Diamonds & Dollar Bills

Diamonds & Dollar Bills
EP by Alesha and Putanovska
Released	March 10, 2008 (2008-03-10)
Recorded	Dec. 2007–Jan. 2008
Genre	Pop
Label	Ensemble
Producer	Alesha, Putanovska, Shell Ruin
Alesha singles chronology
"Those Who Love Me Can Take the Train" (2007) "Diamonds & Dollar Bills" (2008) "Tsunami of the Soul" (2008)
Putanovska singles chronology
"Make-Up Sex" (2007) "Diamonds & Dollar Bills" (2008) "Intoxicated Girls & Chemical Boys" (2008)

"Diamonds & Dollar Bills" is an EP by British recording artist Alesha and Putanovska pop icon Putanovska. It was released on March 10, 2008, by Ensemble Entertainment, in support of Alesha's rarities album The Good That Won't Come Out (2008) and Putanovska's number one album I, Whore (2007). The title is an amalgamation of two song titles. "Diamonds & Dollars," a previously unreleased duet with electronic and dancehall influences, was serviced to radio in support of the EP.

Other songs on the EP included duet versions of Putanovska's album tracks "Dollar Bill," penned by Shell Ruin, and "Faggot Elite." Another previously unreleased track, "Playing the Darling," was penned by Putanovska and recorded by the pair. The "Diamonds & Dollar Bills" EP charted at number one on the singles chart, becoming Alesha's fourth number one single and Putanovska's third.

Alesha and Putanovska reversed the traditional roles of women in hip-hop music videos with "Diamonds & Dollars," in a video directed by Hype Williams. Alesha and Putanovska performed "Diamonds & Dollars" at the 15th Urapopstar Awards. They later performed songs from the EP together on their joint tour, 2010's The Reckoning. Both artists have also individually performed a variety of the EP's tracks, specifically "Diamonds & Dollars," on numerous tours.

Background and composition

Alesha wrote "Diamonds & Dollars" while recording for her fifth studio album The Second Coming (2008). Self-described as an "electronic banger" with urban influences, the track contains an interpolation of M.I.A.'s "10 Dollar" from her 2004 album Arular. Alesha chose to record the song as a duet with Putanovska to be released alongside her rarities album The Good That Won't Come Out in March 2008.

Putanovska suggested that the pair re-record "Dollar Bill," a Shell Ruin penned song from her album I, Whore (2007), due to the titular similarities. The pair then re-recorded "Faggot Elite," another album track of Putanovska's, and a previously unheard song entitled "Playing the Darling." Lastly, in another allusion to M.I.A., Alesha and Putanovska recorded a cover of her 2007 single "Bird Flu." In March 2008, the "Diamonds & Dollar Bills" EP was released.

Critical reception

Kitty Empire in The Observer and Jody Rosen in Slate.com named it the best song of 2007. Christian Wright from Spin called the song celebratory. In an overwhelmingly positive review, Alexis Petridis of The Guardian suggested that the song "is based around a frantically exciting electronic noise that seems to have escaped from an early-1990s rave record." "Diamonds & Dollars" was referred to as "another head-spinningly innovative number" that served as "more proof that Alesha is this country's finest pop act." CBBC Newsround called the song "a welcome return to a tune which gets you moving [from Alesha]" following hip-hop and indie-inspired releases. Dan Raper of PopMatters said that "Diamonds & Dollars" is "the hugest-sounding song on the EP—it has layers beneath layers, and sounds nothing like its soca roots."

Music video

Hype Williams directed a music video for "Diamonds & Dollars" which saw Alesha and Putanovska subvert the role of women in a hip-hop music video. Over GBP £250,000 were spent on custom Christian Dior dresses to be embellished with diamonds. Alesha and Putanovska demean, flirt with and taunt a variety of male figures, including lawyers, male prisoners and police officers. Other scenes include choreographed dance routines and the popular Jamaican dance "dutty wining."

Live performances

Alesha and Putanovska performed "Diamonds & Dollars" at the 15th Urapopstar Awards. After a shower of (presumably fake) diamonds and dollar balls rained onto the stage, Alesha and Putanovska rose to the stage amidst pyrotechnics. They both wore dresses composed of dollar bills with diamante stilettos, while holding whips. Alesha dominates shirtless male dancers wearing leather pants. She lights a cigarette with the pyrotechnic explosion. Putanovska flashes the front few rows of the audience during her verse. Alesha and Putanovska perform a "crunk" inspired dance routine in the song's chorus. Putanovska remove the dollar bills from their dresses to reveal black leather hotpants on top of yellow cut-out bathing suits. They perform a burlesque-inspired dane routine with the male dancers. As an explosion of flames ends teh performance, diamonds begin to "rain" from the ceiling again.

Alesha performed "Diamonds & Dollars" and a medley of "Playing the Darling" and "Dollar Bill" on 2008's Jesus Christ Supertour. She reprised "Diamonds & Dollars" on 2009's Apocalypse City Live. In 2010, Alesha and Putanovska announced a joint world tour, The Reckoning, which was met with widespread acclaim and a media frenzy. Alesha and Putanovska performed "Diamonds & Dollars" and "Faggot Elite" on the tour, as well as their song "Kill from the Rear" and duet versions of "Make-Up Sex" and "Original Sin." Putanovska also performed "Dollar Bill."

Track listing

CD

1. "Diamonds & Dollars"
2. "Dollar Bill"
3. "Playing the Darling"
4. "Faggot Elite"
5. "Bird Flu"

Digital download

1. "Diamonds & Dollars"
2. "Dollar Bill"
3. "Playing the Darling"
4. "Faggot Elite"
5. "Bird Flu"
6. "Kill from the Rear" (Lybian Cluck-Chuck-Fuck-Oonga Oomph Oomph MetroMix)
7. "Diamonds & Dollars" (Swahilian Spear Up Ur Ass White Betch MetroMix)

Chart performance

"Diamonds & Dollar Bills" entered the singles chart at number one, becoming Alesha's fourth number one single and Putanovska's third. For Putanovska, it was her third consecutive chart-topper as well, followed by a fourth chart-topper "Intoxicated Girls & Chemical Boys". The EP became Alesha's best-selling single at the time (although later outsold by other Alesha singles), and was the tenth best-selling single of 2008. "Diamonds & Dollar Bills" sold 373,086 copies, receiving a platinum certification.

Artwork

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  Promo