diana sing), and Mary has a full, dark tone like Alicia Keys or Lady Gaga
Mary Wilson has a more deep powerful voice but it's Diana's sweet light voice that was ideal for their songs.
There is an interesting tidbit you might find interesting. When The Supremes debuted at the Copacabana, a lot was riding on the success of the show. Of course it was a smash! It paved the way for other Motown acts to follow them and it gave the Supremes leverage to demand top fees for their subsequent appearances. But the vitality of FLORENCE during the patter with the audience was incredible! Diana was supposed to do much of the talking, but Florence being so vivacious would add comments to either support or dispute Diana's attempts to relate and mingle with the audience. Florence comments were so spontaneous, comedic and fun....the audience fell in love with Florence. Some of the critics and show business people thought that it was planned, but Florence instinctively and spontaneously talked and EVERYONE loved it and the "personality" of Florence. Gordy pragmatically understood the dialogue between Diana and Florence had to remain in the act,even though it was not planned that way. It benefitted the group as a whole and was too well received to stop it. He at first attempted to delegate what Florence and Diana said between songs but Florence insisted that it remained spontaneous, she didn't even realize what she may say at the very moment herself. SAMMY DAVIS, JR ABSOLUTELY LOVED FLORENCE AND CAME TO SEVERAL SHOWS! Producers and directors of Broadway shows began to come to see the shows. In no time, they started talking and inquiring to Gordy about the availability of FLORENCE TO POSSIBLY STAR IN A SHOW OR FILM. As suprised as he was about the offers he always held them at bay. He had already by this time entertained the idea of Diana becoming a solo act AND he was afraid that the group may disband over the chance of Florence having an acting career. Ever the shrewd business man, he never mentioned the inquiries of Florence to ANYONE in the group, not even Diana. Florence very well have had a very successful acting career, had she been allowed the chance. By the time of the last year of Florence's life, she had been asked by the White House to sing there. She accepted and was very well received. She also sang for a benefit in Detroit and it was a smash. She was about to embark on relaunching her career. By this time Mary and Diana had promised to genuinely help all they could to help her. Florence just ran out of time.
Every at summing up Flo's potential. Its sad and unfortunate that as soon as Flo was ready to reach her potential it all ended for her. I wish she took her tragic setbacks as motivation for a comeback sooner especially she got dropped from ABC records
K Brandy--- so Gordy stopped Flo from going higher--- damn again... I know Sammy was impressed with Flo and Mary and he did see how they were pushed and kept to the back ...Imagine Gordy doing that to Sinatra -- Martin OR Sammy..... and that is why Diana only went so far... no code of ethics.. nor did Berry...
I knew about the benefit concert, but not the White House. I wish there was footage of those performances. But this is exactly what I was talking about in a comment above. Berry's vindictiveness and selfishness caused her her career. He even cheated her out of her royalties. This is why I don't care for him as a person.
@@Kevin-rg3yc Its not always that easy when you are suffering from depression. Its hard to deal with without professional help.
@@reealitychick Berry couldn't control men the way he controlled women. A man would have whipped his behind.
This video is amazing! Mary's voice is everything! Great Job!
+SingersAvenue Flos my fav but i love Marys soft voice soothing voice but i love Flos powerful voice
Before all the nonsense, they definitely had "it." There was no denying. I just wish Gordy would've let Holland Dozier Holland at the time write and anchor more songs toward Flo and Mary.
And released the ones Florence did sing and let her perform them. Silent Night, Holy Night, Ain't That Good News are all great songs that were not released at the time and she never got to sing them. Mary's on lead on Come Get These Memories sounds better than the Vandellas version to me. He didn't promote anything Mary and Florence did.
@@tanyad8495
Facts!
Diana with that sexy nasal sound with powerful range, Mary that smooth cicero vocal range ( hope I spelled it right ) and Flo what can I say about Goldie her soprano powerful octave rang. While recording Flo had to stand a few feet from the microphone because her voice was so strong. All these girls could sing there ass's off they had great hominies together they blended well that's why they were so unique and talented singers.
Blondie,not Goldie.Florence's nickname was Blondie.
Only one thing. That soaring soprano ad-lib on "Not Now, I'll Tell You Later" is not Flo. It's Definitely Mary Wilson! However, whoever put this together, did an amazing job of note-key matchup in a very well investigative way! I am sooo impressed and proud as well! THIS IS MAGNIFICENT! Thank You! BEAUTIFUL!
stage7 Are you sure? I love Mary but her tone doesn't have the brightness of whoever is singing it. Listen to the song "Bye Baby", Flo does the same "OO-OO-OOOOO" ad-lib but just at a lower pitch. I wondered if it was Eddie too but he's doing other ad libs and even maybe David Ruffin as he had the range but the rough texture of his voice would be instantly recognisable.
