Top 20 Songs You Didn't Know Were Written by Sia

Fall Out Boy

Fall Out Boy’s rock classification feels like a far cry from Sia’s habitual pop and electronica but “Champion” manages to bring the genres together wonderfully. Considered pop-rock or pop-punk, this song is actually somewhat of a return to Fall Out Boy’s familiar sound after their departure with their earlier single “Young and Menace”. With Sia being the only other credited songwriter on the track, aside from the band members themselves, you can definitely hear her in the vocal delivery style. It’s a strong ballad with invigorating lyrics, as the title suggests. The band even took to social media around the song’s release, saying “[...] champions aren’t born, they are forged . . .”. We bet Sia would agree with that.

Fall Out Boy
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Carly Rae Jepsen

Credited with the lyrics for the bridge, Sia adds that depth she’s so known for to an otherwise surface-level message. It’s a song for the girlies, especially ones who are so caught up in romantic relationships with guys. Carly Rae Jepsen cleverly balances a playful and relatable take on romantic woes with a bit of self-awareness. Sia’s bridge delves into the idea further by having the subject reflect on ultimately pushing her friend away because of all the one-sidedness. That spoken line at the beginning, by the way, is none other than Sia herself!

Carly Rae Jepsen
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Alexis Jordan

“Acid Rain” is a straight-up bop and it’s criminally underrated. Sia is one of a few songwriters responsible for the jam, but her influence is easy to hear. There are tons of poetic lines and vivid imagery in there, like “a crown of thorns” and, of course, “acid rain in a hurricane”. While the composition is practically all electro house thanks to the sampling of “Get Up (Rattle)” by Dutch DJs Bingo Players, you can practically hear Sia in the chorus as the vocals start to become stretched and more soulful.

Alexis Jordan
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Halsey

This one doesn’t take much convincing. In fact, casual fans might actually mistake this for a Sia song on the first listen. Not only do these two artists share comparable singing styles, but they also have their feet firmly planted in overlapping genres. The similarities are no clearer than in “Devil in Me”. Featured on Halsey’s second studio album, “Hopeless Fountain Kingdom”, the track marks the first collaboration between Halsey and Sia. Here’s to the prospect of many more! In the meantime, we can enjoy the masterpiece that is this joint effort.

Halsey

Sia

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Jennifer Lopez

With this song, we get a masterclass on writing for someone else’s voice. All suggestive offers and titillating thoughts, “Expertease (Ready Set Go)” is perfectly tailored to J-Lo’s musical identity. The double entendre is lost on no one as Lopez makes a bid to show her partner her, uh, well, expertise. The lyrics playfully straddle the line between confident seduction and empowerment; meanwhile, the upbeat production complements the theme, turning the number into one hell of a club bop. Sia ultimately lays the groundwork magnificently for J-Lo to come in with her signature style, delivering something that is totally recognizable as a Lopez hit.

Jennifer Lopez

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Christina Aguilera

Yet another underrated gem, “I Am” can be found on the second half of Christina Aguilera’s sixth studio album titled “Bionic”. We’re back in Sia’s wheelhouse as “I Am” calls the artist to mind. Knowing everything we do about Sia’s thoughts on personas and anonymity, there’s something that feels very raw and personal in the core meaning of this song. Everything is laid bare as the singer acknowledges every little attribute that makes her the person she is, asking to be seen and loved for just that. It’s a simply beautiful ballad, and something a little more stripped-down from Aguilera’s usual style.

Christina Aguilera





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Christina Aguilera

“I Am” is far from the only time these two have worked together. Written for 2010’s “Burlesque”, “Bound to You” is a heartfelt number that explores the fear that comes with falling in love and caring for someone so deeply. Aguilera’s vocals are at their peak here, with the production doing everything it can to make them soar. Aguilera, in turn, brings the lyrics to life and, if we weren’t already in awe of her character, Ali, this performance does it. It’s no surprise the song was nominated for a Golden Globe, only further cementing Sia’s brilliant writing capabilities.

Christina Aguilera
(strictly in the movie)

Sony Pictures Releasing

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Rita Ora

An invigorating party anthem, “Radioactive” must have one of the coolest beats out there. The tune fits a few different genres but we think neo-disco is the perfect way to describe it. There’s little to complain about here; we’ve got an upbeat rhythm, a classic urban pop sound, Rita Ora’s sweeping vocal display and, of course, Sia’s contribution. The words aren’t overly poetic but there’s depth and emotion to be appreciated, not to mention sheer commanding strength. Ora is totally in her element with a track that fits her image superbly.

Rita Ora
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Katy Perry

From the album “Prism”, “Double Rainbow” is utter elegance. From Perry’s soft crooning to the inspiring melody to Sia’s carefully crafted lyrics, the finished product is the kind of thing to give you chills. You can hear Sia everywhere in the eloquent words and even in some of Perry’s delivery. The singer-songwriter reportedly had the idea of the “double rainbow” metaphor after a yoga class, which just goes to show how inspiration really can strike anywhere. Described as a “massive ballad”, “Double Rainbow” is as hopeful as it is moving, and never fails to uplift our outlook on love.

