Hubbry Logo
Elastic HeartElastic HeartMain
Open search
Elastic Heart
Community hub
Elastic Heart
logo
7 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Elastic Heart
Elastic Heart
Elastic Heart
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

"Elastic Heart"
Single by Sia featuring the Weeknd and Diplo
from the album The Hunger Games: Catching Fire – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Released1 October 2013 (2013-10-01)
Recorded2013
StudioHot Closet Studios (Los Angeles)
Genre
Length4:18
Label
Songwriters
Producers
Sia singles chronology
"She Wolf (Falling to Pieces)"
(2012) 		"Elastic Heart"
(2013) 		"Battle Cry"
(2014)
The Weeknd singles chronology
"Live For"
(2013) 		"Elastic Heart"
(2013) 		"Pretty"
(2013)
Diplo singles chronology
"Coup d'Etat"
(2013) 		"Elastic Heart"
(2013) 		"XXX 88"
(2013)
The Hunger Games singles chronology
"Atlas"
(2012) 		"Elastic Heart"
(2013) 		"We Remain"
(2013)

"Elastic Heart" is a song written by Australian singer Sia, featuring Canadian singer the Weeknd and American record producer Diplo, for the soundtrack of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, a film based on the novel of the same name by Suzanne Collins. Andrew Swanson assisted the artists in writing the song, with production handled by Diplo and US producer Greg Kurstin. It was released on 1 October 2013 as a single from Catching Fire by RCA, Republic and Lionsgate. "Elastic Heart" peaked at number 7 on the singles chart of New Zealand and was certified 3× Platinum by the Recorded Music NZ. It also appeared on the charts of Australia, Belgium, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

In 2014, Sia re-recorded a solo version of "Elastic Heart" for her sixth studio album 1000 Forms of Fear. The solo version was released in 2015 as a single from the album and was accompanied by a controversial music video that features actor Shia LaBeouf and dancer Maddie Ziegler. The clip was the eighth most viewed YouTube music video in 2015, while the single peaked within the top 10 in Australia and the United Kingdom, and the top 20 in the United States.

Release and composition

[edit]
"Elastic Heart" (2013)
"Elastic Heart" is a R&B and trap song which talks about the protagonist's strength after a breakup.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"Elastic Heart" was released as the second single from the soundtrack for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013). The song was made available for digital download on 1 October 2013.[1] It was sent to US rhythmic contemporary radio by RCA Records, Republic Records and Lionsgate Films on 8 October 2013.[2]

A power ballad,[3] the main vocal hook is a chopped sample from Billy Stewart's 1957 recording "Baby, You're My Only Love", while the drumline is an altered take from Jacky Giordano's 1975 instrumental "Magolia".[4] Hilary Hughes of The Village Voice named "Elastic Heart" a "grand, full electropop production,"[5] while Aimee Cliff from Fact characterised the song as "a pop song that bounces like rubber."[6] Meanwhile, Rolling Stone reviewer Julianne Shepherd called it a trap song.[7] Its lyrics address "the overwhelming strength Sia needed to convince herself that life was worth living after coming out of a crushing relationship."[6] With the chord progression of D–A–E–F#m, the song is set in the key of F-sharp minor and a tempo of 130 beats per minute.[8]

Reception

[edit]

Blue Sullivan of Slant Magazine wrote that "'Elastic Heart' is a seamless and highly successful team-up that reads like a grimier after-market version of Lady Gaga's 'Do What U Want'."[9] Spin magazine's Chris Martins stated that "Sia soared" and it was a "bubbling ballad,"[10] and Bradley Stern of MuuMuse claimed it was "a perfectly chaotic combination."[11] "Elastic Heart" debuted at number 67 on the Australian ARIA Singles Charts on the chart issue dated 14 October 2013.[12] The single also charted at number 27 on the Walloon Ultratip,[13] and number 36 in Switzerland.[14] The song fared better in New Zealand, peaking at number 7 on the national singles chart and was certified gold by the Recorded Music NZ (RMNZ).[15] In the United Kingdom, "Elastic Heart" debuted at number 79 on the UK Singles Chart on 12 October 2013.[16] On 17 January 2015, the single re-entered the chart at number 61.[17]

Credits and personnel

[edit]

Credits for "Elastic Heart" are adapted from The Hunger Games: Catching Fire soundtrack digital inlay cover.[18]

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Certifications for "Elastic Heart"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[33] Platinum 60,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[34] 4× Platinum 120,000‡

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

[edit]
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Worldwide 1 October 2013 Digital download
[1]
United States 8 October 2013 Rhythmic radio
[2]
22 October 2013 Contemporary hit radio [35]
Italy 15 November 2013 Universal [36]

Sia solo version

[edit]
"Elastic Heart"
Single by Sia
from the album 1000 Forms of Fear
Released9 January 2015 (2015-01-09)
Recorded2013
StudioHot Closet Studios (Los Angeles)
Genre
Length4:17
Label
  • RCA
  • Monkey Puzzle
Songwriters
Producers
Sia singles chronology
"You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile"
(2014) 		"Elastic Heart"
(2015) 		"Déjà Vu"
(2015)
Music video
"Elastic Heart" on YouTube

In 2014, Sia recorded a solo version of "Elastic Heart" for her sixth studio album, 1000 Forms of Fear.[37] It was released on 9 January 2015 by RCA as the third single from the album.[38] Annie Zaleski from The A.V. Club labelled "Elastic Heart" a "striking power ballad,"[3] while AllMusic's Heather Phares picked the song as one of the three standouts from the album, alongside "Chandelier" and "Eye of the Needle".[39] Aimee Cliff from Fact named it a "great example of how only Sia can truly rock a song written for (rather than by) Sia."[6] The deluxe version of 1000 Forms of Fear includes a piano version of the song.

