Welcome to Music Friday when we often bring you nostalgic songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the lyrics or title. In the catchy theme song from the groundbreaking 1966 TV series That Girl, writers Earle Hagen and Sam Denoff paint a picture of the title character, who embodies “everything that every girl should be!”



The 52-second ditty starts like this: “Diamonds, daisies, snowflakes / That Girl / Chestnuts, rainbows, springtime / Is That Girl / She’s tinsel on a tree / She’s everything that every girl should be!”

In the show, a 28-year-old Marlo Thomas plays Ann Marie, a sassy, smart aspiring actress from upstate New York who moves to New York City to seek fame and fortune.

While the Hagen/Denoff references to "chestnuts" and "tinsel on tree" seem silly and a bit dated 54 years after they were written, That Girl is often praised as the first sitcom in which the main character was a young, modern woman focused on her own dreams and aspirations. Thomas’ character challenged conventional social mores and gave the country an early glimpse at the changing roles of American women. The series ran from September of 1966 to March of 1971.

The Ron Hicklin Singers are credited with performing the That Girl theme. These studio singers from Los Angeles famously provided the real background vocals for many of The Partridge Family recordings. They are also the voices behind the theme songs of many popular TV shows, including Batman, Flipper, Happy Days and Laverne and Shirley.



During the third season of Family Guy, animated character Peter Griffin appears as Ann Marie in a parody of the title sequence from That Girl. The episode, called "Mr. Griffin Goes to Washington," originally aired in July of 2001. The animators matched each scene, cut by cut, and the writers simply changed the gender references. That Girl became That Guy.

Besides starring in That Girl, Thomas went on to become a producer, author and social activist. In 2014, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. She is currently the National Outreach Director for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, which was founded by her father Danny Thomas in 1962.

We hope you enjoy the opening credits of That Girl. The lyrics are here if you’d like to sing along. As a bonus, we've including a clip of the Family Guy parody. Have fun.

“That Girl Theme”
Theme written by Earle Hagen and Sam Denoff. Performed by The Ron Hicklin Singers.

Diamonds, daisies, snowflakes,
That Girl

Chestnuts, rainbows, springtime
Is That Girl
She’s tinsel on a tree
She’s everything that every girl should be!

Sable, popcorn, white wine,
That Girl

Gingham, bluebirds, Broadway
Is That Girl
She’s mine alone, but luckily for you…

If you find a girl to love,
Only one girl to love,
Then she’ll be That Girl too-ooo…
That Girl!


 

Credits: Screen captures via YouTube.com.

Resembling a wheel with six spokes, “trapiche” emeralds may be the most unique variety of May’s birthstone. Found primarily in the black shales of Colombia’s western “emerald zone,” these gemological curiosities display alternating rays of vivid emerald green and deep black.



Trapiche emeralds were first described by Émile Bertrand in 1879 in a meeting at the Société Géologique de France, but even after more than 140 years of examination, gemologists have yet to reach a consensus regarding the mechanism by which the pattern forms, or the conditions required for it. In one interpretation, the black impurities are remains of the shale matrix in which the emeralds formed.

The name “trapiche” comes from the Spanish word for the cogwheels used in sugar mills. Apparently, the pattern of the gem looks very much like the cane-crushing gears used by farmers.

The distinctive six-spoked “trapiche” effect also has been seen in other minerals, such as ruby, sapphire, garnet, chiastolite and tourmaline.

Emerald is the most valuable variety of the beryl family. Non-trapiche emeralds famously display more subtle visible inclusions, which are referred to as “jardin” (French for “garden”). These imperfections do not detract from the stone’s beauty but, instead, give each stone a unique fingerprint and distinct character.

The name “emerald” comes indirectly from the ancient Greek word for green gem, “smaragdos.” Besides being the birthstone for the month of May, it’s also the preferred gemstone to honor 20th and 35th wedding anniversaries.

The extraordinarily rare trapiche emeralds are primarily found in the Muzo, Coscuez and Peñas Blancas mines of Colombia. The trapiche pattern is not an asterism, which is a six-rayed star pattern sometimes seen in cabochon-cut rubies, sapphires and other gemstones.

Credit: Image by Luciana Barbosa / CC BY-SA.

A team of Spanish and Egyptian archaeologists recently discovered the mummy of a bejeweled teenage girl in a 3,500-year-old tomb near Luxor, Egypt. The fashionable young lady was found wearing two earrings in one ear, two rings and four necklaces tied together with a glazed ceramic, or "faience," clip.



According to the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the teenager was only 15 or 16 years old when she died during the 17th dynasty (1580 B.C. to 1550 B.C.). The coffin containing the mummy had been carved from a single sycamore tree trunk, then coated with a whitewash and painted in red.



While the mummy was classified as being in a "poor state of conservation," her valuable jewelry was remarkably pristine. The archaeological team led by José Galán believes the jewelry may have been her bridal dowry.



The most impressive of the jewelry items — even by today's standards — is a fashionable 24-inch-long (61cm) necklace made from 74 beads of amethyst, carnelian, amber, blue glass and quartz. It also includes two scarabs, one depicting the falcon god Horus, and five faience amulets.

A second necklace measuring 27.5 inches (70cm) was adorned with alternating light and dark blue faience beads. A third, slightly shorter necklace featured green faience and glass beads. The fourth necklace incorporated several strings of beads knotted together at both ends with a ring, according to the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.

The teenager wore two spiral earrings in one ear, both of which were coated in copper leaf. One of her rings featured a blue glass bead set in a metal base and the other was crafted from bone.



Also found in the funerary shaft were a pair of well preserved leather sandals and a pair of leather balls tied together with a string. Archaeologists believe the balls might have been used during a sport or for choreographed dancing.

Credits: Images courtesy of the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.

Lucky moms will be showered with jewelry gifts at an unprecedented level this Sunday, Mother's Day. Despite uncertain times, spending on jewelry items is expected to reach $5.27 billion, making it the highest-volume gift-giving category by far, according to an annual Mother's Day survey released by the National Retail Federation (NRF).



Jewelry spending is up from $5.19 billion in 2019, a modest increase of 1.5%. Special Outings, by comparison, will be down nearly 12% to $4.07 billion.

For the past 11 years, jewelry and special outings have been the top two categories in terms of Mother's Day dollars spent, with jewelry beating out special outings for six years in a row.

