When Love Is Tested by Time, Only the Strongest Hearts Shine
There are songs that pass through the charts like fleeting comets, bright but brief. And then there are songs that linger — quiet companions to memory, heartbreak, and hope. In 1986, Chris Norman gifted the world one such ballad: “Some Hearts Are Diamonds.”
For fans who had followed Norman from his days fronting Smokie, this wasn’t merely another single. It was proof that his gravel-edged voice could survive beyond the band’s shadow — and perhaps shine even brighter alone.
By the mid-80s, Norman stood at a crossroads. The arena anthems and radio hits with Smokie had defined a generation, but the solo path required reinvention. Enter Dieter Bohlen — the prolific German songwriter and producer known for crafting sleek, emotionally direct pop. Their collaboration would become a defining chapter in Norman’s solo career.
And “Some Hearts Are Diamonds”? It was the emotional centerpiece.
A European Embrace
Released as the title track of his 1986 album, the single quickly resonated across Europe. In Germany, Norman’s spiritual second home, it climbed to No. 14. Austria welcomed it even more warmly, peaking at No. 7, while Switzerland placed it at No. 12. These were not just chart statistics — they were evidence of a deep connection between artist and audience.
In countries like the Philippines, the song quietly became a radio staple, played endlessly on late-night programs and romantic request hours. It wasn’t a bombastic global smash, but it didn’t need to be. Its strength lay in its intimacy.
The mid-80s were filled with shimmering synth-pop and dramatic power ballads. Yet this track felt personal, almost conversational. It didn’t shout for attention. It whispered — and people leaned in to listen.
The Bohlen Touch: Polished Yet Personal
Dieter Bohlen’s production style was unmistakable: melodic hooks, atmospheric synthesizers, and accessible emotional storytelling. But what makes this collaboration special is how well it fit Norman’s voice.
Norman’s vocal timbre carries texture — a slight rasp that suggests experience, vulnerability, and quiet resilience. Bohlen didn’t smooth those edges away. Instead, he built the arrangement around them. The result is a soft rock ballad that balances polish with authenticity.
The same partnership would later produce “Midnight Lady,” another beloved track. But “Some Hearts Are Diamonds” feels more introspective, more reflective — as if Norman is not just singing to a lover, but to himself.
Diamonds vs. Stone: A Simple Metaphor with Lasting Power
At the heart of the song lies its unforgettable refrain:
“Some hearts are diamonds, some hearts are stone.”
It’s a line so simple it almost feels obvious — and yet, it carries profound emotional weight.
Diamonds are formed under pressure. They are resilient, luminous, enduring. A diamond heart suggests loyalty, strength, and the capacity to love despite hardship.
Stone hearts, by contrast, imply coldness or self-protection — emotional armor forged by disappointment.
But the genius of the song is that it doesn’t judge either. It acknowledges that people respond differently to love and loss. Some remain open. Others harden. And sometimes, even the strongest heart grows weary:
“Some days you’re tired of being alone.”
That line cuts quietly deep. It speaks to universal longing — the exhaustion that comes from emotional independence, the hidden desire for connection even in those who seem self-sufficient.
Love as a Shared Journey
Another lyrical thread woven through the song is reciprocity.
“It takes two lovers to be as one.”
Love, the song insists, is not sustained by illusion. Infatuations fade. Dreams shift. Time tests everything. But what endures is trust — the willingness to remain present even when the rainbow fades into tears.
Norman’s delivery of lines like:
“Your silent tears, they’re so full of pride”
reveals a compassionate narrator. He recognizes unspoken pain. He sees beyond the façade. In that recognition lies the quiet heroism of the song — not dramatic declarations, but emotional understanding.
It’s this empathy that elevates the track from standard 80s balladry to something timeless.
The Sound of an Era — and Beyond
Musically, the song captures its time without being trapped by it. The shimmering synthesizers, steady drum patterns, and melodic guitar accents are undeniably mid-80s. Yet the arrangement avoids excess. There are no overwrought crescendos, no theatrical flourishes. The production breathes.
For listeners who came of age during that decade, the track is more than a song — it’s a timestamp. It evokes slow dances at school discos, late-night radio dedications, cassette tapes rewound endlessly.
For younger listeners discovering it today, it offers something refreshingly sincere in a world often dominated by irony.
Chris Norman’s voice acts as the anchor. It carries a quiet wisdom, as though the narrator has already weathered love’s storms and learned its lessons. There’s no naïveté here — only reflection.
A Turning Point in a Solo Career
While Norman would continue to release music and tour extensively, “Some Hearts Are Diamonds” stands as one of the clearest declarations of his solo identity. It proved that he was not merely “the former lead singer of Smokie.” He was an artist capable of emotional nuance and mature storytelling.
The song’s enduring popularity in Europe speaks volumes. Decades later, it still appears on compilation albums and nostalgic playlists. It remains a fixture at live performances, where audiences often sing along word for word — proof that the message still resonates.
And perhaps that’s the ultimate testament to its power: it ages gracefully.
Why It Still Matters
In a culture that often celebrates grand gestures and viral moments, “Some Hearts Are Diamonds” reminds us of something quieter — that love is not always fireworks. Sometimes it is resilience. Sometimes it is simply staying.
The metaphor of diamond versus stone continues to feel relevant. In a world shaped by uncertainty, people still grapple with vulnerability versus self-protection. We still ask ourselves whether to open our hearts or guard them.
Chris Norman’s ballad doesn’t offer easy answers. Instead, it offers reassurance: that even after disappointment, love can grow again. That even after tears, there is pride in having felt deeply.
And perhaps most importantly, it reminds us that strength and tenderness are not opposites — they coexist.
Nearly four decades after its release, “Some Hearts Are Diamonds” remains a shining example of 80s soft rock at its most heartfelt. It captures the delicate balance between endurance and fragility, hope and sorrow.
Some songs fade. Some turn to stone.
But some — like this one — remain diamonds.