Elastic Heart

"Elastic Heart"
Single by Sia featuring The Weeknd & Diplo
from the album The Hunger Games: Catching Fire – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Released 1 October 2013
Format Digital download
Genre
Length 4:18
Label
Writer(s)
Producer(s)
Sia singles chronology
"She Wolf (Falling to Pieces)"
(2012)		 "Elastic Heart"
(2013)		 "Chandelier"
(2014)
The Weeknd singles chronology
"Live For"
(2013)		 "Elastic Heart"
(2013)		 "Wanderlust"
(2014)

"Elastic Heart" is a song by Australian recording artist Sia featuring Canadian recording artist The Weeknd and American producer Diplo, taken from the soundtrack for the 2013 American film The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. The song was produced by Diplo and American producer Greg Kurstin. It was released on 1 October 2013 as a single from Catching Fire by RCA, Republic and Lionsgate. "Elastic Heart" was well received by music critics and peaked at number 7 on the singles chart of New Zealand and was certified gold 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 music video, which features actor Shia LaBeouf and Maddie Ziegler.

Release and composition
"Elastic Heart" (2013)
"Elastic Heart" is a pop 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 music video for the track directed by Sia herself appeared on YouTube on 12 November 2013. The video features a couple struggling to cope with their break-up.[3] A power ballad,[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] Having the chord progression of D–A–E–F♯m, the song is composed in the key of F# minor.[8]

Reception

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]

Personnel

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

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Chart (2013–14) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[12] 67
Belgium Urban (Ultratop Flanders)[19] 46
Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia)[13] 27
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[15] 7
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[16] 79
Chart (2015) Peak
position
Argentinean Singles Chart[20] 1
Hungary (Mahasz)[21] 20
Denmark (Tracklisten)[22] 21
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[23] 46
Italy (FIMI)[24] 11
Lebanon (Lebanese Top 20)[25] 19
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[26] 15
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[14] 12
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[27] 61

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
New Zealand (RMNZ)[28] Platinum 15,000*
Denmark (IFPI Denmark)[29] Gold 30,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

Release history

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 [30]
Italy 15 November 2013 Universal Music Group [31]

Sia solo version

"Elastic Heart"
Single by Sia
from the album 1000 Forms of Fear
Released 9 January 2015
Format Digital download
Genre
Length 4:17
Label RCA
Writer(s)
Producer(s)
Sia singles chronology
  • "Elastic Heart"
  • (2015)
Music video
Official music video on YouTube

In 2014, Sia recorded a solo version of "Elastic Heart" for her sixth studio album, 1000 Forms of Fear.[32] It was released on 9 January 2015 by RCA as the fourth single from the album.[33] Annie Zaleski from The AV Club labelled "Elastic Heart" a "striking power ballad,"[4] while AllMusic's Heather Phares picked the song as one of the three standouts from the album, alongside "Chandelier" and "Eye of the Needle".[34] 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]

In Italy, "Elastic Heart" impacted contemporary hit radio on 9 January 2015.[33] "Elastic Heart" debuted at number 8 on the ARIA Singles Chart on the chart issue dated 19 January 2015.[35] The following week, the song rose to number 5.[36] The Australian Recording Industry Association certified it 2× Platinum, which denotes shipments exceeding 140,000 copies in Australia.[37][38] 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".[39] The song has sold more than 512,000 downloads in the United States.[40]

In the United Kingdom, the single peaked at number 10 on the UK Singles Chart on 5 April 2015 and has since been certified Silver by the British Phonographic Industry.[41][42]

Music video

A still from the video featuring Shia Labeouf and Maddie Ziegler, which sparked speculation that the visual portrays a pedophilia theme

On 7 January 2015, the music video for the song was released. Directed by Sia and Daniel Askill and choreographed by Ryan Heffington,[43] The video features Maddie Ziegler, who previously appeared in the video for Sia's single "Chandelier", and actor Shia LaBeouf.[44] In the video, Ziegler and LaBeouf wear nude and dirt-smeared outfits.[43] Justine Harman from Elle likened the concept of the video to the plot of Titanic.[45] Analysing the video's content, Jason Lipshutz from Billboard summarised it this way: "The entirety of the video features the surprising pair interpreting the song through various 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."[46]

Upon its release, the visual faced criticism from a number of audiences due to the depiction of a nearly naked adult and child dancing together, being accused of depicting images that may express pedophilia. Sia later apologised on Twitter: "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 [apologise] to those who feel triggered by 'Elastic Heart'. My intention was to create some emotional content, not to upset anybody."[47]

