Music Friday: Elvis Presley Croons, 'That's Why I Sing, Because She Wears My Ring'

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you awesome throwback songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the lyrics or title. Today, we feature Elvis Presley singing about the powerful symbolism of a wedding ring in his 1973 cover of "She Wears My Ring."

To a smitten Presley, the ring he placed on his love's finger is not only an expression of his commitment, but also a signal to the world that "she's mine eternally."

Presley sings, "This tiny ring is a token of tender emotion / An endless pool of love that's as deep as the ocean / She swears to wear it with eternal devotion / That's why I sing, because she wears my ring."

Reinterpreted with English lyrics by Felice and Boudleaux Bryant in 1960, "She Wears My Ring" was adapted from a Spanish-language song, "La Golodrina." That song was penned by Mexican physician Narciso Serradell nearly 100 years earlier, when the doctor had been exiled to France during the French intervention in Mexico. He wrote "La Golodrina," ("The Swallow" in Spanish) as a fond tribute to the country he left behind. The song is about a migrating bird yearning to return to her homeland.

Although Presley's rendition of "She Wears My Ring" is the most memorable, the song was originally performed by Jimmy Bell in 1960 and covered by Roy Orbison in 1962 and Ray Price in 1968.

"She Wears My Ring" appears as the fifth track of Good Times, Presley's 20th studio album.

Born in Tupelo, Miss., in 1935, Elvis Aron Presley ascended to stardom in the mid-1950s with his good looks, silky voice and outrageous performance style. Not only did he top the charts during the 1950s and 1960s, but he also starred in more than 30 movies, including Jailhouse Rock (1957) and Viva Las Vegas (1964).

Presley met Priscilla Ann Beaulieu in 1960 and married her after a seven-and-a-half-year courtship. The ceremony took place at the Aladdin hotel in Las Vegas and, yes, she wore his ring.

"The King," as he was known, would eventually become one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. He is the best-selling solo artist in the history of recorded music, with more than 600 million records sold worldwide. His Memphis home, Graceland, is still a major tourist attraction.

Elvis died in Memphis on August 16, 1977, at the age of 44.

Please check out the audio track of Presley performing "She Wears My Ring." The lyrics are below if you'd like to sing along...

"She Wears My Ring"
Written by Felice & Boudleaux Bryant. Performed by Elvis Presley.

She wears my ring to show the world that she belongs to me
She wears my ring to show the world she's mine eternally
With loving care I placed it on her finger
To show my love for all the world to see

This tiny ring is a token of tender emotion
An endless pool of love that's as deep as the ocean
She swears to wear it with eternal devotion
That's why I sing, because she wears my ring

She swears to wear it with eternal devotion
That's why I sing, because she wears my ring

This tiny ring is a token of tender emotion
An endless pool of love that's as deep as the ocean
She swears to wear it with eternal devotion
That's why I sing, because she wears my ring
That's why I sing, because she wears my ring

Credit: Wedding image in the public domain via Wikimedia Commons; Jailhouse Rock publicity pic by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc. [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.

Do Diamonds Rain on Jupiter? On the Planet's Doorstep, NASA's Juno Space Probe May Find Out

Earlier this month, NASA's Juno space probe successfully entered Jupiter's orbit after a 365-million mile trek that took nearly five years. For the next 20 months, Juno will discover what's hiding under the planet's thick clouds and transmit that information back to Earth. Don't be surprised if Juno encounters diamond crystals the size of hailstones along the way.

Two prominent scientists — Dr. Kevin Baines of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Mona Delitsky from California Specialty Engineering — made headlines three years ago when they floated the idea that diamonds rain on Jupiter.

In 2013, at the 45th annual meeting of the Division for Planetary Sciences of the American Astronomical Society, they outlined the circumstances under which Jupiter's atmosphere would rain down thousands of tons of ring-sized diamonds every year.

It all boiled down to chemistry...

Many readers already know that the Earthly diamonds form naturally when carbon is heated to an extreme temperature and put under intense pressure about 100 miles below the surface. The diamonds find their way to the surface via kimberlite pipes — the equivalent of volcanic superhighways.

