Listen: Sia – “Chandelier”

Sia’s had a bit of a breather after releasing 2010′s We Are Born. She took a step back from the limelight and decided to work backstage a bit. Since then she’s had her name attached to some real heavy hitters including Rihanna’s “Diamonds”, Ne-Yo’s “Let Me Love You” and some of the best Beyonce tracks to come out last year (namely “Standing On The Sun”) as well as whacking her massive lungs on David Guetta’s “Titanium” which has been pretty impossible to escape, mostly thanks to Sia’s brilliant vocals. Although it seems as though she’s reluctant to get back into the limelight, appearing on the cover of Billboard with a bag over her head, her new single “Chandelier” is a hell of a way to let everyone know you’re back.

This is definitely not the Sia of old. It seems as though her old style has melded together with her mainstream chart experience, which is especially evident right from the start, with the track kicking off with a reggae influenced beat and Rihanna-esque laid back vocals. In fact until the chorus explodes, you’d be forgiven for thinking it was a new Rihanna track. But when that chorus kicks in…boy, does it kick in. In fact, it doesn’t as much “kick in” as it does “smashes you round the face with an explosive chorus that puts “Titanium” to shame”. Sia’s voice seems to reach Felix Baumgartner heights with ease.

“Chandelier” is bursting with honesty and emotion, portraying the party lifestyle as a way to escape any existential crisis; getting smashed for a reason other than getting smashed. Its heart-bursting chorus of swinging from chandeliers but “holding on for dear life” is classic Sia that really does bring to mind that fear of emotions present in “Titanium” but all wrapped up in some proper tasty Top 40 production; less “throw your hands in the air” and more “clutch your heart and grab the people you love”. She might be reluctant to step back into the spotlight, but “Chandelier” has quite easily just shoved her right back in it!