“Diamonds” by Rihanna: Release chart review

on December 16, 2019

“Diamonds” is a song recorded by Barbadian singer Rihanna for her seventh studio album, Unapologetic (2012). It was written by Sia Furler together with its producers, Benny Blanco and StarGate. The song premiered on September 26, 2012, during the Elvis Duran and the Morning Show and was digitally released the following day as the lead single from Unapologetic.” (Wikipedia)

Timing the release chart sourced here: “The first offering from her upcoming seventh album will premiere Wednesday, September 26, at 8 a.m. EST on Z100’s Elvis Duran and the Morning Show”.

“Diamonds” is one of my favourite modern tunes. I like the lyrics and appreciate its liberating overtones and passion. Sia, the actual songwriter, never fails to touch me. Finding out she wrote the song clarified how I was so attracted to it to begin with. This was a different mood and sound for Rihanna and it does stand out as a sort of a peak, in my opinion, of her expression. A great end result in any case.

The tune is very well composed and received as judging by its sales and chart successes: Mercury on the appealing Libra Ascendant gets his message across via a dispersive grand trine in air with Jupiter in Gemini and Moon in Aquarius. The dispository chain links each of these planets straight into the Sun-Venus mutual reception loop. And the song keeps revolving indeed.

Venus in passionate Leo gives this a powerful, commanding tone that inspires wholeheartedness:

“I think a lot of people are afraid of being happy because of what others might think of it. … They’re afraid to embrace that and embrace themselves and love themselves and do what they love and do what makes them happy.” —Rihanna talking about the lyrical meaning behind “Diamonds” for MTV News.” (Wikipedia)

Diamonds – the deep underground gems are a result of extreme heat and pressure conditions over long periods of time. These draw my attention to Mars in Scorpio, semisquare Pluto in Capricorn. This is an excavation team par excellence. Incisive Mars is quick to process the gems Pluto in Capricorn turns up and ejects to the surface. Mars applying towards the Lunar North Node in Scorpio suggests the importance of this song, as for the involved artists’ careers but also in terms of its impact on the generation reflecting on this piece – resonance to the song’s theme and its presentation was bound to cause a powerful pull.

Moon’s trine to Saturn as well as Venus’ applying sextile to Saturn establishes appeal among older generation while decidedly evoking a more mature expression for Rihanna too.

“The song’s lyrics serve as a departure from the themes of unhealthy relationships that were on Rihanna’s previous singles and contain a prominent concept of love. “

In addition, as the last aspect the Moon makes before changing signs being exactly this trine to Saturn in Libra (1^st house) the song was geared for longevity and is indeed is still being played. I believe it will be played for a while to come.

With the Cancer MC, tended to by the Aquarius Moon moving away from opposition to Venus in Leo and in tight square to a strong Mars in Scorpio, it appears that this song was positioned with surgical precision to change the tone of Rihanna’s music. This is a deeply passionate piece. Mars near the North Node sparks a desire to dive into passionate Scorpio waters. The song stirs up Scorpio waters effectively.

Moon in ‘black and white’ Aquarius fits the song’s liberating overtones (and the video concept released later).

‘Photographs of the production leaked to the press the same day and showed Rihanna in a white and black dress in front of a fire’

Uranus effects – changing things up

The release chart shows the ‘fallen’ Libra Sun in applying opposition to Uranus (Aries) into squares with Pluto in Capricorn: changing the game. Two weeks after the release we find the following:

“On October 11, 2012, Billboard unveiled new methodology for the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, newly factoring digital download sales and streaming data into the 50-position rankings, along with existing radio airplay data monitored by Nielsen BDS. Due to this, “Diamonds” saw a huge leap from number 66 to number one,[61] marking Rihanna’s second single as a lead artist to top the chart;[62] it topped the chart for fourteen consecutive weeks. “ (Wikipedia)

Uncanny!

Diamonds release chart highlights

Prevalence on Cardinal placements with accent on air. Pluto is the only Earth placement and disposed to Saturn, Saturn to Venus and Venus in Mutual Reception loop with Sun.
Mars is in own sign (Scorpio) and trine MC. Mars hosts the North Lunar Node in Scorpio and also receives Uranus on DC in Aries.
The chart features two t-squares:
Fixed t-square with Aquarius Moon opposing Venus (Ascendant ruler) in Leo, into squares to Mars in Scorpio
Cardinal t-square: The last planet that Moon crossed before inception was Pluto in Capricorn apex of a t-square with Sun-Uranus. That is a powerful release after some build-up. Indeed, the song’s release was announced around 12^th September and the statement was withdrawn the next day. So there was some mystery and build-up as reflected in the aspects noted. “On September 12, 2012, Def Jam France announced via Twitter that Rihanna would release a new single the following week and that her seventh studio album will be released in November. However, the tweet was shortly deleted and replaced with another clarifying that more information will be given on September 13”(Wikipedia). Mars and Pluto did create some chaos clearly. Uranus in Aries in the mix also reflects some impulsive actions or mistakes. Further, With this t-square apex Pluto in Earthy Capricorn, it secured great material returns as well. Well…it worked 🙂

Notes for students – other considerations

The two t-squares give Mars and Pluto as respective apex points, separated by around 45 degrees from each other (semisquare). It is very interesting to note Jupiter sitting close to opposition to this Mars-Pluto Midpoint from Gemini, while trining Mercury (through which it is disposed to the Venus-Sun loop) and Moon!
Mercury found tightly conjunct the event Ascendant in Libra as part of a grand trine in Air with Jupiter and the Moon just separating. This is a dispersive energy that indicates a speedy and wide reach.