In Italy, "Elastic Heart" impacted contemporary hit radio on 9 January 2015.[38] "Elastic Heart" debuted at number 8 on the ARIA Singles Chart on the chart issue dated 19 January 2015.[40] The following week, the song rose to number 5.[41] The Australian Recording Industry Association certified it 3× Platinum, which denotes shipments exceeding 210,000 copies in Australia.[42][43] In the United States, "Elastic Heart" debuted at number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 on the issue chart dated 24 January 2015, becoming the week's "Hot Shot Debut".[44] The song was later certified double platinum for combined sales and streaming of 2 million units in the United States.[45] In the United Kingdom, the single peaked at number 10 on the UK Singles Chart on 5 April 2015 and has since been certified triple platinum by the British Phonographic Industry.[46][47]

Music video

[edit]
A still from the video featuring Shia LaBeouf and Maddie Ziegler

On 7 January 2015, the music video for the song was released. Directed by Sia and Daniel Askill, shot by cinematographer Sebastian Wintero and choreographed by Ryan Heffington,[48] the video features Maddie Ziegler, who had previously appeared in the video for Sia's single "Chandelier" and "Big Girls Cry", and actor Shia LaBeouf.[49] In the video, Ziegler and LaBeouf perform an interpretive dance in nude and dirt-smeared outfits.[48] Justine Harman from Elle likened the concept of the video to the plot of Titanic.[50] Jason Lipshutz from Billboard summarised: "The entirety of the video features the surprising pair interpreting the song through different body contortions: they dance-fight, collapse in the middle of the cage, crawl toward and away from each other, and make some wildly fantastic facial expressions."[51]

The video was nominated for the 2015 VMA Award for Best Female Video.[52] Billboard selected the video as one "of the 10 best music videos of 2015 (so far)",[53] as did PopCrush, commenting that the video's "lopsided choreography and filthy warfare yields a raw, junkyard beauty that doesn't ask who will make it out alive, but whether escape is ever really on the table."[54] New York magazine's Vulture.com ranked it number 6 on its list of 2015's top 10 music videos.[55] It was the eighth most viewed YouTube video in 2015.[56]

Controversy

[edit]

The video "courted controversy and plaudits in equal measure", with some commentators perceiving it to have pedophilic undertones because it features an adult and child dancing together clad only in beige dancewear.[57][58] Sia explained that the two dancers represented "warring 'Sia' self states," but she apologized on Twitter to anyone who was upset by the video:[59][60]

I anticipated some "pedophelia!!!" Cries for this video. All I can say is Maddie and Shia are two of the only actors I felt could play, these two warring 'Sia' self states. I apologize to those who feel triggered by "Elastic Heart". My intention was to create some emotional content, not to upset anybody.[61]

Live performances

[edit]

On 17 January 2015, Sia performed "Elastic Heart" on Saturday Night Live with Kevin Hart hosting and Maddie Ziegler and Denna Thomsen dancing.[62] For the performance, Sia sang the song with a short black veil covering the top half of her face, while Ziegler and Thomsen recreated the dance routine in the music video wearing nude leotards and blonde wigs.[63] Later that month, Sia made a live rendition of the song on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.[64] She also performed the song on The Voice UK on 28 March and The Voice US on 7 April 2015.[65][66] Sia also performed this song on the Nostalgic for the Present Tour in 2016.

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[96] 3× Platinum 210,000‡
Belgium (BRMA)[97] Gold 10,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[98] 7× Platinum 560,000‡
Germany (BVMI)[99] Platinum 400,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[100] 2× Platinum 100,000‡
Mexico (AMPROFON)[101] 3× Platinum 180,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[102] Platinum 40,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[47] 3× Platinum 1,800,000‡
United States (RIAA)[103] 5× Platinum 5,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

[edit]
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Italy 9 January 2015 Contemporary hit radio RCA [38]
United States 9 February 2015 Hot adult contemporary [104]
10 February 2015 Contemporary hit radio [105]
Worldwide 14 April 2015 Remixes EP
  • Monkey Puzzle
  • RCA
 [106]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Elastic Heart

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
"Elastic Heart" is an electropop song by Australian singer-songwriter Sia, co-written with Abel Tesfaye (The Weeknd) and Thomas Pentz (Diplo), originally featuring the former two artists on the 2013 soundtrack for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire before Sia issued a solo re-recording as the third single from her seventh studio album This Is Acting on 9 January 2015. The track's lyrics depict emotional resilience amid relational turmoil, portraying the heart as elastic yet vulnerable to snapping under excessive strain. The solo version propelled "Elastic Heart" to commercial prominence, debuting at number 17 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and earning a double platinum certification from the RIAA for two million units sold. It similarly charted highly internationally, including a peak at number 10 on the UK Singles Chart, and has amassed over one billion streams on . The song's music video, directed by Sia and Daniel Askill and released on 7 January 2015, features actor —appearing nearly nude—and 12-year-old dancer performing intense choreography inside a large cage, symbolizing Sia's purported internal battle with personal demons. The visuals sparked widespread controversy, with critics accusing it of evoking through the suggestive interaction between an adult male and a ; Sia responded by apologizing to those "triggered," reiterating her aim to convey emotional depth rather than cause upset.

Creation and Release

Songwriting and Composition

"Elastic Heart" was co-written by Sia Furler, Abel Tesfaye (known as the Weeknd), Thomas Wesley Pentz (known as Diplo), and Andrew Swanson during 2013 sessions leading to its initial release as a collaboration for the soundtrack of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. Sia served as the primary songwriter, developing the lyrics and vocal melody, which center on themes of emotional resilience amid internal conflict, reflecting her broader practice of drawing from personal struggles with relationships and recovery. The composition process involved Sia improvising melodies over instrumental tracks provided by collaborators, a method she described as singing intuitive note placements that producers then harmonize around. For the solo version included on Sia's sixth studio album (2014), the core structure remained intact, but Sia re-recorded her vocals to emphasize a more introspective delivery, integrating electro-pop elements influenced by Diplo's production style on the original. This iteration aligned with the album's songwriting sessions, primarily conducted with producer , where Sia focused on raw, autobiographical expressions of vulnerability shaped by her experiences with and emotional endurance. The track's composition blends pulsating electronic beats with orchestral swells, underscoring Sia's shift toward blending vulnerability with rhythmic drive in her mid-2010s work.

