Maddie Ziegler and Sia’s “Chandelier” Music Videos

The video for Sia’s new single, “Chandelier,” was released on May 6; it’s a booze-soaked confessional filmed in an urban Los Angeles fleabag. In the video, an eleven-year-old Maddie Ziegler portrays prepubescent Sia in a fringed blonde wig. For four minutes, the mini-Sia caterwauls.

While Sia’s primary audience is young girls, she uses her music to speak to this particular demographic. Many young women in our society are encouraged to live wild lives fueled by media that encourages women to be carefree. Sia’s lyrics, however, are bittersweet, speaking of the pain young women are trying to cover up. But Ziegler’s music videos are not only visually striking, but also make us think about our own tomorrows.

Maddie Ziegler began her career on the reality show “Dance Moms” and soon worked with Sia. After seeing her dance performances on the Lifetime series, the pop star invited her to appear in her music video for “Chandelier,” which became a hit. Now, Maddie is a famous face, thanks to her role in the hit video. If you love Sia’s music, you’ll definitely want to check out Maddie’s dance videos.

The “Chandelier” music video stars an 11-year-old dancer in a nude leotard. Sia’s ‘character’ is wearing a white wig. She is externalizing the youthful spirit of Sia. Ziegler’s performance conveys a melancholic hangover while showing a childlike carelessness. But she also reveals that she’s not the “boss” of the song.