Sia Finally Has A Hit!

I know this isn't exactly breaking news but I'm still excited about Sia finally experiencing some much deserved commercial success in Australia. The indie pop icon slowly gained chart moment in 2009 ("Buttons" and "Soon We'll Be Found" scraped into the top 100 at #67 and #89 respectively) but "You've Changed" is her first legitimate crossover hit. The upbeat pop anthem debuted at a lofty #42 and should climb higher this week. Pretty impressive considering the song has been floating around online for over a year and only gets played on one radio station in Sydney! I couldn't be happier for Sia. Australia's second most famous bisexual (after Dannii) has been woefully ignored in her homeland for so long that something had to give and "You've Changed" was just the song to do it. As much as I love the Lauren Flax original, Greg Kurstin's organic disco-tinged overhaul is even better. It's so relentlessly joyous and takes the irresistible chorus to a whole new level. If this is any indication of Sia's forthcoming album, I think we're in for something incredibly special. Make sure you check out the video (above). It's not as epic as some of her previous efforts but I love the bright colours, cute effects and quirky set-up. Sia is on fire at the moment.

Sia - Live At The Enmore

Sia Furler is one of those singers I love but never write about for the simple fact that she's too high brow for this joint - or so I thought until she opened last night's show with Olivia Newton John's "Xanadu", before sticking random objects into her underpants. Needless to say, Sia is not your typical critically acclaimed singer-songwriter. She's more than a little eccentric, loves to chat with the audience and is very, very funny. It speaks volumes for her skill as a performer that she can move effortlessly from telling a joke about being ignored at the ARIAs to singing about love, heartbreak and everything inbetween with so much emotion and empathy. I would have liked to hear a few more songs from "Healing Is Difficult" and "Colour The Small One" but Sia was pretty hard to fault. The band was great, she sounded amazing and I got free beer from the lesbians standing next to me. Result.

Anyway, here are my top 10 reasons to see Sia live (in no paprticular order):

1. Her signature glow in the dark version of "Buttons".
2. "You Have Been Loved" sounds even more beautiful and heartbreaking live than on the album. Which I didn't think possible.
3. The distinctly electronic direction of her new material.
4. She still performs the odd Zero 7 classic.
5. Her description of "I Should Be So Lucky" as awesome when someone (sarcastically) requested it.
6. "Lentil", "Soon We'll Be Found" and "Day Too Soon".
7. The hilarious anecdotes about working on Christina Aguilera's new album. Especially the bit about being too fat to borrow Xtina's stripper bikini.
8. Her cute reminder to stick around for the encore.
9. "Breathe Me" still represents everything Adele, Sarah Blasko and Dido have spent their entire careers trying and failing to write.
10. That voice.

The 2009 Australian tour edition (complete with bonus DVD, behind the scenes footage and video clips) of "Some People Have Real Problems" is now in stores.