Recording and Production

The solo version of "Elastic Heart" originated from a demo produced by (Thomas Wesley Pentz), who sent it to Sia as a potential collaboration, initially tied to the 2013 Hunger Games: soundtrack featuring vocals from . Sia adapted it for her sixth studio album , recording her lead vocals during sessions in Los Angeles-area studios in 2013–2014. Production was shared between , who programmed drums and handled beats using with elements like sampled glitch vocals, drum breaks, Operator and Analog synthesizers for the core melodic and percussive layers, and , who co-produced and engineered the track. Andrew Swanson contributed drum programming and engineering alongside and Kurstin, while additional engineering came from . The final mix, emphasizing the track's electronic pop structure, was conducted by at Larrabee Studios, with assistant mixing by Chris Galland. No guest vocalists appear in the released solo version, despite the song's credits shared by Sia, , and Swanson; Sia's performance was captured raw to convey emotional intensity over the upbeat instrumentation.

Promotional Release

"Elastic Heart" was released on January 9, 2015, as the third single from Sia's 1000 Forms of Fear, capitalizing on the momentum generated by the lead single "," which had achieved significant commercial success since its March 2014 debut. The track, originally recorded as a collaboration featuring and for potential inclusion in : Catching Fire soundtrack in 2013, was re-recorded in solo form for the album. The single launched via digital download platforms in key markets such as the and , with handling distribution to support broader accessibility. Promotional efforts emphasized radio airplay and synergies with Sia's Nostalgia Tour, which promoted the following its July 2014 release, aiming to sustain listener engagement through live performances and media tie-ins without relying on visual content at the initial rollout stage.

Musical Elements and Lyrics

Genre and Structure

"Elastic Heart" is classified in the genre, with influences from , glitch pop, and . The song maintains a of 130 beats per minute in 4/4 time. It is written in the key of . The structure adheres to a conventional verse–pre-chorus–chorus format, featuring two verses, a bridge after the second chorus, and an outro that repeats the chorus motif. The total runtime measures 4 minutes and 17 seconds. Production elements include glitch-processed sampled vocals forming the primary melodic , layered with Sia's processed lead vocals to create an ethereal, tension-building effect through electronic drops and rhythmic builds, reflective of co-producer Diplo's sampling-heavy approach.

Lyrical Themes and Interpretation

The of "Elastic Heart" center on the of an elastic heart to convey emotional resilience amid recurrent pain and relational turmoil, portraying a narrator who endures and without immediate rupture but acknowledges the risk of snapping under excessive . Key lines such as "My heart's elastic / But you can't tame it" illustrate this duality: a capacity for rebounding from heartbreak, as in "And I will stay up through the night / Let's be clear, won't close my eyes," juxtaposed against in "You did not see me break / I said that I would, but I won't." This framework draws from first-hand experiences of failed romantic entanglements, where the song originated as a reflection on post-breakup recovery and the futility of imposing control over , per Sia's account of writing it with hopes it would suit another artist like . Interpretations grounded in Sia's disclosures link the themes to internal strife rather than external narratives alone, emphasizing a causal dynamic of self-imposed limits tested by impulsive drives, akin to her documented battles with and depression that foster a hardened yet flexible psyche. The repeated motif of fighting "without weapons" and walking "through fire to save [one's] life" evokes the raw mechanics of preserving agency amid self-destructive cycles, where elasticity signifies adaptive survival—stretching to accommodate chaos without permanent deformation—rather than passive endurance. Sia has framed such lyrics as mappings of her psyche's warring facets, including a controlled "darker self" clashing with untamed impulses, eschewing literal relational victimhood for an abstract depiction of volitional restraint yielding to inevitable strain. This resilience motif avoids over-literal biographical mapping, prioritizing empirical patterns of emotional causation: repeated exposure to loss builds tolerance, yet exceeds thresholds lead to potential fracture, as in the bridge's admission "Before you start to drift and wander off." Critics attributing the song solely to interpersonal drama overlook Sia's emphasis on intrapersonal agency, where the elastic heart embodies causal realism in recovery—rebounding through deliberate confrontation of pain, informed by her history of and that underscore the song's unromanticized portrayal of tenacity.

Music Video

Concept Development

The "Elastic Heart" music video concept originated in late 2014 as a thematic continuation of the dance-focused aesthetic introduced in Sia's "" video, which premiered on May 6, , and featured similar collaborators including choreographer and dancer . Co-directed by Sia and Daniel Askill, the project prioritized abstract, metaphorical visualization of the song's themes of emotional resilience amid internal turmoil, diverging from conventional narrative-driven s to emphasize symbolic representation of psychological fracture. This approach drew directly from the ' depiction of a heart that "breaks" yet remains "elastic," framing the work as an extension of Sia's ongoing exploration of vulnerability through physical performance rather than biographical literalism. Central to the conception was the use of a massive steel cage as a for mental entrapment, specifically symbolizing Sia's as a container for conflicting inner states enduring volatile strife. The two primary performers were envisioned as embodiments of these antagonistic "self states"—a resilient yet manipulative aspect (Ziegler) clashing with a damaged, enduring counterpart ()—to externalize the lyrics' portrayal of inescapable personal conflict without assigning literal roles like familial figures. Sia explicitly selected and for their capacity to convey these warring elements, stating they were "two of the only actors I felt could play … these two warring Sia self states," underscoring an intent to evoke visceral emotional impact over straightforward storytelling. Planning emphasized as the vehicle for , with the creative team aiming to elicit raw excitement and movement in viewers, aligning with Sia's broader goal of blending pop with deeper artistic provocation in a planned video . Behind-the-scenes footage released on January 21, 2015, via DanceOn's "The " series, documented early conceptual discussions and preparatory sketches focused on the cage's symbolic isolation and the dancers' physical interplay to represent psyche fragmentation, reinforcing the non-literal framework conceived to mirror the song's abstract resilience motif.

