15 Hits You Didn't Know Sia Wrote And Their Secret History
The hellishly talented Sia has her own successful career as a recording artist, with astronomically popular hits like "Breathe Me", "Big Girls Cry" and "Cheap Thrills". But the extent of her talent as a writer for other artists is still under the radar. She's written tracks that have made it big for just about every leading pop diva in the business, including Katy Perry, Rihanna, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and Beyonce. Despite her distinctive and powerful singing voice, Sia has said that she doesn't mind writing for other artists because she is so prolific. The hooks and lyrics to her songs appear in flashes on inspiration that seems to come to her almost effortlessly. Because she gets the royalties from her songs recorded by other artists, Sia has joked that she has labels on the back of everything in her house saying "bought by Adam Levine", but has a modest attitude to her insane levels of success, saying "my kind of music won't always be popular". Amazingly, Sia has also overcome manic depression and addiction to supply us with some of the pop world's most memorable tunes in the past decade. Her seemingly indefatigable musical genius has given the artists she collaborates with some of their most defining tracks, and most have gone on to top the charts across the world. The enigmatic Sia has always danced to her own drummer, having been "expelled from ballet at age 5", she has dabbled in performance art saying "the weirder the better for me" and reputedly attended rehab with Christina Aguilera too. Although the challenges in Sia's personal life continue (she recently filed for divorce from her filmmaker husband), we know that the pain and raw emotion is reified in her music, inspiring us to "live like tomorrow doesn't exist".
15 “Pretty Hurts” by Beyoncé
Initially written for Katy Perry, this track won Beyonce a host of awards and inspired us all with its passionate confessional about body image struggles, and the pursuit of perfection. Perry wittily sent Sia a message saying "I'm pretty hurt you never sent me this song", to which Sia replied "check your inbox" where it had landed months before. But Beyonce made it the hit it was, bringing a particularly candid and vulnerable variation to her typically "flawless" brand. It felt really current as Instagram selfie mania and depression studies hit the headlines continually in 2013-14, and it was something of a relief to hear this kind of song in the honeyed voice of the world-dominating self-professed diva. But this passionate and brave song was the work of the crazy creative Sia, who says she completed the song on the same day that she recorded "Titanium" French DJ David Guetta. In an interview with Itunes, Beyonce said, "The second I heard the song, I'm like, 'I have to sing this song, I don't care how hard I have to fight for this song, this is my song". When Beyonce talks like this about your tracks, you know you've made it.
14 “My Heart Is Open” by Maroon 5 featuring Gwen Stefani
Maroon 5's Adam Levine has said he and the band "fell madly in love with" this song when they heard it, gushing "it's very rare you hear a song that doesn't need anything done to it… it's really beautiful and really special". This song exploded off the band's album "V", with vocals from Gwen Stefani as well as the band's lead singer Mr. Levine himself. The collaboration evolved Sia's original version considerably, and although Sia has been known to ask artists to re-record her songs if they changed so much as a single note from her original, she has said that she "doesn't care" in this case, praising the changes. Despite his cheeky tweaks to Sia's original, Adam said: "It's just one of those songs that feels classic, that's why I love it". We agree that, like the majority of Sia's output, "My Heart is Open" has an anthemic quality that lit up the entire album.
13 “Brightest Morning Star” by Britney Spears
We all know that Brit has had some bad days in the not so distant past, and when she does, she turns to her faith. She asked Sia for a song about “how Jesus found his way… a kind of gospel song that wasn't ramming it down your throat.” Sia responded to this request, which fell a little outside her usual remit, with a tune that definitely guides you home, no matter if you're religious or your only practicing religion is pop. It snuck into the bonus cut for Britney's 2013 album "Britney Jean". Referencing some moments from the holy text in which Jesus describes himself as the "morning star", the song works equally well if interpreted metaphorically as a more general reference to light in the darkness. Although this one didn't get huge, it was one of a string of unlikely-seeming collaborations between the two, very different blonde pop princesses.
12 “Expertease (Ready, Set, Go)” by Jennifer Lopez
Although J. Lo's sound isn't the usual eruption of power that is associated with Sia songs, her delivery of this one merited numerous replays. The A.K.A. Album felt in general like eavesdropping on a naughty date night, and in J. Lo's hands the track sounded genuinely sexy, despite the slightly obvious pun of its title and lyric: "Let me show my expertise/ I'm an expert tease." SpinMedia called it "a sexy mid-tempo bop with a soaring chorus and double entendre-filled lyrics", and we'd say that's pretty accurate. J. Lo has spoken glowingly about working with the savant Sia, and Sia bragged on Twitter, "Worked with Jenny from the block yesterday (@JLo) what a charming, sweet, funny person. And she can really SING! Anyhoo. Super fun." To which J.Lo replied "@Sia Great session!!! Amazed by you!!!" What a love-fest! Sia seems to navigate her way effortlessly throughout the pop world, befriending and brushing shoulders with an incredible range of pop artists, and J. Lo, it seems, was no exception.
