Beneath the brown paper bag and blonde bob is a reserved Australian artist who sidestepped the limelight while creating some of our favorite pop songs. Sia is revered for her personal hits — “Chandelier,” “Elastic Heart” and “Cheap Thrills” — and her featured vocals (David Guetta, Flo Rida), but not everyone realizes the number of songs she’s crafted for other voices.
Artists from different backgrounds are dying to work with a pop professional who has no trouble concocting songs that soar up the charts — some of which she can pump out in under an hour, such as the 14-minute brainstorm that created Rihanna “Diamonds.”
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Sia admitted that being a workaholic helps her avoid the less kind addictions in life. Meanwhile, our Sia addiction continues to grow. Here are 17 songs you may not have known Sia is behind.
1. ?”Sledgehammer” – Rihanna
“Diamonds” worked out so well that Rihanna called upon Sia again to help co-write her latest release “Sledgehammer.” Critics and fans have pointed out how reminiscent it is of Sia’s other songs — even the music video, with its single subject and one-outfit wardrobe, seems Sia-esque. One thing that is definitely unique, though, is the fact that the video is the first shot exclusively on IMAX cameras. “Sledgehammer” is from the new Star Trek movie, Star Trek Beyond.
2. “Pretty Hurts” – Beyoncé
It was originally written for Katy Perry, but the song never reached her ears. As a result Sia sent it out to Rihanna and Beyoncé. Rihanna’s camp had “Pretty Hurts” on hold for several months but never put down a payment. Beyoncé ended up nabbing it and now we can’t imagine it working out any other way.
3. “Try Everything” – Shakira
Recorded for Disney’s Zootopia, “Try Everything” ended up becoming a success outside of the world of animated animals. It topped charts in many countries and reached No. 1 on the Billboard’s Kid Digital Songs chart.
4. “Radioactive” – Rita Ora
Sia joined up with Greg Kurstin to write Rita Ora’s third single from her debut U.S. album. “Radioactive” is the ideal clubbing soundtrack — perfect for a Sia-lover who wants to let it all out on the dance floor at the end of the week.
5. “Perfume” – Britney Spears
Spears’ favorite song on her album Britney Jean was co-written with none other than Sia Furler. Sia came out with an acoustic version as a non-official demo online afterwards.
6. “Let Me Love You (Until You Learn to Love Yourself)” – Ne-Yo
Ne-Yo’s R.E.D. single was designed by Sia and StarGate. The song reached No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and had girls everywhere wishing they could go on a date with a guy who listened to Ne-Yo.
7. “You Lost Me” – Christina Aguilera
Aguilera teamed up with Sia and Samuel Dixon for one of the best songs on her album Bionic. Both Sia and Aguilera were excited to work with each other. Later Sia revealed that she considers Aguilera “a little hipster” who listens to “The Knife and Arthur Russell” instead of the pop music that most of America might expect.
8. “Loved Me Back to Life” – Celine Dion
A top 40 hit in a number of countries, “Loved Me Back to Life” is yet another power ballad that Sia nailed.
9. “Cannonball” – Lea Michele
Lea Michele sat down with Sia after the death of her Glee co-star and boyfriend Cory Monteith to discuss a song. The singer-actress said “Cannonball” helped give her strength following his loss.
10. “We Are One (Ole Ola)” – Pitbull
The 2014 FIFA World Cup Song peaked at No. 1 in three countries with a bit of help from Sia.
11. “Flashlight” – Jessie J
Sia joined up with Sam Smith, Christian Guzman, and Jason Moore to design this song for Jessie J, who placed it on the Pitch Perfect 2 soundtrack.
12. “Invincible” – Kelly Clarkson
After Clarkson did a cover of Sia’s song “Breathe Me” on her Stronger Tour, Sia reached out and told Clarkson that she had a new song in the works for her. Three years later, “Invincible” came out. Sia also wrote “Let Your Tears Fall” for Clarkson’s album Piece by Piece.
13. “Double Rainbow” – Katy Perry
Perry walked out of a yoga class and into a recording session with a melody, verse and the title “Double Rainbow.” With assists from Sia and Greg Kurstin, the Prism track was fully brought to life.
14. “Expertease (Ready Set Go)” – Jennifer Lopez
A bonus track from Lopez’s album A.K.A., “Expertease” has an intense start and builds up to a Sia specialty: a catchy, creative chorus that reels in her fans. Lopez said that the writers who helped on “Expertease” brought a new strength to the song, which plays on themes of “emotional torment and depth.”
15. “Chasing Shadows” – Shakira
Sia and Shakira wrote this song for Shaki’s self-titled studio album from 2014. “We’ll chase our shadows / And when the night comes / We will run from nothing, my love.”
16. “My Heart Is Open” – Maroon 5
Gwen Stefani and Adam Levine trade vocals on this Maroon 5 track that Sia co-wrote. Billboard’s Chris Payne said this song is “an emotional piano ballad clearly crafted for Adult Contemporary radio domination.”
17. “Boy Problems” – Carly Rae Jepsen
Who else would you employ to help you sing away your ex? As this list shows, there is only one choice.