This Is Acting | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 29 January 2016 | |||
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Genre | Pop [1] | |||
Length | 46:32 | |||
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Sia chronology | ||||
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Alternative cover | ||||
![]() Deluxe edition cover | ||||
Singles from This Is Acting | ||||
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This Is Acting is the seventh studio album by Australian singer and songwriter Sia. It was released on 29 January 2016 by Inertia,Monkey Puzzle and RCA Records. The album is mostly composed of songs written by Sia for other pop artists that were not included on their albums. Sia described songwriting for others as "play-acting," hence the title This Is Acting. [2]
"Alive",the album's lead single,was released on 24 September 2015. The second single,"Cheap Thrills",was released on 11 February 2016. It reached the top 5 in a number of markets and marked Sia's first number one on the US Billboard Hot 100. [3] A remix of the track featuring guest vocals from Sean Paul was also released. A deluxe edition of This Is Acting was released on 21 October 2016 featuring seven new tracks,including solo and Kendrick Lamar-assisted versions of the single "The Greatest". The album's fourth and final single,"Move Your Body",was released on 6 January 2017.
The album received generally positive reviews from music critics,who complimented Sia's vocals and deemed it a concept album. However,some criticized the impersonal and indirect nature of the songs. The album debuted at number one in Australia,and also reached number four on the US Billboard 200,selling 81,000 album equivalent units in its first week—of which 68,000 were from pure album sales,becoming Sia's highest first week sales in the country. To further promote the album,Sia embarked on the accompanying Nostalgic for the Present Tour in September 2016. This Is Acting was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album.
This Is Acting is the follow-up to Sia's sixth studio album 1000 Forms of Fear ,released in 2014. In December 2014,Sia told Spin that she had "two [more records] completed and ready to go". [4] She revealed details of This Is Acting for the first time in an interview published by NME in February 2015. In the article,she confirmed once again that work on the album was finished and that its content was "more pop" than her previous material. [5] [6] She also revealed that the success of 1000 Forms of Fear,specifically its lead single "Chandelier", [7] encouraged her to continue releasing new material,and said of the album's title:"I'm calling it This Is Acting because they are songs I was writing for other people,so I didn't go in thinking 'this is something I would say'. It's more like play-acting. It's fun." [8] [9] The album's cover art features Sia's face digitally altered. [10] Shortly after Sia's announcement, Out published a list of her "10 Greatest Hits for Other Artists" in anticipation of the album. [11]
During an online chat with fans in April 2015,Sia revealed that the album would "probably" be released in early 2016,but possibly before the end of 2015. [12]
The Target-exclusive deluxe edition of This Is Acting [13] features a song by the name of "Summer Rain". It is believed that this song was rejected by Christina Aguilera. An alleged track list for Aguilera's eighth studio album was leaked early in 2015,and the fifth track was entitled "Summer Rain", [14] suggesting that she was planning on recording and releasing a song dedicated to her daughter with the same name. Sia is also listed as one of the producers on the record. Now that a song whose title is identical to Aguilera's alleged track name has been realized and placed on Sia's extended album,it is thought to have been planned for Aguilera initially,but declined shortly after.
On 7 November 2015,Sia performed "Alive" and "Bird Set Free" on Saturday Night Live ;the episode was hosted by Donald Trump. [15] [16] She performed "Alive" on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and The Voice on 1 December, [17] [18] and again on The X Factor in the United Kingdom on 6 December. [19] She further appeared on The Graham Norton Show on 11 December,where she sang "Alive", [20] [21] and on 27 January 2016,she performed "Cheap Thrills" on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon . [22] In February 2016,Sia appeared on The Late Late Show with James Corden ,in the Carpool Karaoke segment with Corden. [23]
A deluxe edition of This Is Acting was released on 21 October 2016 featuring seven new tracks,including three brand new tracks:"Confetti","Midnight Decisions",and "Jesus Wept",as well as the single remix of "Cheap Thrills",the Alan Walker remix of "Move Your Body",and the solo and Kendrick Lamar-assisted versions of "The Greatest". [24]
In September 2015,Sia confirmed the album's lead single "Alive" would be released later that month and was originally written for Adele;the English singer and songwriter co-wrote but "rejected" the song at the last minute. [25] [26] The album's release date,29 January 2016,was confirmed in early November 2015. [27]
"Cheap Thrills" was released as the album's second official single on 17 December 2015,and it was originally planned for Rihanna. [28]
"The Greatest" was released as the first single from the deluxe version of the album on 5 September 2016. It features vocals from American rapper Kendrick Lamar.