While diamonds on the Earth come from the bottom up, diamonds on Jupiter come from the top down, say the scientists.

Baines and Delitsky believe the tremendous gravitational pull of Jupiter results in a super-dense atmosphere of extreme heat and pressure — the same conditions found deep within the Earth.

Lightning storms in the upper atmosphere of Jupiter are responsible for initiating the process that eventually yields a diamond. When lightning strikes, methane gas is turned into soot, or carbon.

"As the soot falls, the pressure on it increases,” said Baines. “And after about 1,000 miles it turns to graphite — the sheet-like form of carbon you find in pencils."

As it falls farther — 4,000 miles or so — the pressure is so intense that the graphite toughens into diamond, strong and unreactive, he said.

The biggest diamond crystals falling through the atmosphere of Jupiter would likely be about a centimeter in diameter — "big enough to put on a ring, although, of course, they would be uncut," said Baines.

Because Jupiter is made of gas and is hotter than the Sun at its core, what happens next to the falling diamonds is the saddest part of the story. As they descend another 20,000 miles into the core of the planets, they eventually melt into a sea of liquid carbon.

"Once you get down to those extreme depths, the pressure and temperature is so hellish, there's no way the diamonds could remain solid,” he said.

In 2013, skeptics asked Baines, "How can you really tell? Because there's no way you can go and observe it."

At the time, he answered, "It all boils down to the chemistry. And we think we're pretty certain."

Now, with Juno on Jupiter's doorstep, we may know for sure...

Credit: Illustration courtesy of NASA/JPL-Caltech.

Determined 9-Year-Old Future Geologist Lands 1.53-Carat Diamond at Crater of Diamonds State Park

Blazing temperatures topping 100 degrees couldn't keep aspiring geologist and gem lover Grace Houston from uncovering the find of a lifetime during her family's vacation to Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas. On Saturday, the nine-year-old from Missouri landed a 1.53-carat diamond while wet-sifting with her grandma.

Despite a National Weather Service Heat Advisory, the determined young lady insisted on going back to the park for a second day of prospecting after the first day failed to yield the gemstone she so desperately wanted.

Houston's family had planned the trip to Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro six months in advance, but decided to keep it a secret so the fledgling geologist would be surprised.

After finding the diamond, the young girl's elation nearly turned to disappointment when she fumbled her pea-sized precious discovery back into the soil. Never deterred, Houston went back to work and found it again.

Park interpreter Betty Coors snapped the reaction of Houston's mom (orange shirt) when she learned of her daughter's discovery.

Coors reported that Houston wants to keep the diamond in its natural state. When pressed about whether she would possible use it in an engagement ring when she was older, the youngster responded, "No! I would never put such a rare and special and precious thing into an expensive piece of jewelry!"

Hmmm. We think there's a fair chance she could change her mind.

Treasure hunters visit Crater of Diamonds State Park year round to try their luck at bagging a precious gem at the only diamond site in the world open to the general public.

Only last year, Bobbie Oskarson made international headlines when she found an icicle-shaped 8.52-carat diamond at the park. Dubbed the “Esperanza,” the rough diamond was eventually crafted into an elongated briolette by master cutter Mike Botha. He called the unique shape the "Esperanza Cut."

The entry fee to Crater of Diamonds State Park is a modest $8 for adults and $5 for children ages 6 to 12. Kids under 6 get in for free.

The 37½-acre search field in Murfreesboro, Ark., is actually the eroded surface of an ancient diamond-bearing kimberlite pipe.

The park maintains a generous finder’s keepers policy and even provides experts to help amateur prospectors identify what they’ve found. Besides diamonds, the search field often yields amethyst, garnet, peridot, jasper, agate, calcite, barite and quartz.

More than 75,000 diamonds have been pulled from the Murfreesboro site since farmer John Huddleston, who owned the land, found the first precious gems in 1906. The site became an Arkansas state park in 1972. The largest diamond ever discovered in the U.S. was unearthed here in 1924. Named the Uncle Sam, the white diamond with a pink cast weighed an astounding 40.23 carats.

Credits: Images by Betty Coors, Crater of Diamonds State Park.

