Diamonds and Pearls (song)

This article is about the Prince song. For the Prince album, see Diamonds and Pearls. For the song by Monrose, see Even Heaven Cries. For the song by Kansas, see Vinyl Confessions.

"Diamonds and Pearls" is the title track of American musician Prince and The New Power Generation's 1991 album and was released as a single in November 1991. The song is an upbeat ballad, given a rock edge with guitar and heavy drumming. It 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. It was a top 10 hit, reaching number three in the US and the top spot on the R&B chart. The pearls in the accompanying music video come from Connie Parente, a Los Angeles jewelry collector and designer.^[5]

"Diamonds and Pearls"
UK 7-inch 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" "Q in Doubt" "Housebangers" "Cream" (N.P.G. mix) "Things Have Gotta Change" "2 the Wire" "Do Your Dance"
Released	November 25, 1991 (1991-11-25)[1]
Recorded	November 19, 1990[2]
Studio	Paisley Park (Chanhassen, Minnesota)
Genre	Pop[3] R&B[4] soul
Length	4:45 (album version) 4:20 (radio edit)
Label	Paisley Park Warner Bros.
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)
Music video
"Diamonds and Pearls" on YouTube

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".

Chart performance

"Diamonds and Pearls" was very successful stateside, receiving massive airplay and peaking at number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart, and number 11 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart (it was on the decline when the chart first appeared in April 1992). In Europe, it was a top 10 hit in Switzerland (7), while entering the top 20 in Austria (19), Belgium (12), France (20), the Netherlands (15), Sweden (12). It was a moderate hit in the UK, peaking at number 25 on the UK Singles Chart, while reaching number 29 on the Eurochart Hot 100. In Australia and New Zealand, the single peaked at number 13 and eight, respectively.

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard wrote that it is a "soft and soulful lullaby that should keep momentum building at top 40. Once again, Rosie Gaines' vocal support is a true delight."^[6] Clark and DeVaney from Cashbox said it is "actually a soulful R&B ballad-gone-mad with der-Prince's guitar work and production." They noted that Gaines is "sounding quite like she needs her own record, something she will no doubt get from her close-knit pals at Paisley."^[7] Rufer and Fell from the Gavin Report stated that Gaines "absolutely nails her part."^[8]

George Caplan from Melody Maker praised it as "a cluster of gems, a sacred, monumental ballad to counterweigh the delicious profanity elsewhere."^[9] Pan-European magazine Music & Media commented, "The melody of this mellow ballad and title track of his new album rings a bell for soul fanatics. It recalls Bobby Goldsboro's famous tune "Summer (The First Time)", as recorded by Millie Jackson on her classic Caught Up album."^[10] Gavin Martin from NME declared it as "pure pop schlock, a lushly layered but shallow ballad".^[11] A reviewer from People Magazine called it a "mushy mess".^[12] Tom Doyle from Smash Hits viewed it as "smaltzy over-the-top-balladeering".^[13]

Retrospective response

In a 2016 retrospective review, Patrick Corcoran from Albumism stated that the song's "fairy tale fanfares, sizeable doses of pomp and the delicious interplay between Gaines' and Prince's voices serve up an undeniably touching ballad that delicately and deftly walks the line between sweet and saccharine."^[14] Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic called it a "drippy mainstream ballad" and a "terrific" pop single.^[15] Mike Diver for the BBC in 2010 described it as a "brilliant ballad" in his 2010 review.^[16] In 2016, Jeff Weiss from Pitchfork said it's a "twinkling locket-pop ballad", and "one of those songs they'll play at weddings until we stop using diamond engagement rings and the ocean runs out of pearls." He added, "It's Prince at his best".^[17] In Rolling Stone's ranking of "25 Essential Prince Songs" in 2020, an editor described it as a "sultry ballad", that "intricately wedded the singer's love of glitz and glamour with a distinct, ever-evolving pop-R&B sensibility."^[18]

Track listings

• UK 7-inch

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

• US 7-inch 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-inch

1. "Diamonds and Pearls" (LP version) – 4:45
2. "Do Your Dance" (Housebangers) – 4:23
3. "Cream" (N.P.G. mix) – 4:54
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

