Annemarie Cutruzzola
Sia has just dropped a new single featuring Kendrick Lamar, called “The Greatest”. After teasing the song for nearly a week, it finally dropped today, accompanied by a music video.
The song is an uplifting tune with a catchy chorus that highlights Sia’s powerhouse vocals, and is backed by dance inspired beats. The lyrics speak of perseverance and being the best version of yourself. Kendrick Lamar pops in for his verse, and raps “I transform with pressure, I’m hands-on with effort/ I fell twice before, my bounce back was special/ Letdowns will get you and the critics will test you/ But the strongest survive another scar may bless you.” The rap is not featured in the music video, but is included in the version when streamed on Spotify or Apple Music, or purchased on iTunes.
For the music video, Sia once again partnered with the talented young dancer Maddie Ziegler, who also appeared in the videos for “Chandelier”, “Cheap Thrills”, “Elastic Heart” and “Big Girls Cry”. Dressed in a simple leotard and black wig, Maddie breaks a group of young prisoners out of their cell, and leads them in an enthusiastic and expressive dance routine in several different rooms.
The single, and especially the video, is said to pay tribute to the lives lost in the shooting at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando back in June. Maddie performs the routine while sporting the rainbow colours of the Pride flag on her face. She is surrounded by 49 other dancers, representing the victims of the shooting. The video ends with a chilling image of bodies piled on the floor of what appears to be a nightclub. The song is accompanied by the message #weareyourchildren.
“The Greatest” is not the only song that has been dedicated to the victims of the Orlando shooting. The collaborative song “Hands” and the rereleased version of The Black-Eyed Peas “Where is the Love” both speak out against the recent violence and call for change.
You can catch Sia on the ‘Nostalgic for the Present Tour’ this fall with Miguel and AlunaGeorge. Tickets are available here.
What did you think of Sia’s new single and music video? Let us know on Twitter @CelebMix.