Supermodel Miranda Kerr's New Ring From Snapchat's Evan Spiegel Is the 'Quintessence of Classic Style and Understatement'

Wedding bells will be ringing for supermodel Miranda Kerr and Snapchat Founder and CEO Evan Spiegel. The former Victoria’s Secret Angel took to Instagram to announce their engagement and show off the ring on July 20.

Kerr, 33, shared the good news by posting a photo of her beautiful bauble, with a custom Snapchat filter (of course). The photo is captioned, “I said yes!!!” and features a Bitmoji cartoon depiction of the proposal, with the words “Marry Me!" in the bubble text. A cartoon version of Spiegel kneels in front of his bride. According to People, Bitmoji is now the property of Snapchat.

After a year of dating, Spiegel, 26, put a ring on it — and what an epic ring it is. Described as a “stunning super sparkler,” the gorgeous ring features a classic, round-cut center stone embraced by two elegant tapered baguettes.

"Miranda's ring is the quintessence of classic style and understatement," celebrity stylist Michael O'Connor told Us Weekly. "It's a classic round diamond of about 2.5 carats. The value of the ring would be approximately $55,000."

The magazine also reported that the couple will have “an extravagant wedding, in true Evan style."

The Australian beauty and the media mogul first met at a Louis Vuitton dinner in New York in 2014. They were first spotted as a couple in June of 2015. In May of this year, they bought a sprawling $12 million dollar home in L.A.’s chic Brentwood neighborhood.

Spiegel, co-founder and CEO of the mobile app Snapchat, created the platform with Bobby Murphy and Reggie Brown while they were all students at Stanford University. According to TechCrunch, Snapchat has a valuation of more than $22 billion.

“He’s 26, but acts like he’s 50,” said Kerr to Net-a-Porter’s The Edit. “He’s not out partying. He goes to work in L.A.’s Venice. He comes home. We don’t go out.” Kerr revealed to People that the pair are “decidedly low key.”

“We’d rather be at home and have dinner, go to bed early,” she said.

The Australian beauty and style icon was previously married to actor Orlando Bloom, with whom she shares a 5-year-old son, Flynn. After the split, Kerr established rules with her ex for introducing Flynn to a significant other. “We had to know the person for six months and feel good about them,” she said. “Evan met Flynn, so, yeah, things are going well. Orlando thinks he’s great. We’re just a modern family now!”

Credits: Ring photo via Instagram/mirandakerr; Miranda Kerr photo by Eva Rinaldi [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons; Evan Spiegel by cellanr [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons.

Music Friday: Bruce Springsteen Knows That Some Day 'Jersey Girl' Will Wear His Ring

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you fabulous songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the lyrics or title. Today, music legend Bruce Springsteen performs "Jersey Girl," a tender ballad about falling head-over-heels in love with a gal from New Jersey. She's so spectacular in so many ways that Springsteen is confident that some day he'll ask for her hand in marriage.

He sings, "You know she thrills me with all her charms / When I'm wrapped up in my baby's arms / My little girl gives me everything / I know that some day she'll wear my ring."

Although Springsteen released "Jersey Girl" as the B-side to his 1984 hit "Cover Me," the song had became a fan favorite three years earlier when he began performing it during encores of his River Tour. The song generated so much emotion from the concertgoers that it became a set list staple — frequently opening or closing his shows. "Jersey Girl" was selected as the final track of Springsteen's 1986 box set Live/1975-85 and was the final song performed by Springsteen at New Jersey's Giants Stadium before its demolition in 2009.

The Boss' fans may be surprised to learn that although Springsteen was born in Colts Neck, N.J., and his rocker wife, Patti Scialfa, was born in Deal, N.J., "Jersey Girl" was actually penned by Californian Tom Waits in 1980. Waits revealed in an interview that he wrote the song with his future wife and Jersey girl, Kathleen Brennan, after she came into his life and "saved him." Waits included the song on his 1980 album Heartattack and Vine.

A master storyteller and poet, Springsteen rarely releases covers of other artists' songs, but "Jersey Girl" remains an exception. He recognized the main character in the song as the same guy from his own "Sandy" and "Rosalita."