Overall Mother’s Day spending in 2020 is predicted to hit a record $26.7 billion, an increase of 7.2% from the $24.9 billion tallied in 2019. The 2020 total reflects a near doubling of the $14.1 billion that was spent for moms in 2009.

Exactly 34% of respondents said they will be buying jewelry for their moms this year, with the average spending per person pegged at $40.38.

While the portion of people celebrating Mother’s Day with a gift in 2020 remains the same at 86%, this year’s gift-givers will be spending more.

The average Mother’s Day outlay is expected to be a record $204.74, up from $196.47 in 2019. Consumers ages 35-44 are likely to spend the most ($296, up from $248), and men are likely to spend more than women ($266 compared with $146).

According to NRF’s Mother’s Day survey, $2.93 billion will be spent on electronics (to be gifted by 19%) and $2.87 billion will be spent on gift cards (49%). Other go-to items include flowers ($2.56 billion, 64%), clothing ($2.56 billion, 39%), personal service ($2.1 billion, 26%), housewares/gardening tools ($1.51 billion, 25%), greeting cards ($1.0 billion, 74%) and books/CDs ($0.71 billion, 24%).

NRF’s survey was conducted by Prosper Insights and Analytics and reflects the anticipated purchasing patterns of 8,294 adult consumers. The survey was conducted April 1-6, 2020, and has a margin of error of plus or minus 1.1 percentage points.

Credit: Image by Bigstockphoto.com.

Gemfields has just released "Emeralds," the second of four short films that offer a glimpse into the miner's world of colored gemstones.



While the first installment from two weeks ago emphasized the miner's commitment to responsible sourcing, the newest video shines the spotlight on the most valuable member of the beryl family and the official May birthstone.



The mining company is uniquely qualified to tell the story of emeralds because, for the past 12 years, it has operated Kagem, the world’s largest and most productive emerald mine. Kagem is 75% owned by Gemfields and 25% owned by the Government of the Republic of Zambia.



Narrated and set to music, the 1:27 film uses sculptured CGI tableaus in 3D to describe how emeralds form deep within the earth.

"Deep within the darkness is heat, pressure and a cocktail of aluminum, silicon and oxygen infused with chromium and iron," states the narrator. "Millions of years pass. Deep beneath Zambia, unparalleled beauty is grown one crystal at a time to produce an African gemstone of the rarest splendor. Green — symbolic of life, hope, fertility and peace."



In the second half of the video, viewers are introduced to a stone-like figure in the likeness of Cleopatra. The narrator goes on to explain how emeralds have been treasured by royalty and legends of old, and then emphasizes that they are worn today by those who know true luxury. The image of Cleopatra transitions to a representation of a contemporary businesswoman, carved in stone.

Gemfields is featuring the Emerald film on its website and on its YouTube channel, with shorter teasers posted to Gemfields' social media. The third and fourth installments are expected to air in July. Topics will include a smart buyer's guide to colored gemstones and a closeup look at rubies. Gemfields operates the world's largest ruby mine — the Montepuez mine in Mozambique.

Please check out the Emeralds video, below...


Credits: All images © Gemfields 2019.

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you romantic songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, country singer Chris Lane shares his real-life proposal to reality TV star Lauren Bushnell in 2019's "Big, Big Plans."



In a music video viewed on YouTube more than 10.5 million times, Lane's fans get to see the actual moment he popped the question to Bushnell in the backyard of her parents' home in Oregon.

The video starts with romantic, smartphone-generated footage of the couple having fun in everyday situations and then transitions to his actual proposal, where he gets down on one knee and tells his girlfriend that she's the best thing that ever happened to him.



Written by Lane and two collaborators, "Big, Big Plans" offers a play-by-play account of how he bought an emerald-cut diamond ring and hid it in the bathroom.

He sings, "She don't know I already bought a ring / Hid it in the bottom left drawer right beside the sink / Shiny emerald diamond on a brand new band / Asked her momma for permission and her daddy for her hand."

“Even though I felt pretty confident I was going to get the ‘yes,’ I’ve never been that nervous,” Lane told People magazine. “When I got to the third verse of the song and knew it was time, I pretty much blacked out. The next thing I knew, she said ‘Yes’ and the nerves just lifted. It’s an explosion of excitement, pure joy, and love.”

The engagement took place in June of 2019 and the two married shortly thereafter in Nashville in October of the same year.



A second video for "Big, Big Plans" features footage from the couple's wedding day. That video earned 2.4 million views on YouTube.

Written by Chris Lane, Ernest K. Smith and Jacob Durrett, "Big, Big Plans" topped out at #33 on the U.S. Billboard Country chart.

Bushnell famously won the 20th Season of The Bachelor, during which she won the heart of Ben Higgins. The couple was engaged in March of 2016 and ended their relationship a little more than a year later.

Lane and Bushnell had been dating since 2018.

At the time of her engagement to Lane, Bushnell posted to Instagram a photo of the couple kissing, along with this caption: "I can’t stop smiling I feel so incredibly blessed that every misstep, mistake and heartache has led me to you. I couldn’t be happier to call you mine, forever."

Scroll down to see both the engagement-themed and wedding-themed videos. The lyrics are included if you'd like to sing along...

"Big, Big Plans"
Written by Chris Lane, Ernest K. Smith and Jacob Durrett. Performed by Chris Lane.

Just look at her sittin' there
Sweatpants t-shirt in a comfy chair
Her hair in a bun one hand on her mug
And the other one's playin snare
To a George Strait vinyl
That Yes or No line’ll get her close
But I don’t think she can understand
Just how far I’ve been lettin' my heart
Fall and what’s in my head

She don't know I got some big, big plans
Build a little house out on some hand me down land
Find a little island where we go to get tan
I bet we take our kids down there one day
And I know she wouldn’t mind if I
Did a lil somethin' like find a flight
Over night to Paradise
And leave tonight
And I'ma put a diamond on her hand
She don't know I got some big, big plans
She don’t know
She don't know
She don't know I got some big, big plans
She don't know
She don't know

She don't know I already bought a ring
Hid it in the bottom left drawer right beside the sink
Shiny emerald diamond on a brand new band
Asked her momma for permission and her daddy for her hand

I got some big big plans
Build a little house out on some hand me down land
Find a little island where we go to get tan
I bet we take our kids down there one day
And I know she wouldn’t mind if I
Did a lil somethin' like find a flight
Over night to Paradise
And leave tonight
And I'ma put a diamond on her hand
She don't know I got some big, big plans
She don't know
She don't know
She don't know I got some big, big plans
She don't know
She don't know

Well here I go
Cause right now we’re back in her hometown
And I’m down on one knee
I guess she finally figured out
I’m gonna ask her to marry me...

