Diamonds and Pearls (song)

"Diamonds and Pearls" is the title track to Prince and The New Power Generation's 1991 hit album.[3] The song is an upbeat ballad, given a rock edge with guitar and heavy drumming. The song also features the vocals of NPG member Rosie Gaines. The ballad is an expression of love and not lust, as is the theme on some of the other singles from the album. The song was a top 10 hit, reaching number 3 in the US and the top spot on the R&B chart. The pearls in the music video come from Connie Parente, a Los Angeles jewelry collector and designer.[4]

This article is about the Prince song. For the song by Monrose, see Even Heaven Cries. For the song by Kansas, see Vinyl Confessions.
"Diamonds and Pearls"
UK 7" single
Single by Prince and The New Power Generation
from the album Diamonds and Pearls
B-side
  • "X-cerpts from the Songs: Thunder, Daddy Pop, Strollin', Money Don't Matter 2 Night, Push, Live 4 Love" (US 7" and Jap. CD)
  • "Q in Doubt" (UK 7")
  • "Housebangers" (UK 12")
  • "Cream" (NPG Mix) (UK 12")
  • "Things Have Gotta Change" (UK 12")
  • "2 the Wire" (UK CD)
  • "Do Your Dance" (UK CD)
ReleasedNovember 25, 1991
Format
RecordedPaisley Park Studios, Late December 1989 http://www.princevault.com/index.php?title=Diamonds_And_Pearls
Genre
Length4:45 (Album version)
4:20 (Radio edit)
Label
Songwriter(s)Prince
Producer(s)Prince
Prince and The New Power Generation singles chronology
"Insatiable"
(1991)		 "Diamonds and Pearls"
(1991)		 "Money Don't Matter 2 Night"
(1992)
Prince (UK) singles chronology
Cream
(1991)		 Diamonds and Pearls
(1991)		 Money Don't Matter 2 Night
(1992)

The B-side is a mix of excerpts of other Diamonds and Pearls tracks, which serves to promote the album. There was no extended version of the song released. The UK B-side included some of the mixes on the "Cream" maxi single.

The repeated lyric "If I gave you diamonds and pearls, would you be a happy boy or a girl?" echoes the lyrics "I'll buy you diamonds and pearls only if you're good girl" from Prince's 1982 song, "International Lover".

Rapper Lil Wayne sampled the song on his mixtape Da Drought, with the term "Diamonds & Girls".

Polish jazz pianist Marcin Wasilewski and his trio included an instrumental version of the song on their 2008 ECM album January.[5]

R&B artist and Voice coach Alicia Keys and her finalist Chris Blue covered this song on The Voice season 12 finale.

Track listing

UK 7"
  1. "Diamonds and Pearls" (LP version) – 4:45
  2. "Q in Doubt" – 4:00

US 7" and Japan CD
  1. "Diamonds and Pearls" (edit) – 4:20
  2. "X-cerpts from the Songs: Thunder, Daddy Pop, Strollin', Money Don't Matter 2 Night, Push, Live 4 Love" – 5:04

UK 12"
  1. "Diamonds and Pearls" (LP version) – 4:45
  2. "Do Your Dance" (Housebangers) – 4:23
  3. "Cream" (N.P.G. Mix) – 5:47
  4. "Things Have Gotta Change" (Tony M. Rap) – 3:57

UK CD
  1. "Diamonds and Pearls" (LP version) – 4:45
  2. "2 the Wire" (Creamy Instrumental) – 3:13
  3. "Do Your Dance" (KC's Remix) – 5:58

Chart performance

"Diamonds and Pearls" was very successful stateside, receiving massive airplay and peaking at number 2 on the Hot 100 Airplay, and number 11 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay (it was on the decline when the chart first appeared in April 1992). It was a moderate hit in the UK, peaking at number 25.

Weekly charts
Chart (1991–92) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[6] 13
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[7] 19
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[8] 12
France (SNEP)[9] 20
Germany (Official German Charts)[10] 28
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[11] 15
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[12] 8
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[13] 12
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[14] 7
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[15] 25
US Billboard Hot 100 3
US Billboard Hot R&B Songs 1

Year-end charts
Chart (1992) Position
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[16] 49
US Billboard Hot 100[17] 25

See also

References
  1. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Prince & the New Power Generation: Diamonds and Pearls > Review" at AllMusic. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
  2. Williams. Stereo (April 29, 2016). "Let Love Decide: Prince's 'Diamonds and Pearls'". Spin. Retrieved June 6, 2016.
  3. "Prince & The New Power Generation - Diamonds And Pearls at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
  4. Betts, Katherine (1 December 1991). "Connie Parente's vintage pieces recall a more glamorous past - with a hint of whimsy". Vogue. 181 (12): 110–114. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  5. Jurek, T. Allmusic Review accessed November 21, 2011
  6. "Australian-charts.com – Prince & The New Power Generation – Diamonds & Pearls". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  7. "Austriancharts.at – Prince & The New Power Generation – Diamonds & Pearls" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  8. "Ultratop.be – Prince & The New Power Generation – Diamonds & Pearls" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  9. "Lescharts.com – Prince & The New Power Generation – Diamonds & Pearls" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  10. "Offiziellecharts.de – Prince & The New Power Generation – Diamonds & Pearls". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  11. "Dutchcharts.nl – Prince & The New Power Generation – Diamonds & Pearls" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  12. "Charts.nz – Prince & The New Power Generation – Diamonds & Pearls". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  13. "Swedishcharts.com – Prince & The New Power Generation – Diamonds & Pearls". Singles Top 100. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  14. "Swisscharts.com – Prince & The New Power Generation – Diamonds & Pearls". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  15. "Prince: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  16. "End of Year Charts 1992". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  17. "Billboard Top 100 - 1992". Archived from the original on 2010-01-17. Retrieved 2010-07-30.
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