When I first saw the music video “Chandelier” by Sia I was at home, hunting for a distraction from homework – finally resorting to YouTube. Appearing on the homepage was a little girl sporting an ice white wig, and I was curious. Almost immediately I recognized the sweet little Maddie Ziegler from the Lifetime TV series sensation, Dance Moms, as the girl wearing the wig and watched the rest of the four-minute clip. But boy was I confused when she was not the same dancing ballerina as on the show. She seemed more like someone who should be admitted to a mental institute. The choreography was disturbing. The barren apartment alluded to that of a horror film scene.

After the clip ended I wondered if there was more to the video than its absurdity. So I did what any person does; I googled it.

I found an explanation for the odd mannerisms was to represent a young woman who was obsessed with partying and overcome with alcoholism. Watching it back a second time I listened closely to the lyrics and realized that assumption was fairly accurate. The storyline of addiction is not far from the typical drug addictions rappers rhyme about. The music video was quite a stretch.

I have nothing against the musical talents of Sia; however, her dark, uncomfortable music videos don’t work in her favor to gain positive fanbase. They reflect the increasingly popular ploys from pop culture: make an obscene video/photo to create a frenzy of shocked, popular chatter. These odd phenomena have kickstarted a new philosophy in the marketing business of getting people to talk. This marketing method was tried by the mentally unhinged Miley Cyrus in her video “Wrecking Ball,” which displayed Cyrus naked on a wrecking ball. Even television personality Kim Kardashian-West took a similar approach in attempt to “break the internet” with her overly photoshopped nudes.

Nearly 10 months after the release of the “Chandelier” video, the video “Elastic Heart” debuted on Jan 7. The video showcased Zeigler, again, and introduced Shia LaBeouf, actor and director. The couple fought, thrashed and entangled themselves in one another while confined in an emourous bird cage. The controversial video received mass criticism because of the age difference – LaBeouf, 28, and Zeigler, 12.

Despite the unorthodoxy of the dance routine, “Elastic Heart” has an interpretation that can be more widely translated to individuals in a diverse number of ways. Here are a few interpretations:

1. The man and little girl inside the dome represent humans as barbaric, wild animals imprisoned in a cage.
2. The struggling relationship between a father and his daughter.
3. A depiction of abuse or even a more extreme view of peophillia.
4. Sia took to Twitter claiming “these two warring self-states” implying that the two characters depict her battling inner self. Some see it as the fight between a past and present Sia and others see a much different personal contest.

It is difficult for a person to pick just one explanation because of the complexity of the video – making assigning just one universal depiction impossible. It may not be clear what the meaning is but there is meaning. It’s different for everyone.

Overall, Sia adds more depth and a unique variety to the music industry; her lyrics provoke people, and her music videos are mysteriously captivating. Though she may be slightly ludicrous and bizarre, her talent and her ability to enthrall her audience is evident.