Just an observation here, but you do seem to have been triggered by Jim's assessment of Diana being better suited to light, pop sounding tunes, as your original post pointed out in a way that comes across as a sarcastic jab at Jim's description. You then went on a rant about 70s Supremes fans, and Mary fans, that to me, seem to have come out of nowhere, except as a response to the original post which you appear to have taken offense to.
Having read Jim's post now, while I may not agree with every single thing he said, I didn't read anything that should have been taken as a shot at Diana or any of the other Supremes. As you said before, these kinds of posts are subjective. We as fans of the group have all kinds of thoughts and opinions about what should have been, and could have been, what worked, what didn't, who did what best and who should have left it alone.
For a fan to suggest that Diana was best for lighter, pop songs, that's his opinion. I guess it's all in the way you look at the statement:
To suggest that Florence excelled on the more soulful songs doesn't necessarily mean that the opinion is that's all she should have sung. Her lead on "People" in the live act was such a crowd pleaser that Gordy kept it in the act from 1964 well into 1966, so clearly she could sing more than a "Buttered Popcorn".
To suggest that Mary was best at singing ballads shouldn't mean that's all she could do. [[Personally, I think her lead on "Davy Crockett" was very good.)
To suggest that Diana was better on the lighter, pop sounding songs doesn't mean that's all she could do either. But IMO, and I'm guessing Jim's as well, of the three of them, these are the areas they were the better choice for. Yes, if I'm a songwriter/producer and my tune is a light, pop sounding song, and I approach the Supremes to record it, chances are I'm choosing Diana for the job. Every single time? No. I think Mary could have done some of Diana's leads just as effectively. Would I choose Flo for a "Baby Love" or "I Hear a Symphony"? Nope. "Itchin"? Sure. "Hangin' On"? You betcha. But then those last two songs aren't what I would call "light pop" and speaks to my point- and Jim's if I'm allowed to speak for him
- that because a particular Supreme might have been the better choice for certain types of songs, that doesn't mean that's all said Supreme could sing or excel at.
I agree with Ollie that over the last couple years this forum has largely become a place where we can talk the Supremes and their individual singers without a lot of the Ross vs Wilson fan wars that used to dominate. It's not that anyone's opinions on either singer, along with Flo, Cindy, Jean and the others, has changed, but there is a respect for a difference of opinion, and I hope we can keep that feeling going. Not counting this thread, it does look like there's an increase of bad interactions brewing yet again. I would hate to see the forum devolve again.
Unless you say something bad about Florence. Then my gloves come off.
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