Raining Diamonds

Last updated

"Raining Diamonds"
Ricki-Lee - Raining Diamonds.jpg
Single by Ricki-Lee Coulter
from the album Fear & Freedom
Released18 October 2011 (2011-10-18)
Recorded New York City [1]
Genre Dance-pop [2]
Length3:04
Label EMI
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Boyblue
Ricki-Lee Coulter singles chronology
"Hear No, See No, Speak No"
(2009)		"Raining Diamonds"
(2011)		"Do It Like That"
(2012)

"Raining Diamonds" is a song by Australian recording artist Ricki-Lee Coulter. It was written by Coulter, Billy Mann and Boyblue, who also produced the song. "Raining Diamonds" was released digitally on 18 October 2011 as the lead single from Coulter's third studio album Fear & Freedom (2012). The song serves as Coulter's debut release with EMI, after parting ways with her former record label Shock Records in May 2011. Lyrically, Coulter stated that the song is "all about knowing your value and not settling for less than what you believe you are worth." [1]

Contents

"Raining Diamonds" peaked at number 19 on the ARIA Singles Chart and was certified platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association for selling over 70,000 copies. An accompanying music video was directed by Krozm and features Coulter channelling a warrior princess. She promoted the song with performances on The X Factor Australia and Sunrise .

Background and release

Coulter's third studio album, originally titled Hear No, See No, Speak No, was scheduled for release in November 2009, [3] but was later pushed back to January 2010. [4] However, following the two unsuccessful singles "Don't Miss You" and the title track, Coulter told her record label Shock Records to cancel the album's release. [5] In an interview with News.com.au, she said, "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." [5] In 2010, Coulter took a break from her music career as she took on a full-time position as a breakfast radio presenter for Sydney's Nova 96.9, alongside Merrick Watts and Scott Dooley. [5] In May 2011, Coulter ended her contract with Shock Records. [6] In an interview with Auspop, she stated that "Raining Diamonds" was originally planned to be released through the label, but they "fell into financial trouble." [7] As a result, Coulter asked to be released from her contract. [7] She then signed with major label EMI. [5] "Raining Diamonds" was released digitally and sent to Australian contemporary hit radio stations on 18 October 2011. [8] [9] A week later, it became the most added song to radio. [9]

Writing and recording

After her contract with Nova FM ended, Coulter began working on new music and started contacting songwriters and producers she had worked with before, in addition to contacting new songwriters such as Billy Mann. [5] Mann had previously heard Coulter's single "Can't Touch It" (2007) and invited her to New York City to work with him. [5] [10] However, when Coulter arrived, she ended up working with his producing partner Boyblue. [5] [7] Mann later arrived to hear what they had recorded and decided to spend the rest of the week working with Coulter. [7] In an interview with Auspop, she stated:

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. [7]

Lyrically, Coulter said that "Raining Diamonds" is "all about knowing your value and not settling for less than what you believe you are worth." [1] According to Cameron Adams of the 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." [11]

Chart performance

On 24 October 2011, "Raining Diamonds" debuted at number 62 on the ARIA Singles Chart. [12] It peaked at number 19 on 21 November 2011 and became Coulter's eighth top twenty single on the chart. [13] "Raining Diamonds" was certified platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association for selling over 70,000 copies. [14]

Promotion

Coulter performed "Raining Diamonds" on The X Factor Australia (8 November 2011) [15] [16] and Sunrise (9 November 2011). In April–May 2014, Coulter was the supporting act for Jason Derulo's Australian leg of his Tattoos World Tour, where she performed the song as part of her set list.[ citation needed ]

Music video

The music video was directed by Krozm (Chris Hill and Lachlan Dickie). [17] A behind-the-scenes video of the shoot was uploaded exclusively onto the Take 40 Australia website on 24 November 2011. [18] In an interview with the Herald Sun, Coulter stated that the video would include a "semi-naked man slave." [19] The official video clip premiered on 2 December 2011. [20] The futuristic-themed video features Coulter, wearing a metallic leotard with pointy shoulder pads, channelling a warrior princess. She is accompanied by two fembot dancers and they perform choreographed routines near shiny diamonds and flashing light sabers. [20]

Track listing

  1. "Raining Diamonds" – 3:04

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Fear & Freedom. [21]

Locations

Personnel

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [14] Platinum70,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

CountryDateFormatLabel
Australia18 October 2011 Contemporary hit radio [9] EMI Music Australia
Digital download [8]

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Ricki-Lee Dawn Coulter, also known mononymously as Ricki-Lee, is a New Zealand-born Australian singer, songwriter, television, and radio presenter. She was born in Auckland, New Zealand, grew up on the Gold Coast, Queensland and began performing at the age of 15. Coulter rose to fame in 2004 on the second season of Australian Idol and placed seventh in the competition. She subsequently signed with Australian independent label Shock Records, and released her self-titled debut album Ricki-Lee (2005), which produced the top-ten hits "Hell No!" and "Sunshine". Both singles were certified gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). The following year, Coulter became a member of Australian pop girl group Young Divas, before leaving in early 2007 to resume her solo career.

