Wednesday, July 23, 2014

The Other Video Art - Sia's "Chandelier"

So this isn’t about a film or show, but it is about two other art forms which are just as important in narrative: music video and dance. I felt very compelled to write about this particular music video and though I am a little late to the party, here we go…

It’s been a while since I’ve been absolutely floored by a music video. Often times they are light on substance and heavy on flash. I don’t like much in the way of popular music (with a few exceptions) and especially don’t like the culture magnified in the music or the videos. But every once in a while you can find a gem in the rubble and this video is just that.

I loved Sia when I heard the song “She Wolf” by her and David Guetta. The video was just gorgeous and her powerful, raspy voice was perfect for conveying the deep emotion of the song. I have since come to like many, though not all, of her songs and love her as an expressive artist.

In the song “Chandelier” Sia weaves a sad tale detailing her personal struggles with alcoholism and prescription drugs early on in her career. She is now sober, yay!

I recommend reading the lyrics below first and then watching the video below the lyrics. When I first clicked play I had no idea what the song was about, but once I saw the girl dancing it all became clear to me. It was so exquisitely expressed.

I love that Sia chose to direct the video herself and featured eleven-year-old dancer Maddie Ziegler to portray herself. She put Maddie in a skin-toned leotard and a wig resembling the Sia’s own hairstyle. I think by making the dancer a child she showed the immaturity, vulnerability, and loss of innocence that happens when you dive headfirst into the drug and partying lifestyle.

In Maddie’s modern, interpretive dance she uses every part of her body, every facial muscle and expression, and movement to communicate the out-of-control insanity and addiction of the lifestyle Sia once led. It’s almost like a cross between dancing and miming. The fact that she is in a skin-toned leo also symbolizes innocence and vulnerability but also recklessness, like being naked for all the world to see.


The setting was perfect. Choosing a run-down apartment and showing that no matter how much she runs around and parties she is actually trapped, trapped and unable to leave without help.

It’s a very melancholic video and song in it’s theme of the unruliness of addiction and how though she smiles it’s strained, forced and not genuine happiness or freedom.

Also this was filmed practically all in one shot, amazing!

I can't honestly explain why this video affected me so much. When I first discovered it earlier this week I had to watch it three times in a row and I was just in awe. It made me so sad and feel this renewed mercy and empathy for people trapped inside addictions and who need a high just to make it through the night. That's the power of art! This video is haunting and creepy in many ways too, maybe another reason why I liked it ha ha. 

Anyway, I was really inspired by Sia’s honesty in sharing her personal experience in such a profound way. It’s hard to do this without coming off as pretentious or ostentatious but I think she nailed it. I hope more people will come to see the beauty and power of music videos and using dance more as an artful expression instead of all the bump n' grind crap they call dance in videos today. There's so much to be done in this field and I hope more will follow in Sia's footsteps.

Also check out part two where I unpack Elastic Heart and all it's "controversy."  Click this link:


Chandelier
By, Sia

Party girls don't get hurt
Can't feel anything, when will I learn?
I push it down, push it down

I'm the one "for a good time call"
Phone's blowin' up, ringin' my doorbell
I feel the love, feel the love

1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, drink
1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, drink
1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, drink

Throw 'em back 'til I lose count

I'm gonna swing from the chandelier, from the chandelier
I'm gonna live like tomorrow doesn't exist
Like it doesn't exist
I'm gonna fly like a bird through the night, feel my tears as they dry
I'm gonna swing from the chandelier, from the chandelier

But I'm holding on for dear life, won't look down, won't open my eyes
Keep my glass full until morning light, 'cause I'm just holding on for tonight
Help me, I'm holding on for dear life, won't look down, won't open my eyes
Keep my glass full until morning light, 'cause I'm just holding on for tonight
On for tonight

Sun is up, I'm a mess
Gotta get out now, gotta run from this
Here comes the shame, here comes the shame

1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, drink
1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, drink
1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, drink

