Unstoppable (Sia song)

"Unstoppable" is a song by Australian singer-songwriter Sia, taken from her seventh studio album This Is Acting (2016). The song was written by Sia and Christopher Braide, and produced by Jesse Shatkin. It was released as the album's final promotional single on 21 January 2016. In July, a new version of the song was made for Gillette's 2016 Olympic ad campaign, "Pretty Isn't Perfect", which features a verse from American rapper Pusha T.[1][2][3]

"Unstoppable"
Promotional single by Sia
from the album This Is Acting
Released21 January 2016 (2016-01-21)
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Jesse Shatkin

Composition

"Unstoppable" is the fifth track on Sia's 2016 album This Is Acting. It has been called a "stomping, empowering jam" and "swollen self-esteem anthem",[4][5] with lyrics like, "I'm unstoppable, I'm a Porsche with no brakes / I'm invincible, I win every single game / I'm so powerful I don't need batteries to play / I'm so confident yeah I'm unstoppable today."[6] The song was written by Sia, Christopher Braide, and produced by Jesse Shatkin.

Release and commercial use

Sia debuted "Unstoppable" on 20 January 2016, days before the album's 29 January release date.[4] The song marked the sixth used to promote the album prior to its release.[6][7][8] Major League Baseball used the song to promote the 2016 Postseason as well as highlights.[9]

In 2019, the song was used in the commercial for the Lancôme Idôle fragrance, which starred Zendaya.[10]

Reception

"Unstoppable" has received mostly positive critical reception, with most reviewers commenting on its theme of empowerment. Jessie Morris of Complex commented that the song sounds like a "page torn right out of Demi Lovato's Confident book", while editors of other media platforms like Idolator noticed this as well, which raised speculation that the track was intentionally written for Lovato.[11][12] Billboard's Jessica Katz said the song is reminiscent of work by Rihanna and "clearly follows in the lineage of emotional barn-burners that have become [Sia's] trademark".[6] Michelle Lulic of Bustle said its lyrics "make it clear is the female empowerment anthem you had no idea you were missing from your life. Seriously, if you need a song to get you through the rest of the work week... and this is the song you've been waiting for."[13] Furthermore, Lulic wrote, "While ... the song was not initially written for [Sia], it certainly doesn't take away from [her] ability to handle the powerful ballad and catchy lyrics. Because, honestly, if it was Rihanna, Adele, or even Katy Perry singing this song, it still wouldn't lose its powerful message."[13]

MTV's Emilee Lindner said it "encourages those who are feeling weak to put their armor on". Furthermore, she wrote, "The song seems like it's taking the message from her previously released track, 'Alive,' and giving it a boost. Instead of just surviving, she's going to prove to people that she's going to succeed, and she's going to look good doing it."[7] Daniel Kreps of Rolling Stone called the song "triumphant", with a "fist-pumping, wall-smashing" chorus.[14] Stereogum's Tom Breiham, who wrote about the song after its debut but before This Is Acting's release, guessed that Sia wrote "Unstoppable" with a recording artist like Katy Perry in mind. He compared the song to the work of Florence and the Machine.[5]

Charts

Weekly charts
Chart (2016) Peak
position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[15] 35
Belarus (Unistar Radio Top 20)[16] 1
France (SNEP)[17] 23
Germany (Official German Charts)[18] 62
Russia Airplay (Tophit)[19] 1
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[20] 94
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[21] 26
Ukraine Airplay (Tophit)[22] 10
Chart (2019–2020) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[23] 21
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[24] 10
Czech Republic (Rádio Top 100)[25] 13
Euro Digital Songs (Billboard)[26] 8
France Airplay (Radio Monitor)[27] 7
France Downloads (SNEP)[28] 2
Greece Airplay (IFPI)[29] 2
Greece Digital Songs (Billboard)[30] 4
Hungary (Single Top 40)[31] 17
Scotland (OCC)[32] 19
Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[33] 4
Switzerland (Media Control Romandy)[34] 3