In August 1981, Waits and Springsteen — both of whom would later enter the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame — performed "Jersey Girl" together at the Los Angeles Sports Arena.

We hope you enjoy the audio track of Springsteen’s live performance of "Jersey Girl." The lyrics are below if you’d like to sing along.

"Jersey Girl"
Written by Tom Waits. Performed by Bruce Springsteen.

I got no time for the corner boys
Down in the street making all that noise
Or the girls out on the avenue
'Cause tonight I want to be with you

Tonight I'm gonna take that ride
Across the river to the Jersey side
Take my baby to the carnival
And I'll take her on all the rides

'Cause down the shore everything's all right
You and your baby on a Saturday night
You know all my dreams come true
When I'm walking down the street with you

Sha la la la la la la
Sha la la la la la la la la
Sha la la la la la la la
Sha la la la I'm in love with a Jersey girl

You know she thrills me with all her charms
When I'm wrapped up in my baby's arms
My little girl gives me everything
I know that some day she'll wear my ring

So don't bother me man I ain't got no time
I'm on my way to see that girl of mine
'Cause nothing matters in this whole wide world
When you're in love with a Jersey girl

Sha la la la la la la
Sha la la la la la la la la
Sha la la la la la la la
Sha la la la I'm in love with a Jersey girl

I see you on the street and you look so tired
I know that job you got leaves you so uninspired
When I come by to take you out to eat
you're lyin' all dressed up on the bed baby fast asleep

Go in the bathroom and put your makeup on
We're gonna take that little brat of yours and drop her off at your mom's
I know a place where the dancing's free
Now baby won't you come with me

'Cause down the shore everything's all right
You and your baby on a Saturday night
Nothing matters in this whole wide world
When you're in love with a Jersey girl

Credits: Bruce Springsteen image by Manuel Martinez Perez [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons.

'Diamonds Do Good' Campaign Highlights Positive Impact Diamond Industry Has on Communities Around the World

In the Madhya Pradesh region of central India, 4,700 villagers now have access to clean drinking water thanks to the initiatives of diamond producer Rio Tinto.

In the Siberian town of Mirny, 2,000 youngsters take part in more than a dozen sporting activities offered at the state-of-the-art Cultural and Sports Complex built and funded by the diamond mining company ALROSA.

And in Africa, the Diamond Empowerment Fund is providing promising youth with access to higher education.

These are just a few stories featured on the new "Diamonds Do Good" website, which focuses on the positive impact the diamond industry is making on communities around the world. In addition to the website and its related social media pages on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest, the "Diamonds Do Good" messaging will include three 60-second Public Service Announcements (PSAs).

The aim of the "Diamonds Do Good" initiative is to inspire consumers with the great stories behind diamonds. These powerful, positive video vignettes are being targeted at more than eight million Millennials (people born between 1982 and 2004). Videos will rotate on the highly trafficked websites of Vogue, The New York Times, InStyle, Elle, Vanity Fair, Harper's Bazaar and others.

Since it was founded in 2007 by business entrepreneur Russell Simmons and leaders in the diamond and jewelry industries, the nonprofit Diamond Empowerment Fund (D.E.F.) has had one mission: to help diamond communities become strong, stable, prosperous, and socially empowered.

Through the generosity and dedication of the diamond industry and its affiliates, Simmons' vision has become a reality. ALROSA, for example, reportedly allocates 5% of its revenue towards social programs, and puts social policy at the core of its mission.

Credits: Instagram/diamondsdogood; www.diamondsdogood.com.

Drake Adds Golden Air Jordans to His Trove of Precious Keepsakes — But Are They Really Solid Gold?

On Sunday, Canadian rap star Drake gave his 25 million Instagram followers a sneak peek at what he claims are solid gold Air Jordans.

Designed and fabricated by mixed-media artist Matthew Senna, the shoes represent a gilded replica of the Air Jordan 10s that Drake's record label — OVO — created in collaboration with Nike.

On Instagram, Drake (a.k.a. Champagne Papi) divulged that the shoes weighed 100 pounds. If that number is accurate and the shoes are made of 24-karat gold, the precious metal value alone would be more than $2 million.

