#85, “My World Is Empty Without You,” The Supremes (1965)

150 Favorite Songs: #85, “My World Is Empty Without You,” The Supremes (1965)

My dad would have argued that "Rave On" by Buddy Holly has the best opening of any song ever recorded, but I'd have a hard time pointing to anything other than "My World Is Empty Without You" for that honor. That stomping rhythm, all ominous and spooky, but just for ten seconds before Diana Ross starts narrating the absolutely bleak—but totally relatable—sentiment that without this relationship, their just doesn't seem to be much point in hanging around. It's the theme to any number of pop songs, but I don't think anyone did a better job of laying it out than the Motown team behind "My World Is Empty Without You."

But this isn't just a team production. Fuck no. It's Diana Ross being completely devastating for two and a half perfect minutes. Because she starts out so calm, delivering her first line with a sad restraint, but she doesn't stay there. Her performance on "My World Is Empty Without You" isn't the surest demonstration of her pipes ever recorded. It's not showy in the way that Diana Ross is often showy. Instead, it’s something else: She just starts bleeding a little on the song, and then she doesn't stop. "Inside this cold and empty house I dwell," she sings, and there's an edge in her voice from that moment on that defines what a great singer is capable of. She's breathing life into the moment the song is capturing.

I'm sure there are people who are way more knowledgeable about Motown who have much more informed and definite opinions about what the greatest songs the Supremes ever recorded are. I know "Baby Love" is a better pure pop song, "I Hear A Symphony" is prettier, "You Keep Me Hanging On" has a better hook and is more progressive, "Come See About Me" has a more proficient vocal performance from Diana Ross and gives more for the other Supremes to do, etc, etc. That's part of what happens when you write about a group whose got as incredible a body of work as the Supremes do—there are always going to be better songs. But the things they do in "My World Is Empty Without You" are the things I love best.