Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes

"Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Paul Simon. It was the fourth single from his seventh studio album, Graceland (1986), released on Warner Bros. Records. The song features guest vocals from the South African male choral group Ladysmith Black Mambazo.

"Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes"
Single by Paul Simon
from the album Graceland
B-side"I Know What I Know"
ReleasedApril 1987 (1987-04)
GenreWorldbeat
Length5:45
LabelWarner Bros.
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Paul Simon
Paul Simon singles chronology
"The Boy in the Bubble"
(1987)		 "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes"
(1987)		 "Under African Skies"
(1987)

Background

"Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes" was written when Simon went to South Africa. While he was there, he gathered various music from locals. Upon returning to New York, Simon finished the album with the artists he brought back from South Africa, according to Simon's account in the Classic Albums documentary on the making of Graceland.

Simon recalled that "Diamonds" wasn't originally planned for inclusion on Graceland. When Simon, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, and several of the South African studio musicians arrived in New York to perform on the May 10th episode of Saturday Night Live, which Simon was set to host, his label, Warner Bros., decided to release the album in the fall instead of the originally planned release that July. Simon and engineer Roy Halee then decided, with most of the major players involved in the recordings in town, to record "Diamonds", and to include it on the album.

Simon and Ladysmith Black Mambazo performed the song live during their second appearance on Saturday Night Live on November 22, 1986.[1] During the performance, Simon sang live to the backing instrumental track featured on the album while Ladysmith mimed their parts.[2] Ladysmith Black Mambazo sing in Zulu on the studio track. Their refrain roughly translates to: "It's not usual but in our days we see those things happen. They are women, they can take care of themselves."[1]

"Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes" and "Homeless" were both rerecorded by Ladysmith Black Mambazo for the 2006 album Long Walk to Freedom.

Cash Box called "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes" a "sweet, ethnic and graceful tune" and said that "Simon’s loaded lyrical political blast is laced, unsuspectingly, across the song by its placid melody."[3]

Personnel

Covers

The song has been covered by the Soweto String Quartet and features on their greatest hits collection.[4]

The singer Mika performed a live piano cover of the song on his BBC Radio 2 show The Art of Song in March 2016.[5]

Charts
Chart (1987) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[6] 69
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[7] 2
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[8] 28
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[9] 85
UK Singles (OCC)[10] 77

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[11] Silver 200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Notes

    References
    1. "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes by Paul Simon Songfacts".
    2. "Paul Simon - Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes (Live SNL 1986) — Video | VK".
    3. "Single Releases" (PDF). Cash Box. July 18, 1987. p. 8. Retrieved 2022-09-11.
    4. "Soweto String Quartet - Collections - MUSIC - Musica". Archived from the original on 2015-01-07. Retrieved 2015-01-07.
    5. "MIKA: The Art of Song".
    6. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
    7. "RPM: Adult Contemporary" (PDF). RPM. Ottawa: Library and Archives Canada. 47 (3). October 24, 1987. Retrieved November 12, 2015.
    8. "Paul Simon – Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved November 13, 2015.
    9. "Paul Simon – Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved November 13, 2015.
    10. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
    11. "British single certifications – Paul Simon – Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved June 11, 2021.

    Sources
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