Diamonds and Pearls (song)

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"
File:Prince DiamondsSingle.jpg UK 7" single
Single by Prince
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)
Released	November 25, 1991
Format	7" single 12" single CD single CD maxi single
Recorded	Paisley Park Studios, December 1989
Genre	Pop rock
Length	4:45 (album version) 4:20 (radio edit)
Label	Paisley Park Warner Bros.
Writer(s)	Prince
Producer(s)	Prince
Prince 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)

"Diamonds and Pearls" is the title track to Prince and The New Power Generation's 1991 hit album. 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 infamous pearls in the music video come from Connie Parente, a Los Angeles jewelry collector and designer.

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.

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)	13
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)	19
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)	12
France (SNEP)	20
Germany (Official German Charts)	28
Netherlands (Single Top 100)	15
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)	8
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)	12
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)	7
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)	25
US Billboard Hot 100	3
US Billboard Hot R&B Songs	1

Year-end charts

Chart (1992)	Position
US Billboard Hot 100	25

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

See also

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