The brilliant colors of diamonds, rubies, emeralds, sapphires, and pearls—and the incredible pieces of art that they can be fashioned into—transcend time and capture the imagination of generation after generation. In tribute to these jewels and Balanchine’s iconic ballet, we’ve curated a playlist that captures the many facets of these dazzling, intriguing gems. From true love to heartbreak, declarations of independence and strength to laments filled with longing, jewels speak to so much of the human condition.
- “Diamonds Are Forever” – Shirley Bassey
A bossa nova song as timeless as the gem itself, originally composed for the 1971 James Bond film of the same name. - “Emerald Eyes” – Fleetwood Mac
A song about the mysterious and elusive quality of a beautiful woman with eyes like emeralds from the British blues/rock band. - “The Ruby and the Pearl” – Nat King Cole
Love is compared to rubies, pearls, diamonds, and gold in this song featuring the silky voice of the famous American singer. - “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” – Marilyn Monroe
The iconic jazz song about the desirability of this gem, which gives a woman independence and power in a world dominated by men. - “Rubies” – Emily Rowed
An Indie, electro-pop song about how hard relationships can be and how we fear we are never enough. - “Sapphire” – Ed Sheeran
A high-energy love song with Indian percussion and sitar that compares the narrator’s lover to the gem’s radiance and beauty. - “Diamonds and Pearls” – Prince and the New Power Generation
A pop-R&B ballad where these precious gems signify the purity and permanence of love compared to lust. - “Bejeweled” – Taylor Swift
An upbeat pop anthem about self-confidence, autonomy, and strength in the face of heartbreak. - “Rubies & Sapphires” – Sweet Maxime
A melancholy Indie/pop ballad about the longing for connection and the challenges of being apart from those you love. - “If Teardrops Were Diamonds” – Dwight Yoakam and Willie Nelson
A country song about heartbreak that compares teardrops to diamonds, heartache to rubies, and sad thoughts to emeralds. - “Can’t Buy Me Love” – The Beatles
This is perhaps not the most famous Beatles song that references diamonds, but it’s a catchy rock song about the connection between love and diamond rings. - “7 Rings” – Ariana Grande
A pop hit celebrating buying jewels for yourself and your friends, without relying on receiving them from a romantic partner. - “Dark Diamond” – Elton John
Diamonds are usually associated with the happy side of love, but in this pop-rock song, Elton John explores the other side, where losing his true love has hardened his heart into a diamond. - “Baubles, Bangles, & Beads” – Frank Sinatra
In this song from the 1953 musical Kismet, Ol’ Blue Eyes sings about the joy of wearing jewelry, and how these baubles, bangles, and beads might lead to an engagement ring. - “Diamonds” – Rihanna
A recent pop hit that uses this precious stone to represent many things, including embracing your own beauty and cherishing connections.