I some big, big plans
Build a little house out on some hand me down land
Find a little island where we go to get tan
I bet we take our kids down there one day
And I know she wouldn’t mind if I
Did a lil somethin' like find a flight
Over night to Paradise
And leave tonight
And I'ma put a diamond on her hand
She don't know I got some big, big plans
She don't know
She don't know
She don't know I got some big, big plans
She don't know
She don't know

Engagement Video:

Wedding Video:

Credits: Screen captures via YouTube.com.

Our multi-part virtual tour of the Smithsonian’s National Gem Collection continues today with a closeup look at the 422.99-carat “Logan Sapphire." It's not only the heaviest mounted gem in the storied collection, but also boasts a provenance that links one of America’s most prominent families with Indian royalty.



Set in a silver-and-gold brooch and framed by 20 round brilliant diamonds weighing approximately 16 carats, the cushion-shaped Logan Sapphire was cut from a crystal mined in Sri Lanka in the mid-1800s.

Normally, the more than six million annual visitors to the Janet Annenberg Hooker Hall of Geology, Gems, and Minerals in Washington, DC, would find the magnificent sapphire in the gallery called "Precious Gems 2."

But, with all the Smithsonian museums in Washington, DC, temporarily closed to support the effort to contain the spread of COVID-19, we offer our third virtual tour of the hall. Next stop: the Logan Sapphire.

-- First, click on this link... The resulting page will be a gallery called "Geology, Gems & Minerals: Precious Gems 1."

-- Next, simply touch the double-right-arrow once to navigate to the gallery called "Geology, Gems & Minerals: Precious Gems 2."

When you arrive, the left of the screen will be filled with a topaz exhibit. Lining the walls to the right of the gallery are jewelry showcases that include the "Hall Sapphire and Diamond Necklace," the "Bismarck Sapphire Necklace" and the "Logan Sapphire."



-- Click and drag the screen one-quarter turn to see the sapphire exhibits.

(Touch the plus sign to zoom in. Touch the "X" to close the map to get a better view of the jewelry and gemstones. You may restore the map by clicking the "Second" floor navigation on the top-right of the screen.)

The sapphire brooch had been given to Rebecca Pollard Guggenheim as a Christmas/anniversary gift in 1952 by her then-husband Col. M. Robert Guggenheim. The Guggenheims had amassed one of the world’s largest fortunes through their mining and smelting businesses, and later became equally famous for their philanthropy.

Rebecca donated the magnificent gem to the Smithsonian in 1960 but kept it in her possession until 1971. Col. M. Robert Guggenheim passed away in 1959 and Rebecca remarried three years later, becoming Mrs. John A. Logan. This is where the Logan Sapphire gets its name. The gem went on display in Washington, D.C., in June of 1971.

Robert Guggenheim reportedly purchased the gem from Sir Ellice Victor Sassoon (1881-1961), the third Baronet of Bombay. The Sassoon family had acquired the gem from a maharajah in India.

After studying the gem in 1997, the Gemological Institute of America concluded that the Logan Sapphire's impressive color — a vibrant medium-blue color with slight violet overtones — was completely natural. It has never been heated or treated in any way.



A wall panel between the sapphire and ruby exhibits describes how both gems are members of the corundum family.

"Colorless in its pure state, corundum rarely has sufficient clarity or richness of color to be a gemstone," the panel explains. "When it does, the difference between a ruby and a sapphire is just a tiny bit of impurity. Rubies are, by definition, red. The color results from light interacting with a few atoms of chromium trapped as the crystals grew. Ruby is the July birthstone. Sapphires are corundum crystals in all colors but red. Best known are the blue varieties, tinted by iron and titanium impurities. Sapphire is the September birthstone."

Credits: Logan Sapphire photo by Chip Clark/Smithsonian. Virtual tour screen captures via naturalhistory2.si.edu.

Halfway through a grueling 12-hour overnight shift at Omaha’s Methodist Hospital, registered nurse Jason Heimes popped the question to certified nursing assistant Ashley Jensen in the hospital's break room. Heimes works directly with COVID-19 patients in the North Tower's Progressive Care Unit and Jensen is assigned to the Short Stay Unit on the South Tower’s fifth floor.



Despite their shared emotional stress and exhaustion, Heimes was determined to create a memorable moment for his girlfriend of three years. Just after midnight, he proposed exactly where their love story began.



Co-worker Lucy Miranda-Gonzalez and seven other colleagues witnessed the scene as Heimes went down on one knee with a diamond ring in hand and asked Jensen to marry him. The group had been instructed by Heimes to wait outside the break room and then surprise Jensen by entering loudly at the very moment of the proposal.

On Instagram, Jensen posted a series of proposal pics along with this caption,”What a dream. Jason popped the question last night where our love story began on the progressive care unit (now Covid unit) at Methodist Hospital. Of course I said yes. I love you to the moon and back Jason. I feel like the luckiest woman alive! Thank you to all that helped Jason make this so special.”



She punctuated the post with two emojis: a blue heart and a diamond engagement ring.

Heimes, who has worked at Methodist Hospital for eight years, told the Omaha World-Herald why it was so important to include his colleagues in the proposal.

“They’ve always been super supportive of us,” Heimes said. “They’re like family to us.”

Miranda-Gonzalez, who captured the proposal on her smartphone, described the scene as “beautiful, fun, uplifting and heartfelt.” She said the proposal brought positivity to her and other nurses during these stressful and uncertain times.



“We are grateful that this can still happen among the chaos,” she told the publication.

Methodist Hospital gave the couple a shoutout on its official Facebook page: “Congratulations to Methodist Hospital's Ashley Jensen, CNA, and Jason Heimes, RN, from the entire Methodist family! Sending you our love and gratitude for all you do to care for and protect our community. Thank you for sharing your love story!”

Jensen noted that if she and her new fiancé can get through this pandemic together, they can get through anything.

