Cutting to the Beat

(R's hand pushing Di)(R ECU L)(CU R's hand pushing Di)(OHS Rd)(CU F)(CU R filling C with Di)(CU R's hand in water)(R running down Rd)(CU tops of heads)(CU R)(ECU R holding C filled with Di)(R holding Di)(Silhouette)(ECU lighting C)(EU R's eyes)(Smoke)(ECU R blowing smoke)(ECU R's hand in water)

(CU R)Shine bright like a diamond 
Shine bright like a diamond(ECU R's hand running over Di)
  
(CU R)Find light in the beautiful sea 
I choose to be happy(Flowers falling over) 
You and(CU R) I, (ECU two hands)you and I(CU R) 
We’re like diamonds in(ECU R's hand) the sky  
(CU R)You’re a shooting star I see(ECU R's hand) 
A vision of ecstasy(CU R) 
When you hold me, (Glass shattering in reverse)(CU R)I’m alive(MS R) 
(CU R)We’re like diamonds(Fabric billowing) in the sky(CU R)  

I knew that we’d become one(Large object in reverse) (MS R)right away(TS R running on Rd) 
(CU R)Oh, right away(TS R running on Rd)(Curtain rail falling in reverse)(ECU R's hand on bed)
At (CU R)first sight I (MS R on Rd)(CU R)felt the energy(Ball of light) (CU R)of sun rays(TS R running on Rd)(CU R) 
(CU PU R)I saw the life inside your eyes   

So shine bright(Bright light on Rd) (CU TS R running on Rd)tonight,(Bright light R running on Rd) you and (MS R on Rd)I (Various objects breaking in reverse) 
(ECU R's hand)We’re beautiful like (CU R)diamonds in the (MS R)sky 
Eye to (CU R)eye(Bright light R running on Rd), so alive 
(CU R)We’re beautiful like diamonds in the sky(R on Rd under Aurora Borealis)  

Shine bright like a diamond (CU R under Aurora Borealis)
Shine bright like a diamond(ECU R's hand) 
Shine bright like a diamond(CU R) 
We’re beautiful like diamonds in the sky  
(CU R under Aurora Borealis)Shine bright like a diamond (CU R)
Shine bright like a diamond (MS R in reverse)
Shine bright like a diamond 
We’re beautiful like (ECU R's hand)diamonds in the sky 

(CU R)Palms rise to the universe 
As we (LS R in landscape)moonshine and (MS R)molly 
(CU R)Feel the warmth, we’ll never (CU R)die(LS H slow motion) 
We’re like diamonds in the sky  
(CU R)You’re a shooting star I see 
(CU R)A vision of ecstasy 
When you hold me, I’m alive(MS H slow motion) 
We’re like diamonds in the sky 

(CU R)At first sight I felt the energy of sun (MS R)rays 
(CU H)I saw the life (CU R)inside your eyes  
(LS two H slow motion)So shine bright (CU H slow motion)tonight(CU R), you (ECU H hoof)and I(MS R) 
We're (CU R)beautiful (MS horse slow motion)like diamonds in the sky(LS H) 
(CU silhouette R)Eye to (MS H)eye, (CU H)so (ECU fire)alive 
(CU R)We're beautiful like diamonds in the (LS H)sky  

Shine bright like a (CU R)diamond 
(LS H)Shine bright like a diamond(MS H) 
(CU R)Shine bright like a diamond(CU flowers on fire) 
We’re beautiful (ECU R)like diamonds in the sky  
(CU R)Shine bright(Police and fire) like a (CU two H)diamond 
(LS two H)Shine bright(MS two H) like a diamond 
(LS R)Shine bright like a diamond(MS two H slow motion) 
We're beautiful like diamonds in the sky  
(CU R)Shine bright like a diamond(ECU R's hand) 
(CU R blowing smoke)bright like a diamond(ECU flower on fire) 
(ECU R's face on water)Shine bright like a diamond  

So shine (CU R on water)bright (MS R on water)tonight, you and I(Police and fire)(Silhouette against fire)(CU man) 
We're (CU R)beautiful like (MS R on water)diamonds in the sky (Silhouette against fire)
Eye to (ECU R's hand)eye, (CU R)so alive (LS R on water)
We're beautiful like diamonds (MS man on fire)in the sky  (MS R busy scene)

Shine bright (CU clothing)like a (ECU R)diamond(LS two H slow motion) 
Shine bright like a (CU R)diamond(LS two H slow motion)(ECU R) 
Shine bright like a (ECU R's hand)diamond(MS R) (CU R)
Oh, yeah(CU R tilt) 

Shine (MS man on fire)bright like a diamond(ECU R) 
(CU R)Shine bright like a diamond(LS R on water) 
(Fire)Shine bright(CU R) like a diamond(ECU R's hand) 
Shine bright(CU R) like a diamond(ECU R on water) 

(ELS R on water) 

R - Rihanna

Di - Diamonds

Rd - Road

H - Horse/s

ECU - Extreme close up

CU - Close up

TS - Tracking shot

MS - Mid-shot

LS - Long Shot
ELS - Extreme long shot

Cutting to the beat is an effective way of editing and composing a music video. The cuts between shots happen on definite beats within the song to create more of a flow and to establish a stronger connection between the video and the song as there is a visible and audible change. It can also be done with the melody, cutting to the next shot on different notes rather than beats, Rihanna uses a mixture of both as some of the shots fit into the percussive beat in the background but not with the melody and some are the other way around. This mixes it up a little and makes it flow with both the song and the lyrics.