Live performances

On 17 January 2015, Sia performed "Elastic Heart" on Saturday Night Live.[48] For the performance, Sia sang the song with a short black veil covering her face, while Ziegler recreated the dance routine in the music video wearing a nude leotard and blonde wig.[49] Later that month, Sia made a live rendition of the song on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.[50] She also performed the song on The Voice UK on 28 March and The Voice US on 7 April 2015.[51][52]

Charts

Chart (2015) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[36] 5
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[53] 15
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[54] 35
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[55] 16
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[56] 7
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[57] 14
France (SNEP)[58] 23
Germany (Media Control Charts)[59] 29
Ireland (IRMA)[60] 4
Israel (Media Forest)[61] 2
Norway (VG-lista)[62] 10
Poland (Polish Airplay Top 20)[63] 2
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[64] 9
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[65] 14
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[41] 10
US Billboard Hot 100[66] 17
US Hot Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[67] 1
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[68] 36

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Australia (ARIA)[37] 2× Platinum 140,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[69] Platinum 80,000^
Italy (FIMI)[70] Gold 25,000double-dagger
United Kingdom (BPI)[42] Gold 400,000double-dagger
United States (Nielsen SoundScan) 512,000[40]

^shipments figures based on certification alone
double-daggersales/streaming figures based on certification alone

