Over 150 songs have been certified diamond throughout history. They range from “Bohemian Rhapsody” (the best) to “Baby Shark” (the worst).
Diamond is the highest award bestowed by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), reserved for songs that go 10x platinum in the US. By definition, in order to be eligible, a song must have tremendous commercial appeal — but not all hits are created equal.
The current list, which includes over 150 songs, features a vast range of quality. Business Insider’s senior music reporter selected the 11 best and 11 worst, with each batch listed below in chronological order of certification.”Bad Romance” by Lady Gaga is a perfect pop song.
At the end of the aughts, Lady Gaga was the jolt of eccentric, unapologetic, unforgettable energy that top-40 radio needed, even if some people — 13-year-old me included — didn’t quite “get it” yet.
Over time, many of Gaga’s hit singles have been rightly exalted as the stuff of pop genius. This is especially true of “Bad Romance”, which became the fourth song in history to be certified diamond in 2015. “Gaga, ooh la-la”, indeed.”Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars is an irresistible banger that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
“Uptown Funk” is some of Mark Ronson’s finest work, second only to Amy Winehouse’s “Back to Black.”
The producer has a knack for blending funk rock, blues, and pop, as well as choosing collaborators who share his vision. Nobody could’ve sold the silly brilliance of “Uptown Funk” like Bruno Mars.Lorde’s “Royals” has inspired hordes of alt-pop copycats.
At the time of its release, Lorde’s breakout hit was praised for blending earworm melodies, minimalist production, and sharp cultural commentary — so sharp, in fact, that people couldn’t believe a 15-year-old girl wrote the lyrics. The rumors about Lorde falsifying her age were so rampant, The Hairpin dug up and published her birth certificate to prove she was still a teenager.
Over a decade later, “Royals” still sounds as fresh, topical, and intelligent as ever.
Although it isn’t Lorde’s best song (that honor belongs to “Ribs”, or possibly “Supercut”, or maybe even “Stoned at the Nail Salon”), its influence on the landscape of pop is undeniable.”Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen is the best diamond-certified song, hands down.
How does one describe the chaotic magic of “Bohemian Rhapsody?” The song defies language, just as its commercial success defies logic. It’s an absurd, six-minute single that invokes the devil and doesn’t have a chorus. If you’ve seen the Oscar-winning film that shares its name, you’ll know that Queen’s team didn’t even want to release it. And yet, everyone knows what you mean if you shout, “Bismillah, no! We will not let you go!”
“Bohemian Rhapsody” logged nine consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the UK chart in 1975 and continues to enchant and delight the masses, earning its diamond certification more than four decades after its release.”Sorry” changed the trajectory of Justin Bieber’s career.
For all of Justin Bieber’s flops and missteps in recent years, “Sorry” endures as his crowning achievement, rivaled only by “Baby”, another diamond-certified smash.
But where “Baby” is controversial, “Sorry” is beloved. The maximalist dance-floor anthem, produced by BloodPop and Skrillex, near-singlehandedly revitalized Bieber’s career and solidified his place as an adult pop star, following years of failed attempts to shake off his childhood reputation.Nicki Minaj’s “Super Bass” paved the way for rappers with pop appeal.
Ask Nicki Minaj and she’ll tell you, over and over, that she paved the way for an entire generation of female rappers. Ask any music critic and they’ll tell you it wouldn’t have been possible without “Super Bass.”
The one “for the boys with the booming system” took pop radio by storm, allowing Minaj to achieve unprecedented crossover success and creating a blueprint for future hits, from “Starships” to Doja Cat’s “Say So.””I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston is arguably the best love song of all time.
