Diamonds are probably the ultimate precious stone. After all, if something is ‘Diamond’ it normally means the very best of the best. Our love for the stone is as timeless as the stone itself and has been immortalised in songs in just about every era. Here are some of the most famous songs of recent history that have been devoted to the beauty of our favourite gem, the diamond. If you are operating in the jewellery business or looking for Music for Business that would include gems and sparkling jewels you may want to look at some of the following songs:
1) Rihanna, “Diamonds”
This song was a huge hit and offered empowering lyrics reminding us to ‘shine bright, like a diamond’. The song was her way of telling us that we are beautiful too, just like the stone. It was also a love song, a song about relationships and can also apply to many other elements of the human condition. Taken from her ‘Unapologetic’ album back in 2012, it surely put Rihanna’s name on the scene and established her credentials as a serious pop star.
2) Marilyn Monroe, “Diamonds are a girl’s best friend”
We all know this song as performed by Marilyn Monroe, but it was actually first performed by Carol Channing, who appeared in the Broadway show ‘Gentlemen prefer blondes’. When the movie of the show was released, the song was to become immortalised for being sung by the beautiful and enigmatic Monroe. It is still one of the most recognised movie songs of all time.
3) Kylie Minogue, “White Diamond”
This beautiful song featured in a 2007 documentary about Kylie Minogue, in which she discussed her personal battle with cancer. The lyrics are about the painful steps she had to go through to get herself back on stage and performing for her fans. She compares herself to a white diamond, having to show toughness and shining light to deal with her personal battle with the disease.
4) Shirley Bassey, “Diamonds are forever”
This song became world famous due to its role as the theme tune for the James Bond movie of the same name. The lyrics of the song compare men to diamonds, stating that the precious gem will never let her down, sparkling on her finger forever, unlike the fickle affections of men. Released in 1971, it remains a firm fan favourite movie and title song.
5) The Beatles, “Lucy in the sky with diamonds”
This is a song that caused some controversy when it was first released. Many at the time believed that the lyrics, written by John Lennon were about experiences from dabbling with LSD. Perhaps the band did it on purpose to stir up a discussion on the topic. Later, Lennon confirmed that the song was actually about a drawing that his son Julian had created about a girl called Lucy.
