Once again, Sia has graced us with her intrinsically alluring voice and did not disappoint. The song “Alive,” was actually intended and written for Adele. It tells Adele’s personal story of growing up. The two worked together in the studio along with Adele’s co-writer, Tobias Jesso Jr. I think we can all agree that the song is nothing short of magical. However, in the end Adele decided that it wasn’t really for her. After Sia sung it, she felt a deep connection and was unable to part ways with the song herself.
The song starts off like it could possibly be an R&B hit of the early 2000s. It quickly transitions into something sonically similar to “Rolling in the Deep.” The octaves that Sia hits are out of this world and send involuntary chills down my back. It may possibly be a stab of jealousy that my voice can’t do the same. The lyrics are relatable at any rate, even if your story isn’t one of the same depths. At some point in our lives, we all have overcome an obstacle and felt “alive.” Listening to this song while thinking about your ex or after successfully getting through a day of classes is enough to make you belt out the chorus. It reminds us that at the end of the day, it’s up to us to keep pushing and get back up. However cliché it is, what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger. This song, along with many others, will be on Sia’s highly anticipated upcoming album.
Although “Alive” was not originally intended for Sia, this isn’t the first time she has been pulled from behind the curtain. Remember “Titanium,” by David Guetta? Sia wrote it for Guetta with her vocals on the sample track. That wasn’t supposed to be her voice on the final production of the song, but Mary J. Blige’s. Surprised? So was Sia. Guetta liked her version so much that he went with it. This propelled Sia into the spotlight by force. Sia expressed her dismay, but also later acknowledged that, “[The song was] the best thing to happen to my career.” At the end of the day, it’s impossible to imagine it being sung by any other artist. She continues to write songs for various artists, but thankfully she has chosen to continue singing even if she chooses to hide her face.
Sia is currently working on a little something special. If you love Sia’s voice as much as I do, you’ll be thrilled to hear that a new album is in the works. “Alive” will be one of the many songs on the track list. She explained that she would be singing her songs on this album from the perspectives of other people, like she did in “Alive.” Hopefully by the end of the year we will have a composite album entitled, “This Is Acting.” In the meantime, it’s safe to assume that we will all have “Alive” on repeat.
