That voice. The hair. Sia has carved a name for herself in the music biz for her amazing song-writing abilities, beautiful and passionate voice, and, of course, her decision to always keep her face covered in public. So she made a truly interesting candidate for James Corden’s latest edition of Carpool Karaoke.
Frankly, we’d have watched the segment if there was no dialogue interspersed between the singing. Sia’s voice is just that good. The pair belted out some of her massive hits, including Chandalier, Diamonds, Elastic Heart, Alive, and David Guetta’s Titanium (on which she’s featured.)
But really, the one question on everyone’s minds, and that Corden was sure to ask, was about the hair. The singer is known for making public appearances with large hats, headwear or, most recently, a black and blonde wig covering most of her face. What’s up? On a more serious level, she notes that the element of mystery has been completely lost with today’s pop artists — there are Instagram photos of stars at the dentist, she jokes. So that helped influence her decision to help bring some of that mystery back, albeit in a strange way.
But a main reason is to shield herself from media exposure, to help maintain some level of privacy. The artist frankly admits that she used to be an alcoholic and drug addict. She got clean, but once she started to get famous (despite, by the way, having been a singer who enjoyed “mediocre” success for a decade prior), it was de-stabilizing. Covering her face from the cameras has helped keep her out of the potentially dangerous spotlight while still being able to do what she loves, and enjoy success at it.
While the discussion was a bit heavier than we’ve heard in other Carpool Karaokes, it also helps us better understand the power of the lyrics in many of her songs. Chandalier, for example, is clearly about her struggle with alcohol addiction. “I’m holding on for dear life, won’t look down, won’t open my eyes. Keep my glass full until morning light, ‘cause I’m just holding on for tonight.” Powerful stuff.
That said, if you’re extra curious, a quick Google search for Sia will elicit results with her face in clear view. What she looks like is no secret. And she doesn’t, of course, wear the cover-ups once the cameras are gone. Chances are many of the 600,000+ views thus far of this segment were piqued by simple curiosity to see if she’d take off the wig. (You’ll have to watch to find out!)
Also in the segment, the two discuss everything from Sia’s belief in aliens, to her odd double-jointed fingers on which she can hold a baffling number of eggs. (Yes, they prove it!)
It’s worth a look — and try to hit those high notes as you sing along.
The Late Late Show‘s Carpool Karaoke sets are coming out fast and furious as it’s clear that they’re a viral hit. Other recent appearances include Coldplay’s Chris Martin, Adele, and Elton John.
