"Diamonds" is a song recorded by Barbadian singer Rihanna for her seventh studio album, Unapologetic (2012). It was written by Sia together with its producers, Benny Blanco and Stargate. The song premiered on September 26, 2012, during the Elvis Duran and the Morning Show and was digitally released the following day as the lead single from Unapologetic. "Diamonds" is a mid-tempo pop, electronic and R&B ballad that features heavy synthesizers, orchestral sounds and electronic rhythms. The song's lyrics serve as a departure from the themes of unhealthy relationships that were on Rihanna's previous singles contrasted to the song's portrayal of lovers as "diamonds in the sky".
"Diamonds" topped music charts in over twenty countries, including the United States, where it became Rihanna's twelfth number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100 and tied her with Madonna and the Supremes for the fifth-most number-one singles in the chart's history. "Diamonds" was certified Diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and sold over 3.5 million digital copies in the country. It also peaked at number one on the UK Singles Chart and became Rihanna's seventh number one song in the country; it was certified three-times platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). By May 2013, it had sold over 7.5 million copies worldwide.
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The song's music video was shot by director Anthony Mandler, a frequent collaborator of Rihanna's, and depicts her in four environments that represent the elements of earth, air, water, and fire. The video received positive reviews and was praised for its imagery. Some critics believe that the heavily tattooed man intertwined with Rihanna's arm in the video resembles Chris Brown. The singer performed "Diamonds" on television shows such as Saturday Night Live and The X Factor and included it on the 777, Diamonds, Monster Tour and the Anti World Tour set lists. The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) recognized it as one of the most performed songs of 2013 and 2014. The official remix of "Diamonds" featured rapper Kanye West and was released on November 16, 2012. The song has been covered by various recording artists, including Josef Salvat, who released his own cover of "Diamonds" as a single.
In 2012, American songwriter and record producer Benny Blanco met with Norwegian production duo Stargate at a recording studio in New York City to write new songs, including one for Rihanna.[1] Stargate had previously produced her singles "Don't Stop the Music" (2007) and "Only Girl (In the World)" (2010).[2] According to Blanco, he and Stargate wanted to deviate from Rihanna's usual sound and produce as though the song would be for a rapper such as Kanye West: "It's the one that we weren't thinking Rihanna ... that turned into the Rihanna record ... But that's how it always happens like with me".[1] They produced the song's drum machine beat after the other instrumental music was recorded.[1]
Stargate's Mikkel Eriksen told The New York Times that Blanco took a recorded snippet of Eriksen's singing, altered it electronically, and made it sound "dirtier".[3] He then applied timbre and used audio software to create ghostly accompaniment lines. Eriksen described Blanco's style as "unorthodox, as he almost never plays the keyboards but throws in weird samples and alters them to the right pitch to go with the song."[3] Australian singer-songwriter Sia later joined them and wrote the lyrics for "Diamonds" in 14 minutes.[1][4]
After the song was completed, they wanted to play it to Rihanna, but Blanco was skeptical about the reaction towards the song because of its slow sound. After Stargate played it to her, they called Blanco from London and told him that she liked the song: "She's flippin' out. She played it like seven times in a row. It's her favorite song."[1] Phil Tan and the assistant Daniela Rivera, mixed and mastered "Diamonds".[5] Rihanna attempted to emulate Sia's singing style, which reportedly led to Sia thinking that her own vocal recording had been released.[6] Recalling it, in an interview with The Huffington Post, Blanco commented, "We needed to have it recorded, the beat finished, mixed and mastered in 24 hours. She was recording in a separate part of the world, sending back the files, we're finishing the music and then we're mixing and mastering it, and then it was out in a few days. It's fucking amazing and incredible."[7] Kuk Harrell produced Rihanna's vocals on the song and recorded them together with Marcos Tovar.[5]
In 2021, Blanco said that Rihanna was not who he had in mind for the track initially. He considered Kanye West or Lana Del Rey but Stargate was adamant it should be Rihanna. He also revealed that Eminem recorded a song on the beat.[8]
"I think a lot of people are afraid of being happy because of what others might think of it. ... They're afraid to embrace that and embrace themselves and love themselves and do what they love and do what makes them happy."