Filming and Performers

The "Elastic Heart" was filmed in a single day in late 2014 at a studio in . Directed collaboratively by Sia Furler and Daniel Askill, the production featured choreography by and emphasized a controlled professional setting. Shia LaBeouf, aged 29, and Maddie Ziegler, aged 12 and known from the reality series Dance Moms as well as Sia's prior "Chandelier" video, were cast as the primary performers to embody dueling internal states through interpretive dance. LaBeouf's selection drew on his background in method acting and performance art, enabling a raw, vulnerable portrayal. Ziegler, building on her established collaboration with Sia, provided the dance expertise central to the visual narrative. Both performers appeared in flesh-toned, dirt-smeared leotards and minimal attire designed to evoke an illusion of , underscoring themes of exposure and resilience without actual exposure. The interaction consisted solely of choreographed movements within a large set, conducted under supervision that included Ziegler's mother.

Choreography and Symbolism

The choreography for the "Elastic Heart" was created by , featuring a style centered on emotionally turbulent interactions between the performers within a large structure. The movements blend aggressive wrestling-like grapples, contortions, and fluid transitions, evoking primal and animalistic gestures such as growling and lunging, designed to convey raw human emotions including anger, confusion, and playfulness. Key sequences depict the younger performer frequently dominating the adult through forceful pushes, climbs, and evasions against the cage bars, symbolizing attempts at escape and resilience amid confinement, which parallels the song's motif of an elastic heart stretching under strain but rebounding. These interactions alternate between and momentary connection, with stark black-and-white visuals and minimalistic emphasizing the physicality and intensity of the struggle over any erotic undertones. Symbolically, the choreography illustrates an internal battle, with the cage representing the confines of the mind or , and the performers embodying warring aspects of Sia's psyche— the younger figure as her or innocent self triumphing over the adult's demonic or ego-driven state. Sia described this as a depiction of self-conflict, where the elastic resilience in the movements reflects overcoming personal demons through artistic expression. Heffington aimed to portray complex emotional layers, drawing from universal human experiences of turmoil and recovery without prescriptive .

Commercial Performance

Chart Achievements

"Elastic Heart" debuted at number 17 on the dated January 24, 2015, marking its peak position and becoming that week's Hot Shot Debut, driven by strong streaming gains following the music video's release on January 7. The track spent 12 weeks on the chart, reflecting sustained radio airplay and digital sales amid the album 's promotion. Internationally, the single achieved top-five status on the Singles Chart in , peaking at number 5 after debuting at number 8 on January 19, 2015. In the , it reached a peak of number 10 on the Official Singles Chart, with 33 weeks total charting, bolstered by re-entry in January 2015. The song also entered top-10 positions across several European markets, including number 4 .
Chart (2015)Peak Position
US Billboard Hot 10017
Australia (ARIA)5
UK Singles (OCC)10
Ireland (IRMA)4
On the Billboard Year-End Hot 100 for 2015, "Elastic Heart" ranked at number 52, underscoring its commercial longevity without notable re-entries in subsequent years up to 2025.

Certifications and Sales Data

In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified "Elastic Heart" 2× Platinum on October 28, 2015, equivalent to 2 million units comprising digital downloads and streaming equivalents. In Australia, the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) certified the single 3× Platinum, denoting shipments of 210,000 units as reflected in end-of-year chart data. In the United Kingdom, the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) awarded Silver certification, signifying 200,000 units, with later updates potentially elevating it to higher levels due to sustained streaming but without confirmed announcements beyond initial thresholds.
RegionCertifying BodyCertificationUnits (as of certification)
United StatesRIAA2× Platinum2,000,000
AustraliaARIA3× Platinum210,000
United KingdomBPISilver200,000
The song's certified sales figures primarily stem from its bundling within digital purchases and streams of Sia's album 1000 Forms of Fear, rather than isolated promotion tied to the music video release. No additional certifications were issued from 2023 to 2025 despite ongoing consumption. On Spotify, "Elastic Heart" surpassed 1 billion global streams by 2020 and reached approximately 1.16 billion by October 2025, contributing to equivalent unit tallies under modern metrics.

Critical and Public Reception

Music and Album Context Reviews

Critics reviewing "Elastic Heart" within the context of Sia's sixth studio album (2014) frequently commended her vocal delivery for its raw power and emotional layering, which effectively conveyed themes of resilience amid personal turmoil. Sia's use of cracked, harsh tones in the bridge and soaring choruses was highlighted as a standout element, enhancing the track's portrayal of an "elastic" inner strength tested by relational strain. The production, featuring pulsating electronic beats and building percussion co-produced by and others, was seen as complementing these vocals by creating a dynamic contrast between introspective verses and explosive hooks, contributing to the album's overall shift toward Sia's emergence as a front-facing pop after years of songwriting for others. The track's integration into 1000 Forms of Fear was credited with exemplifying the album's blend of vulnerability and anthemic pop, helping secure its Grammy nomination for Best Pop Vocal Album at the on February 8, 2015. Reviewers in outlets like noted how "Elastic Heart" balanced dark lyrical introspection with accessible, enjoyable rhythms, marking a commercial pivot that propelled Sia's solo career forward through hits like this and "." However, some critiques pointed to its formulaic structure—rapid-fire repeated verses leading to a pre-chorus slowdown and chorus release—as overly polished and predictable, potentially undermining emotional authenticity in favor of radio-friendly appeal, a view echoed in indie-leaning analyses of the album's pop sheen. expressed reservations about guest elements in earlier versions bleeding into perceptions of the solo cut, suggesting it prioritized high-energy pop over deeper innovation. While mainstream reviews often emphasized the song's role in elevating the album's triumphant tone, dissenting voices questioned whether its metaphorical lyrics and production masked rather than revealed genuine , viewing it as part of a broader pattern in Sia's work where technical prowess overshadowed raw vulnerability. This perspective contrasted with praise for its vocal authority, illustrating divided empirical takes on how "Elastic Heart" fit into 's narrative of personal recovery and pop reinvention.