"Move Your Body" was released as the fourth single from the album on 6 January 2017. The song was originally planned for Shakira. [29]
"Reaper" was released in Australia as the fifth single from the album on 29 May 2017. [30]
"Unstoppable" was released as the sixth and final single from the album on 18 July 2022,after gaining traction over the years from usage in commercials and TikTok videos. [31]
"Bird Set Free" was released as the first promotional single along with the pre-order of the album on 4 November 2015. [32] The song was originally written for Pitch Perfect 2 but it was rejected in favor of "Flashlight". The song was then pitched to Rihanna. After being rejected,it was then recorded by Adele but did not make the cut for her third studio album, 25 . [2]
"One Million Bullets" was released as the second promotional single on 27 November 2015. [33] [34] The song is the only one on the album that was not pitched to another artist. [2]
"Cheap Thrills" was announced as the album's third promotional release and was released on 16 December 2015. The song was one of two tracks rejected by Rihanna who,as Sia described,was a no-show at the recording sessions. [35]
"Reaper" was released as the fourth promotional single on 7 January 2016. The song was written by herself and Kanye West for Rihanna,but Sia decided to keep it. [2]
"Unstoppable" was released as the fifth and final promotional single on 21 January 2016. Jessie Morris of Complex commented that the song sounds like a "page torn right out of Demi Lovato's Confident book",while editors of other media platforms like Idolator noticed this as well,which raised speculation that the track was intentionally written for Lovato. [36] [37]
On 16 May 2016,Sia announced her first tour in five years,Nostalgic for the Present Tour,and the tour dates for the North American leg. Miguel and AlunaGeorge were announced as the opening acts for the first leg. [38]
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AnyDecentMusic? | 6.4/10 [39] |
Metacritic | 67/100 [40] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The A.V. Club | B+ [42] |
Billboard | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Guardian | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Idolator | 4/5 [1] |
The Independent | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
NME | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Pitchfork | 6.8/10 [47] |
Rolling Stone | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Slant Magazine | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
This Is Acting received generally positive reviews from music critics. The A.V. Club gave the album a favorable review,stating that "There's a clear theme here,and it's emancipation—from fear,from doubt,and most of all,from feeling as though she wasn’t meant to be a star. Gone is the uncertainty that still clung to many of her earlier efforts at mainstream pop hits of her own;success has granted her the confidence to dive into the deep end of the mainstream music pool,and the results are potent." [50]
Jon Pareles from The New York Times gave the album a mixed review,writing "In 'Alive',as she repeats 'I'm still breathing!' in the chorus,she makes her voice break a different way each time she sings it. But Sia's success as a hitmaker has also turned into a pitfall. Even as she and her producers flaunt their layered vocals and whiz-bang sound effects,there are already so many of Sia's midtempo victim-to-victory anthems around that they offer diminishing returns,particularly when listened to as an album." [51]
Kathy Iandoli of Idolator was more positive towards the effort,stating that it "feels like the aftermath of coming to terms with her nagging demons,as Sia maintains brutal honesty cloaked in cinematic,mainstream music —albeit through songs that,as we well know by now,were written for and rejected by other artists." She continues:"Her voice is so bold and beautiful that when she attempts to wedge herself into songs designed for thin voices (check 'Sweet Design'),she sounds like an opera singer in a dancehall." On a more personal aspect,she writes "feels as though Sia's career has been idyllic thus far to everyone but her. She started in the super cool indie world,moved over to mid-level pop majesty,took a break to be a hit songwriter and then slid into near-icon status. But when you live inside your head,none of that really matters,and that's what This Is Acting reveals." [1]
Billboard listed This is Acting among the best albums of the first half of 2016,with an editor writing "While other artists shudder at the thought of being labeled a sellout,Sia celebrated the moniker –and turned it into a concept album." [52]
