Sia has well and truly stepped into her power. Gone are the days of releasing songs that were pitched to megastars but turned down (“This Is Acting”), or hiding behind collaborations and Christmas albums.
In her first solo album for eight years, the Australian singer-songwriter is explicitly telling us “this time I won’t run – I wanna be known” in a song titled, “Wanna Be Known” to really land the point.
Here are 15 songs of soaring notes, bonkers lyrics, intensely technical yet mellifluous vocal skills, butt-shaking beats and unforgettable melodies. Partnered with this, is Sia’s songwriting ability that holds a unique and bold musical empathy for the human condition. She is a true recogniser of the human soul, her own and others, as seen in the extraordinarily emotive opener “Little Wing” which throws you straight into the explosive power of her voice paired with poignant advice to her younger self with such vulnerability that you can’t help but be moved as she belts out: “Don’t give up, keep trying, I know soon you’ll be flying/I know you can’t stop crying, but tears dry up when you’re flying”.
But she’s clever too, and this album has an abundance of commercial acumen that is a far cry from the days of her 2007 live album, Lady Croissant, as seen in the album’s many power duos: “Immortal Queen” with Chaka Kahn and Missy Elliott is so slay, with a beat that resembles a physical rallying cry to rival Beyoncé’s “Run The World”. “Dance Alone”, featuring Kylie Minogue, is another sheeny-shiny glitterball-infused dancefloor banger which has you joining in with “I just wanna lose my phone/ I just wanna dance alone, I ain't ever goin' home” in no time at all. Labrinth also pops up in “Incredible”; Jimmy Joliff, Kaliii and Tierra Whack in “Champion”, wherein hip-hop meets Blue Peter - every child should listen to it before they begin school in the morning to deliver the mantra of “I’m a champion/I throw my hands in the air”. And then with signature unexpected ironic hilarity, Paris Hilton pops up to deliver a few lines on “Fame Won’t Love You” with the sentiment: "'Cause fame won't love you like a mother, like a father should… And you may wish for Oscars, Grammys and blockbusters… fame won't love you like a brother, like a lover should". Somehow, despite the oddity in its juxtaposition, this works.
There is always part of me that will search for the rawness, individuality and quirk-pop oddities of her early work so I’m pleased that that’s here too in the melodic piano piece “I Forgive You”, overflowing with rasp, husk and gravel, and joyful love-sparkle, “Towards the Sun” is a familiar testament to the singer’s ability to bounce back, ever resilient as “clouds pass 'cause nothing lasts”.
The range of rousing pop paired with vocal skills (there aren’t many who could get away with the extended one word range of “Gimme Love”), and the ability to craft a tune likely to get itself trending on Tiktok (“One Night”) is impressive enough. Pair this with the spiritual wisdom of “Go On”, which reminds us to “slow down, stop and take it in”, and you have an album that consolidates Sia as a chameleon who stays true to herself. This is no mean feat in today's musical market.
Watch Sia's Gimme Love below:
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