Senna kicked up some controversy when he took to Instagram to show off the golden sneakers. If the pair did, indeed, weigh 100 pounds, how could he effortlessly grip a 50-pound shoe with only a few fingers? An explanation could be that Senna's pair are a gold-plated prototype.

Nevertheless, the golden Air Jordans — whether they be solid gold or gold plated — will be joining Drake's growing collection of bling. Followers of this blog may remember that back in October 2015, the Toronto native and fellow rapper Future celebrated their chart-topping collaborative mixtape, What a Time to Be Alive, with matching diamond-encrusted “World Champions” pinky rings.

Reminiscent of a Super Bowl ring, the designs by Avianne feature the words “World Champions” engraved in black enamel against a polished white metal background. Drake’s version of the ring displayed an owl emblem and the initials OVO, which stand for "October's Very Own."

On Drake's Instagram page, the music artist may have stated the obvious when he posted an image of the golden Air Jordans with the hashtag "TheseAreNotToWear." The rapper would be hard pressed to achieve any locomotion while donning 100-pound shoes.

Drake has been a brand ambassador for Nike since 2013.

Credits: Images via Instagram/msenna, Instagram/champagnepapi.

Perth Mint Unveils AUD$1 Million Gold Coin Embellished by Ultra-Rare .54-Carat Red Diamond

Last year, The Perth Mint captivated the imaginations of coin and gemstone lovers alike when it released the "Kimberley Sunset," a 2-ounce pink gold coin punctuated by a petite .04-carat pink diamond. Last week, the Mint took the concept to new heights by unveiling "The Kimberley Treasure," a 1-kilogram (2.2-pound) yellow gold coin embellished by an ultra-rare .54-carat red diamond sourced in Western Australia.

The price tag for the one-of-a-kind collectible is AUD$1 million ($758,000). It's the most valuable coin ever released by The Perth Mint.

With its precious metal content valued at just under $50,000, the coin's premium price is based primarily on its exclusivity and the fact that natural red diamonds are the rarest of all fancy-colored diamonds. The diamond set in the "The Kimberley Treasure" was unearthed at Rio Tinto’s Argyle Diamond Mine in the east Kimberley region — one of the few mines in the world that produces red diamonds. Rio Tinto reports that its average annual output of red diamonds is barely 1 carat.

Fancy red diamonds are so rare that the world's supply of gem-quality specimens could easily fit in the palm of one's hand. In fact, many gemologist have never touched a red diamond. At auction, the elusive fancy red diamond can easily fetch $1 million per carat.

Emphasizing the coin's Aussie origin is a depiction of a kangaroo, hopping across the coin from right to left. Grasped between its rendered paws is a genuine radiant-cut red diamond (although The Perth Mint's illustration seems to show a round gemstone). Around the top rim is the phrase "AUSTRALIAN KANGAROO." The year 2016, the weight of 1 kilo and the metal purity of 9999 GOLD are written along the bottom rim.

On the reverse, an Ian Rank-Broadley portrait of Queen Elizabeth II is encircled by the denomination value of 5,000 DOLLARS (Australian), as well as her name and the word "AUSTRALIA" spelled in capital letters.

While last year's 22-karat pink gold Kimberley Sunset had a denominational value of 500 Aussie dollars and a purchase price of AUD$6,000, this year's Kimberley Treasure boasts a denomination value of 5,000 Aussie dollars and a selling price of AUD$1 million. The Sunset had been released in a limited mintage of 500. The Mint will produced only one Kimberley Treasure.

“We are delighted to collaborate with The Perth Mint on the exclusive release of this distinctive investment piece," said Simon Trott, managing director of Rio Tinto Diamonds. "It is a beautiful symbol of the unique treasures of Western Australia and sets a new benchmark in limited-edition craftsmanship.”

It is believed that red diamonds get their rich color from a molecular structure distortion that occurs as the jewel forms in the earth’s crust. By contrast, other colored diamonds get their color from trace elements in their chemical composition, such as boron (yielding a blue diamond) or nitrogen (yielding a yellow one).

Credits: Photos courtesy of Rio Tinto and The Perth Mint.