That being said I did wonder if during the instrumental break of "Pretty Baby" if that was Mary or simply Flo needed to clear her throat.
I remember you from my old channels MeetTheSupremes and JonathanGardnerTV, thank you! There was a time when all I posted was Supremes videos xD I've been wanting to make this for years
Slaychelle Yep. I'm absolutely sure! I've been with Mary too many time and know her various voices, and plus, none of the others sang like 'that'! Flo's was similar on certain things, but didn't have Mary's approach! But back in the day, Mary COULD do a LOT of things that people didn't expect! BUT... at THAT time of those recordings, FLO wasn't even THERE whatsoever! And it ISN'T Cindy's voice at 'all'! In fact, I don't believe she actually could 'do that'! Yeah, "Pretty Baby" WAS Flo doing that part. She was a bit rougher in approach. Mary's was ALWAYS smoother and 'thicker' such as the intro on 'Loving Country', and so is the ad-lib on "Not Now".
In fact, If she wanted to, Mary could do the Susaye range too. She just wasn't as fluent as she didn't use it or develope it! But I've HEARD her DO it in concert when she was feelin' it and less inhibited, (after champagne... chuckle). And those high pitched screams she does 'IS' her voice still and lets you know it's 'there'! She's just an 'alto house' voice. But she COULD do those things!
And NOW I Know who you 'are' my friend! (smile). Thanks for telling me! And you are STILL doing a 'BANG UP' EXCELLENT job on the things you post, still true to 'form'! I'm so glad YOU're still AT it! Blessings!
Slaychelle And by the way, her 'general' tone doesn't seem to have that brightness.. but there ARE elements of her voice and the way she uses it, that most certainly DO! And remember, she was 'young' and more excitable 'then', and when the opportunity arose for her to do something, the element of that would 'be' there along with the youthfulnness! And it certainly IS that on that number.... due to the very climate and mood of the song that they had worked up to that point! And the phrasing is LIKE the end of 'I Keep It Hid' as well as the vocal quality, just higher notes. And you also know, the 'higher' the notes, the brighter the sound.... even with HER 'thick' voice, lol!
stage7
Thanks so much!
Mary's range is huge and she is so underrated as a vocalist. A full vocal range video for Mary will come. I've already found numerous 6th octave exclamations from her dance records.
In Mary Wilson book! She stated that Barry told her she couldn't even sing!! Oh yes, she can sing...His ass can't...
Berry was in love with Diane, so he was tone deaf.
You know what the crazy part she was the one in studio to get the first song for the Supremes her vocals where the first to be recorded and she call flo than diana to come
I love Diana Ross so much! Thanks for the video!
What made Diana Ross stand out from the rest of the girls she had more Showmanship so with the voice that she had which was really unique.. love Mary's voice it's more of a pop type balladeer type singe!! Florence Ballard she was like a Soulful blues singer like a Etta James but more pop! And when it's all said and done she was the most beautiful of all appearance-wise! Face and body!!
Love this! I've never heard the power behind Flo's voice. Mary always said Flo's range was powerful. I've always said Mary's phrasing on ballads is unmatched. Mary and I were friends for 11 years. Diana's sound is also impeccable. No one gives more when she gives her best. 😀 G!
Fabulous video!
It's great to compare the girls to each other
even though they sing the same note it sometimes sounds just totally different because of their different timbre
I have to say that I had some tears in my eyes at the end of the video when the instrumental of the extended version IHAS started and especially when you did that little tribute to Flo at the end
Nice work Jon!
***** :D :D Thanks so much, it was a long time coming
Slaychelle great you finally finished it :)
To me it has never been a mystery why The Supremes were such a big hit. Diana Ross had such a unique voice, if not the best and the harmony vocalists could have both done lead themselves. The combination of talent was just unbeatable.
If it was not Janie Bradford it was Mabel John who said Mary had the best ear for Harmonies.
Flo was a vocal powerhouse. Berry had the vision to create Motown but he didnt have enough vision and sense to see that he had two separate stars in Flo and Diane. He could have had a group, The Supremes with Diane, Mary and another young lady and pushed Flo as a solo artist, or he could have had the Mary, Flo and another young lady do the Supremes and push Diane as a solo artist. He knew Diane wasn't ready for anything solo initially. As far as Flo, if she'd have gotten the experience, urging, pushing and practice Diane got as the lead singer she would have been STELLAR.
EXCELLENT!!! Thank you for this. Makes me want to break out my Supremes box set. No question why they were so successful.
Florence really has the better voice, followed by Mary, and then Diane.
hey, that's Diana. you know like Annie Mae is Tina, Ruth Jones is Dinah, get it , disrespectful xxxxx
@@dhowardd1 what?
The ranking of their looks also follow the same order..