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Fear & Freedom is the third studio album by Australian recording artist Ricki-Lee Coulter, released through EMI Music Australia on 17 August 2012. The album is Coulter's first release since parting ways with her former record label Shock Records. Coulter had been working on her third album since 2009, under the title Hear No, See No, Speak No, and was originally due for release in November 2009. However, Coulter cancelled the album's release due to unsuccessful singles. After taking a break from her music career in 2010, Coulter began working on new material for the album in 2011. Unlike her previous albums, Fear & Freedom incorporates up-tempo pop genres, ranging from dance-pop, electropop, drum and bass and trance. Love and self-empowerment are its main themes.

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"In the Mood" is a song recorded by Australian singer and songwriter Ricki-Lee Coulter for her fourth studio album Dance in the Rain. It was written by Coulter, Stuart Crichton and Brian Lee. Following the album's iTunes pre-order release, "In the Mood" debuted at number 97 on the ARIA Singles Chart.

<i>Dance in the Rain</i> (album) 2014 studio album by Ricki-Lee Coulter

Dance in the Rain is the fourth studio album by Australian singer and songwriter Ricki-Lee Coulter, released on 17 October 2014 by EMI Music Australia. Coulter began working on Dance in the Rain shortly after the completion of her previous album Fear & Freedom (2012). Recording and production took place in various places around the world over two years. Coulter was the executive producer of the album and collaborated with many songwriters, including Brian Kierulf, Brian Lee, David Schuler, Ilan Kidron, Stuart Crichton, Carl Sturken and Evan Rogers. Musically, Dance in the Rain incorporates styles of pop, dance, R&B and reggae.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Eliezer, Christie (19 October 2011). "Industrial Strength: October 19". The Music Network . Peer Group Media. Archived from the original on 6 April 2012.
  2. ↑ "How Ricki-Lee Got Her Groove Back". The Music Network. Peer Group Media. 15 November 2011. Retrieved 5 March 2012.
  3. ↑ Compton, Moz (3 October 2009). "Ricki-Lee Coulter in hot Conn job". The Daily Telegraph . News Limited . Retrieved 25 July 2012.
  4. ↑ Stephenson, Alison (19 October 2009). "Behind the scenes of Ricki-Lee's racy dominatrix shoot". The Sunday Telegraph. News Limited. Archived from the original on 5 August 2011.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Adams, Cameron (20 October 2011). "Ricki-Lee Coulter reboots her pop career with new single Raining Diamonds". News.com.au. News Limited. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
  6. ↑ "Weighing up her options – Ricki-Lee Coulter on a losing streak". The Daily Telegraph. 3 August 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 "Interview: Ricki-Lee". Auspop. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
  8. 1 2 3 "Raining Diamonds – Single by Ricki-Lee". iTunes Store. Apple . Retrieved 23 October 2011.
  9. 1 2 3 "Most Added to Radio". The Music Network. Peer Group Media. Archived from the original on 11 September 2011.
  10. ↑ McCabe, Kathy (17 October 2011). "Ricki-Lee Coulter's diamond of a find in the US". Adelaide Now. News Limited. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
  11. ↑ Adams, Cameron (18 October 2011). "Ricki-Lee sings with EMI for success". Herald Sun . The Herald and Weekly Times . Retrieved 23 October 2011.
  12. ↑ "Chartifacts – Week Commencing: 24th October 2011". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 3 November 2011.
  13. 1 2 "Ricki-Lee – Raining Diamonds". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  14. 1 2 "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2012 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
  15. ↑ "Special Guests Announced!". The X Factor Australia . Yahoo!7. Archived from the original on 5 November 2011.
  16. ↑ "Declan Sykes Eliminated From The X Factor Australia". Take 40 Australia. MCM Entertainment. Retrieved 9 November 2011.
  17. ↑ Ricki-Lee – Raining Diamonds – Behind the Scenes. YouTube. 24 November 2011. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
  18. ↑ "Watch: Ricki-Lee's 'Raining Diamonds' Video – Behind The Scenes!". Take 40 Australia . MCM Entertainment. 24 November 2011. Retrieved 25 November 2011.
  19. ↑ Burns, Andy (25 November 2011). "Ricki-Lee Coulter sparkles for the ARIA Awards". Herald Sun. The Herald and Weekly Times. Retrieved 25 November 2011.
  20. 1 2 "Watch: Ricki-Lee Coulter's Sexy Video For 'Raining Diamonds'". The Hot Hits . MCM Entertainment. 2 December 2011. Retrieved 14 December 2011.
  21. ↑ Fear & Freedom (CD). Ricki-Lee Coulter. EMI Music Australia Pty Ltd. 2012. p. 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  22. ↑ "ARIA Top 50 Australian Artists Singles 2011". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 4 January 2012.
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