On September 12, 2012, Def Jam France announced via Twitter that Rihanna would release a new single the following week and that her seventh studio album will be released in November. However, the tweet was shortly deleted and replaced with another clarifying that more information will be given on September 13.[10] In an interview with iHeartRadio at their annual music festival in September, Rihanna confirmed "Diamonds" as her new single and said that it would first be played on American radio beginning September 26.[11] She described it as an easy-going, but optimistic song that is "happy and hippy" rather than dance-oriented and said that the song "gives me such a great feeling when I listen to it. The lyrics are very hopeful and positive, but it's about love."[11]
The single's cover artwork was revealed on September 24 and depicted Rihanna rolling diamonds in a manner suggestive of joint rolling.[12][13] On September 26, Rihanna posted the full lyrics of the song in a PDF on her official website Rihanna7.com.[14] "Diamonds" premiered the same day on the Elvis Duran and the Morning Show,[15] and on the following day, it was released as a digital download on the 7 Digital store.[16] In the United Kingdom, the song was released to 7 Digital on September 28.[17] Def Jam Recordings solicited the single to mainstream and rhythmic contemporary radio formats in the United States on October 2.[18] On November 5, it was released in Germany as a CD single, which it also contained the song's Bimbo Jones vocal remix.[19] On December 18, eight digital remixes of the single were digitally released.[20]
In a positive review of the song, Robert Copsey of Digital Spy gave it four out of five stars and praised Rihanna's direction towards a "softer and more prolific edge".[28] Brittany Lewis of GlobalGrind called "Diamonds" a catchy song and felt that it had the potential to be another hit for Rihanna.[29] Glenn Gamboa of Newsday said that, although it does not sound like an emphatic hit, the lyrical content of the song depicts a "personal shift" for Rihanna.[30] According to James Montgomery of MTV News, "Diamonds" is more positive than previous singles such as "We Found Love" and "Where Have You Been", despite its moderate tempo.[31] Lindsey DiMattina of Hollywood.com said that Rihanna's singing is stronger than ever.[32] Contactmusic's reviewer described it as a "laid-back track", and suggested that the lyrical content is related to her former boyfriend Chris Brown.[33] In a track-by-track review of Unapologetic, Andrew Hampp of Billboard found the song inspiring and commented that it "finds Rihanna doing one of her throatiest, most impassioned vocals to date".[34] Andy Kellman of Allmusic cited the song as one of the highlights on Unapologetic,[22] and gave it three and a half stars.[35]
In a less enthusiastic critique, Jon Caramanica of The New York Times likened "Diamonds" to a James Bond movie theme song, but with "insipid lyrics".[36] Jim Farber of the New York Daily News felt that the song is not as evocative as it attempts to be and lacks the sense of mystery and engaging production found on "We Found Love".[2] Kevin Blair of the Irish Independent's, Independent Woman, was critical of the song and dismissed it as a "chugging, faintly misty-eyed, middle of the road pop song".[37] Chris Richards of The Washington Post panned the song as a "power ballad without much power".[38]
Ernest Baker and Lauren Nostro of Complex ranked "Diamonds" atop their list of The 10 Best Guilty Pleasure Songs of 2012 and wrote that, although the song is unlike Rihanna's louder, more anthemic songs, "apparently the world loves to see a softer side of her, too."[39] Black Entertainment Television placed the single at number six on their 50 Best Songs of 2012 list and called it one of Rihanna's most emotive performances.[40] UK E! Online's reviewer named it the fifth best song of the year and said that Rihanna's vocal performance on the song validates the attention she had received since her breakthrough with "Umbrella".[41] Irish Independent's Jim Hayes ranked it as the year's tenth-best song and described it as "a laid back slow burner that invades and refuses to leave".[42] A reviewer from The Huffington Post named "Diamonds" one of The 12 Best Songs by Women in 2012.[43]
At the ASCAP Pop Music Awards, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) recognized it as one of the most performed songs of 2013[44] and 2014 respectively.[45] "Diamonds" received the Billboard accolade for Top R&B Song at the 2013 award ceremony held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.[46] At the 2013 BET Awards, the song was nominated for the Coca-Cola Viewer's Choice accolade, however, it lost to "Started from the Bottom" by Drake.[47] It also received nominations for Best International Song at the NRJ Music Awards of 2013 in France[48] and for Hit of the Year at the 2013 Echo Awards in Germany.[49] "Diamonds" received a nomination for Best Song at the 2013 MTV Europe Music Awards.[50] 152ee80cbc
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