Diamond Rings (song)

"Diamond Rings"
Single by Chipmunk featuring Emeli Sandé
from the album I Am Chipmunk
A-side	"Diamond Rings"
Released	6 July 2009
Format	CD single, Digital download
Recorded	2009
Genre	R&B, hip hop, grime, jazz rap
Length	3:07
Label	Columbia/Sonymusic
Writer(s)	Chipmunk, Emeli Sande
Producer	Naughty Boy
Chipmunk singles chronology
"Tiny Dancer (Hold Me Closer)" (2009) "Diamond Rings" (2009) "Oopsy Daisy" (2009)
Emeli Sande singles chronology "Diamond Rings" (2009) "Never Be Your Woman" (2010)

This article is about the song, for the musician, see Diamond Rings (musician).

"Diamond Rings" is the third single released from Chipmunk's second album, I Am Chipmunk. The song was released digitally on 5 July 2009 and physically on Compact Disc a day later. It features Emeli Sande singing the chorus. Chipmunk told Rewind RWD magazine about the lyrics: “It’s not about being flash and spending money though; it’s more about maintaining your value. It’s about feeling good out there. The song samples "Miss Ska-Culation” by Roland Al and the Soul Brothers.^{[1][2][unreliable source?]}

Reception

BBC Chart Blog critically praised the song giving it 4 out of 5 stars:

It's all in that vocal swoop at the end of each line - "I gotta keep on rhyming, maaaaan" - and the conversational, soft tone of voice. It helps that he is a dapper dresser too, and good at the rhyming. And if you're going to be inspired by anyone, why not pick the best? There again, it's quite hard to take Chipmunk seriously as the hard-bragging, hard-to-beat, rhyme hardnut he is in his lyrics, when he's at such a tender age. All you really want to do is pat his pretty head and say "awww, you kids". He will grow into his own boasts, though, you watch. ^[3]

Digital Spy also praised the song giving it 3 out of 5 stars:

'Diamond Rings' shows no signs of youthful naivety, however, boasting just as much pop polish as recent offerings from N-Dubz and Tinchy Stryder. His bragging raps ("Girls see me and scream cause I'm on the TV") may be lacking in originality, but the track's breezy, ska-infused shuffle and feisty female backing vocals are infectious enough to suggest Chipmunk may have a future in the music industry. Now all he has to do is finish his BA degree and we might just get a full album.^[4]

Formats and Track listing

CD Single

1. Diamond Rings - 3:06
2. Diamond Rings (feat. Emeli Sande/Kano/Wiley) - 3:06

Digital Download

1. Diamond Rings - 3:06
2. Diamond Rings (feat. Emeli Sande/Kano/Wiley) - 3:06
3. Diamond Rings (Terror Danjah Remix) (feat. Emeli Sande) - 4:38 ₁

• ^1 iTunes exclusive.

Music video

The music video does not feature Emeli Sande, who provides the actual vocals for the chorus on the recording. She is replaced by an alternative woman who appears throughout the video miming along to the pre-recorded vocals. The video shows Chipmunk and a woman in a restaurant. The woman is on stage singing while Chipmunk is shown rapping in front of his backing dancers Flawless. At the end, two policemen enter looking for Chipmunk and the woman. Both sneak out when the policemen aren't looking. A newspaper article later reveals that they are diamond thieves and have escaped again.

Charts

Chart (2009)	Peak position
European Hot 100[5]	38
UK Singles (The Official Charts Company)[6]	6

End-of-year charts

Chart (2009)	Position
UK Singles Chart[7]	109

References

1. ^ Pipeline Forums Discussion
2. ^ Diamond Rings Songfacts
3. ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/chartblog/2009/07/chipmunk_diamond_rings.shtml
4. ^ http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/a163140/chipmunk-diamond-rings.html
5. ^ http://www.billboard.com/charts#/charts/european-hot-100?begin=31&order=position
6. ^ "Chart Stats – Chipmunk Ft Emeli Sande – Diamond Rings" UK Singles Chart. Chart Stats.
7. ^ "Charts Plus Year end 2009" (PDF). Charts Plus. http://www.ukchartsplus.co.uk/UKChartsPlusYE2009.pdf. Retrieved 2010-07-19.