Music Friday: Country Star Cody Johnson's Got a Diamond in His Pocket

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you fun songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, country star Cody Johnson's hands are shaking like a canebrake rattler as he pops the question in his 2011 release, "Diamond In My Pocket."

In the song, Johnson portrays a young man who realizes, despite his anxiety, that there will never be a better time to make the ultimate commitment to the love of his life. He can't afford to take her to a Broadway play, so he opts for a midnight ride to Kickapoo Creek, where the crickets are singing to the radio. With a shooting star flashing across the sky, Johnson lays it all on the line.

He sings, "Cause baby, there's a shooting star, / That was for me and you. / So, hold me tight, and make that wish, and pray that it comes true. / I ain't sure of much, / But this I know... / I got a diamond in my pocket and my baby's got a heart of gold."

Written by Johnson, Trent Wayne Willmon and Thomas Daniel Green, "Diamond In My Pocket" appeared as the third track on Johnson's self-released album, A Different Day.

Johnson is credited with six self-released albums, the last of which made its debut at #2 on the Billboard U.S. Country Albums chart without the benefit of major label support or widespread radio play. His seventh album, Ain't Nothin' to It, was released via Warner Bros. Records Nashville and reached #1 on the Billboard U.S. Country Albums chart.

The 33-year-old country star's road to success was hardly paved with gold. Born in Sebastopol, Texas, Johnson discovered his passion for music as a pre-teen and started writing songs in junior high school. In 2006, at the age of 19, he formed the Cody Johnson Band with his dad, Carl, and drummer Nathan Reedy. The group played the rodeo circuit and sold albums out of the back of Johnson's pickup truck.

The struggling artist worked as a corrections officer in Huntsville, Texas, but his wife, Brandi, encouraged him to pursue his dream and record full time. In 2011, Johnson got a big break when he won the Texas Regional Music Award for New Male Vocalist of the Year. That accomplishment landed him better gigs at larger venues. He became the first unsigned independent artist to play to a sold-out crowd at the 74,177-seat Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

Please check out the video of Johnson's live performance of "Diamond In My Pocket" at the Troubadour music room in Dallas. The lyrics are below if you'd like to sing along...

"Diamond In My Pocket"
Written by Trent Wayne Willmon, Thomas Daniel Green and Cody Daniel Johnson. Performed by Cody Johnson.

Saturday night and the moon is out
Just shinin' over top of the pines
I'm headin' on down to my baby's house
Gonna take her on a midnight ride
Down those backroads winding down to Kickapoo Creek
Dancin' and singin' to some good ol' boys like me

Baby, there's a shooting star,
That was for me and you.
So, hold me tight, and make that wish, and pray that it comes true.
I ain't sure of much,
But this I know...
I got a diamond in my pocket and my baby's got a heart of gold.

I brought along a little courage and Coleman cooler just to help me out
My hands are shaking like canebrake rattler,
Nothing's gonna save me now
Might as well jump in head first, lay it all on the line
What am I worrying about never gonna be a more perfect time

Cause baby, there's a shooting star,
That was for me and you.
So, hold me tight, and make that wish, and pray that it comes true.
I ain't sure of much,
But this I know...
I got a diamond in my pocket and my baby's got a heart of gold.

Well I didn't have money for a Broadway show but the crickets are singing to the radio.
And we got tickets, on the very front porch.

Baby, there's a shooting star,
That was for me and you.
So, hold me tight, and make that wish, and pray that it comes true.
I ain't sure of much,
But this I know...
Well, I got a diamond in my pocket and my baby's got a heart of gold.

I got a diamond in my pocket and my baby's got a heart of gold.
Yeah, my baby's got a heart of gold.

Credit: Screen capture via YouTube.com.

GIA and IBM Join Forces to Introduce Artificial Intelligence to Diamond Clarity Grading

In a move that promises to fundamentally change the way diamonds are graded for clarity, the GIA (Gemological Institute of America) has joined forces with tech giant IBM to add artificial intelligence (AI) to the process.

GIA, the world’s leading independent diamond identification and grading authority, and IBM Research, one of the world’s largest and most influential corporate research labs, are developing an advanced AI system built on the standards of GIA’s universally recognized International Diamond Grading System™. The artificial intelligence is fueled by data from tens of millions of diamonds examined by GIA’s expert diamond graders in the Institute’s state-of-the-art grading laboratories around the world.