11 “Blank Page” by Christina Aguilera
Christina Aguilera was an early collaborator with Sia before the entire pop world was competing to collaborate with the Australian siren. Christina worked with Sia on a number of tracks on her "Bionic" and "Burlesque" albums, back in the day when Sia was best known for her single "Breathe Me". But their most successful collaboration came a few years later on the "Lotus" EP, a hard-hitting mea culpa that garnered comparisons with Aguilera's glittering track "Beautiful". The single attracted considerable critical acclaim, unlike the pairs earlier work together, which had gone largely unremarked by the music press. The strong minimalist piano backed Aguilera's throaty vocals when she sang the song at the People's Choice Awards, at which she received the People's Voice Award. Christina confessed she felt particularly vulnerable following her divorce, and that working on the album helped her to embrace that. Maybe this was the reason why "Blank Space" became her peak Sia collaboration.
10 “Diamonds” by Rihanna
You'd hardly believe it with the success of this track, which shone "bright like a diamond", hitting No1 in the charts. Earning this "bad gal" even more glittering acclaim, the track followed the demo's blueprint so precisely that Sia initially thought it was her own vocals in the final product. We've always been a fan of Riri's idiosyncratic Barbados accent, which surely had something to do with the unforgettable "Umbrella" and "Work". Maybe it was because Sia also has a distinctive way of pronouncing her lyrics that the pair worked so well together. The chorus, in particular, sent the song rocketing to the top of both artists' hit lists. It's safe to say that this was the backing track for many a marriage proposal, as well as the electric atmosphere on Riri's Diamonds tour. Redefining the artist after famously suffering abuse at the hands of her then boyfriend Chris Brown, "Diamonds" was a track that recrowned Rihanna glittering queen of the pop world.
9 “Strange Birds” by Birdy
Birdy enthused on Twitter "@Sia Thanks, Loving playing our song!", to which the white-haired musical magician replied "@OfficialBirdy woohoo! Congrats birdyboo!" This track, which Sia collaborated on with the youthful songstress, couldn't have suited Birdy better. A resonant piano-driven ballad in Birdy's typical haunted voice suggests that the pair found some fulfilling creative harmonies whilst working together. It makes superb use of the depth of the singer's voice and swept us away with its wistful lyrics in combination with that characteristically powerful Sia melody. Birdy's "Fire Within" album received generally positive reviews from critics, and made it into the top ten in a number of European countries and Australia, even going platinum in France. The song's enchanting conjuring of a lonely, lost bird from another world could be said to represent either Birdy or Sia, both of whom seem at times to break from the flock in their pursuit of a song, but managed to touch millions with its open-ended mystique.
8 “Opulence” by Brooke Candy
Opulence was another Brooke Candy / Sia collaboration, on the same EP, and along a similar theme. The gripping video shows the controversial pop/rap artist encrusted lizard-like in jewels. It was definitely one of the more disturbing of Sia's visions, but the brutal hook just kept bouncing back to make this track strangely addicting. Speaking of her artistic relationship with Sia, Candy has said "We have an amazing relationship. She sees a bit of herself in me, which I find flattering. She's been so supportive and played a mentor role to me, which is awesome in this a$$-backward industry." The two certainly share a common distaste for the non-experimental and are boundary-pushers by nature. Their bad a** attitude hit a peak with this album, which linked not just with expensive jewelry like armor but also spilled coffers for both artists, making a lucrative splash in the charts. They also share a talent so raw that borders on the alien.
7 “Godzillionaire” by Brooke Candy
"I'm a ratchet b**** / Godzillionaire, Godzillionaire, Godzillionaire". We don't know what a Godzillionaire is, but we certainly hadn't seen anything quite like Brooke Candy's rendition of this Sia track. Plugging the EP release on Facebook, Sia raved "My awesome buddy Brooke Candy put out her EP today! I co-wrote a bunch of songs on there and I think it's SICK." We should have taken Sia literally, as there is definitely something a little queasy about the self-aggrandizing nature of the lyrics, which nevertheless seem reflective of our selfie-saturated culture. The lyrics could also very well describe Sia, (who is definitely raking it in after the number of plays her songs have received). But Sia herself appears to be as generous with her talent as she is talented, and it seems to be working for her. We have come to know that when Sia praises someone's new release (even one she had a hand in), it's worth a whirl.
6 “We Are One (Ole Ola)” by Pitbull, Jennifer Lopez, and Claudia Leitte
This was the official song of the FIFA World Cup 2014 and was performed by the A-list pop stars at the Opening Ceremony. It reached Number 1 in three countries but was less popular throughout the rest of the world. Some critics put this down to too little of Pitbull and J. Lo was heard on the track, while others compared it unfavorably with Shakira's "Waka Waka". So even with an all-star cast of head music-biz honchos, it is possible not to strike gold. But we still enjoyed the samba rhythms, colorful costumes and upbeat vibration of this summer song. At the Opening Ceremony, Pitbull said: "I'm honored to join Jennifer Lopez and Claudia Leitte at the FIFA World Cup to bring the world together. I truly believe that this great game and the power of music will help unify us because we are best when we are one."
