Hello, and welcome to Hearing Double, where I compare and contrast two unrelated songs of the same title and decide which title does the most justice!
Today, we’re flipping things around for a new perspective with “Upside Down” by Diana Ross and Jack Johnson.
Diana Ross’s 1980 hit “Upside Down” tells the story of a woman desperately in love with a man, despite the way he continues to “always play the field.” Although it’s unclear whether the relationship the song talks about is supposed to be exclusive, Ross does make an explicit reference to being “aware that you’re cheating,” which doesn’t look so good for our fictional love interest.
Whatever you have to say about the message of this song, it is undeniably self-aware. Ross, in the most upbeat way, sings about wrestling with the fact that she has a debilitating crush, one that’s turning her “upside down” and “around and around,” on someone who will never truly be hers.
Although the lyrics could be considered depressing, the music is anything but. Ross is iconic for her upbeat dance songs, and “Upside Down” is no exception. The beat and quick staccato movement of the tune make it easy to get lost in the music and forget about the tough time the singer is going through. However, it makes it easier to dance along when songwriter Nile Rodgers said he and cowriter Bernard Edwards wrote in the relationship element of the song after Ross had spoken about turning her career “upside down,” meaning the romantic hardships were fictional.
Jack Johnson’s 2006 song was recorded for soundtrack of the movie “Curious George.” The song certainly fits into the idea of curiosity and exploration, with lyrics like “I’ll find the things they say just can’t be found” and “Who’s to say I can’t do everything? / Well, I can try.”
However, the song also emphasizes the importance of community and sharing these new perspectives and discoveries. Along with the more explicit “I’ll share this love I’ve found with everyone,” Johnson also refers to a “we” in the chorus and asks “Please don’t go away” in the song’s outro.
The acoustic instrumentation gives the song an almost intimate feeling. When Johnson sings, it feels like he could be right next to you explaining his philosophy on the world. While this song is reminiscent of childhood for many, its gentle message about the beauty of the world around us is valuable all through our lives.
Both songs are undeniably catchy. Ross makes you want to get up and dance, while Johnson makes you want to go out and see the world. One big difference is the agency in the lyrics. Ross is being turned upside down by her painful love, while Johnson is the one turning the outside world upside down with his new perspective.
If this were a competition of just the tunes, this would almost be a toss-up for me. However, we need to look at the song as a whole, and that includes the lyrics and message. To me, that makes the top spot an easy decision. Stay curious!
Winner: Jack Johnson