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

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"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(s)	"No One's Going to Be a Fool Forever"
Released	September 24, 1975 (U.S.)
Format	7" single
Genre	Pop
Length	3:23
Label	Motown M 1377
Writer(s)	Michael Masser Gerald Goffin
Producer(s)	Michael Masser
Chart positions
#1 (U.S.) #3 (Canada)
Diana Ross singles chronology
"Sorry Doesn't Always Make It Right" (1975)	"Theme from Mahogany..." (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?)" (often covered as "Do You Know Where You're Going To? (Theme from Mahogany)") 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). 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. Diana Ross became the first artist to perform live at the Academy Awards ceremony, doing so live via satellite from Holland.

[edit] Cover versions

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, actor 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. The same year, Lopez's version was issued only in Holland and the Philippines as a bonus track for On the 6.

[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

Chart (1975)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Pop Singles	1
U.S. Billboard Black Singles	14
U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary	1
Canadian Singles Chart	3

Preceded by "I Write the Songs" by Barry Manilow

Billboard Hot 100 number one single (Diana Ross version) January 24, 1976

Succeeded by "Love Rollercoaster" by Ohio Players