World's Most Lavish Dining Experience Starts With a Helicopter Ride Over Singapore and Ends With a 2.08-Carat Vivid Blue Diamond Ring

Singapore's Cé La Vi restaurant and Russia's World of Diamonds have teamed up to offer the ultimate dining experience. The $2 million dinner for two commences with a romantic helicopter ride over the cosmopolitan city and ends eight hours later — at midnight — with the presentation of The Jane Seymour Vivid Blue diamond ring.

One lucky couple will enjoy an exhilarating 45-minute airborne tour, followed by a private luxury cruise. When the couple returns to dry land, they will be whisked away in a chauffeured Rolls-Royce and transported to Cé La Vi, on the rooftop of Marina Bay Sands hotel, where they will be showered with 10,000 roses.

Their 18-course meal will include some of the finest delicacies the world has to offer. The menu includes Almas caviar, lamb sweetbreads, slow-cooked pigeon, fresh Belon oysters with champagne foam, New Zealand langoustine, air-flown Alaska wild salmon and grilled Mishima sirloin paired with 44- and 55-year-old vintage wines.

The couple will be trading in their traditional silverware for diamond-encrusted chopsticks, each of which will be engraved with the diners' names and the date of the epic dinner.

Throughout the evening, the couple will be entertained by a live band.

But the most exciting part of the dining experience will take place at the strike of midnight, when the Seymour Vivid Blue diamond ring will be presented to the couple. At that moment, a fireworks display will light up Singapore's evening sky and a bottle of Louis XIII de Rémy Martin cognac will be served.

The 2.08-carat fancy vivid blue cushion-cut diamond is set in a rose gold-and-platinum, Seymour-inspired geranium floral design. World of Diamonds valued the ring at $2 million. The 65-year-old British actress is best known for her performances in East of Eden, War and Remembrance, Somewhere in Time and the James Bond thriller Live and Let Die.

Fancy vivid blue diamonds have been in the headlines this season, most spectacularly when the Oppenheimer Blue, a 14.62-carat stunner, sold for $57.5 million at Christie's Geneva in May.

“As a diamond mining group, we recognize that Cé La Vi is a diamond in the sky," Karan Tilani, director of World of Diamonds Group, told Forbes.com contributor Roberta Naas. "[We expect] the response will be beyond overwhelming, but it’s only two diners who will eventually have the privilege.”

Executives from both the restaurant and diamond group will cherry-pick the couple that will eventually enjoy the most lavish dining experience in the world. Naas reported that the companies will be looking closely at the candidates' status as influencers, their affinity for blue diamonds and how they plan to flaunt or display The Jane Seymour Vivid Blue.

The companies are reportedly fielding requests from interested parties just ahead of a press preview that will take place next month.

Credits: Restaurant shots courtesy of Cé La Vi; Jewelry and Jane Seymour shots courtesy of World of Diamonds.

Music Friday: Reggae Star Sean Paul Sings, 'You Worth More Dan Diamonds, More Dan Gold,' in Sia's 'Cheap Thrills'

Welcome to Music Friday when we highlight chart-topping songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, Aussie sensation Sia teams up with Jamaican rapper Sean Paul to deliver one of the world's hottest dance tunes, "Cheap Thrills." Currently #5 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, the song features Paul's reggae-spiced refrain, "You worth more dan diamonds, more dan gold."

The song follows Sia as she preps for an exciting weekend with her partner at the dance club. She states that she doesn't need dollars bills to have fun tonight, because feeling the music and dancing the night away is worth so much more.

Sia and Paul alternate lines as they sing, "But I don't need no money / (You worth more dan diamonds, more dan gold) / As long as I can feel the beat."

Penned by Sia and Greg Kurstin, "Cheap Thrills" has been described by critics as a "bouncy party anthem" and "another superior slab of on-trend ear candy."

"Cheap Thrills" has become a viral sensation on YouTube. The lyric video, which mimics the 1960s vibe of American Bandstand and features faceless dancers wearing signature Sia wigs, has been viewed more than 362 million times. A second video highlighting Dance Moms star Maddie Ziegler has accumulated 120 million views. The 13-year-old dancer also appeared in Sia's videos for "Chandelier," "Elastic Heart" and "Big Girls Cry."