Throw 'em back 'til I lose count

I'm gonna swing from the chandelier, from the chandelier
I'm gonna live like tomorrow doesn't exist
Like it doesn't exist
I'm gonna fly like a bird through the night, feel my tears as they dry
I'm gonna swing from the chandelier, from the chandelier

But I'm holding on for dear life, won't look down, won't open my eyes
Keep my glass full until morning light, 'cause I'm just holding on for tonight
Help me, I'm holding on for dear life, won't look down, won't open my eyes
Keep my glass full until morning light, 'cause I'm just holding on for tonight

'Cause I'm just holding on for tonight
Oh, I'm just holding on for tonight
On for tonight

On for tonight






8 comments:

  1. This was very interesting. I hadn't heard of this artist before reading your post. I actually watched the video before reading what you wrote to see what my first impression would be. It did weird me out a lot, haha! But I assumed there was an underlining message or story involved. I was disturbed at her acting like a robotic, too. The story behind it is so sad, but I love how the creative vision behind this video! It is creepy, but the girl is so beautiful and her flexibility and dance skills are fascinating. I love what you wrote and I think this is such a perfect artistic expression of young children growing up in broken homes, drugs, and dark environments.

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    1. Yes! hehe Sia is a wild artist haha but there's something genuine and alluring about her. She does so many different styles of music but I fell in love with her techno stuff initially. You should definitely watch the video for "She Wolf." It's cinematically GORGEOUS and the song is about women being broken by abuse/infidelity etc... it's really striking and intense. ;-) People need to keep making more creative videos! And yeah Maddie was also alluring, what a dancer! I can't believe she was only 11 when she made this which I think was only a year ago. She is really pretty too. I think other people will snag her for their videos too in the future haha!

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  2. Good post! I think it is awesome you are analyzing other things than just movies. ;-) Hehe! I found that video to be really interesting. I ended up watching it twice. Maybe because I'm in an anime mood, but it kind of reminded me of that style, haha. With the way her hair is and how it is filmed and the strange visuals. There is a rawness and realism to it, though, even as it is being very symbolic. I think what she was expressing through this song came out really clearly through this girl's dance. It isn't something that you'll get right away, but only if you watch it again and think on it! It is jarring and bizarre, but fascinating and beautiful at the same time. I like the juxtaposition of the imagery! Like how you were saying about her being a young girl and about her wearing a nude colored leotard. It is that contrast of innocence and exposure. And gosh, this girl is flexible. Haha. I think that adds to the bizarre-ness of it! To see a little girl able to bend her body like that! It is really cool. Oh, and another thing you mentioned of how it was filmed in a run down apartment. I think that is my favorite part of the symbolism! Of how she is trapped in this lifestyle. She runs around in the insanity of the party lifestyle, but really there is no freedom and she can't escape. Love that!

    I didn't like the song at first, but I ended up really liking it! It had all the emotions in it, even if it seems a little too modern/pop-y. I love the chorus and the way she sings it. You can hear the desperation, sadness, and recklessness in it! It is really cool!

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  3. Yeah it is a more pop style song but for me the more I listened the more I loved it! Hehe The chorus is just so powerful and her delivery is awesome. It does have a Japanese style and tone to it in the videos production. Love it!

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  4. I'm just gonna leave this over here and yeahh, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3h5aIVeyfIc (skip to minute 1:00 if your super impatient like me lol) anyway I love the song too but theres truth to what's being said here about the video and symbolism, hopefully you keep an open mind.. :/

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  5. Sun is up, I'm a mess
    Gotta get out now, gotta run from this
    Here comes the shame, here comes the shame

    My favorite part....

    I have sought out more of her music since this song came out last summer and I had to know who was singing it. She has become one of my favorite artists. She's weird. She writes her own songs. She has a unique voice. She's Australian. She directs her own music videos. What more can I ask for?

    And this video is brilliant.

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  6. That first photo looks just like Anna Torv.

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