"Diamonds" (ダイアモンド, Daiamondo) is the seventh single by Japanese band Princess Princess. Written by Kanako Nakayama and Kaori Okui, the single was released by CBS Sony on April 21, 1989. It became their first of five consecutive No. 1 singles on Oricon's singles chart.
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Background
Princess Princess' popularity was on the rise after their sixth single "Get Crazy!" was used as the theme song of the J-drama series of the same name in October 1988. "Diamonds" was released six months later. It was used by Sony for their cassette tape commercials. The song was also used by Suzuki for their Suzuki Kei commercial in 2001. It was included in the 2015 soundtrack album Yakuza 0 80's Hits! Collection. More recently, it was used by Acecook for their 2020 Soup Harusame commercial featuring Anne Nakamura.
The song's original key is E major (modulated to F major at the end).
The B-side is "M", with its lyrics written by Kyōko Tomita and originally released in the band's 1988 album Let's Get Crazy. In a 2012 Facebook post, Tomita explained that she had broken up with a man with the initial "M" and wrote the song as a means of retribution. "M" was re-released digitally on February 23, 2005, and was certified as Triple Platinum by the RIAJ in November 2014.
Chart performance and reception
"Diamonds" hit No. 1 on Oricon's singles chart and was the No. 1 song on Oricon's year-ending chart in 1989. It also sold over 1,097,000 copies and was certified Triple Platinum by the RIAJ in August 1990.
The song won the Grand Prix at the 22nd Japan Cable Awards.
Track listing
All music is composed by Kaori Okui and arranged by Princess Princess.
Certifications
Diamonds
M
Cover versions
Diamonds
The Nolans covered the song and "M" in English on their 1992 album The Hottest Place on Earth, with lyrics by Des Dyer.
Rockapella covered the song on their 1992 album To N.Y.
Younha covered the song on the 2006 Princess Princess tribute album 14 Princess: Princess Princess Children.
Aya Kiguchi covered the song on her 2007 album Ayati Trance ~Aya Curve Chūihō~.
i*Be covered the song as their debut single in 2009.
High-King covered the song on the 2009 Hello! Project cover album Chanpuru 1 ~Happy Marriage Song Cover Shū~.
Jun Fukuyama covered the song on the 2010 Durarara!! soundtrack album Cover Song Collection CD.
Morisanchu covered the song in a 2011 Toto Big commercial, with the YouTuber trio impersonating members of Princess Princess.
Shoko Nakagawa covered the song on her 2011 cover album Shoko-tan Cover 4-2 ~Shoko Rock-hen~.
Naomi Wakabayashi covered the song on the 2015 soundtrack album The Idolm@ster Master Artist 3-13: Ritsuko Akizuki.
Misaki Aono covered the song in 2017.
ClariS covered the song on their 2019 EP Summer Tracks: Natsu no Uta.
Risky Melody covered the song on their 2019 single Diamonds Type A～C.