Year-end charts
Chart (2016) Position
CIS (Tophit)[35] 13
Russia Airplay (Tophit)[36] 8
Ukraine Airplay (Tophit)[37] 122
Chart (2020) Position
Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[38] 44
Belgium (Ultratop Wallonia)[39] 49

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Belgium (BEA)[40] Gold 20,000
France (SNEP)[41] Platinum 200,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[42] Silver 200,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. Chris Payne (13 July 2016). "Sia's 'Unstoppable' Becomes 2016 Olympics Anthem Feat. Pusha T: Exclusive". Billboard. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  2. Carey O'Donnell. "Sia's "Unstoppable" Remixed As 2016 Olympic Anthem Feat. Pusha T". Paper. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  3. "Pusha T And Ariel Rechtshaid Remix Sia's "Unstoppable" For Gillette's Olympics Campaign". Stereogum. 13 July 2016. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  4. Goodman, Jessica (21 January 2016). "Sia releases empowering new song, 'Unstoppable'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  5. Breihan, Tom (21 January 2016). "Sia – "Unstoppable"". Stereogum. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  6. Katz, Jessica (21 January 2016). "Sia Is 'Unstoppable' on New Empowerment Anthem". Billboard. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  7. Lindner, Emilee (21 January 2016). "Sia Gives Us New Song, 'Unstoppable,' to Punch Things To". MTV. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  8. Gordon, Jeremy (21 January 2016). "Listen to Sia's "Unstoppable"". Pitchfork. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  9. Newman, Mark (24 August 2016). "To the races: MLB postseason schedule Announced". Major League Baseball. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  10. Ilchi, Layla (25 August 2019). "Zendaya Stars in Lancôme Idôle Fragrance Commercial". Women's Wear Daily. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  11. Morris, Jessie (21 January 2016). "Listen to Sia's "Unstoppable"". Complex. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
  12. Gracie, Bianca (21 January 2016). "Sia Is "Unstoppable" On Her Latest 'This Is Acting' Track: Listen". Idolator. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
  13. Lulic, Michelle (January 2016). "Sia's "Unstoppable" Lyrics Are Jam-Packed With Female Empowerment". Bustle. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  14. Kreps, Daniel (21 January 2016). "Hear Sia's Empowering New Track 'Unstoppable'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  15. "Austriancharts.at – Sia – Unstoppable" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
  16. "2 июнь 2016" (in Russian). Unistar Radio Top 20. Archived from the original on 2 July 2016. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  17. "Lescharts.com – Sia – Unstoppable" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  18. "Offiziellecharts.de – Sia – Unstoppable". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
  19. "Russia Airplay Chart for 2016-04-11." Tophit. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  20. "Swedishcharts.com – Sia – Unstoppable". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
  21. "Swisscharts.com – Sia – Unstoppable". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  22. "List of 10 April 2016" (in Russian). Ukrainian Music Charts. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  23. "Ultratop.be – Sia – Unstoppable" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  24. "Ultratop.be – Sia – Unstoppable" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  25. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – RADIO – TOP 100 and insert 202028 into search. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  26. "Euro Digital Song Sales – September 14, 2019". Billboard. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  27. "Radiomonitor.com". Archived from the original on 4 October 2019. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  28. "Le Top de la semaine : Top Singles Téléchargés – SNEP (Week 36, 2019)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  29. "Official IFPI Charts/Top-20 Airplay Chart (Combined)". ifpi.gr. Archived from the original on 30 April 2020. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  30. "Euro Digital Song Sales – September 28, 2019". Billboard. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
  31. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
  32. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
  33. "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 202008 into search. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  34. "Lescharts.ch – Sia – Unstoppable" (in French). Media Control. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  35. "CIS Year-End Radio Hits (2016)". Tophit. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  36. "Russian Top Year-End Radio Hits (2016)". Tophit. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  37. "Ukrainian Top Year-End Radio Hits (2016)". Tophit. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  38. "Jaaroverzichten 2020". Ultratop. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  39. "Rapports Annuels 2020". Ultratop. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  40. "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 2020". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  41. "French single certifications – Sia – Unstoppable" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  42. "British single certifications – Sia – Unstoppable". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 1 May 2020. Select singles in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type Unstoppable in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
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