@@manfromrome7710 agreed flo was beautiful, Mary was second, Diane third....she looked better when later on in life. But when she was younger vary vary gawky
@@KRstar78 I agree especially with the eye bugging and whiny voice, she looked like an insect. She is gorgeous now.
We can all pick who we think is the best singer but the 3 girls together are just supreme, its that simple, the great songs, the great singing, the polished group, the class act it was and still stands today, so its all them put together and we all get the first and only supremes, nobody will ever come close to them or even touch them.
I've said this before on another of the Supremes' videos: When you hear the early live clips it is so clear that Mary's voice took the edge off Diana and Florence's sometimes sharp voices. It's hard to imagine anyone else holding up the bottom but Mary. I much, much prefer the older sound when you could clearly hear all three voices. Every once in a while I find a clip of the later years that still has that clear three part harmony--particularly a clip where the girls sing The Impossible Dream. Cindy is there, but Mary's big, booming voice really supports Diana all the way. Mary is so much better than she is ever given credit for.
+Noodleydoo I agree wholeheartedly. I don't even think Mary realised how good she ALWAYS was! One of my favourites of their 3 part harmony is Mr. Blues from the There's A Place For Us sessions ^__^
+Slaychelle i have always been a fan of Flo.... even before i knew of her tragedy and the truth of the supremes. what i never knew was actually how well Mary could sing. i agree that she probably never knew how good she truly was!!!!!!
+SlaychelleI don't think Mary believed it either, but man listen to her on Sunset or Makes No Difference now. She sounds amazing on lead (as well as in the background). Later as her confidence waned, so did her voice. Show biz is tough. Luckily Mary got it back by quitting smoking. Also, there is a clip on RUclips of the Supremes in the Orient where all three do verses of People, and to my ears Mary is absolutely amazing on it! Mary never even talks about how she'd done lead on that song, which, for me, is so weird because she was IMO the best on that song. I agree that Diana had the best sound for pop records but Mary was a very important component to the Supremes' sound.
I don't think I've heard that song Mr. Blues, Slaychelle. I'll check it out! Thanks for the tip!
Noodleydoo
Yes I agree. She also sang that verse on "People" on their live recording at the Roostertail in 1966 featured on the expanded edition of the I Hear A Symphony album (Hip-O release).
I believe both Mary and Flo's confidence waned over time and that's why their early lead vocals are stronger than their vocals between '67-'69 but fortunately when Diana left, Mary really came into her own, one of the best examples being "Touch".
+Slaychelle I loved that song "Touch" as a kid. I am surprised how many Supremes fans hate it and think it spelled the end of the group's recording career. Even today, the instrumental track beginning stops me right in my tracks when it comes on, and Mary sounds fantastic opening the song on vocals.
MARY !!!!!!
Beautiful Florence Ballard with the best voice
Mary Wilson gets my vote!
Florence is my favorite
Go Flo beginning at 1:44! Usually Mary nailed their choreography but Flo was gliding here! Just awesome! It was the three of them that the world accepted and fell in love with.
Mary,"Can't take my eyes off of you"1968～1973.
Ross was more of a soprano early on. Over time, probably because of smoking and over-singing (she has said she had to teach herself how to sing from her diaphragm), she really became more of a high alto. I would not call Wilson a soprano. She's an alto. In fact in her low harmony on say "Cupid," she's down in a contralto range. Very low. As with "Long Gone Lover." What's surprising is how wide all three ranges were. Flo of course had that round full voice. Gordy should have had a vocal coach touring with the girls at all times--Ross has said they had none on the road--and he should have cared about those other two talents. Ross still would have gone on to great fame--but the world would have gotten two other great singers as well.
Branner Thanks for commenting. The voice type classifications are for their prime years.
Diana's voice definately darkened between '66 and 1970. By her debut, her voice had greater weight in chest voice, which could have been the result of improved technique and some rest. I think the heavy touring took its toll on all of them. Flo also, her voice had darkened somewhat by 1968. Around the same time, particularly on the Let the Sunshine In album one can hear the raspiness in Diana's voice.
I didn't classify Mary as a soprano but a mezzo-soprano - who would sing the alto part in a choir typically. Mary's voice isn't dark, heavy or androgyneous to be a true contralto. Tracy Chapman or Cher are two examples of contraltos in pop.
They have all sang in the contralto range but vocal fach is also determined by tone, weight and tessitura.
Slaychelle In a way it's a shame Diana's voice lost that upper register, as nasal as it was in the early years, and got somewhat throaty, probably from over-work.
Personally, I only hear Mary as an alto who--like the jazz singer Cleo Laine--was also capable of a kind of "falsetto." But "Baby Don't Go" from Meet the Supremes is definitely in the alto range, as is "Our Day Will Come." Mary's lows in "Long Gone Lover" and on the "don't you know" on "Chain Gang" and on the bottom on "Cupid" are definitely in the very low alto range (listen to where she is on the "to me" at the end of the chorus on Cupid).