This Is Acting debuted atop the ARIA Albums Chart in Australia,and received a gold certification for sales of over 35,000 copies. It debuted at number four on the US Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 81,000 album equivalent units (68,000 in pure album sales),which became Sia's highest sales week in the country. [53] As of 1 January 2017,the album has sold 299,600 copies and 904,000 total equivalent units in the United States. [54]
In its 26th week on Billboard 200,the album vaulted back into the top 10 for the first time since its debut week,as it rose 11–6 with 30,000 units,supported by the success of the second single "Cheap Thrills",which reached the summit of the Billboard Hot 100 at the time. [55]
In its 39th week,it vaulted 18–11 due to the deluxe edition of the album being released,and became the greatest gainer of the week. Also,during this week,the lead single off the deluxe edition,"The Greatest",rose 25–19. [56]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Bird Set Free" | Kurstin | 4:12 | |
2. | "Alive" |
| Jesse Shatkin | 4:23 |
3. | "One Million Bullets" |
| Shatkin | 4:12 |
4. | "Move Your Body" |
| Kurstin | 4:07 |
5. | "Unstoppable" |
| Shatkin | 3:37 |
6. | "Cheap Thrills" |
| Kurstin | 3:31 |
7. | "Reaper" |
|
| 3:39 |
8. | "House on Fire" |
|
| 4:01 |
9. | "Footprints" |
| 3:13 | |
10. | "Sweet Design" |
| Kurstin | 2:25 |
11. | "Broken Glass" |
| Shatkin | 4:25 |
12. | "Space Between" |
|
| 4:47 |
Total length: | 46:32 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
13. | "Fist Fighting a Sandstorm" |
| Shatkin | 3:48 |
14. | "Summer Rain" |
| Shatkin | 3:35 |
Total length: | 53:55 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
13. | "Cheap Thrills" (featuring Sean Paul) |
| Kurstin | 3:44 |
Total length: | 50:16 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
13. | "Cheap Thrills" (featuring Sean Paul) |
| Kurstin | 3:44 |
14. | "The Greatest" (featuring Kendrick Lamar) |
| Kurstin | 3:30 |
Total length: | 53:46 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
13. | "Cheap Thrills" (featuring Sean Paul) |
| Kurstin | 3:44 |
14. | "The Greatest" (featuring Kendrick Lamar) |
| Kurstin | 3:30 |
15. | "Confetti" |
| Shatkin | 4:06 |
16. | "Move Your Body" (Alan Walker Remix) |
|
| 3:37 |
17. | "Midnight Decisions" |
| Braide | 3:43 |
18. | "Jesus Wept" |
| Oliver Kraus | 5:30 |
19. | "The Greatest" |
| Kurstin | 3:30 |
Total length: | 74:11 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
13. | "Fist Fighting a Sandstorm" |
| Shatkin | 3:48 |
14. | "Summer Rain" |
| Shatkin | 3:35 |
15. | "Cheap Thrills" (featuring Sean Paul) |
| Kurstin | 3:44 |
16. | "The Greatest" (featuring Kendrick Lamar) |
| Kurstin | 3:30 |
17. | "Confetti" |
| Shatkin | 4:06 |
18. | "Move Your Body" (Alan Walker Remix) |
|
| 3:37 |
19. | "Midnight Decisions" |
| Braide | 3:42 |
20. | "Jesus Wept" |
| Kraus | 5:29 |
Total length: | 78:00 |
Notes
Sample credits
Production
Weekly charts
Monthly charts
| Year-end charts
Decade-end charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA) [129] | Gold | 35,000^ |
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) [130] | 3× Platinum | 120,000‡ |
Canada (Music Canada) [131] | 2× Platinum | 62,043 [132] |
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [133] | 3× Platinum | 60,000‡ |
France (SNEP) [134] | Platinum | 100,000‡ |
Germany (BVMI) [135] | Platinum | 200,000‡ |
Italy (FIMI) [136] | Platinum | 50,000‡ |
Mexico (AMPROFON) [137] | 2× Platinum | 120,000‡ |
New Zealand (RMNZ) [138] | Gold | 7,500* |
Poland (ZPAV) [139] | Diamond | 100,000‡ |
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland) [140] | Gold | 15,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI) [141] | Platinum | 300,000‡ |
United States (RIAA) [142] | 2× Platinum | 2,000,000‡ |
Summaries | ||
Worldwide | — | 1,200,000 [143] |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Country | Date | Format | Version | Label | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Worldwide | 29 January 2016 | Standard |
| [144] | |
21 October 2016 | Deluxe | [61] | |||
Sia Kate Isobelle Furler is an Australian singer and songwriter. Born and raised in Adelaide, she started her career as a singer in the acid jazz band Crisp in the mid-1990s. When Crisp disbanded in 1997, she released her debut studio album, OnlySee, in Australia. Sia moved to London and provided vocals for the British duo Zero 7. She released her second studio album, Healing Is Difficult, in 2001 and her third, Colour the Small One, in 2004.
A Girl Like Me is the second studio album by Barbadian singer Rihanna. It was released on April 10, 2006, by Def Jam Recordings. For the production of the album, Rihanna worked with Evan Rogers, Carl Sturken, Stargate, J. R. Rotem, and label-mate Ne-Yo, who wrote the album's second single. A Girl Like Me is a pop and reggae album influenced by Rihanna's Caribbean roots. The album also incorporates elements of dancehall and rock, as well as ballads, which music critics were ambivalent towards.