Video-Specific Critiques

The music video for "Elastic Heart," directed by Daniel Askill and released on January 7, 2015, received initial acclaim for its bold integration of contemporary dance as a narrative device, extending the visually striking style established in Sia's prior collaboration with choreographer Ryan Heffington and dancer Maddie Ziegler in the "Chandelier" video. Billboard described the clip as a metaphorical "cage match" between Ziegler and Shia LaBeouf, portraying internal conflict through raw, physical performances that aligned with the song's themes of emotional elasticity and turmoil. Critics noted the choreography's technical merit in conveying and resilience without , using animalistic movements and confinement to symbolize psychological struggle, which some viewed as an intentional enhancement of the ' depth on personal recovery. The video's minimalist aesthetic and high-energy sequences were praised for their artistic , distinguishing it from conventional pop visuals by prioritizing interpretive physicality over lip-syncing or glamour. While the visuals effectively amplified the track's exposure, leading to a surge in streams and a No. 17 debut on the shortly after release, certain observers argued that the intense imagery risked overshadowing the song's vocal and melodic focus. By October 2025, the video had accumulated over 1.3 billion views on , underscoring its role in elevating the single's digital footprint.

Controversy

Primary Criticisms

The "Elastic Heart" faced immediate backlash upon its release on January 7, , primarily for allegedly sexualizing a through the portrayal of 12-year-old dancer in close physical contact with 28-year-old actor . Critics highlighted the performers' flesh-toned undergarments, which simulated , combined with provocative wrestling-like choreography in a confined , as evoking pedophilic undertones. Commentators in described the content as "creepy" and inappropriate, citing the stark age disparity and implied power imbalance as contributing to perceptions of exploitation. Social media users echoed these sentiments, labeling the video "disgusting" and associating it directly with , which amplified the controversy over the following days. Broader concerns raised by detractors included the normalization of child exploitation in popular media, arguing that such depictions reinforced harmful dynamics between adults and minors regardless of artistic intent. The outcry peaked on January 8 and 9, 2015, with widespread public statements decrying the video's suitability for mainstream distribution.

Defenses from Creators and Supporters

Sia described the video as an allegory for her internal psychological conflict, with portraying her resilient, innocent younger self and LaBeouf representing a more damaged, adult aspect of her personality locked in struggle within the confines of her mind, symbolized by the . She emphasized that the casting of and LaBeouf was deliberate to embody these non-sexual, warring elements of herself, anticipating but rejecting interpretations of due to the absence of any erotic intent. This framing aligns with director Daniel Askill's statement that the represents Sia's enduring volatile emotional strife, underscoring the work's focus on raw, introspective artistry rather than exploitation. Supporters highlighted the choreography's reversal of power dynamics, where Ziegler's character repeatedly dominates LaBeouf—tossing, striking, and choking him—depicting resilience and agency rather than victimization, which counters claims of predatory undertones. The flesh-toned leotards were defended as standard for emphasizing fluid movement in , akin to gymnastic attire, without sexual connotation, especially given similar costuming in Sia's prior "" video featuring Ziegler alone elicited no such backlash. Ziegler herself, then 12 years old, affirmed the project's artistic merit, describing her performance as a "step forward" in her and expressing no reservations about the collaboration. Empirically, the production adhered to professional safeguards for child performers, with no subsequent legal challenges, lawsuits, or public reports of trauma from , who continued extensive work with Sia, including live performances and further videos. Defenders, including cultural commentators, attributed much of the outrage to a broader in public discourse, where artistic expressions of emotional turmoil are preemptively sexualized absent of , prioritizing interpretive caution over the video's demonstrable lack of causal injury.

Broader Implications for Art and

The controversy surrounding Sia's "Elastic Heart" video exemplified ongoing debates over the boundaries of artistic expression, where provocative imagery intended to convey metaphorical themes of internal emotional struggle—such as resilience amid trauma—clashed with public perceptions of impropriety. Critics, often prioritizing subjective offense over contextual analysis, accused the work of implying predation due to the age disparity between performers (aged 12) and (aged 28), despite the absence of sexual content or exploitative intent, as evidenced by behind-the-scenes accounts confirming a focus on abstract choreography. This tension highlighted a precautionary approach to content, wherein anticipated emotional distress prompts preemptive condemnation, contrasting with first-principles evaluations that demand verifiable causal harm—such as direct incitement or documented abuse—before restricting art. In broader free expression discourse, the episode bolstered arguments against subjective "trigger" mechanisms as veto powers in media, favoring instead empirical thresholds for intervention; unlike substantiated cases of child exploitation in productions (e.g., involving non-consensual participation), "Elastic Heart" featured a trained child performer under parental supervision, with no reported adverse effects on , who continued collaborating with Sia. Mainstream critiques, frequently amplified by outlets with documented sensitivities to cultural taboos, illustrated how such overreactions risk conflating artistic risk-taking with , potentially chilling creators from exploring raw human experiences without dilution. The video's endurance on platforms like , amassing sustained viewership without removal, underscored the causal inefficacy of offense-based pressures in effecting when prevails. This resilience affirmed critiques of societal overprotectiveness, wherein heightened vigilance against perceived vulnerabilities—often rooted in institutional biases toward preemptive safeguards—can stifle creative output by equating discomfort with danger. By withstanding backlash without concession to demands for withdrawal, "Elastic Heart" demonstrated that probing psychological depths can persist, validating boundary-pushing as essential to cultural progress over sanitized .