Release history

Region Date Format Label Ref.
Italy 9 January 2015 Contemporary hit radio RCA [33]
United States 9 February 2015 Hot adult contemporary [71]
10 February 2015 Contemporary hit radio [72]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Top 40/R Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on 1 October 2013.
  3. ↑ "Sia feat. The Weeknd & Diplo, 'Elastic Heart'". MuuMuse. 12 November 2013. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Zaleski, Annie (8 July 2014). "Accidental pop songwriter Sia doesn't quite reclaim solo career momemtum". The AV Club. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
  5. ↑ Hughes, Hilary (18 January 2015). "You Don't Have to 'Get' Sia to Love Her on 'SNL'". The Village Voice. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Cliff, Aimee (16 July 2014). "1000 Forms of Fear – FACT magazine". Fact. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
  7. ↑ Shepherd, Julianne (8 July 2014). "Sia 1000 Forms of Fear: Album Review". Rolling Stone (1212). Retrieved 24 January 2015.
  8. ↑ "Sia 'Elastic Heart' Sheet Music". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  9. ↑ Sullivan, Blue (24 November 2013). "Original Soundtrack: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  10. ↑ Martins, Chris (30 September 2013). "Sia Soars With the Weeknd and Diplo on 'Elastic Heart'". Spin. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  11. ↑ Stern, Bradley (September 2013). ""Elastic Heart (feat. The Weeknd & Diplo)": Sia Soldiers On With Almighty 'Hunger Games' Anthem". MuuMuse. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "The ARIA Report" (PDF). Pandora Archive (Australian Recording Industry Association – ARIA) (1233). 14 October 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 "Ultratop.be – Sia feat. The Weeknd & Diplo – Elastic Heart" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Swisscharts.com – Sia feat. The Weeknd & Diplo – Elastic Heart". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 "Charts.org.nz – Sia feat. The Weeknd & Diplo – Elastic Heart". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 "Chart Log UK: New Entries Update – 12.10.2013 (wk 40)". Zobbel Archive. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  17. ↑ "Official Singles Chart UK Top 100 – 17th January 2015". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 11 January 2015.
  18. ↑ The Hunger Games: Catching Fire – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (digital inlay cover). Various artist. Republic Records, a division of Universal Music Group. 2013.
  19. ↑ "ultratop.be – Ultratop 50 Urban – 12/10/2013" (in Dutch). ultratop.be. Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
  20. ↑ http://top40-charts.com/chart.php?cid=3&date=2015-02-26
  21. ↑ "Archívum › Kereső – lista és dátum szerint" (SELECT "SINGLE (TRACK) TOP 40 LISTA", YEAR 2015 AND WEEK 10") (in Hungarian). Mahasz. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
  22. ↑ "Danishcharts.com – Sia feat. The Weeknd & Diplo – Elastic Heart". Tracklisten. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  23. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Sia feat. The Weeknd & Diplo – Elastic Heart" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
  24. ↑ "Italiancharts.com – Sia feat. The Weeknd & Diplo – Elastic Heart". Top Digital Download. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  25. ↑ The Official Lebanese Top 20 – Sia
  26. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Sia feat. The Weeknd & Diplo – Elastic Heart". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
  27. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2015-01-17" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
  28. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications – Sia feat. The Weeknd and Diplo – Elastic Heart". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  29. ↑ "Certificeringer". IFPI Denmark. Archived 22 March 2015 at the Wayback Machine
  30. ↑ "CHR Airplay Archive". FMQB. Archived from the original on 24 June 2014.
  31. ↑ "Sia – Elastic Heart (feat. The Weeknd & Diplo)" (in Italian). Radio Airplay SRL. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
  32. ↑ 1000 Forms of Fear (liner notes). Sia. RCA/Monkey Puzzle.
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 33.2 Attanasi, Claudia. "SIA – Elastic Heart (RCA)" (in Italian). Radio Airplay SRL. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
  34. ↑ Phares, Heather. "1000 Forms of Fear – Sia | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
  35. ↑ "ARIA Australian Top 50 Singles Chart". ARIA Charts. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
  36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 "Australian-charts.com – Sia – Elastic Heart". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
  37. ↑ 37.0 37.1 "ARIA Australian Top 50 Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. 27 March 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
  38. ↑ International Certified Awards at the Wayback Machine (archived 28 March 2014)
  39. ↑ Trust, Gary (16 January 2015). "Hot 100 Chart Moves: Video Controversy Sends Sia's 'Elastic Heart' to No. 17 Debut". Billboard. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
  40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 Gallo, Phil (3 April 2015). "Exclusive: Sia, Wiz Khalifa to Perform on 'The Voice'". Billboard.
  41. ↑ 41.0 41.1 "Archive Chart: 2015-04-11" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  42. ↑ 42.0 42.1 "British single certifications – Sia – Elastic Heart". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 2 May 2015. Enter Elastic Heart in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select single in the field By Format. Select Gold in the field By Award. Click Search
  43. ↑ 43.0 43.1 Denham, Jess (8 January 2015). "Sia apologises for 'Elastic Heart' music video that sees Shia LaBeouf wrestle 12-year-old Maddie Ziegler". The Independent. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
  44. ↑ McRady, Rachel (7 January 2015). "Sia's "Elastic Heart" Music Video Features Shia LaBeouf in Underwear, Dance Moms' Maddie Ziegler: Watch Now!". US Weekly. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
  45. ↑ Harman, Justine (7 January 2015). "Sia New Video – Maddie Ziegler, Shia LaBeouf, Titanic". Elle. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
  46. ↑ Lipshutz, Jason (7 January 2015). "Sia's 'Elastic Heart' Video is a Cage Match Between Maddie Ziegler & Shia LaBeouf". Billboard. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
  47. ↑ Vincent, Peter (8 January 2015). "Sia sorry over 'pedophilia' upset caused by Elastic Heart video". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
  48. ↑ Peters, Mitchell (18 January 2015). "Watch Sia's Magnificent Visual Performances of 'Elastic Heart' and 'Chandelier' on 'SNL'". Billboard. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
  49. ↑ Oshmyansky, Rosalyn (18 January 2015). "Sia's 'Elastic Heart' performance on 'SNL' will give you chills". AOL. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
  50. ↑ Brodsky, Rachel (30 January 2015). "Sia Performs in an 'Elastic Heart'-Shaped Box on 'Ellen'". Spin. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  51. ↑ Kelly, Aoife (29 March 2015). "Dubliner Lucy O'Byrne makes live final of The Voice UK as Twitter loses it over Sia's wig". Irish Independent. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
  52. ↑ Vena, Jocelyn (8 April 2015). "Sia Performs 'Elastic Heart' on 'The Voice'". Billboard. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
  53. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Sia – Elastic Heart" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  54. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Sia – Elastic Heart" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  55. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Sia – Elastic Heart" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
  56. ↑ "Sia Album & Song Chart History" Canadian Hot 100 for Sia. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  57. ↑ "Sia: Elastic Heart" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  58. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Sia – Elastic Heart" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  59. ↑ "Officialcharts.de – Sia – Elastic Heart". GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
  60. ↑ "Chart Track: Week 6, 2015". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  61. ↑ "Sia – Elastic Heart Media Forest". Israeli Airplay Chart. Media Forest. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  62. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Sia – Elastic Heart". VG-lista. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  63. ↑ "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 20. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  64. ↑ "Spanishcharts.com – Sia – Elastic Heart" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  65. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Sia – Elastic Heart". Singles Top 60. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
  66. ↑ "Sia Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot 100 for Sia. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  67. ↑ "Sia Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs for Sia. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
  68. ↑ "Sia Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Pop Songs for Sia. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
  69. ↑ "Canadian single certifications – Sia – Elastic Heart". Music Canada. Retrieved March 10, 2015.
  70. ↑ "Italian single certifications – Sia – Elastic Heart" (in Italian). Federation of the Italian Music Industry. Retrieved 13 March 2015. Select Online in the field Sezione. Enter Sia in the field Filtra. The certification will load automatically
  71. ↑ "Hot/Modern/AC Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on 6 February 2015.
  72. ↑ "Top 40/M Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on 11 February 2015.