“This will bring us all together, and we can really see what matters in life,” Jensen told the Omaha World-Herald. “And that love conquers all, really.”

Credits: Photos via Instagram.com/ashley_.jensen.

In a video that was posted Sunday and has already topped 8.8 million views, The Office star John Krasinski officiated the Zoom marriage ceremony of Maryland superfans, whose proposal mimicked a scene from the popular TV show. As a surprise bonus, Krasinski invited the cast of The Office to dance at their virtual wedding.



For the past seven weeks, Krasinski has brightened the lives of home-bound viewers with his YouTube series "Some Good News." During the second half of Sunday's episode, Krasinski introduced Susan and John, whose marriage proposal was "oddly familiar."

The Office fans will remember how Krasinski's character, Jim, asked Pam (Jenna Fischer) to marry him in the rain at a gas station convenience store. John's proposal to Susan matched the TV version almost exactly.

"So I knew the proposal needed to be something really special, but also really something unique," John said. "'The Office' has been something that has connected the two of us for a very, very long time so it just felt right."

Susan explained, "Then he got down on one knee and he said, 'Just like Jim, I can't wait any longer.'"

As huge fans of the popular workplace comedy, John and Susan tweeted an invitation for Krasinski to attend their virtual wedding. Krasinski took the sweet gesture one step further.



The actor got ordained via an online ministry, which allowed him to officiate the couple's virtual marriage ceremony.

Said Krasinski, "Susan and John, because you elegantly ripped off our proposal, I think it’s only fitting that you rip off the wedding too.”

At that point, Krasinski introduced a number of key players who were queued up to be revealed during the Zoom call. The actor introduced the couples' parents, some close friends, and Fischer, who played Kraskinski's love interest on the show. Kraskinski volunteered to be the best man and nominated Fischer to be the matron of honor.



After country star Zac Brown performed a special song, the couple recited their vows and Krasinski pronounced them husband and wife.

But that's not it.



To top off the virtual ceremony, Krasinski invited the cast of The Office to recreate the wedding scene from Jim and Pam's wedding in Season 6. Among the stars showing off their dance moves were Steve Carell, Jenna Fischer, Mindy Kaling, B.J. Novak, Angela Kinsey, Ellie Kemper, Kate Flannery, Brian Baumgartner, Ed Helms, Phyllis Smith, Oscar Nunez, Rainn Wilson and Creed Bratton.

Krasinski said that this was likely the first and only wedding that would take place on "Some Good News."

"Because, let's be honest," he said. "How does it get better than that? It doesn't!"

Check out Sunday's episode of "Some Good News," which has a been trending as high as #2 on YouTube. The virtual wedding segment starts at the 7:20 mark. Also included below are the engagement and wedding scenes from The Office.

Some Good News

Jim Proposes to Pam

The Office Wedding Dance

Credits: Screen captures via YouTube.com/SomeGoodNews.

Lucapa Diamond Company has recovered a 171-carat, gem-quality, white stone at its Lulo alluvial mine in Angola, the same mine that produced the famous 404-carat “4 de Fevereiro” diamond in 2016. That unusual thumb-shaped stone, which nearly ended up as road filler at the mining plant, was eventually cut into a 163-carat emerald-cut stunner that sold at auction for $33.7 million.



The Lulo Diamond Project in Angola, which is owned by Lucapa and its partners — Empresa Nacional de Diamantes E.P. and Rosas & Petalas — has earned a reputation for producing some of the largest and highest-value diamonds in the world.

Since commercial diamond production went online at Lulo in 2015, the mine has generated 15 100-plus-carat diamonds. The 171-carat gem, shown above, is the second 100-plus-carat diamond found in 2020 and the fourth-largest ever recovered at Lulo.

Upstream of the Cacuilo River valley, Lucapa is testing five kimberlite pipes that were likely the hard-rock sources of the exceptional Lulo alluvial diamonds.

“The recovery of this 171-carat, gem-quality, white diamond continues to underpin the potential of the kimberlite-exploration program,” said Lucapa CEO Stephen Wetherall.



Back in 2016, we recounted the wild story of how Angola's most famous diamond was nearly discarded at the Lulo mine by mistake.

On February 4, 2016, as Angola celebrated its national independence day, a thumb-shaped 404-carat rough diamond miraculously found its way through a hole in the sorting screen at the Lulo processing plant because it was oriented vertically, not horizontally. It was aptly named the “4 de Fevereiro” (February 4th in Portuguese) and continues to retain the honor of being the largest diamond ever found in Angola.

Had the gem — which was eventually sold for $16 million — passed through lying flat instead of standing up on edge, it would have been rejected and discarded. It would have likely joined the other rejected, oversized “rocks” Lucapa had collected and used to fill the road beds throughout the Lulo project.

The diamond recovery plant had been configured to capture diamonds up to 280 carats in size. Before that day in February, no rough diamond larger than 278 carats had ever been recovered from the mine.



The 404-carat stone was eventually cut by de Grisogono into a D-flawless, 163-carat emerald-cut stunner that became the centerpiece of an emerald and diamond necklace that fetched $33.7 million at Christie's Geneva in November of 2017.

Credits: Rough diamond images courtesy of Lucapa Diamond. Emerald-cut diamond image courtesy of Christie's.

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you chart-topping songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, country music duo Keifer and Shawna Thompson of Thompson Square fall in love, get engaged and tie the knot in their semi-autobiographical 2010 hit, "Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not."



As the song begins, Keifer and Shawna are talking about "everything under the moon" on the roof of her mom's house. He's remembers the intoxicating smell of honeysuckle and her perfume. He also recalls how he was totally panicked — way too shy to make the first move.

Lucky for him, Shawna looks him straight in the eye and asks, "Are you gonna kiss me or not?" Later in the song, Keifer realizes that he wants the relationship to last forever, so he buys a ring and asks for her hand in marriage.

Keifer and Shawna share this key verse: "So I took a chance / Bought a wedding band and I got down on one knee / And you smiled and said to me / Are you gonna kiss me or not? / Are we gonna do this or what? / I think you know I love you a lot / I think we've got a real good shot / Are you gonna kiss me or not?"

Written by Jim Collins and David Lee Murphy, "Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not" sold more than two million copies and zoomed to #1 on both the Billboard US Hot Country Songs chart and the Billboard Canada Country chart. It was the second single released from Thompson Square's self-titled debut album.