I've seen Mary live a number of times, including back in the early 1970s with the Supremes, and her voice is quite low live. I don't think she's every truly been given credit for what she is: one of the greatest harmony singers of the rock era.
Branner I know Mary has a really great, warm low range, but her tone is still distinctly feminine whilst and not androgynous like other contraltos. I feel now she is but certainly in her prime right up into the 80s she was a mezzo. Another mezzo with great lows is Mica Paris.
I love Mary on jazzier stuff, she always had such a beautiful tone. I feel she was much more than just a harmony singer though. It's a shame her solo career never took off as she has some great songs. The last Supremes albums are incredible. I'm keen to complete the next video :D
Slaychelle Thanks, Slaychelle. I also think Mary could have been an amazing soloist. On that live version of People from the Roostertail, it's her voice that sounds best. She should have been locked in a room with records by Sarah Vaughan, Abbie Lane, etc., and trained to be what she was naturally--a great torch singer.
But as that is not what happened (sadly), she truly came into her own as a singer much later, after the success really. So, when I say she was a great harmony singer, I don't mean to disparage her voice or take away from what she achieved. Mama Cass was also one of the greatest harmony singers of the rock era--and a fabulous soloist as well.
Branner
Yes! I echo you on that :D
I think all 3 would have made a great lead but Mary should have been given more lead opportunities. Flo should have been a solo act. Her voice, style and power was just too much for this group and Berry knew that. He should have promoted her as solo act. Flo was not the type of woman to stay in the background. Great video by the way. Thanks for the upload!
+knowledgeispower Thanks for commenting :D
WE CRY FOR FLO---- POWERFULL AND NOT THE TYPE TO STAY IN THE BACKGROUND......... she died too soon/.
knowledgeispower I stand by that comment 💯
I disagree. I think the group was perfect. They blended and sounded good together. Florence would have been okay with equal time and equal opportunity for each of them. It was Diana that was too competitive. It's okay to be competitive but not with your own group members to the point where you get the Big Head. She should have just left the group when it got to that point and started her solo career instead of tryna use them as her background singers (Hence the name change from The Supremes to Diana Ross and the Supremes). Berry is just as culpable with his vindictive self.
Flo released solo material outside of Motown with no success.
oh mary could sing.......
thank you, thank you, thank you... they were all soo young and soo talented. it was a magical time for those girls. each one beautiful and talented in their own unique way, together magic. makes me proud, they and the beach boys were the ones going head to head with the british invasion for the top of the charts back in the day!
I've hardly heard many of these songs! MY GOSH FLO and MARY sounded incredible!!!!!
We should just enjoy the bloody great music the Supremes and Diana have given us to enjoy, no point in bitching about any of them, all stats all great acts and the best music ever. Supremes rule always in my book.
Thank you for posting
+Falana Jerido No problem, I'm working on a follow-up with just 60s vocals, using mostly new notes not used here, then will come the 70s battle with Mary, Jean, Scherrie, Susaye (and maybe Cindy and Lynda too)
+Slaychelle There's not a lot of material for Cindy as a solo voice and it's hard to extract( pull) her voice from harmony.
Calvin375
Right, Cindy's voice blends very well though I've found some notes. I may do the next video as Mary, Jean, Scherrie and Susaye, but Lynda has some great notes too even though her time in the group was short during the 70s
Slaychelle Lynda's voice is very well noted on RUclips!!! She even has her version doing lead on "Stoned Love" with Mary and Cindy. She spent the shortest amount of time, however, she has a lot of material on this site. You can definitely hear and know it's Lynda's powerful soprano.
Cindy did blend very well with the group, but the problem is, to me, she sounded like Mary singing soprano. So the blend was very tight to the point, I can't recognize her individual sound.
Cindy is missing lol 😂😂😂. I love your high quality video's.+slaychelle
Sean Jonas Thanks. 😊 This video was to highlight the original trio. Cindy replaced Flo in 1968
@Sean Jonas . This is a video of the original Supremes. No need for imitations or substitutes. Cindy was terrible anyhow. I Could never hear her.
To me, Flo was easily by far the best singer of the 3
In what world 🌎. She sound awful 😖 .
Technically you're correct but this was a BUSINESS. and the correct decision was to let Diana lead. the results speak for themselves. the streets WERE and ARE filled with gals that can blow. you got to able to STAND OUT to make it in this world.
Ok I'm trying not to weep at the end. RIP Queen Florence 😐❤❤❤
Florence was truly the voice!
Voice of what? it wasn't the Supremes, that was Diana's voice.
