Karaoke Song of the Week! “Chandelier” By Sia

Time for the Karaoke Song of the Week How-To!
DIFFICULTY LEVEL: HARD

I haven’t been feeling top-notch lately, so I missed the Karaoke Song of the Week on Friday this week, and altogether last week…but, as I am reminded by this quote…

I’m going to say “plot twist!” and give you our Karaoke Song of the Week today: Sia’s Chandelier.

I love Sia’s rich and haunting voice: and she has so many moving and powerful songs. This one is not her mort “powerful” song, but is probably the one you know best by her–a good intro for any Sia newbies. I’ll be sure to share some more of her videos and lyrics for karaoke how-to’s in the future.

Here is the original music video for Chandelier: your karaoke tune of the week:

I know, I know…you might be thinking “Chandelier? Really? Isn’t that a bit tricky to sing? How do I even reach those notes?” Well, I felt the same way until I did watch this video from the lovely “Voice Finder” Fel:

I really appreciate Fel’s video, because she breaks it down into how Sia pronounces the lyrics, what she does with her voice to get it from deep to high (hint: she goes from chest voice to head voice–the video above shows you a bit on how).

A special note I know my wife would appreciate I include: For some Sia “purists,” you might not like to watch a video that breaks down the song to this extreme degree–but it is great for those who are really trying to study how to sing the song in the same way as Sia–my wife felt that it took away from the beauty and meaning of the song, and her ability to “just enjoy it.” I liked this video, though–you might like it too.

So without further ado…the lyrics for Chandelier so that you may follow along and perfect your karaoke skills:

Chandelier
By Sia

You’ll find that the beginning of the song is more a discussion with herself: she’s trying to convince herself that partying, drinking, and making herself numb means she won’t get hurt…You don’t want to sing this first part with too much “party girl” attitude, but a more melancholy feeling:

Party girls don’t get hurt,
Can’t feel anything. When will I learn?
I push it down, push it down…
I’m the one–for a good time call
Phone’s blowing up; ringing my doorbell…
I feel the love, feel the love…

Now get ready for the intense chorus…

One two three. One two three, drink!
One two three. One two three, drink!
One two three. One two three, drink!
Throw ’em back ’til I lose count…

Here it helps if you try to lower your voice to your “chest voice” at the end of the word “count” so that you can get ready to belt like Sia!

I’m gonna swing from the chandelier…
Part-way through “chandelier,”–at the last syllable–you will switch to your “head voice” to sing those really high notes with more ease (see Fel’s video above for more on this)…repeat for the words “exist” as well:
From the chandelier!
I’m gonna live like tomorrow doesn’t exist…
Like it doesn’t exist!
Now you will stay in your head voice so that you stay nice and high for these parts, but try not to sound screechy or whiney!
I’m gonna fly like a bird through the night,
Feel my tears as they dry.
I’m gonna swing from the chandelier
From the chandelier!

This next part goes by very fast and is a little more breathy:
And 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
Help me, 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
On for tonight

For any of you who have had the “walk of shame,” you know how Sia’s character for this part of the song feels…use that to get the right emotion:
Sun is up, I’m a mess
Gotta get out now,
Gotta run from this
Here comes the shame,
Here comes the shame…

Now you basically repeat what you did earlier…be sure to keep the emotion lonely, melancholy, and regretful, but with a sort of beauty:
One two three. One two three, drink!
One two three. One two three, drink!
One two three. One two three, drink!
Throw ’em back ’til I lose count…

I’m gonna swing from the chandelier…
From the chandelier!
I’m gonna live like tomorrow doesn’t exist…
Like it doesn’t exist!
I’m gonna fly like a bird through the night,
Feel my tears as they dry.
I’m gonna swing from the chandelier
From the chandelier!

And 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
Help me, 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
On for tonight
On for tonight

And fade away…

Hope you enjoyed this post! Comment below to let me know what you think, and if you have a song that you want me to add to the Karaoke Song of the Week.