Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To)
"Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To)" is a song written by Michael Masser and Gerald Goffin, and recorded by American singer Diana Ross as the theme to the 1975 Motown/Paramount film Mahogany (see 1975 in music).[1] Produced by Masser, the song is a ballad that portrays its protagonist (Ross) as a poor African-American who becomes a successful Paris fashion designer, in keeping with the film the song was featured in. Remembering the happiness she had in the past, the song's character faces the reality of a loveless future and decisions that brought her to this point. The chorus, "Do you know where you're going to, do you like the things that life is showing you," propagates the song's sense of nostalgia and loss.
Recorded with a full orchestral accompaniment, the "Theme from Mahogany" became one of the most recognizable elements of the film Mahogany. Many critics reviewed the film unfavorably, but generally praised the song. Later released as a single (see 1975 in music), "Theme from Mahogany" became a number-one hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Song. Ross performed the song live at the Academy Awards ceremony via satellite from the Netherlands.
[edit] Cover versions
Between 1975-1978, EMI Hong Kong release series of vinyl record albums titled "Hit Sounds" performed by various Hong Kong English pop artistes, in which Hit Sounds Vol.5 (side two), Teresa Carpio covers this song. [2] [3]
In the late 1990s two Sony Music recording artists, Mariah Carey and Jennifer Lopez, both recorded covers of "Do You Know Where You're Going To" at the same time. The Mariah Carey version, co-produced by Carey and Stevie J and recorded in 1998, was intended to be released as a single from her compilation album #1's. During the same period, actress Jennifer Lopez had recently signed to Sony and had recorded the song for her debut album On the 6. Executives at Sony decided that both versions would only be released as bonus tracks outside the U.S.
Although Carey's version was later given a limited release, pressure for her to complete a new studio album interfered with the song's promotion, which was halted prematurely as a result. The song was then reissued in a remixed version as a promotional single for #1's in 1999 (see 1999 in music), and included on French editions of Carey's ninth album Rainbow; it did appear in the U.S., however, on her Wal-Mart-only EP Valentines and on the Philippine version of #1's. The same year, Lopez's version was issued only in the Netherlands and the Philippines as a bonus track for On the 6.
East Bay Punk Rock outfit Pinhead Gunpowder, featuring Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong, did a 2 minute cover of the song for their Carry The Banner EP.
Hong Kong singer Janice Vidal covered the song in her third studio album Do U Know in 2006. Australian singer Tina Arena also covered the song on her 2007 album Songs of Love & Loss.
[edit] Trivia
The chorus of "Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To)" is sung by Slick Rick at the end of his song "Teenage Love" from the album The Great Adventures of Slick Rick. The single went to #8 on the Billboard Hot Rap Singles Chart in 1988.
[edit] Charts
[edit] References
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