"Unfaithful" is a song by Barbadian singer Rihanna from her second studio album A Girl like Me (2006). It was written by Shaffer "Ne-Yo" Smith with the song's producers Stargate. The song was released by Def Jam Recordings on May 1, 2006, as the second single from the album. "Unfaithful" is a pop, dancehall and R&B ballad and was inspired by the music of American rock band Evanescence. Originally titled "Murderer", the single speaks about a woman who regrets cheating on her partner.
Good Girl Gone Bad is the third studio album by Barbadian singer, Rihanna. It was released on May 31, 2007, by Def Jam Recordings and SRP Records. Rihanna worked with various producers on the album, including Tricky Stewart, The-Dream, Neo da Matrix, Timbaland, Carl Sturken, Evan Rogers and Stargate. Inspired by Brandy's fourth studio album Afrodisiac (2004), Good Girl Gone Bad is a pop, dance-pop and R&B record with 1980s music influences. Described as a turning point in Rihanna's career, it represents a departure from the Caribbean sound of her previous releases, Music of the Sun (2005) and A Girl like Me (2006). Apart from the sound, she also endorsed a new image for the release going from an innocent young woman to an edgier, more mature look.
"Take a Bow" is a song recorded by Barbadian singer Rihanna for Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded (2008), the re-release of her third studio album Good Girl Gone Bad (2007). The song was written and produced by Tor Erik Hermansen, Mikkel Eriksen, and Shaffer Smith under their stage names StarGate and Ne-Yo. "Take a Bow" was released as the first single on April 15, 2008 by Def Jam Recordings, from the re-release and the fifth single overall from the two releases. It is a pop and R&B song that contains elements of dance-pop. Critical reception of "Take a Bow" was mixed, with some critics praising the song's lyrics and powerful balladry, while others criticized StarGate's production as unoriginal.
Loud is the fifth studio album by Barbadian singer Rihanna. It was released on November 12, 2010, by Def Jam Recordings and SRP Records. The album was recorded between February and August 2010, during the singer's Last Girl on Earth tour (2010-2011) and the filming of her first feature film Battleship (2012). Rihanna and L.A. Reid were the executive producers of Loud and worked with various record producers, including Stargate, Sandy Vee, The Runners, Tricky Stewart and Alex da Kid. The album features several guest vocalists, including rappers Drake, Nicki Minaj, and Eminem, who is featured on the sequel to "Love the Way You Lie", titled "Love the Way You Lie ".
Australian singer-songwriter Sia has released 10 studio albums, six live albums, 68 singles, and 45 music videos. In 1997, she released her debut studio album entitled OnlySee. It was commercially unsuccessful, and none of its songs were released as a single. Sia released her second album, Healing Is Difficult, in 2001. The album yielded three singles: "Taken for Granted", "Little Man" and "Drink to Get Drunk". The lead single, "Taken for Granted", peaked at number 10 on the UK Singles Chart.
Talk That Talk is the sixth studio album by Barbadian singer Rihanna. It was released on November 18, 2011 by Def Jam Recordings and SRP Records. Talk That Talk was recorded during the Loud Tour between February and November 2011. It was originally planned to be a reissue of her previous studio album Loud (2010). As executive producer, Rihanna enlisted a wide range of producers including Alex da Kid, Calvin Harris, Chase & Status, No I.D., and Stargate to achieve her desired sound. Following in the same vein as Loud, Talk That Talk is a dance-oriented pop/R&B crossover album that incorporates elements of hip hop, dubstep, electronic and house music. The album also contains subtle dancehall influences while its lyrical content and themes revolve around a nihilistic, romantic, and lascivious lover.
Unapologetic is the seventh studio album by Barbadian singer Rihanna. It was released on 19 November 2012 by Def Jam Recordings and SRP Records. It was recorded between June and November 2012, during promotion of her sixth studio album, Talk That Talk (2011). As executive producer, Rihanna enlisted previous collaborators The-Dream, David Guetta, Chase & Status, and Stargate to work alongside new collaborators such as Parker Ighile, Mike Will Made It, and Labrinth. Unapologetic is primarily a pop, synth-pop, and R&B album that incorporates elements of hip hop, EDM, dubstep, rock and reggae in its production, merging the sound of her previous albums Talk That Talk, Loud (2010) and Rated R (2009).
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is the soundtrack album to the 2013 film The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. The soundtrack was released through Republic Records on November 15, 2013.
