Diamonds

Story of Song

Sia wrote this hit in just 14 minutes! She heard the track that Benny Blanco had intended to be a hip-hop song–and turned it into a pop success. In an interview with HuffPost Entertainment (2012) Benny Blanco said: “We’re sitting there trying to make records, and we finally just said, ‘Let’s just do something we like. Let’s make a hip-hop record with some really cool chords on it. It didn’t sound Rihanna at all. We were more thinking of making a record that sounds like Kanye. Let’s make a record with a dope beat. So we did. Then Sia heard the track and instantly gravitated towards it. We weren’t even thinking of putting a pop song on it, but she wrote this amazing song.”

‘Diamonds’ is Rihanna’s favorite song; she likes the mood of it. She told iHeartRadio: “You’re not sad. You’re happy and hippie. It’s hopeful. It gives me a great feeling when I listen to it. The lyrics are hopeful and positive. It’s about love and the gears are different than what people will expect.”

Rihanna was asked about the heady metaphors in the song during an interview with MTV News, she said: “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. My story is definitely going to be a happily ever after, no matter what.”

Release date

Released on September 27, 2012

Songwriter/s

Sia Furler – Benjamin Levin – Mikkel Eriksen – Tor Hermansen

Label

Def Jam – SRP

Chart Rankings

In the US, ‘Diamonds’ gave Rihanna her twelfth number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the fifth artist with the most number 1 singles in chart history. It also peaked at number 1 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop, US Dance Club Songs, and US Rhythmic charts. The Record Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified it 5 times Platinum for sales over 3.52 million copies. In the UK, the single topped the Official charts company, selling over a million copies. The British Phonographic Industry certified it Double Platinum.

‘Diamonds’ topped the charts in several countries including Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Scotland, Slovakia and Switzerland. It reached the top 10 charts in Australia, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, South Korea, Spain and Sweden. ‘Diamonds’ was certified 6 times Platinum in Australia and Sweden, and Quadruple Platinum in Denmark, Italy and Switzerland. In Venezuela it was certified Triple Platinum, in New Zealand it was certified Double Platinum, and Platinum in Belgium, Canada, Finland and Germany. Austria and Spain certified it Gold.

Artist’s age on release date

Rihanna was 24 years old when she released Diamonds.

Cover Versions

Sia – Hobbie Stuart – The Dolly Rockers (acoustic) – Madilyn Bailey (acoustic) – Riley Bierderer (acoustic) – Joel Brandenstein (acoustic) – Alex Goot, Julia Sheer, Chad Sugg – Any Given Day (Metal) – Asanda Jezile (Britain’s Got Talent 2013) – Steam Giraffe – Chloe & Halle (acoustic) – Mike Hough – Rick Rose – Nicole Cross – Josef Salvat – Alyssa Bernal – Ali Brustofski – Sami – Florina Perez (French) – Haven & Tay-Tay – Kim Viera – HelenaMaria – Melanie McCabe (The X Factor UK 2013) – Alice Olivia – Johnny O – Calum Scott (Britain’s Got Talent 2015) – Angel Tairua (Australia’s Got Talent 2013) – Teksuo.