Sia fans may remember that she wrote "Diamonds" for Rihanna in 2012. That song became one of the best-selling singles of all time, with more than 7.5 million copies sold worldwide.

Interestingly, "Cheap Thrills" was also intended for Rihanna, but the artist passed on it. As reported in Rolling Stone, Rihanna's manager was looking for another "Diamonds," a song with soul and feeling. After Sia and Kurstin wrote "Cheap Thrills," Sia sensed that the song may not be a perfect match for Rihanna.

"I realized just as soon as I was cutting it that it sounded a little bit too Brit-pop for her," she told Rolling Stone. "We did actually send it to her, but they passed on it, and then I just couldn't stop listening to it in the car."

Sia decided to add the song to her seventh studio album, This Is Acting. The rest is hit-making history. The song was released in February and is still migrating its way up the Billboard charts.

Please check out the excellent "Cheap Thrills" video at the end of this post. The lyrics are included if you'd like to sing along with Sia and Sean Paul...

"Cheap Thrills"
Written by Greg Kurstin and Sia Furler. Performed by Sia, featuring Sean Paul.

Up with it girl
Rock with it girl
Show dem it girl (Bada bang bang)
Bounce with it girl
Dance with it girl
Get with it girl (Bada bang bang)

Come on, come on, turn the radio on
It's Friday night and I won't be long
Gotta do my hair, I put my make up on
It's Friday night and I won't be long

Til I hit the dance floor (Bada bang)
Hit the dance floor (Bada bang)
I got all I need (Sia)
No I ain't got cash
No I ain't got cash
But I got you baby
(Just you and me)

Baby I don't need dollar bills to have fun tonight
(I love cheap thrills)
Baby I don't need dollar bills to have fun tonight
(I love cheap thrills)
But I don't need no money
You worth more dan diamonds, more dan gold
As long as I can feel the beat
Mek di beat jus tek control
I don't need no money
You worth more dan diamonds, more dan gold
As long as I keep dancing
Free up yourself, get outa control

Come on, come on, turn the radio on
It's Saturday and I won't be long
Gotta paint my nails, put my high heels on
It's Saturday and I won't be long

Til I hit the dance floor (Bada bang)
Hit the dance floor (Bada bang)
I got all I need (Sia)
No I ain't got cash
No I ain't got cash
But I got you baby
(Just you and me)

Baby I don't need dollar bills to have fun tonight
(I love cheap thrills)
Baby I don't need dollar bills to have fun tonight
(I love cheap thrills)
But I don't need no money
You worth more dan diamonds, more dan gold
As long as I can feel the beat
Mek di beat jus tek control
I don't need no money
You worth more dan diamonds, more dan gold
As long as I keep dancing
Free up yourself, get outa control

Me and you girl, you and me
Drop it to di floor an mek mi see your energy because
Mi nah play na hide an seek
Wah fi see di ting you have weg mek me feel weak girl
Cause anytime you wine and kotch it
Di selector pull it up an pull it pon repeat girl
I'm nah touch a dollar in my pocket
Cause nuttin in this world ain't more dan what you worth

But I don't need no money
You worth more dan diamonds, more dan gold
As long as I can feel the beat
Mek di beat jus tek control
I don't need no money
You worth more dan diamonds, more dan gold
As long as I keep dancing
Free up yourself, get outa control
Oh, oh

Baby I don't need dollar bills to have fun tonight
(I love cheap thrills)
Baby I don't need dollar bills to have fun tonight
(I love cheap thrills)
But I don't need no money
You worth more dan diamonds, more dan gold
As long as I can feel the beat
Mek di beat jus tek control
I don't need no money
You worth more dan diamonds, more dan gold
As long as I keep dancing
Free up yourself, get outa control

La, la, la, la, la, la
(I love cheap thrills)
La, la, la, la, la, la
(I love cheap thrills)
La, la, la, la, la, la
(I love cheap thrills)
La, la, la, la, la
(I love cheap thrills)

Credits: Screen captures via YouTube.com.