The song also earned Grammy nominations for Best Country Duo/Group Performance and Best Country Song.

Even though Keifer and Shawna didn't write the song, its theme very closely mirrored their own love story.

"The first time we heard it, we fell in love with it," Keifer told The Boot. "We knew we had to record it. It was semi-autobiographical. We just gravitated towards it. We were definitely blessed to get a hold of it."

"We got real lucky with Thompson Square," Collins admitted to The Boot. "They're husband and wife, and it was kind of their story — how they fell in love, even though I don't know if it was exactly up on the roof! When we wrote it, I thought it was a good song. But when I heard their record, the way they cut it, I thought, 'Man! This could be a hit!'"

Born in Miami, OK, Keifer Thompson met his future wife, a native of Chatom, AL, at a singing competition in Nashville, TN. Together, they have produced three albums and placed 10 singles on the Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts.

Please check out the video of Thompson Square's live performance from the Bing Lounge in 2013. The lyrics are below if you'd like to sing along...

"Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not"
Written by David Lee Murphy & Jim Collins. Performed by Thompson Square.

We were sittin' up there on your momma's roof
Talkin' 'bout everything under the moon
With the smell of honeysuckle and your perfume
All I could think about was my next move

Oh, but you were so shy, so was I
Maybe that's why it was so hard to believe
When you smiled and said to me

Are you gonna kiss me or not?
Are we gonna do this or what?
I think you know I like you a lot
But you're 'bout to miss your shot
Are you gonna kiss me or what?

It was the best dang kiss that I ever had
Except for that long one after that
And I knew if I wanted this thing to last
Sooner or later I'd have to ask for your hand

So I took a chance
Bought a wedding band and I got down on one knee
And you smiled and said to me

Are you gonna kiss me or not?
Are we gonna do this or what?
I think you know I love you a lot
I think we've got a real good shot
Are you gonna kiss me or not?

So, we planned it all out for the middle of June
From the wedding cake to the honeymoon
And your momma cried
When you walked down the aisle

When the preacher man said, "Say I do"
I did and you did too, then I lifted that veil
And saw your pretty smile and I said
Are you gonna kiss me or not?

Are we gonna do this or what?
Look at all the love that we got
It ain't never gonna stop
Are you gonna kiss me or not?

Yeah baby, I love you a lot
I really think we've got a shot
Are you gonna kiss me or not?


Credit: Screen capture via YouTube.com/987TheBull.

Even though the Hyatt Regency Seattle had to suspend its normal operations due to COVID-19 health concerns, the brand new 45-story hotel at 8th & Howell has been lighting up the sky with love.



Each evening for the past six weeks, the 500-foot-tall, 1260-room landmark — the largest hotel in the city — has been honoring Seattle's first responders and health care workers with a giant heart rendered by lighting individual rooms on the upper floors.

On Thursday, the hotel was happy to oblige a special request by Seattle resident Mitesh Munot, and the lighting configuration became a 21-floor love letter to his girlfriend, Apoorva Prasad.



Right at dusk, the simple heart shape was amended to say "I Love You, AP," with the heart standing in for the word "love."

From the balcony of his home on 2nd Avenue, and with the Hyatt specially lit in the distance, Munot popped the question and Prasad said, "Yes."

Munot told komonews.com how he came up with the idea for the sky-high proposal.

"We can see the beautiful heart sign that the hotel shows with the use of lights in individual rooms," Munot said. "It would probably be the best proposal that I could ever hope for!"

The Hyatt's social media team got into the spirit with an Instagram post that included a photo of the couple and a caption that read, "Love is in the air! Congratulations on tonight’s engagement! Thank you for letting us be a part of your joyous celebration!"

Commenting on the post, Munot, a senior account executive at Amazon, wrote, "@hyattregencyseattle, I can’t thank you enough for making this happen for us! Thank you for giving us a memory we will cherish forever."

Prasad, a senior manager at Amazon, was more than delighted, commenting, "@hyattregencyseattle, your team is incredible! We’ve always loved Hyatt, but you’ll now hold a place in our hearts forever. Thank you!"

The Hyatt Regency officially opened in December of 2018, but was forced to temporarily suspend its normal operations due to COVID-19. The good news is that the hotel was given the green light to start serving customers again on June 1.

Credits: Images via Instagram/hyattregencyseattle.

Mounted high above the lobby of the six-star Imperial Palace Saipan are two bejeweled dragons fighting over a flaming pearl. The installation spans more than 60 meters, weighs 40 tons and sparkles with 2.5 million Swarovski crystals.



Czech design firm Lasvit is hoping that its massive undertaking will be recognized by Guinness World Records as the world’s largest pieces of jewelry.



“In this project, we approached the limits of what is both technically and physically possible," noted Leon Jakimič, Lasvit’s founder and president. "Master glassmakers and metalsmiths brought the know-how of hundreds of years of craft tradition while their work was backed by a high-tech design process throughout.”



Jakimič added that the "Saipan Dragons" installation took more than three years to complete and required the expertise of hundreds of technicians from the Czech Republic. It's the company's largest installation to date.



Dragons battling to clutch the elusive pearl is a theme deeply rooted in Chinese mythology. The dragons are divine mythical creatures that symbolize strength, good fortune and transformation, while the pearl — often depicted as a red or white sphere ringed by a fiery blaze — represents wisdom, enlightenment and spiritual essence.

Saipan, which is an island in the western Pacific Ocean about 135 miles northeast of Guam — lies within an active seismic zone. For that reason, the main bearing part of the dragon is made of a stainless-steel truss structure which forms the complete shape and winds throughout the dragon’s body.



The dragons are covered with 13,000 golden scales and 2.5 million Swarovski crystals, which are illuminated by concealed multi-hued LED chips. The dragons have the ability to change color almost instantly.

Check out Lasvit's video, below.


Credits: Images courtesy of Lasvit; Screen capture via Youtube.com/Lasvit.

The 28.86-carat D-color diamond that is slated to headline an online auction in June has been named by Christie's as one of the "10 Jewels That Made History — and Changed the Market."



The emerald-cut gem, which is estimated to fetch between $1 million and $2 million at Christie's Jewels Online sale, June 16-30, joined the likes of the $58 million Oppenheimer Blue diamond, the impossibly rare Hancock Red diamond and the world's most famous natural pearl, La Peregrina, in a feature article published last week at Christies.com.

