Music Friday: 'You Used to Make Me Feel Like a Diamond,' Sings Kelly Clarkson

Welcome to Music Friday, when we spotlight songs that feature jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, Kelly Clarkson delivers a searing message about a fading romance in her 2017 gospel-inspired single, “Heat.”

The song finds Clarkson in the role of a woman determined to revive a relationship that has grown stale. Once brimming with affection, her partner no longer shows the same passion. In a striking lyric, she confronts him with this line: “Baby I deserve it, don’t let me down / You used to make me feel like a diamond / Now it don’t even seem like you’re tryin’.”

The imagery is powerful. A diamond, prized for its brilliance, rarity and resilience, has long symbolized the highest form of devotion. By declaring that she no longer feels like one, Clarkson suggests that the admiration, care and value once given to her have diminished. The lyric captures both the pain of neglect and the yearning to feel treasured once more.

When “Heat” was released as the third single from Meaning of Life, critics hailed it as one of Clarkson’s most spirited performances. Michael Cragg of The Observer described the track as “pure unadulterated joy,” while audiences propelled it to #1 on the US Billboard Dance Club Songs chart. Clarkson brought her powerhouse vocals to television audiences through high-profile performances on The Today Show, The Voice and NBC’s New Year’s Eve telecast.

At the time of the single’s release, Clarkson and her then-husband, Brandon Blackstock, spoke publicly about their efforts to keep romance alive despite busy schedules. But reality proved more complicated. Clarkson filed for divorce in 2020 after nearly seven years of marriage, citing irreconcilable differences. In August 2025, Blackstock passed away from melanoma, marking a deeply personal loss for the singer.

Now, as Clarkson prepares to return as a judge on Season 29 of The Voice in 2026, the lyrics of “Heat” resonate with new poignancy. The song stands not only as a plea for rekindled affection but also as a reminder of how relationships — like diamonds — require care and commitment to maintain their brilliance.

Born in Ft. Worth, TX, in 1982, Clarkson remains one of the most enduring voices of her generation, with more than 25 million albums and 40 million singles sold worldwide. Her accolades include three Grammy Awards, eight Daytime Emmys, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Please enjoy Clarkson’s rousing live performance of “Heat” at the 2018 iHeart Radio Music Festival. The lyrics are below if you'd like to sing along…

“Heat”
Written by Andre Davidson, Sean Davidson, Mick Schultz, Jessica Ashley Karpov and Michael Pollack. Performed by Kelly Clarkson.

I’m stumblin’ through the darkness
There ain’t no sign of a spark here
I’m used to feelin’ that fire
You watered down that desire

I put my work in, day in, day out
Baby I deserve it, don’t let me down
You used to make me feel like a diamond
Now it don’t even seem like you’re tryin’

So give me one good reason that I should need you

(Oh, whoa, oh)
Come turn this around
No, no, don’t let us down
I need more heat from ya, baby
Make me feel weak for ya, babe

(Oh, whoa, oh)
And I feel alive
(Oh, whoa, oh)
Like my heart’s in the wild
I need more heat from ya, baby
Make me feel weak for ya, babe

I’m slippin’ out of your fingers
Keep coolin’ down like November
I wanna feel you deeper
But all I got is that fever

I put that work in, day in, day out
Baby I deserve it, don’t let me down, no
Give me one good reason that I should need you

(Oh, whoa, oh)
Come turn this around
No, no, don’t let us down
I need more heat from ya, baby
Make me feel weak for ya, babe
(Oh, whoa, oh)
And I feel alive
(Oh, whoa, oh)
Like my heart’s in the wild
I need more heat from ya, baby
Make me feel weak for ya, babe

Better than that
Better than that
You know I love you
Better than that
Better than that
So come on love me
Better than that
Better than that
Oh we can do so much
Better than that
Better than that

(Oh, whoa, oh)
Come turn this around
No, no, don’t let us down
I need more heat from ya, baby
Make me feel weak for ya, babe
(Oh, whoa, oh)
And I feel alive
(Oh, whoa, oh)
Like my heart’s in the wild
I need more heat from ya, baby
Make me feel weak for ya, babe

Better than that
Better than that
You know I love you
You know I need you
You know I love you
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

You know I love you
Yeah
Better than that
Better than that

You know I love you
Better than that
Better than that

Credit: Photo by vagueonthehow from Tadcaster, York, England, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.