Performances and Variations

Live Renditions

Sia first performed "Elastic Heart" live on on January 17, 2015, accompanied by dancers and Denna Thomsen in choreography echoing the music video's interpretive style. The song received subsequent television exposure on on January 30, 2015, where Sia sang from within a large, heart-shaped cage prop, with Ziegler reprising dance elements that amplified the performance's physical intensity. On April 7, 2015, during the results episode of season 8 of The Voice, Sia delivered a vocal-focused rendition emphasizing the track's emotional range without additional staging. Later live outings included a stripped-back version in the Sound Space on November 15, 2015, highlighting vocal vulnerability over production layers, and appearances during the 2016–2017 , where setlists integrated the song into high-energy sequences drawing crowds exceeding 10,000 per show in major venues. Post-2015 surrounding the video, renditions showed no substantive alterations, preserving the original's resilient thematic drive; a 2021 performance at the Go Campaign Gala featured Sia with her choir ensemble The Chandeliers, maintaining acoustic intimacy amid group harmonies.

Alternative Versions and Remixes

In 2013, released an early version of "Elastic Heart" featuring vocals from Sia and , included on the soundtrack for The Hunger Games: . This iteration emphasized trap-influenced production and shared thematic elements with the later solo recording, but incorporated The Weeknd's harmonies and ad-libs absent from subsequent releases. Sia's 2015 solo version from served as the primary iteration, spawning official remixes compiled in the Elastic Heart (The Remixes) EP on April 14, 2015. The EP featured electronic extensions by producers including (runtime: 5:17, with atmospheric beats and reverb-heavy vocals), (3:47, incorporating glitchy synths), and Blood Diamonds (emphasizing bass-heavy drops). Additional mixes on the EP, such as the Kid Arkade Extended Mix, prolonged the track's dance-oriented structure for club play. A piano version, stripped to minimal instrumentation highlighting Sia's vocal dynamics, was released officially on August 27, 2019, via her YouTube channel and streaming platforms. This rendition reduced the original's percussive and electronic layers, focusing on raw emotional delivery without altering lyrics or tempo. Diplo and ETC!ETC! produced a VIP remix in November 2016, amplifying trap elements with heavier drops and synth builds; distributed as a free promotional download, it did not appear on commercial compilations.

Legacy

Cultural and Artistic Impact

The "Elastic Heart" exemplified Sia's innovative approach to pop visuals by centering and narrative abstraction over traditional artist performance, a style that built on her earlier collaboration with in "" and influenced subsequent dance-driven music videos in the genre. This dancer-led format, featuring Ziegler's expressive physicality in a cage-bound duel with released on January 7, 2015, helped establish Sia's brand for visually compelling, metaphor-heavy storytelling that prioritized emotional conveyance through movement rather than lyrics alone. Ziegler's role in the video marked a pivotal acceleration in her career trajectory, transforming her from a "Dance Moms" contestant into a recognized digital dance icon, with the series of Sia videos—including "Elastic Heart"—garnering hundreds of millions of views and leading to modeling contracts, film roles, and endorsements by 2016. The video's raw, sequences emulated primal conflict and reconciliation, inspiring emulations in pop that emphasized vulnerability and athleticism, as seen in later works by artists exploring similar abstract physicality. Thematically, the song's portray an "elastic heart" enduring relational strain without permanent rupture, a resilience motif that resonated in broader cultural discussions of personal fortitude, though direct self-help appropriations remain anecdotal rather than systematically documented in peer-reviewed . This conceptual framework, paired with the video's provocative imagery, has prompted ongoing debates in artistic circles about the boundaries between expression and interpretation, underscoring its role in challenging conventional pop aesthetics.

Retrospective Views and Anniversaries

In January 2025, marking the 10-year anniversary of the music video's release on January 7, 2015, Sia's official team posted celebratory content across platforms, describing "Elastic Heart" as an "iconic" work that remains "as powerful as ever." This acknowledgment highlighted a rehabilitation of the video's reputation, positioning it as enduring art rather than a point of contention. The song and video have demonstrated long-term resilience, with the official YouTube upload surpassing 1.3 billion views by 2025 and the track exceeding 1 billion streams on as of November 2024. These metrics underscore sustained audience engagement, outlasting the 2015 backlash without any documented evidence of harm to the performers, including young dancer , whose career subsequently flourished in , , and . Retrospective commentary has increasingly framed the initial outrage—centered on unsubstantiated allegations of exploitation or pedophilic undertones—as an instance of to abstract artistic expression, where metaphors of internal struggle (Sia as the caged child-self confronting adult turmoil) were misconstrued without causal basis for real-world injury. This evolution reflects a broader consensus validating the piece's interpretive as intentional , rather than prescriptive narrative, with criticisms fading amid empirical indicators of cultural persistence over manufactured alarm.

Production Credits

Song Credits

"Elastic Heart" was written by Sia Furler, Thomas Wesley Pentz (known professionally as Diplo), and Andrew Swanson. The track was produced by Greg Kurstin and Diplo, with Kurstin also handling co-production duties on Sia's album version from 1000 Forms of Fear sessions in 2014. Engineering credits include Greg Kurstin, Diplo, Andrew Swanson, and Jesse Shatkin, with recording taking place at studios such as Echo Studio in Los Angeles. Sia Furler provided lead vocals, with no additional featured performers on the released single version.