It was NOT for the times....
yes but sadly didn't have the grit, courage and security it takes to become a superstar. if you closely at these classic clips sorry to state it but Florence is doing THE LEAST. Can't be afraid when the spotlight calls
6:29-6:57 OMFG MARY 👀👀❤❤❤❤📣📣📣📣
Where Did Our Love Go was intended for Mary on lead...but Diana did do an amazing job.
No matter how much you sleep with the boss, if the public doesn't like your songs, it won't matter. Sex is a fragile foundation to lay your future upon. Barry Gordy could not make the public like Diana Ross. He couldn't make they purchase Supreme's records. And after listening to both Florence and Mary, he picked the right person to be the lead singer. Mary did not sing well enough yet to be the lead singer. Florence had a voice that was better suited to other types of songs. Maybe Florence needed to have a solo deal and not be a part of the Supremes. For the type of material being done by them, Diana Ross was the best choice as the lead singer. Barry Gordy is not a stupid man. He could have never achieved success if he only thought with his penis.
Berry Gordy screwed half of Motown and Detroit. Ross was far from being the only one. Using the "she slept her way to the top" narrative, that means most of the women who came to Motown should have been superstars. People are no naive about what it takes to succeed in the entertainment industry. He merely gave her opportunities, she took them, and she took them to the next level. Even Mary Wilson has said that Gordy worked Ross the hardest and that she has a strong work ethic. She and Ballard weren't jealous because they didn't want to have to put up with what Ross did (for example, while they were out partying, Ross had to stay in her hotel room and prepare).
@@fwdthinker And if you look at the discography of the Supremes, besides the hits, Diana sang a shit load of songs. There is a special responsibility and pressure of always being up front than being a background singer. But she wanted and worked for that crown.
oh yeah this would make a great collectors album... Motown should be listening to slaychelle... thanks again for putting this together.
No problem. I'm a big Motown fan. Much more from the legendary label/family to come :D
They all could sing, but one went to bed with the boss, and the rest is history
+peacefull778 "RIGHT ON"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Nothing could be further from the truth.............
+peacefull778
Or one had a versatile, disciplined, unique sound that could appeal to the pop crowd. She also had quite a range.
Berry was a shrewd businessman. Money spoke. If one of the other girls had pop potential, they would've been in the lead--not Diana. Besides, they already had several hits under their belt before Diana and Berry's romantic entanglement began. Even Mary Wilson attests to this.
All girls were absolutely wonderful. This Diana bashing just gets so tiresome. Let's enjoy their contribution to music and popular culture.
+JMykelBrown I agree. It is more than exhausting to see EVERY conversation to turn into a hostile argument. Just enjoy the fucking music and all of the people to be a part of the music of Motown.
+peacefull778 What an idiotic statement. You can fuck anyone you want - it won't make me buy your record, dumbass. Ross left The Boss 36 years ago and is still selling out arenas on 4 continents. You are a fool to equate fucking with legendary success and talent.
True, that's why they should have been called Florence Ballard and the Supremes :-)
Màry wìns this hands down and is still the best. She ìs mý fàvourite
Loved this video!
Mary had that strong voice balance in the middle but l loved Flo voice too
Why only play Diana Ross' voice from the 60s? And play Mary's in to the mid 70s? Diana Ross' voice by 1973 with Touch Me In the Morning had matured so much from the girlish sound of the 60s. To me Diana Ross has the best voice hands down!
Alexis Galindo Please read the description. Diana had lead vocals on 99% of the Supremes music released between 1962-1970, leaving scraps for Mary and Flo. I had to unearth early recordings of the group singing backing vocals to get enough notes for Florence. Flo was fired in 1967. Mary co-led the group until its end in 1977 when Ross left in 1970 and thus a lot of her notes are from this period.
Flo died in 1976 and only recorded one OK album for ABC records in 1968, but her voice sounded tired (as Diana's did at the time coincidentally, must have been the strain of their schedule). There are NO recordings of Flo's singing voice after 1968!
It would be GROSSLY unfair to use anymore solo recordings of Diana, which I sourced from her debut Diana and 1971's Surrender, when she had a decade and album upon album of countless lead vocals whereas you could count Mary and Flo's leads on your hands.
Most likely because you are a Diana fan. Diana is the most inconsistent in her vocalization.
I have yet to hear this "powerful Aretha Franklin type" voice that everyone is pretending Flo has. She was soulful but her voice was not the way people describe it. Hell, listen to Buttered Popcorn lol
+Invisble Glover Mary has described Flo's voice as being similar to Etta James, especially when young, which is apparent on Buttered Popcorn and Hey Baby. The point I believe she was making when referring to Aretha is that had Flo been allowed/encouraged to develop her own unique solo style rather than pacified in the background, she could have had a similar career or gone to have solo success.
