I am in awe of Sia’s latest single, titled The Greatest. Unlike the vast majority of modern day pop ballads pining over an unrequited crush, Sia presents a testament to the state of the human condition. We have technological marvels: the ability to control planes from thousands of miles away. We have medical breakthroughs: there’s a machine that functions as a human kidney to filter all of the toxins from your blood (and did you know that in the Philippines, dialysis costs only $100 per session?) We have cars that drive themselves, drones that deliver packages, and athletes that push the limits of their body far past what most mortals even dream possible. Despite these wonders, in this same year we lost 49 lives in the deadliest single gunman shooting in US history.
The song describes the universal struggle, as each person battles his or her own issues. Meeting her mountains and overcoming them, the singer perseveres, chanting “I got stamina”, “I’m free to be the greatest”, and “I’m alive”. The song celebrates the value of each human being, while the music video focuses on women and children, the downtrodden, and the minority. It’s more than a breath of fresh air for the music industry. When art goes beyond itself to teach us that every life has worth, it paints a beautiful portrait in the face of our flawed humanity.