Katy Perry
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Jessie J


“Breathe” is the noticeable black sheep of Jessie J’s second album, “Alive”. It’s considered to have a darker arrangement, although its message is rather bright nonetheless. It talks about devotion and giving yourself completely to someone, an entirely selfless kind of love. The motif of “breathing” is especially resonant as it connotes lifeforce and simplicity, just being together with somebody else. Unity, mutual understanding, and fulfillment are big themes and Sia, as a co-writer on the track, tackles them remarkably. There are so many beautiful thoughts expressed in this one, it’s impossible not to fall in love.

Jessie J
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Pitbull feat. Jennifer Lopez & Claudia Leitte
Sia might be known for her ballads but this song is pure fun. As the official anthem of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, it’s a call for unity. That might reflect the song's creation as well, as Sia is one of nine credited songwriters for the piece. The track is full of life and celebrates our shared humanity, despite coming from different places and backgrounds. Pitbull’s verses pair well with singing done by Jennifer Lopez and Brazilian singer Claudia Leitte, which helped the song peak at number one in three countries.

Shakira
Can we agree that Sia should write songs for every movie soundtrack? Written for Disney's Zootopia, “Try Everything” is an uplifting song with the message to never give up. The lyrics perfectly match the theme of the movie as the main character gets knocked down and back up again numerous times. Shakira embodies that spirit of determination and her voice gives listeners hope while still matching the song’s upbeat, fun rhythm. The song was a hit with global audiences and charted all over the world, even reaching number one on the US Kid Digital Song chart.

Kelly Clarkson
The creation of this song came after Sia learned Kelly Clarkson was performing a cover of her song “Breathe Me” while out on tour. A fan of the American Idol artist, Sia reached out to her about writing a song for her and this synthpop anthem was born. It’s the ideal combination of Clarkson’s towering vocals with Sia’s inspiring lyrics about self-empowerment and confidence to face anything thrown her way. Clarkson owns it and, as her voice swells with the instrumentation, anyone listening will feel motivated. In addition to writing on the track, Sia also performed some of the backing vocals.

Christina Aguilera
The heart of her 2010 album “Bionic”, this Sia penned-ballad tells the story of a woman who’s cheating ex hurt her and left her world “infected.” Aside from being #1 on the Hot Dance Club chart, the track wasn't exactly a raging smash but it's definitely still well worth a listen for Christina Aguilera’s ever confident vocals. Although it starts off gently, it isn’t long before we get to hear the singer’s amazing range. While Sia and Aguilera have a lot of impressive work together, “You Lost Me” has to be the best.

Celine Dion
A big departure for Celine Dion, this power ballad demonstrates that she’s forever a musical force to be reckoned with. The title track for 2013's “Loved Me Back to Life”, it was long-awaited due to the six year gap between it and Dion's last English release. Critics favorably compared the song to Sia’s own, and praised the track’s hook for its dubstep beat and smooth belting. With a great build, it shows off Celine’s full and emotive powerhouse vocals beautifully. “Loved Me Back to Life” became a top forty hit in many places around the world – no surprise there.

Britney Spears
This song is definitely an underrated gem for both Britney Spears and Sia. Featured on Spears’s “Britney Jean” album, this tune is most definitely the stand-out track from the release. Critically praised for how personal and raw it feels, Spears sings about wanting her boyfriend’s next girlfriend to be able to smell her perfume on him. The lyrics express a sadness that the pop star hadn’t explored in quite a while, while her vocals sound the strongest they’ve ever been. Spears was a major fan of the number, and revealed that it was inspired by her own breakup with ex Jason Trawick.

Jessie J
Written for “Pitch Perfect 2,” this ballad wasn’t the song Sia intended for the film. Initially, she wrote “Bird Set Free” for Hailee Steinfeld’s character to sing, but it's hard to imagine a song fitting the film more perfectly than this one. The Jessie J version appeared on the soundtrack, and charted as a single as well. It shows a softer side to Jessie J who’s known more for her faster, energetic songs. This one is more emotionally raw and vulnerable, as she expresses her appreciation for her lover guiding her through darkness.

Beyoncé
Sia actually intended the song for Katy Perry, who somehow overlooked it due to an email snafu, so Sia offered it to Rihanna. When Rihanna didn’t work out, Queen Bey jumped on the opportunity to record it. Sia famously wrote twenty-five other songs for Beyoncé’s consideration but only this one made her album. We’re glad it went to her, since her rich vocals pull off the powerful feminist message it sends to women about the double standards of beauty. The song also contains some of Sia's finest lyrics, with lines like “it’s the soul that needs a surgery”.

“R.E.D.” (2012)
Ne-Yo isn’t known for his dancefloor tracks but this entry was a pleasant surprise and departure from his usual R&B crooner style. High energy and up-tempo, Sia helped co-write the song alongside the Norwegian producers StarGate, who she would collaborate again with later that year. The lyrics urge Ne-Yo’s unnamed lover to love herself first before they can have a healthy relationship; it’s a pretty deep message for a dance floor tune but, somehow, it gels well with the intense beat and synthesizers to make you get down with the groove.

Rihanna
Okay, so you probably knew Sia was behind this one but, like a good diamond, this song is flawless and deserves the top spot. Written in just fourteen minutes, the ballad was a departure from Rihanna’s earlier songs about unhealthy relationships. Instead, this one celebrates love that makes you feel good, secure, and valued. Lyrically, it fits with Sia’s other anthems of empowerment that she’s known to explore in her own work. It was a certified hit for both artists and became Rihanna’s twelfth number one, and Sia’s second song to sell over a million copies.






Which number were you most surprised to learn Sia helped pen? Let us know down in the comments.


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