By the time she recorded for ABC in 1968, her confidence was knocked and she was pregnant with twins so those sessions don't show her best. Plus a lot of the arrangements don't showcase Flo's range or ability. Compare the first take of her debut single It Doesn't Matter How I Say It to the released version and you can hear the difference in Flo's natural delivery and how she was probably coached/told to sing it.
flo ...powerhouse
mary and flo but Diana got the carisma she's a diva i guess
All three of them had great voices.
But Diane's was the standout voice. Not just her sound, but her approach and phrasing were so different and she improved so much as a vocalist.
I think her vocal peak was from the early 70s until the mid 80s where it slightly began to decrease.
Btw I don't understand all the Florence - hype. Although she had a decent voice, I never saw her as a good singer at all... poor phrasing/misplaced melismata
and sometimes she just sounded out of place (slightly sharp)
Diane (esp. in the earliest recordings) sounded shrill too, but not as much.
Mary was much better than Florence I think
No Ones Voice sounds as Rich as Diana’s. Her ad libs alone are flawless. Diana embellishes her light vocals beautifully! Perfect 🔔 tone!
To DayDreamIntoCreation: I think there is so much emphasis on whose voice waz "better." When teenaged Mary, Diane and Florence got together to form the Primettes, they determined that they had the "perfect blend." Mary always said Flo said "honey we is terrific." What happened here was lack of communication. When Berry decided that the otber girls' solo spots were gone, they should have tried to see what there options were. Instead, there was drunkenness, missed rehearsals and eventually, Florence's firing. So stop this endless comparison; the ladies knw since the age of fifteen how well they sounded together. This was a matter of nit communicating with the producers, songwriters and ultimately, Berry.
Flo and Mary wow wow wow !!!!!! Super strong compared to Diana’s faint and weak tone.
Mary and Florence had great typical voices. Diana voice is unique,rare and exotic. And that wins always over great and typical.
You must be Tone Deaf.
@@spicey6646 very tone deaf lmao. Flo and Mary were way better. Nothing about Diane screams unique
Love the way you did this
songs used listed would be really helpful. thank you very much.
they all could be interchanged in their early years.. their voices..sometimes you can't tell flo from Diana
Thank you so much...I've been looking for months
+Keante Clemons No problem :) Unsure if you've already seen this or not but I've recently posted a more in-depth follow-up to this with just 60s vocals: ruclips.net/video/eaCyjZmfjsQ/видео.html
+Slaychelle yes I've seen it and is great..it's great to see a "SUPREMES" fan that dwells on the voices of all three rather than just one
Keante Clemons
There's so much depth to be found when you look at all 3
+Slaychelle I'm glad you and I have that in common lol
The Supremes will be my all-time favourite 60`s female singing Group. Diana Ross`s voice is Nasal because she sings through her Nose. Mary`s ( My favourite Supreme ) has a sultry Voice and, I`m sure Flo could stand across the Street and, still make herself heard over and, above Diana`s.
Slaychelle Do you think you can make a vocal range video of Mahalia Jackson? If you do, I will be eternally grateful! ^_^
Flo was also great singer!!!
Mary definitely had the widest range. Her voice was the richest, smoothest and so steady at any level. Absolutely Beautiful tone and pitch perfect. RIP Mary Wilson. 🙏🏼💕🙏🏼
My pleasure!
I do think all the girls were amazing singers in their own right. When they blended their voices it is amazing. I do have to say that Diana's voice is more commercial especially at the time in the 60s when black music was not mainstream and needed to cross over for white audiences . Also her voice cuts through on the small speakers that most people would have been using then to listen to music. Even in my mobile phone her voice is more clear. That's not saying the other girls can not sing a storm.
This gave me a new appreciation for the group. Always talented and extremely influential in my eyes but i never looked to them for vocal prowess. And i was dead wrong. The different tones, unique styles of each....Florence Ballard wouls have been a soul legend in the 70s, Mary could have done well with Jazz/Blues/Quiet Storm, and Diana was huge but voice may need a little more respect
Mary y Florence, grandes cantantes.
Motown had many great girl groups and female singers yet the Supremes and especially Diana Ross became eternal stars. I believe it was star power not bedroom skills that made Diana who she became.
@dddaaz: Are you sure about that!?
@@jduwayne1 I can only speak to the fact that Diana became an international superstar. Do we think she was the only person at Motown who slept with the boss to get ahead? Does everyone who sleeps with the boss become a star? Diana was never my favorite, but somehow she stood out.
@@dddaaz Just your inference alone shows me how you don’t know what you’re talking about! You need to further your research before you comments! There’s plenty of receipts with alternative(i.e. Mary Wilson’s books, other Motown artist, etc)…!
@@jduwayne1 Not meaning to be rude, but Diana is a huge star, isn’t she?
@@dddaaz Yes she is…But Florence Ballard, Mary Wilson, The Marvallettes, Martha Reeves, would disagree that [h]er path was not exacerbated by her relations with Berry Gordy & you’re naive if you think otherwise…!
