"Diamonds" is a song recorded by Barbadian recording artist Rihanna for her seventh studio album Unapologetic (2012). It was written by Robyn Fenty, Sia Furler, Benjamin "Benny Blanco" Levin, Mikkel S. Eriksen and Tor Erik Hermansen. The song was produced by Blanco, as well as Eriksen and Hermansen, as vocal produced by Kuk Harrell, under their production name StarGate. "Diamonds" premiered on October 25, 2012 during the Elvis Duran and the Morning Show and was released for a digital download the following day, as the lead single of Unapologetic. Def Jam Recordings serviced the single to contemporary hit radio in the United States on October 2. Musically, "Diamonds" is a mid-tempo pop ballad with influences of electronic and soul music. The single is a departure from the theme of damaging relationships that is evident in several of Rihanna's previous singles.
Critics were divided on "Diamonds"; some complimented Rihanna's different musical direction, however, others criticized its production. The single has reached number one in eighteen countries including Austria, Canada, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom and attained top ten positions in over thirty countries. It also topped the US Billboard Hot 100 and became Rihanna's twelfth number one single on the chart, thus tied her with Madonna and The Supremes for the fifth-most number ones in the chart's history. In addition, "Diamonds" has reached number one on the US Hot Dance Club Songs and Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs charts and number two on the US Pop Songs chart.
The song's music video, shot by Rihanna's regular collaborator Anthony Mandler, depicts Rihanna in four environments that represent the elements of earth, air, water and fire. It features "dreamy" and "surreal" scenes of the singer such as her lying alone in open waters, frantically running from a car on a deserted highway, in a desert with horses running free and in-between a street battle. The video received positive response from critics, who praised the used imagery. Reviewers also noted that throughout the video, the scene in which Rihanna's arm is intertwined with a heavily tattooed man resembles that of the singer's ex-boyfriend Chris Brown. "Diamonds" was promoted with live performances across both sides of the Atlantic, including Saturday Night Live and the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in the US and the series nine of The X Factor in the UK. She performed it with "Stay" as an encore at her Diamonds World Tour. An official remix of "Diamonds", featuring rap verses by Kanye West was released on November 16, 2012.
Lyrics[]
Shine bright like a diamond
Shine bright like a diamond
Find light in the beautiful sea, I choose to be happy
You and I, you and I , we’re like diamonds in the sky
You’re a shooting star I see, a vision of ecstasy
When you hold me, I’m alive
We’re like diamonds in the sky
I knew that we’d become one right away
Oh, right away
At first sight I felt the energy of sun rays
I saw the life inside your eyes
So shine bright tonight,
You and I
We’re beautiful like diamonds in the sky
Eye to eye,
So alive
We’re beautiful like diamonds in the sky
Shine bright like a diamond
Shine bright like a diamond
Shining bright like a diamond
We’re beautiful like diamonds in the sky
Shine bright like a diamond
Shine bright like a diamond
Shining bright like a diamond
We’re beautiful like diamonds in the sky
Palms rise to the universe, as we moonshine and molly
Feel the warmth, we’ll never die
We’re like diamonds in the sky
You’re a shooting star I see, a vision of ecstasy
When you hold me, I’m alive
We’re like diamonds in the sky
At first sight I felt the energy of sun rays
I saw the life inside your eyes
So shine bright
Tonight,
You and I
We're beautiful like diamonds in the sky
Eye to eye,
So alive
We're beautiful like diamonds in the sky
Shine bright like a diamond
Shine bright like a diamond
Shining bright like a diamond
We’re beautiful like diamonds in the sky
Shine bright like a diamond
Shine bright like a diamond
Shining bright like a diamond
We're beautiful like diamonds in the sky
Shine bright like a diamond
Shine bright like a diamond
Shine bright like a diamond
So shine bright
Tonight,
You and I
We're beautiful like diamonds in the sky
Eye to eye,
So alive
We're beautiful like diamonds in the sky
Shine bright like a diamond
Shine bright like a diamond
Shine bright like a diamond
Shine bright like a diamond
Shine bright like a diamond
Shine bright like a diamond
Shine bright like a diamond