5 Perfume - Britney Spears
Yep, another Sia-Brit collab. The pair co-wrote the song, which is rumored to have real life references to Jason Trawick, with whom Britney split during the recording work. The song was destined for success, birthed by the pop princesses and produced by will.i.am. Music critics noted Brit's "surprisingly strong" vocals, which might have taken inspo from the throaty Sia, although it also expressed a departure from the massively successful "Work B!+*h". Reputedly Britney's favorite track on the "Britney Jean" album, she enthused on Twitter that it is "such a special song". RCA Records CEO Peter Edge said he thought it would be a "big career song" for the star, complimenting the singer's treatment of the Sia creation: "she sings it beautifully and it has a real sincerity to it. And it's outstanding -- I think people are not only gonna be surprised but also see another side of Britney." Brit released the song two days early on Facebook, announcing that the song is "incredibly special to me because it hits close to home, and I think the story is relatable to everyone. Everyone's been through an insecure moment in a relationship that's left them vulnerable and I think this song captures that."
4 “Chasing Shadows” by Shakira
Although Shakira's self-titled 2014 album failed to make a resounding impact on the world, (it featured a collaboration with Rihanna, “Can't Remember to Forget You” that, ironically given its title, has largely also been forgotten). But the buzzy synth track "Chasing Shadows" was worked on by Adele's producer Greg Kurstin as well as the musical dreamweaver Sia, making it on the album as a bonus track. It brings out the Colombian artist's pop side, in an otherwise Latino universe of rock ballads and tricky guitar, played out in tracks like "Empire" and "Dare". Speaking to Rolling Stone Magazine, Sia confided that at least one of the tracks on her 2016 album "This is Acting" was rejected by Shakira, saying comically, "you'll know it was a Shakira reject because I sound like Shakira". Ever a mistress of the anticipation before the drop, Sia's hooked us in again, and we still can't decide which track it was.
3 “Double Rainbow” by Katy Perry
Finally Katy got her hands on a Sia single. Knowing what she is capable of in the double entendre department, it's amazing that this didn't explode into a polychromatic firework display of wordplay. Instead, she took the song in the opposite direction from the one we had been trained to expect after her Super Bowl halftime show performance, during which she turned herself into a human firework. This became a comparatively understated tune and something of a consolation prize after Perry rejected what became some of Sia's best-known tracks. Perry came up with the title during a yoga class and wrote the song together with Sia in the studio. Appropriately prism-like, the "Prism" album polarized critics, who were ambivalent about the unexpectedly slow tempo and seriousness of the song, and its placement in the album listing. Some critics deemed it a "bizarre standout" from the rest of the album, while others pronounced it "curiously tepid… but memorable". However, the track performed well on the charts and earned both artists another winner.
2 “Boy Problems” by Carly Rae Jepsen
It might seem like another unlikely collab, but Carly Rae Jepsen's candy floss sweet pink roller-rink ready song "Boy Problems" was originally the work of Sia once again. It almost didn't make it on to the fiendishly popular E•MO•TION though, which went on to become one of 2015's top played albums. In case you were wondering, yes, that is Sia's voice at the beginning telling Jepsen to "Listen, just leave or stay, but I'm done listening to it" about her romantic struggles, but we couldn't get enough of this addicting and melancholic sucker-punch of a track. Sia has been known to date men and women, which is perhaps the reason that she was able to write a song that so brilliantly encapsulates the experiences of so many of us, whatever our orientation might be. Maybe there's some reverse psychology involved, but we couldn't stop listening to Jepsen singing "so tired of hearing bout your/ boy problems".
1 "Let Me Love You (Until You Learn to Love Yourself)" - NeYo
Receiving incredibly favorable reviews from critics, "Let Me Love You" was even credited by one Billboard critic with having re-established Ne-Yo's Top 40 appeal. Ne-Yo bragged of working with Sia"Y'all are late, she's been incredible for a long time". It certainly does seem that these days everything Sia turns her hands to becomes a Midas moment. In an MTV interview, the clearly grateful Ne-Yo enthused "For me personally, I've been a fan of Sia for a long time. From "Zero 7" to "Some People Have Real Problems", these are her albums and people that she worked with before she got popular, so to speak". He described Sia's technical aptitude, saying: "Her mastery of melody, from just the way that she works, her words and phrases, it's been incredible. And people are just now catching on!" When asked about his relationship with the song itself, Ne-Yo responded "'Let Me Love You' is a song that means a lot to me. That's one of the very few co-writes I've ever done. It was an opportunity for me to step out of my comfort zone for a minute and just really try something new in regards to working with other writers. Shout out to Sia."
