Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To)

"Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To)"
Single by Diana Ross
from the album Mahogany, a Berry Gordy film: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
B-side	"No One's Going to Be a Fool Forever"
Released	September 24, 1975 (U.S.)
Format	7" single
Genre	Pop, R&B
Length	3:23
Label	Motown M 1377
Writer(s)	Michael Masser, Gerald Goffin
Producer	Michael Masser
Diana Ross singles chronology
"Sorry Doesn't Always Make It Right" (1975) "Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To)" (1975) "I Thought It Took a Little Time (But Today I Fell in Love)" (1976)

"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.^[1] Produced by Masser, the song is a ballad that portrays its protagonist (Ross) as a black woman who becomes a successful Rome fashion designer.

Recorded with a full orchestral accompaniment, "Theme from Mahogany" became one of the most recognizable elements of the film, receiving praise from many critics. Later released as a single, "Theme from Mahogany" became a number-one hit on both the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, and the Easy Listening charts.^[2] The song was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Song. Ross performed the song live at the Academy Awards ceremony via satellite from the Netherlands.

Versions

In the late 1990s, Mariah Carey and Jennifer Lopez both recorded covers of "Do You Know Where You're Going To". 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 signed to Sony Music and recorded the song for her debut album On the 6. Executives at Sony decided that both versions would be released outside the U.S. only as bonus tracks. 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, and included on French editions of Carey's ninth album, Rainbow. It did appear in the U.S., however, on the 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.

Dutch singer Patricia Paay recorded the song in 1995 for her movie song album, Time Of My Life.

French singer Nicole Rieu recorded the song with French lyrics in 1976 ("En courant").

Fusion\contemporary jazz group Pieces of a Dream presented their take on the song from their 2001 album "Acquainted With the Night."^[3]

Punk rock band Pinhead Gunpowder recorded a 2-minute version of the song, simply called "Mahogany", on Carry the Banner (1995).

American actress Bobbie Eakes performed this song on famous daytime series The Bold and the Beautiful.

Da Band, a rap group put together by Sean Combs, covered the song, titled "Do You Know", on their 2003 debut album, Too Hot for TV.

The punk rock cover band Me First and the Gimme Gimmes covered the song, simply titled "Mahogany", on their 2008 album Have Another Ball!

Hong Kong singer Janice Vidal covered the song on her third studio album, Do U Know (2006).

Australian singer Tina Arena recorded the song in 2007 for her sixth studio album, Songs of Love & Loss.

European singer Lara Fabian recorded the song in 2009 for her new album, Every Woman in Me.

Christian singer tobyMac recorded the chorus of the song called "Do You Know" from his 2001 album Momentum.

Actor William Shatner performed the song in his trademark Spoken Word in a commercial for Priceline.com.

Inclusions in other media

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. The chorus is also used in the songs "Life" by Chubb Rock and "Do You Know" by Erick Sermon. In the 1993 episode "Rosebud" of the animated series The Simpsons the chorus is played during a slide show of scenes from Mr. Burns's life. In an episode of Everybody Hates Chris when Chris lies to his mother about having a good math grade, she shows up at his math class. Fearing his death, his life flashes before his eyes; the song plays during this sequence.

Charts

Chart (1975/1976)	Peak position
Canadian Singles Chart	3
UK Singles Chart	5
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	1
U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles	14
U.S. Billboard Easy Listening	1

See also

• List of number-one adult contemporary singles of 1975 (U.S.)
• List of Hot 100 number-one singles of 1976 (U.S.)

References

1. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (2003). "Diana Ross". In Bogdanov, Vladimir; Woodstra, Chris; and Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. All Music Guide to Soul. Allmusic. San Francisco: Backbeat Books. p. 587. ISBN 0-87930-744-7. http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0879307447?v=search-inside&keywords=masser+goffin&go=Go%21#. Retrieved 2008-05-17. 
2. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 210. 
3. ^ "Acquainted With the Night overview". Allmusic.com. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r525453.