While the 28.86-carat online offering doesn't carry the gravitas of the other gems spotlighted by Christie's, it is very significant in other ways. It is not only the first gem to be offered online with an expected sale price of at least $1 million, but it is also the highest-valued lot ever offered for sale online at Christie’s.

The value of the gem signals a move by the famed auction house to move higher-ticket items to the online sales platform.

“This year has presented unprecedented circumstances, enabling Christie’s new opportunities through our enhanced digital platform,” said Rahul Kadakia, International Head of Jewelry at Christie’s. “Year-over-year, we have seen an increase in online participation and the value threshold for transacting online. Recognizing greater client confidence, we are proud to announce the highest valued lot ever to be offered for sale in our June 2020 Jewels Online auction.”

The D-color diamond boasts a Type IIa purity grading, a designation earned by fewer than 2% of all gem diamonds. Type IIa diamonds have exceptional optical transparency and are the most chemically pure variety of diamonds. They contain no measurable trace of other elements, such as nitrogen, which could alter the color.

The Oppenheimer Blue diamond made Christie's list because it is the most expensive diamond in auction history. It sold for $57.97 million at Christie’s Magnificent Jewels auction in Geneva in May of 2016.

The Hancock Red diamond turned heads when it became the top lot at Christie's New York in April of 1987. Weighing just under 1 carat, the fancy-color purple-red diamond was described as "so rare that experienced diamond dealers would consider themselves extremely lucky to handle more than three in the course of a lifetime." It sold for $880,000 and was, at the time, the most expensive per-carat gemstone ever sold at auction.

With a 500-year history that linked royals, empresses and Hollywood stars, the perfectly pear-shaped La Peregrina natural pearl sold at Christie's New York in 2011 for $11.84 million. It was discovered off the coast of Panama in 1576 and soon became part of the Spanish Crown Jewels. In 1969, actor Richard Burton purchased the gem at auction for his wife, Elizabeth Taylor, on the actress's 37th birthday.

Credit: Image courtesy of Christie's.

Be prepared to be blown away by the next stop on our virtual tour of the Smithsonian’s National Gem Collection. Featured today is an amazing topaz exhibit featuring four stones ranging in size from 12,555 carats to 251,744 carats.



Previous stops on the tour have included the Logan Sapphire, the Dom Pedro aquamarine and the Steamboat tourmaline.

The Janet Annenberg Hooker Hall of Geology, Gems, and Minerals typically hosts more than six million visitors annually. But with all the Smithsonian museums in Washington, DC, temporarily closed to support the effort to contain the spread of COVID-19, we're offering this virtual tour of the hall.



Here's how to navigate to the topaz exhibit.

— First, click on this link… The resulting page will be a gallery called “Geology, Gems & Minerals: Precious Gems 1.” The topaz showcase contains two mammoth crystals and two smaller faceted gems.

(Touch the plus sign to zoom in. Touch the “X” to close the map to get a better view of the gemstones. You may restore the map by clicking the “Second” floor navigation on the top-right of the screen.)



All of the gems in the showcase were sourced in Minas Gerais, Brazil, but the most famous of the four specimens is the colossal cushion-cut American Golden Topaz, the third-largest faceted gemstone in the world. The stone is seen, above, just in front of the little girl.

Tipping the scales at a whopping 22,892 carats (10.09 lbs), the American Golden Topaz was cut by Leon Agee over a period of two years in the late 1980s from a 26-pound stream-rounded cobble owned by Drs. Marie L. and Edgar F. Borgatta.

The final product has 172 facets, a warm honey-gold color and is the size of a honeydew melon, measuring 6.9 x 5.9 x 3.7 inches. The gem was donated to the Smithsonian Institute in 1988.

The tallest stones in the case are the 251,744-carat (111 lbs) Freeman Uncut Topaz and the 158,757-carat (70 lbs) Lindsay Uncut Topaz.



Positioned behind the American Golden Topaz is the fascinating Topaz Sphere, which weighs 12,555-carats (5.54 lbs).

Natural topaz is found in a wide array of warm colors, including brownish-yellow, orange-yellow and reddish-brown. Other topaz colors include white, pale green, blue, gold and pink.

Credits: Photos by Chip Clark/Smithsonian. Virtual tour screen capture via naturalhistory2.si.edu.

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you wonderful tunes with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, Philadelphia R&B legends Boyz II Men sing about a long-lost love in their 2014 release, “Diamond Eyes.”



In this power ballad about a man longing to be reunited with the dream girl of his past, the soulful singers croon, “And then the sun rose, our bodies unfroze / And it turned us both gold / Your diamond eyes glowed, yeah.”

Songwriter Coley O'Toole uses the precious metal reference to symbolize the innocent and exciting “goldenness” of youth, an idea first invoked in the 1923 Robert Frost poem, “Nothing Gold Can Stay." Her diamond eyes connote strength, brilliance and perfection. In the end, the song's protagonist says he will never lose hope that she will be found.

"Diamond Eyes" was the first single released from the group's 12th studio album, Collide. The album reached #6 on the U.S. Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and #37 on the U.S. Billboard 200 albums chart.

The four-time Grammy-winning act, which features the sweet harmonies of long-time members Shawn Stockman, Wanya Morris and Nathan Morris, has sold more than 60 million recordings and earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2012. The group was named by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) as the most commercially successful R&B group of all time.

Originally known as Unique Attraction, Boyz II Men was founded in 1985 by friends Nathan Morris and Marc Nelson at the Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts. The original group often rehearsed in a school bathroom due to its excellent acoustics.

By the early 1990s, Boyz II Men earned international fame with a series of Top 5 releases, including "Motownphilly" and "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday." The group originated as a quartet, but became a trio when Michael McCary had to leave the group in 2003 due to multiple sclerosis.

In 2017, a section of Broad Street in Philadelphia was renamed “Boyz II Men Boulevard.” That section of Broad Street happens to be the home of the high school where the boys got their start.

Check out the audio clip of Boyz II Men performing “Diamond Eyes.” The lyrics are below if you’d like to sing along...

“Diamond Eyes”
Written by Coley O'Toole. Performed by Boyz II Men.