Personnel

Personnel are taken from Benoît Clerc and Guitarcloud^[19][20]

• Prince – lead and backing vocals, electric guitar, synthesizers, Roland R-8
• Rosie Gaines – co-lead and backing vocals
• Tommy Barbarella – synthesizers
• Sheila E. – synth drum fills
• Sonny T. – bass guitar
• Michael B. – drums

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "Diamonds and Pearls" Chart (1991–1992) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[21] 13 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[22] 19 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[23] 12 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[24] 5 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[25] 29 Europe (European Dance Radio)[26] 3 France (SNEP)[27] 20 Germany (GfK)[28] 28 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[29] 15 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[30] 15 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[31] 8 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[32] 12 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[33] 7 UK Singles (OCC)[34] 25 US Billboard Hot 100[35] 3 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[36] 40 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[37] 1

Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for "Diamonds and Pearls" Chart (1992) Position New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[38] 49 US Billboard Hot 100[39] 25

See also

• List of number-one R&B singles of 1992 (U.S.)

References

1. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. November 23, 1991. p. 21.
2. "Diamonds and Pearls – Prince Vault".
3. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Prince & the New Power Generation: Diamonds and Pearls > Review" at AllMusic. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
4. Williams. Stereo (April 29, 2016). "Let Love Decide: Prince's 'Diamonds and Pearls'". Spin. Retrieved June 6, 2016.
5. Betts, Katherine (December 1, 1991). "Connie Parente's vintage pieces recall a more glamorous past – with a hint of whimsy". Vogue. 181 (12): 110–114. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
6. Flick, Larry (December 7, 1991). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 74. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
7. Clark, Randy; DeVaney, Bryan (December 14, 1991). "Music Reviews: Albums" (PDF). Cashbox. p. 5. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
8. Rufer, Diane; Fell, Ron (January 17, 1992). "A/C: Reviews" (PDF). Gavin Report. p. 28. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
9. Caplan, George (October 5, 1991). "Albums". Melody Maker. p. 34. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
10. "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. November 30, 1991. p. 12. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
11. Martin, Gavin (October 5, 1991). "Long Play". NME. p. 36. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
12. "Picks and Pans Review: Diamonds and Pearls". People. October 21, 1991. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
13. Doyle, Tom (October 16, 1991). "Review: LPs". Smash Hits. p. 43. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
14. Corcoran, Patrick (September 27, 2016). "Prince & The New Power Generation's 'Diamonds and Pearls' Turns 25: Anniversary Retrospective". Albumism. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
15. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Prince & the New Power Generation / Prince – Diamonds and Pearls". AllMusic. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
16. Diver, Mike (2010). "Prince & The New Power Generation Diamonds and Pearls Review". BBC. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
17. Weiss, Jeff (April 30, 2016). "Prince / The New Power Generation – Diamond and Pearls". Pitchfork. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
18. "25 Essential Prince Songs". Rolling Stone. April 15, 2020. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
19. Clerc, Benoît (October 2022). Prince: All the Songs. Octopus. ISBN 9781784728816.
20. "Diamonds and Pearls". guitarcloud.org. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
21. "Prince & The New Power Generation – Diamonds & Pearls". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
22. "Prince & The New Power Generation – Diamonds & Pearls" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
23. "Prince & The New Power Generation – Diamonds & Pearls" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
24. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2054." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
25. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 3. January 18, 1992. p. 31.
26. "European Dance Radio" (PDF). Music & Media. January 18, 1992. p. 32. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
27. "Prince & The New Power Generation – Diamonds & Pearls" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
28. "Prince & The New Power Generation – Diamonds & Pearls" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
29. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Prince & The New Power Generation" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
30. "Prince & The New Power Generation – Diamonds & Pearls" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
31. "Prince & The New Power Generation – Diamonds & Pearls". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
32. "Prince & The New Power Generation – Diamonds & Pearls". Singles Top 100. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
33. "Prince & The New Power Generation – Diamonds & Pearls". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
34. "Prince & The New Power Generation: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
35. "Prince Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
36. "Prince Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
37. "Prince Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
38. "End of Year Charts 1992". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
39. "Billboard Top 100 – 1992". Archived from the original on July 8, 2009. Retrieved July 30, 2010.