Music Friday: Anita Baker Sings of a Jewel-Like Love in 1988's 'Priceless'

Welcome to Music Friday, when we spotlight songs that feature jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the lyrics or title. Today, we revisit Anita Baker’s dreamy 1988 ballad, "Priceless," a song where the seven-time Grammy winner likens her beloved to a precious jewel and declares their bond more valuable than diamonds or gold.

Baker opens the song with a sentiment that resonates deeply with jewelry lovers: “You are to me like a precious jewel, so valuable, baby / Think it shines so bright lighting up my life, with pure delight.” Just as a gemstone captures light and reflects it back in dazzling brilliance, she describes her partner as a radiant force who illuminates her world.

The metaphor deepens when she sings of treasures that cannot rival true love: “Gimme all the gold in the world, it will not replace this love, baby / Take a diamond ring, worth a lot — what we got cannot be bought or sold.”

Here, Baker acknowledges the traditional symbols of wealth and romance — a diamond ring and shimmering gold — only to conclude that their love is beyond measure, beyond price. In the world of jewelry, value is tied to rarity, beauty and emotional meaning. Baker captures all three in a few simple lines, suggesting that her relationship is as unique and enduring as the rarest gem.

Released as the opening track on her blockbuster album Giving You the Best That I Got, "Priceless" set the tone for an era-defining project that reached #1 on both the US Billboard 200 and the Billboard R&B Albums chart. The record went on to sell more than five million copies worldwide and brought Baker three Grammy Awards along with three Soul Train Music Awards.

Baker’s journey to stardom was anything but easy. Born in Toledo, OH, and raised in Detroit after being abandoned by her mother, she faced loss early when her foster parents passed away while she was still a child. By age 16, she was performing in Detroit nightclubs, where her remarkable voice caught the attention of bandleader David Washington. That opportunity led to her role as lead singer of Chapter 8, and ultimately to a solo career that defined R&B in the 1980s and beyond.

Her enduring artistry was celebrated in 2018, when Baker received BET’s coveted Lifetime Achievement Award. More recently, she returned to the stage for The Songstress Tour in 2023, her first full tour in nearly three decades, delighting longtime fans with her signature blend of elegance, warmth, and vocal mastery.

Whether or not Baker will continue to tour is unclear, but songs like "Priceless" ensure her voice — and her message — remain timeless. Please enjoy the audio track of Anita Baker performing "Priceless." The lyrics are below if you’d like to sing along…

“Priceless”
Written by Garry Glenn. Performed by Anita Baker.

When you ask me how I feel about you
I try to find the words that best describe you
You are to me like a precious jewel, so valuable baby
Think it shines so bright lighting up my life, with pure delight

You are so priceless to me and loving you has made me see
With your love I can do most anything
You are so priceless to me, you’re like the first rainbow in spring
Your love comforts my heart with joy you bring

I envision you and me in love together
Getting closer, as we share each day together
Gimme all the gold in the world, it will not replace this love baby, yeah
Take a diamond ring, worth a lot — what we got cannot be bought or sold

You are so priceless to me and loving you has made me see
With your love I can do most anything
You are so priceless to me, you’re like the first rainbow in spring
Your love comforts my heart with joy you bring

Never had a lover, babe
My baby, my baby, my darlin’

You are so priceless to me and loving you has made me see
With your love I can do most anything
You are so priceless to me, you’re like the first rainbow in spring
Your love comforts my heart with joy you bring

You are so priceless to me and loving you has made me see
With your love I can do most anything
You are so priceless to me, you’re like the first rainbow in spring
Your love comforts my heart with joy you bring

You are so priceless to me and loving you has made me see
With your love I can do most anything

Credit: Photo by MC2 Erica R. Gardner, USN, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.