The example, above, shows how an image captured using GIA-developed hardware trains IBM Research’s artificial intelligence software to recognize inclusions and reflections. In the computer rendering, the AI system has correctly identified the clarity characteristics, enabling the AI system to assign a clarity grade.

“GIA is uniquely positioned to leverage AI and set a new bar in diamond grading standards,” said Tom Moses, GIA executive vice president and chief laboratory and research officer. “IBM’s AI technology combined with GIA’s expertise, extensive data and gemological research capabilities enables us to deliver advancements in consistency, accuracy and speed unlike any other organization.”

The proprietary system, which is now in limited use in the Institute’s New York and Carlsbad laboratories, will dramatically expand the reach of GIA’s independent diamond grading reports. Initially concentrating on the most popular diamond sizes, GIA will scale the AI system to bring accurate and efficient diamond grading to more diamond sizes, shapes and qualities.

“Adding AI to our grading methodology reflects GIA’s commitment to protecting consumers in new ways,” said Pritesh Patel, GIA’s senior vice president and chief operating officer, who leads the Institute’s digital transformation effort. “We are proud to be the first to collaborate with IBM to bring this innovative approach to the gem and jewelry industry, especially as we prepare to adapt to the accelerated changes we know are coming. This is just the beginning.”

“This newest application of IBM Research’s AI technology for the diamond industry combines GIA’s deep gemological knowledge and data with IBM’s leadership in AI innovation,” said Donna Dillenberger, IBM Fellow, Enterprise Solutions at IBM Research. “This system has the ability to accurately and consistently evaluate the overall effect of diamond clarity features like never before.”

Plans are in development to expand the collaboration between GIA and IBM for future projects combining gemological evaluation and AI.

Credits: Images © GIA.

Demi Lovato Thrills 88.9MM Instagram Fans With Pics of Her New Engagement Ring

This past Thursday, songstress Demi Lovato thrilled her 88.9 million Instagram followers with romantic pics of her Malibu engagement to actor Max Ehrich, who proposed with a massive emerald-cut diamond ring.

Jewelry-industry insiders told various celebrity websites that the center stone appeared to be 8 to 10 carats with a value of $500,000 or more, depending on the color, cut and clarity of the stone.

The center stone is set with double-claw prongs in white metal (likely platinum) and is flanked by two trapezoid-shaped diamonds, adding approximately 2 carats to the total weight of the ring.

Eonline.com reported that the ring was designed by Beverly Hills-based Peter Marco using the center stone from an heirloom necklace.

Lovato and Ehrich shared of series of pics on their respective Instagram pages.

The “Skyscraper” singer wrote, "@maxehrich - I knew I loved you the moment I met you. It was something I can’t describe to anyone who hasn’t experienced it firsthand but luckily you did too. I’ve never felt so unconditionally loved by someone in my life (other than my parents) flaws and all. You never pressure me to be anything other than myself. And you make me want to be the best version of myself. I’m honored to accept your hand in marriage. I love you more than a caption could express but I’m ecstatic to start a family and life with you. I love you forever my baby. My partner. Here’s to our future!!!!

Lovato, 27, also gave a shoutout to photographer Angelo Kritikos, who hid behind boulders to capture the romantic, beachside proposal.

Ehrich's caption read, "Ahhhh. You are every love song, every film, every lyric, every poem, everything I could ever dream of and then some in a partner in life. Words cannot express how infinitely in love with you I am forever and always and then some. I cannot spend another second of my time here on Earth without the miracle of having you as my wife. here’s to forever baby. ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh."

The former Young and the Restless actor, 29, punctuated the post with an engagement ring emoji.

The couple's engagement comes less than four months after People magazine revealed they were dating.

Us magazine reported that the surge in popularity of emerald-cut diamonds is attributed to the way the elongated shape flatters the wearer's finger. The shape has been favored by Jennifer Lopez, Jennifer Lawrence, Nikki Bella and Alex Guarnashelli, to name a few.

Credits: Images via Instagram/ddlovato; Instagram.com/maxehrich.