When we were young, our hearts were strong,
And they beat as one, till the day had come
When I thought that you were gone

And then the sun rose, our bodies unfroze
And it turned us both gold
Your diamond eyes glowed, yeah, ohhhhh

When we were young, our love was strong
We beat as one, till the day had come,
And I thought that you were gone

And then the sun rose, our bodies unfroze
And it turned us both gold
Your diamond eyes glowed, yeah

I would search near and far
Drag the seas and mine the dark,
Search through every place I think you are
I would search near and far
Drag the seas and mine the dark
And never losing hope that you be found, ohhhh

And then the sun rose, our bodies unfroze
And it turned us both gold
Your diamond eyes glowed, yea,
your diamond eyes glowed,
your diamond eyes glowed,
your diamond eyes glowed, ohhhh


Credit: Image by Lunchbox LP from Culver City, CA, USA / CC BY.

The Washington Nationals unveiled the design of their 2019 World Series rings during a video presentation on Sunday night. Featuring 257 gemstones weighing a total of 23.20 carats, the 14-karat white and yellow gold rings document the team's unlikely road to the championship after starting the season with a 19-31 record.



The team had been enduring a miserable slump when outfielder Gerardo Parra chose "Baby Shark" as his walk-up song. Parra picked the popular children's song because his two-year-old daughter loved it, and so did the fans. The adorable tune — "Baby shark, doo doo doo doo doo doo"— had a way of galvanizing the energy in the stadium and the players used that energy to finish the season 96-69.



As a nod to the song that helped to turn their season around, the Nationals asked ring designer Jostens to include a baby shark holding a yellow gold trophy on the inside of the band. To the right of the shark are the team logos of each of the opponents the Nationals defeated during their postseason journey, along with the results of each series.

The rest of the ring is brimming with symbolism, as well.

The ring top features the team's "W" logo, crafted from 30 custom-cut genuine rubies framed in yellow gold. The number 30 was chosen because that's how many runs the team scored in the four World Series games in which they were victorious.

The logo overlays a ground of 58 pavé-set diamonds, and is circled with the words WORLD CHAMPIONS and 32 custom-cut genuine sapphires. The  number 32 represents the sum total of the team's 2019 walk-off wins (7), shutout wins (13), longest winning streak (8 games), and playoff rounds won (4).

An additional 108 diamonds are featured along the ring top, representing the number of regular season and postseason wins (105), plus one diamond for the World Series Championship, and an additional two diamonds as a nod to the duality of the franchise's history. The Washington Nationals originated as the Montréal Expos. The top and bottom edges of the ring top each feature 12 princess-cut rubies, representing the total number of postseason wins.



On the left side of the ring in raised yellow gold is the player's name. Beneath the player name, also in yellow gold, is the nation's flag waving majestically, along with the 2019 championship year date.

In the foreground, in contrasting white gold, are some of the U.S. capitol's most iconic buildings and monuments, including the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, Capitol building and Jefferson Memorial. The bottom of the ring's left side serves to display the player's number, set in diamonds.

During the postseason, the team's motto was "Stay in the fight." The evolution of that motto is featured on the right side of the ring: "Fight Finished." Below, the stripes of the American flag fill the sky above Nationals Park behind the coveted Commissioner's Trophy, complete with the Nationals wordmark logo.

Also appearing on the right side are four diamonds set upon a star base, as well as a custom-cut, star-shaped ruby. The five stars represent the incredible five elimination games won by the Nationals in the postseason. The four diamonds on the stars represent the four previous National League East titles earned by the Nationals, while the red star signifies their World Series Championship.

The team's mantra of "Go 1-0 Everyday," appears along the ring palm.

In all, the ring features 170 round diamonds (4.20 carats), 31 custom-cut rubies and 24 princess-cut rubies (7.25 carats) and 32 custom-cut genuine sapphires (11.75 carats).

The team voted to receive their rings when they can be physically united. The Nationals had originally planned to host a ring ceremony before the team's second home game on April 4, but the season has been delayed due to the coronavirus.

Credits: Images courtesy of Jostens.

Reservations were limited and visitors needed to bring their own tools, but the good news is that Arkansas' field of dreams — the Crater of Diamonds State Park — reopened on Friday, May 22, just in time for the Memorial Day weekend.



The 37½-acre search field in Murfreesboro is actually the eroded surface of an ancient diamond-bearing kimberlite pipe. Treasure hunters test their luck at the only diamond site in the world that's open to the general public.



More than 29,000 diamonds have been found in the crater since it became a state park in 1972.

“We are pleased to be able to welcome people back to search for diamonds at the Crater of Diamonds just in time for the Memorial Day weekend,” said Stacy Hurst, secretary of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism. “It is one of the most popular destinations in our system of state parks, and we have had many questions from people who are anxious to again have the opportunity to find and keep their very own gem.”

Due to health concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the popular tourist destination will be limiting attendance and enforcing some restrictions.

The number of daily visitors has been capped at 500, and all of those tickets may be booked online. Be sure to check this site for ticket availability. It's very likely that the daily tickets will be sold-out and walk-up tickets will be unavailable.

Visitors are encouraged to bring their own diamond mining tools, because there are no rentals at this time. Even though prospectors have found plenty of gems on top of the soil, most diamond hunters like to do a little digging. They use a range of simple tools, from small flowerbed trowels to full-size shovels. Some bring their own sifting screens.

The park staff provides complementary identification and registration of diamonds found at the park.



Face coverings will be required for all persons present in the Visitor Center, Diamond Discovery Center, North & South Sluice Pavilions and all four sun shelters. Children under the age of 10 are not required to wear face coverings. Hand sanitizer will be available for guests in the Visitor Center.

To keep a safe distance in the search field, guests/associated groups will be asked to keep a 12-foot distance between other guests/associated groups, unless they are wearing face coverings.

The mining area is now open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Visitor Center closes at 5 p.m. Ticket prices are $10 for adults, $6 for children 6-12, and kids under 6 get to search for free.

In an average year, amateur diamond hunters will find more than 600 diamonds in all sizes, colors and grades.

In 1990, Shirley Strawn discovered a 3.03-carat diamond near the East Drain section of the park. That rough gem was transformed into a world-class, 1.09-carat round brilliant-cut sparkler, and became the first diamond from the Arkansas state park to earn a perfect grade of “Triple Zero” (Ideal cut/D color/Flawless) from the American Gem Society.

