Some People Have Real Problems

Sia has once again outdone herself

Australian singer Sia Kate Isobelle Furler professionally known as simply Sia, has started singing yet in the 1990s, but the real fame came to her with the release of the debut album Healing Is Difficult in 2000, a sly mixture of R&B and jazz which led to the comparisons with Nelly Furtado and Lauren Hill. Yet four years later the world has heard an absolutely different Sia, when her sophomore effort Color The Small One was put out to offer much more sophisticated compositions, and some critics compared the singer to Dido and Sarah McLachlan. Naturally that was not the end of surprises that the talented singer with a recognizable voice of a wide range has prepared for the audience. This year she releases her next creation, Some People Have Real Problems. This time Sia has once again outdone herself recording a collection of pop songs of varied moods, some of which could be heard on her EPs, and demonstrating the best of her vocal capacity. Thus at the beginning of the year it is already possible to make your own best charts in which Some People Have Real Problems is sure to occupy the top position so far.

Some People Have Real Problems is listened all at a breath

Very emotionally powerful, Some People Have Real Problems is almost an hour long and offers fourteen splendid tracks that are listened all at a breath. The opener Little Black Sandals is one of the most personal songs for Sia, on which she tells the story of failed relationship that left an unpleasant feeling, but she is full of strength to move on. The song is refined with kids' singing that adds a special charm to it and is remarkable for a simple catchy tune. A beautiful composition Lentil that could be heard on Sia's live album Lady Croissant is one of the brightest example's of how the artist is really able to sing, while Day Too Soon, a livelier song, pleases with its touching lyrics that tells of meeting a man of her dreams. Ballad You Have Been Loved is full of passion and light sadness, whereas a harder song The Girl is Sia's way to claim her independence and strength in a frank and bold way. Duet with Beck Academia and cover of Kinks and The Pretenders I Go To Sleep are two highlights on the record, the former amazing with brilliant lyrics written for being performed in a duet and the latter presenting an excellent interpretation of a great song. Tracks Playground and Death By Chocolate contrast each other in a deep sense – one is devoted to caprices and games, and another is a much more mature soulful anthem. The absolute success in the respect of the lyrics and emotion has become song Soon We'll Be Found describing a crisis a couple is surviving, and Sia's voice here is really amazing. Probably track Lullaby is one of those that explain the comparisons with Sarah McLachlan, and Buttons (Bonus Track) is one of Sia's earlier works that adds a nice easy going note to the record.

Finest nuances, half tones and unsophisticated word play

If the Australian singer used to be one of those who quietly record their albums being satisfied with their music being appreciated by a certain, rather narrow circle of listeners, now it is quite obvious that Sia seriously intends to get the world's acknowledgement. Producer Jimmy Hogarth who worked with singers like Corinne Bailey Rae and Amy Winehouse has managed to make each track on Some People Have Real Problems preserve the inimitable features of Sia's special style and at the same time match the format of mainstream. Complicated melodies, contrasts of soft and more metallic vocals, unusual instruments – all these still make the inseparable part of the unique singer's music. Nevertheless it looks like Sia is more than ever close to being called one of the most influential performers on the world scene. Her pop music cannot be called simple, and simultaneously it is built around the slightest and finest nuances, half tones, and the lyrics' strong points are interesting metaphors and unsophisticated word play. Undoubtedly Some People Have Real Problems has become a grand step forward for the Australian, and one can be sure that she still has in store enough ideas aimed at surprising and conquering the world.