"Chandelier" is a song by Australian singer and songwriter Sia, from her sixth studio album, 1000 Forms of Fear (2014). Written by Sia and Jesse Shatkin and produced by Shatkin and Greg Kurstin, the song was released on 17 March 2014 as the lead single from the album. It is an electropop song, featuring electronica, R&B and reggae influences. Lyrically, the song has a melancholic theme, detailing the demoralisation and rationalisation of alcoholism through the thought process of a "party girl". More broadly, the song speaks to the fleeting feelings of release and abandon that come with intoxication, as well as the pain, guilt and emptiness that accompany addiction, alcoholism and hedonistic excess.
1000 Forms of Fear is the sixth studio album by Australian singer Sia. It was released on 4 July 2014 by Monkey Puzzle and RCA Records worldwide, and Inertia Records in Australia. Primarily an electropop album, the record also incorporates influences from reggae and hip hop. Lyrically, the record is focused on Sia struggling to deal with drug addiction and a diagnosis of bipolar disorder at the time, later rediagnosed as complex PTSD in 2019.
Piece by Piece is the seventh studio album by American pop singer Kelly Clarkson. It was released on February 27, 2015, by RCA Records. It was her final album under her recording contract with the label, to which she signed after winning the first season of American Idol in 2002. She then made the switch to Atlantic in 2016. The album saw Clarkson reuniting with frequent collaborators Greg Kurstin, Jesse Shatkin, Jason Halbert, Eric Olson, and Chris DeStefano. She also gathered material from songwriters such as Sia, Matthew Koma, MoZella, Bonnie McKee, David Jost, Semi Precious Weapons lead singer Justin Tranter, and former Cobra Starship member Ryland Blackinton, among others. Inspired by the orchestral production on Wrapped in Red, Clarkson wanted all the songs on Piece by Piece to resonate like its own film soundtrack, taking a cue from the soundtracks of the feature motion pictures Cruel Intentions (1999) and Love Actually (2003) and commissioning orchestral arrangements by Joseph Trapanese.
"Bang My Head" is a song by French DJ and music producer David Guetta, featuring vocals from Australian singer Sia and American rapper Fetty Wap. It was released as the second single from the re-release of Guetta's sixth studio album, Listen. "Bang My Head" tallies as the album's seventh single overall. It was released via digital download on 30 October 2015. The original album version of the song only featured Sia's vocals, but the second verse was later replaced with vocals from Fetty Wap for the reworked single release.
"Bird Set Free" is a song recorded by Sia for her seventh studio album This Is Acting (2016). It was released as the first promotional single from the album on 4 November 2015.
"Cheap Thrills" is a song by Australian singer and songwriter Sia from her seventh studio album, This Is Acting (2016). It was written by Sia and Greg Kurstin, and produced by Kurstin. It was originally released on 17 December 2015, and an official remix version of "Cheap Thrills" featuring Jamaican singer Sean Paul was made available for digital download on 11 February 2016 as the album's second single. This version was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.
"Move Your Body" is a song by Australian singer and songwriter Sia. It was released in January 2017 as the fourth single from her seventh studio album This Is Acting (2016). The song was used in the Super Bowl Lexus LC commercial in 2017 and Mitsubishi Xforce commercial in 2023.
"The Greatest" is a song recorded by Australian singer and songwriter Sia for the deluxe edition of her seventh studio album, This Is Acting (2016). Being made available for digital download as the album's third single on 6 September 2016 through Monkey Puzzle and RCA Records, the single version of "The Greatest" features a verse from American rapper Kendrick Lamar. The electropop song was written by Sia, Greg Kurstin, Lamar, and Blair MacKichan, with production handled by Kurstin. The solo version was written by the former three only.
Fifty Shades Darker (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the soundtrack album to the 2017 film Fifty Shades Darker, an adaptation of E. L. James's novel of the same name. The soundtrack album was released through Republic Records on February 10, 2017. The lead single, "I Don't Wanna Live Forever", was performed by Taylor Swift and Zayn Malik and was released on December 9, 2016. The single was commercially successful, reaching number five on United Kingdom and number two on the Billboard Hot 100. The film's soundtrack was released in two separate versions; one for the 19 popular artists songs used in the film, and another separate release for the original score composed for the film by Danny Elfman. Two of Elfman's themes were also included on the popular artists version of the soundtrack release.
Everyday Is Christmas is the eighth studio album and first Christmas album by Australian singer-songwriter Sia, released on 17 November 2017 by Atlantic Records and Monkey Puzzle. Her first album with Atlantic, it features original Christmas songs. Initially released with ten tracks in 2017, the album has since been reissued in 2018, 2021, and 2022 with new bonus tracks each time. The lead single, "Santa's Coming for Us", was released on 30 October 2017, and "Snowman" was released as the second on 9 November.
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