The find was so momentous that the State of Arkansas purchased the diamond, now known as the “Strawn-Wagner” diamond, for $34,700 and made it the centerpiece of the park’s special exhibit. There’s even a prominent marker in the East Drain section of the park to show exactly where it was found.

Credits: Photos courtesy of Arkansas State Parks.

A San Francisco-based Greek restaurant chain, which had closed each of its eateries in strict adherence to the city's shelter-in-place order, made a special exception recently and opened one of its stores so a long-time regular could surprise his girlfriend with a proposal in the exact spot where their first date took place five years ago.



Sam Goldstein and Christa Simone are big fans of Souvla, a "fine-fast" restaurant chain specializing in spit-fired meats, Cali-fresh veggies, Greek wines and frozen yogurt in NYC coffee cups.

Goldstein told the dining guide site Eater SF that he had been contemplating a proposal long before the pandemic.

“I’m generally into big crowds," he told the site, "so I was trying to publicly embarrass Christa. But when the world shut down, that became increasingly hard.”

Goldstein's backup plan was to contact the principals of Souvla to see if he could set up a special proposal on the outdoor patio of the chain's NoPa location. That's where the couple's relationship blossomed as they dined on chicken salads and a bottle of rosé.



The love-struck young man was surprised when Souvla owner Charles Bililies quickly agreed to oblige. Not only did he open the shuttered restaurant for the couple, but also had a special sign made for the front window — “Come on in, Christa” — placed rose petals in the corridor leading to the patio and set up a table with sentimental photos, flowers and a bottle of wine.



On Saturday, Goldstein encouraged Simone to take a walk with him through the neighborhood, making sure Souvla was on their route. When the couple passed in front of the restaurant, Simone was surprised to see her name on the sign.



Bililies and his wife, Jen Pelka, greeted the couple and led them to the back patio, where Goldstein popped the question with a diamond ring and Simone said, "Yes."

“We were blown away by how incredibly generous and helpful Charles and Jen were,” Goldstein told Eater. “It just goes to show how kind people can be, even to complete strangers. It was one of those moments that restores your faith in humanity.”

Even though San Francisco allows restaurant take-out service, the Souvla chain has decided to remain closed through the shelter in place in an abundance of caution for the health and safety of its staff.

"We know San Francisco misses Souvla – we do too," the chain's representative told SFGATE. "We'll be reopening soon, in the safest way possible for our team and our guests. We hope everyone is staying happy and healthy, and we can't wait to see our customers again soon!"

Credits: Images courtesy of Souvla.

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you awesome songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, pop star Katy Perry encourages young women to aspire to greatness in her 2010 ballad, "Pearl."



On her YouTube channel, Perry explained that "Pearl" is a song she wrote for anyone who's been held down — by friends, or relationships or family members.

"[The song] talks about a girl who used to be a pearl, and how she became a shell of herself," said Perry. "She let this person rule her world and she's kind of a skeleton now. Her rainbow is a flat shade of grey."

She added, "It's a really important message to send to be confident in who you are and your relationships. And to love yourself most importantly before anybody else loves you."

Perry sings, "Oh, she used to be a pearl / Yeah, she used to rule the world / Can't believe she's become a shell of herself / 'Cause she used to be a pearl."

Written by Perry, Greg Wells and Tricky Stewart, "Pearl" was the last song added to Perry's chart-topping Teenage Dream album.

Perry told MTV News that she felt that the nearly completed Teenage Dream was missing something, so she and her writing partners added one more tune that completed her album in just the right way.

"And it was kind of just like, 'All right, now I have this crown, and I have all these jewels, and I can put these little jewels into the crown, and I feel like it's a complete presentation, something I'm really proud of.'"

Teenage Dream was a tremendous success, charting in 28 countries, including #1 on the US Billboard 200 album chart and #1 on the Canadian Albums Chart. The album and its singles earned Perry seven Grammy Award nominations, including Album of the Year, Best Pop Vocal Album and Record of the Year.

Born Katheryn Elizabeth “Katy” Hudson in Santa Barbara, Calif., the singer changed her name in the early 2000s so she wouldn’t be confused with actress Kate Hudson. The daughter of Christian pastor parents, Perry grew up singing in a church choir, where she developed an affection for gospel music. Perry was dropped by two record labels before going on to sign with Capitol Music Group in 2007.

Over the past decade, the 35-year-old Perry has become one of the most successful musical artists of all time, having sold more than 18 million albums and 125 million singles globally.

Trivia: Perry's "Pearl" may have been inspired by her "wonderful" paternal grandmother, Ann Pearl Hudson, who sadly passed away in March at the age of 99.

"When my fighter spirit comes out, that’s Ann," Perry wrote in an Instagram tribute.

Please check out the audio track of “Pearl.” The lyrics are below if you'd like to sing along...

"Pearl"
Written by Katy Perry, Greg Wells and Tricky Stewart. Performed by Katy Perry.

She is a pyramid
But with him she's just a grain of sand
This love's too strong like mice and men
Squeezing out the life that should be let in

She was a hurricane (-cane, -cane, -cane)
But now she's just a gust of wind
She used to set the sails of a thousand ships
Was a force to be reckoned with

She could be a Statue of Liberty
She could be a Joan of Arc
But he's scared of the light that's inside of her
So he keeps her in the dark

Oh, she used to be a pearl
Yeah, she used to rule the world
Can't believe she's become a shell of herself
'Cause she used to be a pearl

She was unstoppable
Moved fast just like an avalanche
But now she's stuck deep in cement
Wishing that they'd never ever met

She could be a Statue of Liberty
She could be a Joan of Arc
But he's scared of the light that's inside of her
So he keeps her in the dark

Oh, she used to be a pearl
Yeah, she used to rule the world
Can't believe she's become a shell of herself
'Cause she used to be a—

Do you know that there's a way out,
There's a way out
There's a way out
There's a way out?

You don't have to be held down,
Be held down
Be held down
Be held down

'Cause I used to be a shell
Yeah, I let him rule my world, my world

But I woke up and grew strong
And I can still go on
And no one can take my pearl

You don't have to be a shell, no
You're the one that rules your world, oh
You are strong
And you'll learn that you can still go on

And you'll always be a—a pearl

She is unstoppable


Credit: Image by nikotransmission from Sammamish, WA, USAuploaded by C.Jonel / CC BY