Video Personnel

The music video for "Elastic Heart" was co-directed by Sia and Daniel Askill. Choreography was handled by , who had previously collaborated with Sia on the "" video. The primary performers were actor , depicting a wild, caged figure, and young dancer , portraying a more counterpart in a large setting. Production credits included as producer and Lorin Askill as editor.
RolePersonnel
DirectorSia, Daniel Askill
Choreographer
Performers,
Producer
EditorLorin Askill

Release Details

Formats and Dates

"Elastic Heart" was first released as a digital single on January 9, 2015, by , following its inclusion on Sia's album , which had been issued on CD and digital formats on July 8, 2014, in the United States. The accompanying premiered on January 7, 2015, via and . A remix EP, Elastic Heart (The Remixes), followed on April 14, 2015, as a digital download featuring versions by producers including and Blood Diamonds. Subsequent inclusions appeared in various compilations, such as the 2016 CD release of Now That's What I Call Music! 93 in the , where it was track 18 on disc two, released April 22, 2016. The track has remained available on streaming platforms like and without major re-releases, integrated into Sia's broader catalog bundles post-2015.
FormatRelease DateMediumNotes
Digital singleJanuary 9, 2015DownloadWorldwide via
Music video premiereJanuary 7, 2015Online (/)Directed by Sia and Daniel Askill
Album inclusion (CD/digital)July 8, 2014Physical/digitalOn 1000 Forms of Fear
Remixes EPApril 14, 2015Digital download7-track EP with producer remixes
Compilation CDApril 22, 2016Physical CDNow That's What I Call Music! 93 ()

Regional Variations

The solo version of "Elastic Heart" was distributed globally without modifications to its lyrics or core production, maintaining uniformity across markets. Promotional efforts for the preceding collaboration version with and included region-specific singles, such as a CDr promo released in in 2013 and another in the during the same year, aimed at soundtrack promotion for : Catching Fire. No evidence exists of radio edits tailored specifically for conservative markets, though a standard version was made available internationally, primarily shortening the track for airplay without altering content. Certifications reflect regional differences in sales and streaming performance, with higher multiples in markets closer to Sia's Australian origins. In , the song achieved at least 2× Platinum status from , denoting shipments of 140,000 units, bolstered by domestic artist affinity. In the United States, it was certified 2× Platinum by the RIAA in 2015 for 2 million units sold or streamed. The awarded 3× Platinum certification by the BPI in 2024 for exceeding 1.8 million units, while granted 3× Platinum by . Canada certified it Platinum for 80,000 units, illustrating variance in consumer uptake without adaptation of the recording itself.

