"Diamonds" is a song by recording artist Rihanna, released as the lead single from her seventh studio album Unapologetic (2012). It was written by 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, under their production name StarGate. "Diamonds" premiered on September 26, 2012, during the Elvis Duran and the Morning Show and was released for a digital download the following day. 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 "unhealthy relationships" that are evident in several of Rihanna's previous singles.[1]

Critics were divided on "Diamonds"; some complimented Rihanna's different musical direction, however, others criticized its production. "Diamonds" has reached number one in sixteen countries including Austria, Canada, France, Finland, Germany, Norway, and the United Kingdom and attained top ten positions in over thirty countries. It also topped the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming Rihanna's twelfth number one single on the chart, thus tying 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 three 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.[2] The video received positive response from critics, who praised the imagery used. 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 America and the series nine of The X Factor in the United Kingdom. An official remix of "Diamonds", featuring rap verses by Kanye West was released on November 16, 2012.

Background

Writing and production



Australian singer-songwritter Sia Furler co-wrote the song alongside StarGate and Benny Blanco.

American songwriter and record producer Benjamin "Benny Blanco" Levin convened with StarGate (Mikkel S. Eriksen and Tor Erik Hermansen) in 2012 at a studio in New York City to create new material, including a song for Rihanna.[3] StarGate has worked with Rihanna previously and produced some of her previous singles including "Don't Stop the Music" (Good Girl Gone Bad, 2007) and "Only Girl (In the World)" (Loud, 2010).[4] According to Blanco, one day they went into the studio with an idea to create something "Kanye [West] could rap over", something that "wasn't Rihanna" sounding. He further elaborated, "we weren’t thinking of Rihanna at all and then it's the one that we weren’t thinking Rihanna, is the one that turned into the Rihanna record...But that’s how it always happens like with me, when I'm really thinking, 'Yo, you got to make this hit right now, we got to make the first single right now.'"[3] They made the record first, followed by its beat. Australian singer-songwriter Sia Furler later joined them and wrote the lyrics for "Diamonds". After the song was completed, they wanted to play it to Rihanna, however, Blanco was skeptical about the reaction towards the song, having in mind its slower nature. After StarGate played it to Rihanna, 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."[3] He further elaborated that they had to finish the mixing and mastering of the song with Rihanna's vocals within the last days prior to its release, which according to him was "crazy and amazing".