In the world of pop music, hit songs often result from months of meticulous production, rewrites, and vocal coaching. But for Rihanna’s 2012 global smash, “Diamonds,” the journey from a simple idea to a glittering number-one single took less than fifteen minutes—a testament to the instant, raw genius of its songwriter, Sia, and the transformative power of Rihanna’s vocal performance. The collaboration represents one of the most famous behind-the-scenes stories in modern pop history, highlighting the rapid, intuitive creativity that often fuels the biggest chart successes.
The Lightning-Fast Lyrics: 14 Minutes of Inspiration
The song’s inception occurred in a session with super-producers Benny Blanco and Stargate (Tor Erik Hermansen and Mikkel S. Eriksen). They had created a sparse, haunting track, but the lyrics and melody were missing. Australian singer-songwriter Sia Furler, known for writing powerful, emotionally charged hits for other artists, was brought in. According to accounts from the producers, Sia, who was uncomfortable with public fame and often focused on writing for others, wrote the lyrics for “Diamonds” in a staggering 14 minutes while waiting for her ride, coat on and purse in hand. The speed was a result of intense, focused inspiration, yielding the now-iconic, instantly recognizable chorus: “Shine bright like a diamond.” Sia later admitted that she had originally intended to keep the track for her own projects, so potent was the raw emotion she poured into the demo.
Rihanna’s Shocking First Take
The demo, featuring Sia’s own vocals, was sent to Rihanna, who was immediately captivated. The song, which features a theme of finding light and choosing happiness—a lyrical departure from some of the complex relationship themes in Rihanna’s previous work—resonated deeply. When Rihanna hit the studio to record “Diamonds,” her approach was extraordinary. Instead of interpreting the song in her own style, she focused intently on emulating the raw, passionate character and phrasing that Sia had established in the demo track. The result was a stunning, almost perfect imitation that captured the melody’s melancholy yet hopeful tone. In fact, the success of her delivery was so immediate and precise that Sia later mistook Rihanna’s recorded version for her own demo! Producer Benny Blanco once recounted playing the final version for Sia, who was so shocked by the similarity and the emotional replication that she literally thought he was playing a trick on her.
An Anthem of Enduring Elegance
The single, released in September 2012 as the lead track from Rihanna’s seventh studio album, Unapologetic, quickly soared. It reached Number 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming Rihanna’s twelfth chart-topper and cementing its place as one of the best-selling digital singles of all time, with global sales exceeding 7.5 million by May 2013. The blending of Sia’s emotional depth and Rihanna’s powerful, elegant delivery created a timeless anthem. The lightning speed of its creation, paired with Rihanna’s surprising commitment to replicating the core emotion of the demo, turned what could have been a quickly penned scrap song into a monument of modern pop music. “Diamonds” ultimately became one of the most definitive songs of both artists’ careers, proving that sometimes, the most profound pieces of art are created in the blink of an eye.