Rihanna And Britney Who? Sia's Superior Versions Of Your Favorite Songs Will Change Your Life
Singer-songwriter Sia
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Rihanna
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Ne-Yo
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Britney Spears at the 2014 People's Choice Awards
[Photo Credit: Splash News]
Celine Dion
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Christina Aguilera
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With the exception of Pharrell, it's been a slow start to 2014 in terms of new music we want to listen to while jumping around our bedroom. Thankfully Sia just went and infused our never-ending winter with some much-needed powerful pop, sure to carry us into spring. At the surface, "Chandelier" -- which Sia performed at the 2015 Grammy awards with Kristen Wiig and Maddie Ziegler --is an unapologetic party anthem that celebrates excessive drinking and hazardous at-home aerial activities. But with the Australian's soaring vocals it becomes a metaphor for much more.
Sia and Rihanna go way back, of course, with the former having written Unapologetic lead single "Diamonds." (Which still slays, by the way.) Sia spoke of her tendency to write her best stuff for other artists to Ryan Seacrest. "I usually think, 'Oh this would work for Rihanna,' or 'this would be a good one for [Britney Spears] or Katy [Perry],'" she said on Seacrest's On Air radio show Monday morning. "But this time I was like, 'Uh oh, I think I just wrote a full-blown pop song for myself by accident!'" But, she has written a number of "full-blown" pop songs. And she can deliver a superior version to what you end up hearing on the radio.
We love us some Rihanna (and Britney, and Katy) but we can't deny Sia's superiority when it's so obviously there, blaring right in front of us. Check out five songs written by the Australian, who might as well have recorded them herself.
"Diamonds" (Rihanna):
A somber take on RiRi's most recent inspirational jam. She wants to shine bright, but the act might be too much for her to bear.
Without the backing beat that begs for accompanying choreography, Sia is able to infuse a slightly controversial song with real emotion.
"Perfume" (Britney Spears)
It's no secret that Britney's voice and overall presence have been lacking in recent years. While Brit brings it as much as she still can, this Britney Jean track is instantly transformed by Sia's much more layered vocals and distinct tone.
"Loved Me Back To Life" (Celine Dion)
Celine might be the queen, but Sia's version soars. It's much more of a prideful pop song, and one we wouldn't be embarrassed to tell our friends we were listening to.
"You Lost Me" (Christina Aguilera)
This Bionic track should really have been a duet, as the recorded demo is like a ping-pong match between two divas with endless power. Who will be the last belter standing (or, singing)?
Lesson Learned: Sia should sing every song until the end of time.
[Photo Credit: Getty Images]