Paris, Power & Pop Royalty: When The Supremes Took Europe by Storm
In April 1965, at the height of their rising international fame, Florence Ballard, Diana Ross, and Mary Wilson—better known as The Supremes—stood before the Eiffel Tower not as distant superstars, but as three young women savoring a moment in Paris. The photograph, taken during the Motortown Revue’s European tour, captures them in their civilian clothes, relaxed yet radiant. It was April 13 when they performed at the legendary Olympia concert hall, sharing the bill with Stevie Wonder, Martha & the Vandellas, and the Miracles, all backed by Earl Van Dyke and the Soul Brothers. But between rehearsals and performances, Paris offered a rare pause—and a powerful image that would come to symbolize Motown’s global expansion.
Background
The Supremes were no longer just Detroit’s pride; they had become international ambassadors of American soul. The previous year, “Where Did Our Love Go” had climbed the charts in Britain and France, cementing their breakthrough overseas. Their October 1964 European visit helped promote “Baby Love,” their second U.S. No. 1 hit. By the time they returned in April 1965, the mission was larger: to launch the Tamla Motown label across Europe. “Stop! In The Name Of Love” was among the first singles released under the new imprint, packaged in France as a four-track EP with a distinctive picture sleeve—a collector’s gem today.
Behind the glamour was strategy. Berry Gordy understood the power of image as much as sound. During the Paris stop, photographers trailed the group—capturing them at sidewalk cafés and beside the Tamla Motown tour bus, even as Gordy himself snapped photos. British photographer Bob Lampard, later famed for his images of Jimi Hendrix, also documented parts of the trip. These candid moments humanized the trio while reinforcing their sophistication and global appeal.
Introduction
The Paris engagement wasn’t only about music; it was about brand building. After the Olympia performance, artists and staff gathered at the fashionable Locomotive disco for the official Tamla Motown launch. Gordy delivered a speech, and French partner Pathe Marconi distributed promotional packages now considered rare collector’s items. It was a calculated cultural takeover—Motown’s polished sound meeting European elegance.
Yet even amid Parisian charm, there was little rest. While Berry Gordy and Diana Ross stayed briefly for a vacation later dramatized in Motown The Musical, the next challenge loomed: preparing The Supremes for their nightclub debut at New York’s prestigious Copacabana that July. In 1965, the merry-go-round of fame rarely slowed.
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Lyrics
🎵 Let’s sing along with the lyrics! 🎤
I say it, say it, say it, say it again(Someday, we’ll be together)Oh, yeah, oh, yeahYou’re far away from me my loveAnd just as sure my, my babyAs there are stars aboveI wanna say, wanna say, wanna sayYes we will, yes we will(Say, someday, we’ll be together) Some sweet dayI know, I know, I know, I knowMy love is yours, babyOh, right from the startYou, you, you possess my soul now, honeyAnd I know, I know you own my heartAnd I wanna saySome sweet dayOh, yes we will, yes we will(Someday, we’ll be together) Tell everybodyYes we will, yes we willLong time ago, my, my sweet thingI made a big mistake, honeyI, I, I say, I said, goodbyeOh, oh, baby, ever, ever, everEver, ever and ever since that dayAll I wanna do, all I wanna do was cry, cry, ohHey, hey, heyI long for you every, every nightOoh, just to kiss your sweet, sweet lips, babyHold you ever, ever so tightAnd I wanna saySomeday we’ll be togetherYes we will, yes we willSomeday we’ll be togetherYes we will, yes we willSomeday we’ll be togetherSomeday we’ll be togetherYes we will, yes we will