It’s been three months since 49 people were killed in the shoot-up of a gay nightclub in Orlando and Sia is paying tribute to the victims in the visuals for her new single, “The Greatest.”
Featuring her frequent collaborator and music video muse Maddie Ziegler, the dancer is first seen (after the words #WeAreYourChildren appear on the screen) smearing rainbow-colored streaks down her cheeks before waking 49 other youths, seemingly soiled in the aftermath of something unseen. She rouses them, frees them, and leads them through the halls of a home for an emotional choreographed breakdown beneath the song’s powerful chorus: “I’m free to be the greatest, I’m alive / I’m free to be the greatest here tonight.”
While the video does not feature guest Kendrick Lamar, his verse — short, but uplifting and encouraging — can be heard on Spotify.
“Hey, I am the truth / Hey, I am the wisdom of the fallen / I’m the youth / Hey, I am the greatest / Hey, this is the proof / Hey, I work hard, pray hard, pay dues / Hey, I transform with pressure / I’m hands-on with effort / I fell twice before / my bounceback was special / Letdowns will get you / and the critics will test you / But the strong will survive / another scar may bless you, ah.”
Dancers from the video have already begun taking to social media to express their gratitude for being picked to participate in the project.