'Sparkling Diamonds' (Original Film Version)
Performed by Nicole
Kidman, Jim Broadbent, Caroline O'Connor, Natalie Mendoza and Lara Mulcahy
Produced by BLAM, Josh G Abrahams, Craig Armstrong and Marius DeVries
'Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend' - written by Jule Styne and Leo Robin
'Material Girl' - written by Peter H Brown and Robert S Rans
'Sparkling Diamonds' arranged by Steve Sidwell
There are actually two versions of this song on the Moulin Rouge soundtrack. My personal favourite is the original film version that is featured here on 'Volume 2'. This track begins with the loud and brash big band music that we hear as Satine is swinging around on her trapeze as she begins her performance. This loud opening is in contrast to the softer dialogue that is featured on the slightly remixed version of the song on 'Volume 1'. The opening dialogue featured in the remixed version on 'Volume 1', as well as additional dialogue near the end of the song, is not present in the actual film sequence.
This is the very first solo for Nicole Kidman in the film, and boy does she know how to make an entrance! Sparkling Diamonds introduces us to Nicole's character of Satine, who is undisputedly the star performer at the Moulin Rouge. We see Satine sitting high above the crowd on a trapeze before watching her swing down to dance among her many male admirer's as she sings this modernised version of Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend. Most people will remember that it was the legendary Marilyn Monroe who first made this song famous. I recently had the opportunity to compare the actresses perfomances, and I have to say that Nicole did a brilliant job of bringing her own charm to the song as well as maintaining the mischievious nature of the tune that both actresses conveyed so well.
Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend is mixed with lyrics from Madonna's Material Girl which effectively helps to modernise the song and bring the two similarly themed tunes together to create Sparkling Diamonds.
Lyrics:
A kiss on the hand may be quite
continental but diamonds are a girl's best friend
A kiss may be grand, but it won't pay the rental on your humble flat or help you feed your
pussy cat
Men grow cold as girl's grow old, and we all lose our charms in the end
But sqaure cut or pear shaped, these rocks don't lose their shape, diamonds are a girl's
best friend
Tiffany's! Cartier!
'Cause we are living in a material world, and I am a material girl
Come and get me boys - Owwww!
Blackstar, Roscor - talk to me Harry Zidler, tell me all about it!
There may come a time when a lass
needs a lawyer, but diamonds are a girl's best friend
There may come a time when a hard boiled employer thinks you're awful nice
But get that ice or else no dice!
He's your guy when stocks are high,
but beware when they start to descend
Diamonds are a girl's best, diamonds are a girl's best, diamonds are a girl's best friend
'Cause that's when those louses go back to their spouses
Diamonds are a girls best friend!