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Alive (Sia song)

"Alive" is the lead single from Australian singer and songwriter Sia's seventh studio album This Is Acting (2016). It was co-written by Sia, Adele, and Tobias Jesso Jr.[4] The song was produced by Jesse Shatkin. "Alive" was released on 25 September 2015. The song was originally intended for Adele's third studio album, 25, along with "Bird Set Free". However, since Adele decided not to use the songs, she let Sia use them for her seventh studio album. Musically, it is a midtempo pop and synth-pop song.

"Alive"
Single by Sia
from the album This Is Acting
Released25 September 2015 (2015-09-25)
Recorded2015
Genre
Length4:23
Label
  • Inertia
  • Monkey Puzzle
  • RCA
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Jesse Shatkin[3]
Sia singles chronology
"Fire Meet Gasoline"
(2015) 		"Alive"
(2015) 		"Bang My Head"
(2015)
Music video
"Alive" on YouTube

On 22 September 2015, Sia posted a tweet on Twitter which hinted that the single would be released on 25 September. The next day she released a 15-second preview of the music video on her Vevo account. The song achieved moderate commercial success, reaching the top 40 in over 15 countries, including Spain, Belgium and France. In the UK, the song 30 on the UK Singles Chart. The song reached number 56 on the US Billboard Hot 100, failing to reach the upper half of the chart. The music video for the song was released on 5 November 2015. It has received over 200 million views.

The song received generally positive reviews, with critics praising Sia's powerful, electrifying vocals. Sia has performed the song multiple times on camera, including The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Saturday Night Live, and The X Factor.

Background

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In September 2015, Sia confirmed that This Is Acting's lead single "Alive" would be released later that month and was originally written for Adele. She described that the song "was about Adele's life" and "written in Adele's perspective." She further explained to Ryan Seacrest that the song was written in a writing session with Adele for her third album 25, but was rejected at the last minute.[5][6] Rihanna also rejected the tune.[7]

Release

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On 22 September 2015, Sia posted a tweet on Twitter which hinted that the single would be released on 25 September.[8] A 15-second preview was uploaded to Sia's Vevo channel on 23 September and the release date was made 1 day earlier to 24 September. Sia further updated on her Twitter that it would be released on the morning of 24 September. The single was premiered on Snapchat at about 7 a.m. and released to other services soon after.[citation needed]

Composition

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"Alive" is written in the key of F♯ minor with a tempo of 100 beats per minute. The song follows a chord progression of F♯m–C♯m–D–F♯m–C♯m–D–Bsus2, and Sia's vocals span from F♯3 to E5.[9] "Alive" is a midtempo pop and synth-pop power ballad.[1][2][10] Dan Weiss of Billboard found the song similar to Demi Lovato's "Skyscraper" (2011).[10]

Music video

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The music video for the song directed by Sia and Daniel Askill was released on 5 November 2015. It was shot by cinematographer Mathieu Plainfosse. It stars child karate star Mahiro Takano sporting Sia’s black and blonde wig performing her karate moves in an abandoned room. The music video was filmed in Japan.[11]

A lyric video was uploaded on 20 October 2015 on Sia's Vevo channel. Shot in de-saturated colours, the video features female figures without their faces shown. They wear two-toned black and blonde wigs, and the lyrics of the song are written on walls.

The Japanese official music video was released on 7 March 2016. It stars Japanese actress Tao Tsuchiya, who studies Buyō at Japan Women's College of Physical Education, dancing uniquely.[12] Due to a big attention to this video from Japan, "Alive" peaked No. 1 on Billboard Japan Hot 100 on 21 March 2016.[13]

Reception

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Rolling Stone critic Jon Blistein described Furler's vocals as "devastating, electrifying," and wrote, "while the dramatic build of "Alive" sounds straight out of Adele's wheelhouse, the outsized pop production — courtesy of Jesse Shatkin — and the ragged, throat-cracking, enrapturing vocal run Sia embarks on at the end are quintessentially her."[14] Dan Weiss of Billboard said that the song has a "chandelier-shattering chorus that proves a power ballad can still be, well, powerful in the age of EDM."[10] "Alive" also came in at #56 on the annual Triple J Hottest 100 for 2015.[15]

Commercial performance

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In the United States, the song debuted at number 56 on the US Billboard Hot 100, selling 54,000 copies in its first week.[16] In Australia, the song debuted at number 10 and has been certified platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association.

Live performances

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Sia first performed the song during the forty-first season of Saturday Night Live, with Donald Trump hosting, on 7 November 2015 with Mina Nishimura dancing.[17] Later, throughout December the song was performed on The Ellen DeGeneres Show as well as The Voice on 1 December, followed by an X Factor UK performance on 6 December. Sia appeared on French TV show C à vous on 9 December and two days later, 11 December on C'Cauet. The same day she gave a performance on The Graham Norton Show and then performed the single on New Year's Eve on TFI Friday. When performing the song live, Sia usually sings in the key of E minor, one tone below the recorded version.[18]

Track listing

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Digital download

  1. "Alive" – 4:23

CD single

  1. "Alive" – 4:23
  2. "Alive" (instrumental) – 4:23

Digital download - Remixes EP

  1. "Alive" (Plastic Plates Remix) – 4:58
  2. "Alive" (Maya Jane Coles Remix) – 5:07
  3. "Alive" (AFSHeeN Remix) – 3:16
  4. "Alive" (Boehm Remix) – 3:50
  5. "Alive" (Cahill Remix) – 4:18

Charts

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Covers

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In 2019, American rock band Daughtry released a cover of the song after frontman Chris Daughtry performed it on The Masked Singer as the "Rottweiler".

