“Music – Songs from and Inspired by the Motion Picture” is the ninth studio album by Australian singer Sia, released on February 12, 2021. It was released connected to the musical film, “Music”, also directed by Sia. Three singles, “Together”, “Hey Boy”, and “Courage to Change” were released among the 14 tracks. 

“Together” is the first track and single on the album. It is an upbeat, pop song that just embodies the feeling of joy itself. This is the sort of song one would listen to to feel better, or just to have a fun time overall. What seems to be the message of this track is that we are all healing together, it’s meant to push all of the negativity away and uplift those who listen to it. The lyrics, “Ooo together, we can take it higher,” and “can’t love me unless you love you too” showcase the message of togetherness and positivity greatly. 

“Hey Boy” is the second track and third single on the album. It’s another pop song but has a different vibe. Instead of a shiny, princess upbeat pop song, this track holds more of a bouncy, fun vibe. It’s catchy and the rhythm is so addicting. The release of this song came with a very creative animated music video that oozes Jessica Rabbit vibes. 

The third song on the album is “Saved My Life,” which happened to be co-written by British singer Dua Lipa. This song is much slower and calmer, yet holds elements of pop and ballad works. This track is a truly gorgeous, heartfelt song that tugged on my heart-strings. This track easily grasps at the listener’s emotions with lyrics such as “Well someone must have sent you here to save my life, someone must have sent you to save me tonight”. Personally, songs that continuously repeat lyrics frequently aren’t that appealing, but Sia truly made it work with this one. Her voice and the melodies meshed perfectly, and the lyrics did strike a chord with me. 

“Eye to Eye” is the fifth track on the album, giving more of an electro vibe. While the sound isn’t my forte generally, it is good and worth a listen. However, the part of this track that grabbed my attention was the lyrics. The lyrics give vibes of healing, much like the first track. Lyrics such as “You need a little bit of love tonight, and baby I got it, you need a little bit of hope and I, baby I got you”, gives the feeling that you always have someone in your corner, that you can turn to Sia’s music if you are in need of comfort and or reassurance. 

“Courage to Change” is the eight-song on the album, and the second single that was released. Right off the bat, the strings at the beginning mixed with Sia’s vocals give a very powerful and empowering vibe. The strong, pop chorus solidifies the strength and uplifting message of the track, alongside lyrics such as “You’re not alone in all this, you’re not alone, I promise, standing together we can do anything”. I was a bit shocked when the chorus hit, but I was pleasantly surprised. It might be cliche and repetitive, but it’s still strong and sells its message effortlessly. 

The tenth track is “Beautiful Things Can Happen,” a much different sounding song than the others on this album, yet it doesn’t feel out of place. It’s a piano ballad track, and Sia’s mesmerizing vocals truly shine here. I was blown away while listening, and I had to listen to it again right after because I had been too shocked the first time. It’s a relatable song, mentioning how thoughts can take over one’s mind, but at the same time, there are also good things that will influence your life. The lyrics such as, “there’s no sound now, in the quiet, it’s just me and my thoughts, and they scream out, saying nothing,” give me chills right to my bones. This song had me stunned silent, and I am confident in calling this one a masterpiece. 

“Lie to Me” is the 11th song on the album, and it knocked me off my feet. It started with a soft, delicate sound in the beginning, but burst to life with a mighty, euphoric chorus. Sia utterly exploded with her vocals, and it was almost like a gift to listen to this song. Her vocals gave me fascinated chills, and I couldn’t help but keep it on loop. I was not able to grasp the meaning of the song, but the vocals and overall sound of the track make up for that small complaint undeniably. 

The 13th track is “Miracle”, another pop song that follows the overall message of healing and empowerment that this album encases. Personally, the actual melodies and music weren’t as good as the other tracks, but in no way is it bad. The message was still clear with obvious lyrics such as, “one foot in front of the other”, and the chorus was catchy and fun. Overall, it is a very beautiful song with a kind message. 

This is the first time that I have been thoroughly blown away by an album. I have never been an avid Sia listener – I’ve only heard a couple of her songs. But this album showed me her capabilities, showcased by uplifting and empowering messages coupled with Sia’s amazing vocal versatility. In my opinion, this album is inarguably worth the listen, even if you’ve never been a fan of Sia. 

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