Happy birthday to Sia, one of pop music’s most mysterious and badass babes
Sia, born Sia Kate Isobelle Furler on this day in 1975, has been a part of the music world since the mid-1990s. A veteran in the industry, Sia has written for and collaborated with some of the greats — Beyoncé, Rihanna, Britney Spears, Katy Perry, Shakira, and Christina Aguilera, to name a few.
She’s also known for her signature face-obscuring wig.
Sia discussed the purpose of the wig, explaining to Kristen Wiig in an interview with Interview magazine:
"I'm trying to have some control over my image. And I'm allowed to maintain some modicum of privacy. But also I would like not to be picked apart or for people to observe when I put on ten pounds or take off ten pounds or I have a hair extension out of place or my fake tan is botched. Most people don't have to be under that pressure, and I'd like to be one of them."
Her wig has become iconic, and in many of Sia’s music videos, dancer Maddie Ziegler dons similar wigs to emanate the Sia style.
Her album, This Is Acting (2015), was actually created with hits (which she wrote) that were never picked up by A-list artists like Adele and Beyoncé.
"I feel like they're hits, but nobody wanted them. So I thought, 'Let's see, as an experiment, if I'm right.'"
Turns out, she was right. The single “Cheap Thrills” reached the top spot on the US Billboard Hot 100. Her music videos for many of the songs from the album have amassed billions of views, and her YouTube channel has more than 9 million subscribers. It’s safe to say those songs were hits, indeed.
So happy birthday, Sia! You’re one of the baddest in the game. TTYL, we’re going to go celebrate you by listening to your Christmas album.
