The Chainsmokers’ ‘Closer’ certified diamond for 10m US sales

The Chainsmokers’ Closer (featuring Halsey) has been certified diamond in the United States – for sales (and streaming equivalent sales) of 10 million units.

It reached the status after two years.

The band’s last RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) certification was in March 2017 when the track clicked over 7 x platinum for seven million sales.

According to the band’s Andrew Taggart, the track was inspired by their favourite song at the time, Blink-182’s I Miss You, which is referenced in the lyrics.

It is rumoured that their original choice before Halsey was Camila Cabello.

A demo with her vocal later surfaced.

Released in the northern summer of 2016, Closer streaked straight to the top spot in the US – their first number one there – and stayed there for 12 weeks.

They became the first act to have four chart-toppers on the Billboard Dance/Electronic Songs chart, passing Calvin Harris.

Closer was until a few months ago the longest running #1 on that chart, losing that crown to Zedd, Maren Morris and Grey’s The Middle.

It was nominated for a Grammy in the best pop duo/group performance category – but lost to twenty one pilots’ Stressed Out.

The Chainsmokers posted on the weekend: “We could have never imagined having one of our songs going 10x platinum. we wrote this song with @freddykennett and @shaunfrank in the back of our tour bus 3 years ago thinking it would be fun a record for our friends to jam to, nothing more, congrats boys!”

Halsey, for whom Closer proved a massive breakthrough hit, leapt on to Instagram to respond to getting a diamond plaque.

“Been on tour for a hundred years so I haven’t even gotten home yet to unwrap this baby.

“CLOSER IS CERTIFIED DIAMOND! 10 times platinum! TEN MILLION! In just 2 years.

“Thank you to every single beautiful little heart that sang this song at the top of their lungs.

“Thank you to everyone to whom this song represents a moment a summer a year in your life.

“Thank you for letting us soundtrack a piece of your journey.”

Outside of the United States, Closer topped the charts in more than ten countries including Australia (where it also summited the ARIA Dance Chart), Canada, New Zealand, Ireland and the United Kingdom, making it both The Chainsmokers’ and Halsey’s first #1 in all six countries.

Closer is currently the third most streamed song on Spotify and in May 2017 became the second song to hit 1 billion streams on that platform.