I’ve always felt that Ballard would’ve made a great opera singer. I could imagine her doing the type of material as Barbara Streisand.
The winner is Flo!
I can't still believe this nonsense is going on. If Berry, Smokey, and HDH felt that Mary and Florence had the voice and the package to take The Supremes to be the top performing and record selling girl group of all time, then they would have been put upfront. Diana was then as she is still now, the greatest asset ever. Her voice is impeccable singing pop, r and b, jazz, classical, and Broadway. Her style and glamorous presence still felt in the fashion industry 50 years later. Her showmanship is unmatched and unparalleled and copied today. Diana is still topping the Billboard charts and selling out concert tours across the globe. Yes, Mary and Flo were/ are talented, but Diana is in a class unto herself. Stop telling Mary and Flo that they could have done what Diana did and still does.
I agree. I don't think Berry Gordy made Diana a star because he fell in love with her (though that happened later). Just the opposite. It was the stunning - unparalleled feat - of having 5 # 1s in a row that caught Berry's eye. Even Mary has said that Berry didn't notice the Supremes, or Diana, until they became popular. He continued to promote Diana because of the success of the group with her as lead singer. Why mess with success by rotating the lead when the current lead singer is clearly the engine driving the popularity? Again, this was less about blunt favoritism and more about keeping record buying fans happy.
@@lamoneal And remember they were the No-Hit Supremes until H-D-H got ahold of them. Also, the Four Tops were a group for 10 years before H-D-H started writing for them.
With all of their talent and singing voices, would we have even heard of the Supremes/Primettes without H-D-H?
Mary take this one
Childhood memories... ☺
12 number one songs multiple other top 10 hits in a six year span......yep, Barry totally blew it. They could have been big.
I loved them as a group, but Mary Wilson had the best voice in the group and technically the best singer. Motown should have done more for her.
DetroitLives313 So MANY people knew that and 'SAID' it! But 'SHE' didn't 'KNOW' it.... per-se', or THINGS would've been quite 'different' had she 'had' that 'singer' mindset! Motown had already considered 'her' as a fronter, and many times played with that idea and image, even 'tho' Diana was singing lead! It's 'obvious'! Mary HAD the prowess, and the 'image'. Just not the mindset to 'think' of herself quite that way! She was just 'HAPPY'! lol!
stage7 Her leads in the 70s are just >>>>>>> You Are the Heart of Me and Don't Let My Teardrops Bother You being two of my favs, Touch with Jean as well. Typing this makes me want to get to work on the 70s video; now THOSE were some sangin' ladies!
stage7
Well you know there's no point in me beating around the bush. Mary Wilson was always an excellent singer especially when given the right material whether it was upbeat or ballads. She is one of the premier live performers of our time that I think people just take for granted because she is always great on stage. You yourself are a very, very good singer that can handle a wide variety of material.
Slaychelle AAAAHHHH PLEEEEAAASE DO! I Love your 'attentiveness' to the musicality of the voices, pitches, etc. THINGS that many just did NOT and DO not recognize. They just listen and enjoy! YOU are different! Thank you for BEING 'YOU'! (smile) It's 'good' 'ear'! And THIS video has proven that you 'have' one!
DetroitLives313 Ahhh THANK You Bro. Appreciates that Much! And I concur, SHE IS ONE of the PREMIER LIVE PERFORMERS of OUR TIME.... PERIOD! And she 'IS' Always Great onstage! That's why SHE doesn't need or require all those 'theatrics' and 'flash' and elaborations, smokes n mirrors, etc....because she 'IS' SUPREME in it's epitome, and doesn't NEED any of that enhancement! It works, but is sometimes 'out of place' with her, because it gets in the 'way' of sheer performance calibre of the 'WILSON-ATOR'! LOL!
The suprems were motown royalty and classy to
Marvelettes are great singers too, Motowns very own group
Charming voices, but all three were very young and obviously untrained. Both Florence and Mary's voices are lower in register than Diana's, almost altos. There's a natural smoothness that is very appealing. By contrast, in the early recordings, Diana's voice is rather high pitched and nasal, and almost grating. When she lowers her register she sounds warm and sexy. By the late 60's and all through the decade of the 70's Ross truly blossoms as singer (See her a cappella rendition of the National Anthem on RUclips) with more vocal heft and finesse. Unfortunately, neither Mary or Florence really had a chance to grow as singers. A stark case of use it or loose it.