Certifications

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Certifications and sales for "Alive"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[49] Platinum 70,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[50] Platinum 80,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[51] Gold 45,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[52] Platinum 50,000‡
Mexico (AMPROFON)[53] Platinum 60,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[54] 2× Platinum 40,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[55] Gold 30,000‡
Sweden (GLF)[56] Gold 20,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[57] Platinum 600,000‡
United States (RIAA)[58] Platinum 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ a b Hunt, Elle (25 September 2015). "Sia's new single Alive was written for Adele and offered to Rihanna – listen". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 8 March 2017. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
  2. ^ a b R. Holz, Adam. "Alive Track Review (2015)". Plugged In (publication). Archived from the original on 16 September 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
  3. ^ "This Is Acting". TIDAL. Archived from the original on 11 July 2021. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  4. ^ "Sia Shares "Alive" Co-Written With Adele and Tobias Jesso Jr". Pitchfork. 24 September 2015. Archived from the original on 28 January 2016. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  5. ^ Chau, Thomas (7 September 2015). "Sia Reveals That She Originally Wrote Her Next Single for Adele". Popcrush. Archived from the original on 16 August 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
  6. ^ "Sia za MMC: "Vsi mislijo, da bodo s slavo postali kul, ljubljeni in posebni"" (in Slovenian). Radiotelevizija Slovenija. Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
  7. ^ "Sia: The songs from my new album were rejected by everyone else". Stuff.co.nz. 25 September 2015. Archived from the original on 3 September 2017. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  8. ^ "Sia 'Alive' Artwork, Release Date Revealed Ahead of New Album 'This Is Acting'". Music Times. 22 September 2015. Archived from the original on 26 October 2015. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
  9. ^ "Alive". www.musicnotes.com. 25 September 2015. Archived from the original on 5 December 2015. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
  10. ^ a b c Weiss, Dan (6 July 2017). "8 Precedents for Kesha's Gut-Wrenching 'Praying' Video". Billboard. Archived from the original on 7 July 2017. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
  11. ^ Nicole Pomarico: Who Is The Girl In Sia's 'Alive' Music Video? Mahiro Takano Is Seriously Impressive Archived 3 February 2016 at the Wayback Machine, Bustle, 5 November 2015.
  12. ^ "土屋太鳳、"覆面"歌手シーアMVで圧巻ダンス！ 振付師絶賛「鳥肌立つ」". Archived from the original on 29 January 2017. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
  13. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Overseas – Charts – Billboard JAPAN". Archived from the original on 10 January 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
  14. ^ Blistein, Jon. "Sia Delivers Electrifying Vocals on Bombastic New Song, 'Alive'". Rolling Stone. Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  15. ^ "1-100 List – Hottest 100 2015 – triple j". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 11 January 2014. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
  16. ^ Trust, Gary (8 October 2015). "Hot 100 Chart Moves: Meghan Trainor Hits Top 40, Sia & Sam Smith Start". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2 October 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  17. ^ Gia Kourlas (11 November 2015). "Meet the Mystery Dancer Who Performed With Sia on 'S.N.L.'". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 16 October 2017. Retrieved 1 March 2017.
  18. ^ "Sia - Alive (Best Performance) (Live From The Graham Norton Show)". Archived from the original on 5 January 2018. Retrieved 15 October 2017 – via www.youtube.com.
  19. ^ "Sia – Alive". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
  20. ^ "Sia – Alive" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
  21. ^ "Sia – Alive" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
  22. ^ "Sia – Alive" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
  23. ^ "Sia Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 6 October 2015.
  24. ^ "Chart Search". Billboard Canada CHR/Top 40 for Sia. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
  25. ^ "Chart Search". Billboard Canada Hot AC for Sia. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
  26. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 42. týden 2015 in the date selector.
  27. ^ "Sia: Alive" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  28. ^ "Sia – Alive" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
  29. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
  30. ^ "Chart Track: Week 40, 2015". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
  31. ^ "Top Digital – Classifica settimanale WK 47 (dal 2015-11-20 al 2015-11-26)". Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Archived from the original on 3 February 2019. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  32. ^ "Sia Chart History (Japan Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  33. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Overseas" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. 21 March 2016. Archived from the original on 10 January 2018. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  34. ^ "Sia – Alive". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
  35. ^ "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
  36. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
  37. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201549 into search.
  38. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 201541 into search.
  39. ^ "Sia – Alive" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
  40. ^ "Sia – Alive". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  41. ^ "Sia – Alive". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  42. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
  43. ^ "Sia Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 6 October 2015.
  44. ^ "BDSRadio Charts". Billboard. Archived from the original on 22 November 2015. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  45. ^ "Sia Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
  46. ^ "Sia Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  47. ^ "ARIA Top 50 Australian Singles for 2015". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  48. ^ "ARIA Top 50 Australian Singles for 2016". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  49. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2016 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  50. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Sia – Alive". Music Canada. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  51. ^ "Danish single certifications – Sia – Alive". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  52. ^ "Italian single certifications – Sia – Alive" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  53. ^ "Certificaciones" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Retrieved 30 July 2020. Type Sia in the box under the ARTISTA column heading and Alive in the box under the TÍTULO column heading.
  54. ^ "Wyróżnienia – Platynowe płyty CD - Archiwum - Przyznane w 2017 roku" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 1 March 2017.
  55. ^ "Spanish single certifications – Sia – Alive". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  56. ^ "Sverigetopplistan – Sia" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  57. ^ "British single certifications – Sia – Alive". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  58. ^ "American single certifications – Sia – Alive". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
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