Jessie Ware covers Rihanna’s ‘Diamonds,’ result sparkles

One of Pop & Hiss’ favorite performances at the Grammy Awards last weekend was Rihanna’s hauntingly stark rendition of “Stay,” in which the audacious dance-pop star showed a vulnerable side we haven’t seen much since “Unfaithful” way back in 2006.

Apparently, the English singer Jessie Ware liked it too: In a new cover of Rihanna’s “Diamonds” recorded for the BBC, Ware does away with the song’s strobing synths and thrusting beat and remakes it as a luminous after-hours soul tune not unlike the title track of her bewitching 2012 debut, “Devotion.”

Last month Cherrytree Records put out a five-track Ware EP, “If You’re Never Gonna Move,” ahead of plans to release “Devotion” in the United States in April. And Ware is on the bill for this year’s Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, which goes down April 12 to 14 and repeats April 19 to 21.

Ware isn’t the only artist to take on “Diamonds,” which became Rihanna’s 12th single to top the Hot 100 when it hit No. 1 in November. Last year Zola Jesus covered it, as did Sia, who co-wrote the song with Benny Blanco and Stargate. But Ware’s version might be the best.

Listen to it below.

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