Raining Diamonds
"Raining Diamonds" is a song by Australian recording artist Ricki-Lee Coulter. It was written by Coulter, Billy Mann and Dave "Boy Blue" Shaw. "Raining Diamonds" was released digitally on 18 October 2011 and serves as Coulter's debut release with EMI. She explained that the song is "all about knowing your value and not settling for less than what you believe you are worth." It peaked at number 19 on the ARIA Singles Chart and became Coulter's eighth top 20 hit on the chart. "Raining Diamonds" was certified gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), for selling 35,000 digital copies.
Background
In 2009, Coulter was planning to release her third studio album, Hear No, See No, Speak No. It was preceded by the release of two singles: "Don't Miss You" and "Hear No, See No, Speak No", but both were notably unsuccessful compared to her previous singles.[2] Coulter subsequently told her record label Shock Records to cancel the album's release due to the lack of commercial success of the two singles.[2] She told News.com.au: "They got a lukewarm reaction to the singles they chose to put out, so it made sense not to release the album. I said I'd prefer the album not to go out than to go out and fail."[2] In 2010, Coulter joined the Nova FM Sydney breakfast radio team with Merrick Watts and Scott Dooley.[2] In May 2011, Coulter ended her contract with Shock Records.[3] She explained that "Raining Diamonds" was originally planned to be released through the label, however, "Shock [Records] fell into financial trouble, so I asked for a release from my contract."[4] Coulter then signed with EMI.[2] "Raining Diamonds" was released digitally and sent to Australian contemporary hit radio on 18 October 2011.[5][6] A week later, it became the most added song to Australian radio.[6]
Writing and recording
After her contract with Nova FM ended in 2011, Coulter wanted to work on new music and began contacting songwriters and producers she had worked with before, in addition to contacting new songwriters such as Billy Mann.[2] Mann had previously heard Coulter's single "Can't Touch It" and invited her to New York to work with him.[7][2] However, when Coulter arrived, she ended up firstly working with his producing partner Dave "BoyBlue" Shaw in the studio.[4][2] Mann later arrived to hear what they had recorded, and then decided to spend the rest of the week working with Coulter.[4] She told Auspop:
The next morning I got there, he said that he couldn't stop thinking about me overnight. He said, 'I couldn't stop thinking about that voice. And I've figured it out. Your song is going to be called Raining Diamonds. Then he picked up his guitar and started strumming the chords and said 'and the first line is going to be ... I declare war on love' and just sang. ... He had written the first line and then I came up with 'Finally I ran out of pages and I declare war on love'. That was the process of writing.[4]
When speaking of "Raining Diamonds", she said that it is "all about knowing your value and not settling for less than what you believe you are worth."[1] As stated by Cameron Adams of Herald Sun, "the song details Ricki-Lee's path to self-discovery and self-worth, following a public divorce and now a two year relationship with personal trainer Rich Harrison."[8]
Music video and live performances
A behind-the-scenes look of the music video was released exclusively on the Take 40 Australia website on 24 November 2011, featuring a highly futuristic set and Coulter in a metallic leotard.[9] Coulter revealed in an interview with Herald Sun that the video will include a "semi-naked man slave".[10] The completed video premiered on 2 December 2011.[11] The video features a futuristic-theme and sees Coulter channelling a warrior princess, wearing a metallic leotard with pointy shoulder pads. Coulter, who is also accompanied by two very serious looking fembots, perform choreography around shiny diamonds and flashing lightsabers.
Coulter performed the song live on The X Factor (Australia) on 8 November 2011.[12][13] She also performed "Raining Diamonds" the following day on Sunrise.
Track listing
- "Raining Diamonds" – 3:04
Chart performance
On 24 October 2011, "Raining Diamonds" debuted at number 62 on the ARIA Singles Chart.[14] It peaked at number 19 on 21 November 2011,[15] and became Coulter's eighth top 20 hit on the chart.[16] "Raining Diamonds" was certified gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), for selling 35,000 digital copies.[17]
Weekly chart
Year-end chart
|
Certification
|
References
|
|
|
| Studio albums |
|
|
| Singles |
|
|
| Compilations |
|
|
| Related articles |
|
|