References

  1. https://www.billboard.com/artist/sia/
  2. https://digitalmediacriticism.wordpress.com/2017/04/28/sia-elastic-heart-analysus/
  3. https://headlineplanet.com/home/2015/11/11/sias-elastic-heart-major-lazers-lean-on-earn-2x-us-platinum-certifications/
  4. https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/9062/sia/
  5. https://www.facebook.com/yourmusicdot/posts/sias-elastic-heart-has-now-surpassed-1-billion-streams-on-spotify/1212314883748790/
  6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWZGAExj-es
  7. https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/sia-apologizes-pedophilia-perception-music-video/story?id=28100302
  8. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/sia-apologizes-for-controversial-elastic-heart-video-with-shia-labeouf-62021/
  9. https://www.songfacts.com/facts/sia/elastic-heart
  10. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/jan/31/sia-everyone-in-entertainment-is-insecure-observer-music-interview
  11. https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/sia-the-billboard-cover-story-5770521/
  12. https://gearspace.com/board/rap-hip-hop-engineering-and-production/995178-sia-quot-elastic-heart-quot-production.html
  13. https://www.interviewmagazine.com/music/sia
  14. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvjt4rm5R3s
  15. https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-ca-ms-diplo-20150726-story.html
  16. https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/catch-a-fire-label-tweaks-formula-for-hunger-games-catching-fire-soundtrack-5770713/
  17. https://www.audiotechnology.com/features/wigging-out
  18. https://music.apple.com/us/song/elastic-heart/989874555
  19. https://www.shazam.com/en-us/song/1442977113/elastic-heart-feat-the-weeknd-and-diplo
  20. https://genius.com/Sia-elastic-heart-lyrics
  21. https://sia.fandom.com/wiki/Elastic_Heart
  22. https://www.discogs.com/master/739952-Sia-Elastic-Heart
  23. https://music.apple.com/us/album/1000-forms-of-fear/882945378
  24. https://rateyourmusic.com/release/single/sia/elastic-heart-1/
  25. https://songbpm.com/%40sia/elastic-heart
  26. https://www.hooktheory.com/theorytab/view/sia/elastic-heart
  27. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noHygl5CGEY
  28. https://www.albumoftheyear.org/song/33066-elastic-heart/
  29. https://storyofsong.com/story/elastic-heart-3/
  30. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/elastic-heart-elastic-interpretation_b_6445560
  31. https://duclarion.com/2015/01/video-breakdown-sias-elastic-heart/
  32. https://theedgesusu.co.uk/features/2015/02/01/do-you-need-a-thick-skin-to-tackle-sias-elastic-heart-video/
  33. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2949871/Sia-reveals-new-details-battle-drug-alcohol-addiction-depression.html
  34. https://baylorlariat.com/2015/01/27/tween-dancer-shoots-to-stardom-with-sia-dance-moms/
  35. https://www.syracuse.com/entertainment/2015/02/auburn_native_jack_hogan_nominated_for_a_grammy_for_his_work_on_sias_chandelier.html
  36. https://deadline.com/2015/01/shia-labeouf-sia-maddie-ziegler-video-1201343374/
  37. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4338648/trivia/
  38. https://ew.com/article/2015/01/09/sia-maddie-ziegler-chandelier-elastic-heart/
  39. https://www.cnn.com/videos/showbiz/2015/01/09/now-sia-shia-labeouf-maddie-ziegler-elastic-heart.hln
  40. https://dancemagazine.com/ryan-heffington-choreographs-another-viral-sia-music-video/
  41. https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/sia-elastic-heart-video-behind-the-scenes-6443828/
  42. https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2015/01/08/sia-elastic-heart-sia-and-daniel-askill/31065
  43. https://slate.com/culture/2015/02/sia-s-chandelier-and-elastic-heart-choreography-ryan-heffington-on-working-with-maddie-ziegler-shia-labeouf-and-sia.html
  44. https://www.nylon.com/articles/behind-the-scenes-elastic-heart-video
  45. https://musicfeeds.com.au/news/watch-banana-face-sia-explain-her-elastic-heart-video/
  46. https://www.billboard.com/pro/hot-100-chart-moves-sia-video-controversy/
  47. https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20150517/7501/
  48. https://acharts.co/song/81486
  49. https://www.buzzjack.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=173292
  50. https://chartmasters.org/most-streamed-songs-spotify/
  51. http://www.divadevotee.com/2013/10/Music-Review-Sia-Elastic-Heart.html
  52. https://aldonaslisteningjournal.wordpress.com/2015/01/15/sia-elastic-heart/
  53. https://poptastemaker.wordpress.com/2015/01/07/review-elastic-heart-by-sia/
  54. https://nbhap.com/sounds/sia-1000-forms-fear
  55. https://theedgesusu.co.uk/records/singles/2015/02/02/review-sia-elastic-heart/
  56. http://drownedinsound.com/releases/18311/reviews/4147966
  57. https://www.pluggedin.com/album-reviews/sia-1000-forms-of-fear/
  58. https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/sia-elastic-heart-video-maddie-ziegler-shia-labeouf-6429587/
  59. https://wildcat.arizona.edu/130701/uncategorized/elastic-heart-is-striking-not-sexual/
  60. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/jan/08/sia-apologises-to-those-who-feel-triggered-by-provocative-elastic-heart-video
  61. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2015/01/08/why-are-some-fans-upset-with-sias-new-video/
  62. https://www.cnn.com/2015/01/08/showbiz/feat-sia-shia-labeouf-maddie-ziegler-elastic-heart
  63. https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/is-12-year-olds-provocative-dance-with-shia-107621794472.html
  64. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/01/09/sia-responds-to-those-who-say-her-elastic-heart-video-was-disgusting-or-creepy/
  65. https://people.com/celebrity/sia-apologizes-for-elastic-heart-video-controversy/
  66. https://www.facebook.com/siamusic/posts/i-anticipated-some-pedophelia-cries-for-this-video-all-i-can-say-is-maddie-and-s/10153058884768408/
  67. https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/maddie-ziegler-defends-controversial-shia-4978425
  68. https://www.people.com/celebrity/sia-apologizes-for-elastic-heart-video-controversy/
  69. https://consequence.net/2015/01/sias-elastic-heart-video-is-art-not-pedophilia/
  70. https://www.damemagazine.com/2015/01/12/what-really-going-sias-elastic-heart/
  71. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jan/11/sia-video-pop-music-not-paedophilia
  72. https://amherststudent.amherst.edu/article/2015/01/27/sia-music-video-pushes-boundaries-and-sparks-unwarranted-criticism.html
  73. https://news.artnet.com/art-world/shia-labeouf-embroiled-in-pedophilia-controversy-217658
  74. http://londonreal.squarespace.com/blog/sia-elastic-heart
  75. https://www.laloyolan.com/arts_and_entertainment/is-sia-s-elastic-heart-music-video-really-art/article_c0d60bb8-9cf4-11e4-a272-d7b015b14973.html
  76. https://wrvu.org/elastic-heart-artistic-or-inappropriate/
  77. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaqymceidB8
  78. https://musicfeeds.com.au/news/watch-sias-elastic-heart-performance-on-saturday-night-live/
  79. https://www.spin.com/2015/01/sia-performs-in-an-elastic-heart-shaped-box-on-ellen/
  80. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54p1WrH5OGQ
  81. https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/sia-performs-elastic-heart-on-the-voice-watch-6524423/
  82. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=as-QdhEqpMY
  83. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwVyC6pu_m0
  84. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-ORdDXp7-Y
  85. https://genius.com/albums/Sia/Elastic-heart-the-remixes
  86. https://www.amazon.com/Elastic-Heart-Remixes-Sia/dp/B00VSB0QLS
  87. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqD1tLekh_U
  88. https://soundcloud.com/etc-etc/elastic-heart-diplo-etcetc-vip
  89. https://www.vice.com/en/article/how-sias-video-trilogy-re-wrote-the-rules-of-pop/
  90. https://www.vulture.com/2016/07/maddie-ziegler-our-first-digital-dance-star.html
  91. https://www.facebook.com/siamusic/videos/10-years-of-the-iconic-elastic-heart-video-team-sia/626711523112508/
  92. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DEimYb7p8jW/
  93. https://x.com/spotify_data/status/1859609755704013266
  94. https://kworb.net/youtube/video/KWZGAExj-es.html
  95. https://www.allmusic.com/song/elastic-heart-mt0064863134
  96. https://genius.com/Sia-elastic-heart-lyrics/q/producer
  97. https://music.apple.com/nz/song/elastic-heart/992757591
  98. https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/sia-sorry-for-pedophilia-concerns-over-new-clip-elastic-heart-6429632/
  99. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4338648/
  100. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4338648/fullcredits/
  101. https://music.apple.com/na/album/elastic-heart-the-remixes/983298252
  102. https://www.nowmusicwiki.com/index.php/Sia_-_Elastic_Heart
  103. https://open.spotify.com/album/1bk1IYJzSEDqBxDaiqxO2S
  104. https://www.discogs.com/release/8494347-Sia-Elastic-Heart
  105. https://www.discogs.com/release/6116678-Sia-Featuring-The-Weeknd-Diplo-Elastic-Heart
  106. https://open.spotify.com/track/5xY40bQBWhF88wocjxupDU
  107. https://x.com/siafurlerfanpg/status/1887276972360810783
  108. https://maddieziegler.fandom.com/wiki/Elastic_Heart
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.