Well lets look at things realistically, When you have an artist like Florence Ballard who was very naturally talented. She had an excellent voice and the best sounding voice of the trio, probably fit enough to sing opera. She had the natural beauty that of Dorothy Dandridge or Lena Horne, Berry Gordy knew this but chose to ignore. When you have talent around you, you develop your talent. Would you have a football team and develop only the quarterback and not the rest of the offensive line or your defense? or Would you have a basketball team and develop only the center and not the forwards or guards? I would think from a business perspective you develop your team (the Supremes) in a manner that every one achieves more? Yes it is okay to say that Diana's voice although "nasal" in nature sounded a little more commercial and "white" audiences took a liking to it. If the time and money would have spent time with Florence that was spent with Diana, there is no telling how far she could have accomplished, she could sing, dance, act and somewhat of a comedienne. You develop this individual to a level where the "sky could be the limit" allowing Florence to sing lead would have not hurt their success at all. It would have shown more diversity that group had, they were one of the least diverse acts Motown had at the time. Florence was a diamond that needed a little polishing. Sad but true Diana's relationship with Berry Gordy kind of enabled her to become a star at the expense of Mary and Florence. Diana received more individual attention and polishing that Mary and Florence did not get that enabled her to become a star. Diana by no means was a team player at all, she was of herself, about herself and for herself. That's a real nasty way to be when she and Mary and Florence were all childhood friends and had a professional relationship and a supposed friendship.
In the name of love forever. Great achievement babe!
Mary Wilson had the best voice of the Supremes!
Louis Evans'Witherspoon The other Supremes are so underrated. Her tone >>>>>>>>>>
+Slaychelle Mary was definitely a lead voice. If only the opportunity presented itself.(*sigh*) Upon listening to her vocal range, she was a definite Dramatic mezzo-soprano.
Calvin375
Mary's tone was too pretty to be a dramatic voice I feel
Slaychelle But dramatics can be dark and smooth. They are very capable of brightening their voices. They also have the same range of a well trained mezzo-soprano who can sing in soprano, i. e. Denyce Graves. They are very flexible in their tones. That's why it reminds me of Mary's voice. Listen to "I Don't Want To Lose You" and then listen to "You're What's Missing In My Life" and you can tell the difference.
Calvin375
So funny that you would mention Denyce Graves as that was who I was thinking of also as an operatic equivalent. I found a rather operatic F5 head note from Mary which will be in my next video ;)
Love Flo and Mary
Good bye Mary Wilson
GREAT VOICES - BUT ROSS IS THE BOSS
I understand however cindy was beautiful to me I love florence
That is great love it can you do chilite vs blue magic great job
Any director, producers job is to use the strengths of a group! Put everyone in a relevant, effective position in the arrangements! Diana was placed where she made the best impression plus, identifiable voice! All three held strong positions! To make Diana do what Flo or Mary did easy while, having a less full voice would detract from the best results! The only bad move in their setup was, to deny Mary and Flo some onstage leads. Especially of cover songs of other artists! This would keep them happy! Ease their feelings of stepping back in the act! ....
Diana made the supremes
…. Diane was the tag along. It was Florence and Mary and Diane hung around long enough to be part of the Primettes. Hindsight. If Florence had only known!
Mary hands down such texture and maturity in her voice.👍👍
Miss u flo
UH-OH! HERE COMES THE DIANA ROSS FANS WITH THEIR BAD-MOUTHING ROUTINES!!! LOL!!!
lol
All three had great talent and were very attractive women. Diana’s voice suites the Holland Dozier songs, was a unique and distinctive sound which was pop and innocent and at a time of racial reckoning. All of the Motown stars had that high pitched lighter voice including Stevie, Marvin, Smokey, Michael during this same era. It was a crossover sound. Even the queen Aretha couldn’t get with Motown at that time as they were getting away from gospel. The great Gladys and Martha Reeves weren’t heavily marketed during this time as well.
This video was epic. Are you going to continue to do girl groups?
80sBabyonfire Thanks so much. Possibly, had in mind a lead singer battle or maybe instead splitting them into voice types like compare sopranos with sopranos etc...
Slaychelle YES!! Please do cause your videos are the best!!
Diana Ross amazing, no doubt. Flo, should’ve never been a background singer., instead a solo act. That woman had a very sharp and piecing voice. Mary has a nice voice as well, maybe a third lead here or there but the voice that would definitely help balance the harmony
What the song flo sing when she does the A4 notes???
Malcolm 1097 The Supremes "It Makes No Difference Now" (from the 1965 release Supremes Sing Country, Western & Pop) and Flo's 1968 solo cover of Dionne Warwick's "Walk On By"
Slaychelle thanks I've been worrying about that song
This is enlightening to know they are all have the same vocal range. A beautiful voice is not enough, a singer has to be wise enough to use it properly. Diana didn't do well at first in the lead because she tried too hard. They told her to simplify. I think Florence too, tried too hard. Style should not be faked. Florence only sings with her voice where Diana characterizes and let the words rule. I always compared Florence to Mary Wells and Barbara Lewis type of singer and not like Aretha Franklin as Mary Wilson believed.