Music has a weird way of hitting you right in the chest when you aren’t looking for it. You’re driving, or maybe you're just staring at a wall in your room, and then Sia’s "Courage to Change" starts playing. It’s loud. It’s anthemic. But if you look past the massive vocals and that signature Sia vibrato, there is a whole lot of internal conflict baked into those three minutes and twenty seconds. Honestly, the song isn't just a pop track; it’s a direct plea for collective accountability that came out during one of the most fractured times in modern history.
Released in September 2020, "Courage to Change" was the second single from Sia's musical film Music. Now, we have to address the elephant in the room here. The movie Music was, to put it lightly, a lightning rod for controversy. It was criticized heavily by the autistic community for its casting and portrayal. Because of that, a lot of the actual songwriting on the soundtrack—including this track—got buried under the headlines. That’s a shame because the song itself exists in a space far bigger than the film's plot. It’s about the terrifying realization that you can't just wait for the world to get better. You actually have to be the one to do something.
Why Sia Courage to Change resonates so differently today
Most pop songs are about "me." My heartbreak, my party, my success. Sia took a different route here. She’s asking, "Have I the courage to change?" It’s a plural question. It’s about "us."
When she wrote this alongside Pink and Greg Kurstin, the world was literally sitting at home during a global pandemic. People were watching social justice movements catch fire on their screens. There was this palpable sense of "what now?" The song uses a very specific melodic interpolation of the 1970s hit "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony)" by The Hillside Singers (famously known from the Coca-Cola "Hilltop" ad). By pulling that melody, Sia isn't just being catchy. She’s nodding to a vintage era of "peace and love" idealism while grounding it in the much harsher reality of the 2020s. It’s nostalgic but also sort of desperate.
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The production is classic Greg Kurstin—big drums, sweeping synths, and that feeling of a slow-build explosion. Kurstin is the same guy behind Adele’s "Hello" and Kelly Clarkson’s "Stronger," so he knows how to make a vocal feel like a mountain moving. Sia’s voice on this track sounds strained in parts, but it feels intentional. It’s the sound of someone trying to convince themselves of their own power.
The songwriting mechanics you probably missed
If you look at the lyrics, they aren't complex. "You're not alone in all of this / A million people rise / And we're not afraid to lose it all / We're not afraid to die." It sounds like a battle cry. But why does it work?
It works because of the repetition. In songwriting, repeating a question like "Have I the courage to change?" over and over creates a psychological loop for the listener. By the fourth time she asks, you’re no longer thinking about her. You’re thinking about your own life. Your own stagnancy. It’s a clever trick.
- The first verse establishes isolation.
- The chorus breaks that isolation with the "million people" imagery.
- The bridge acts as the emotional climax where the "I" finally becomes "We."
Sia has always been open about her struggles with sobriety and mental health. When she sings about change, it doesn't feel like a corporate slogan. It feels like someone who has actually been through the wringer. She’s been very public about her diagnosis of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and her journey through the 12-step program. That lived experience gives the lyrics a weight that a younger, less-experienced pop star might not be able to carry.
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The controversy that almost drowned the message
You can't talk about Sia Courage to Change without talking about the backlash to the movie Music. The film featured Maddie Ziegler, Sia's long-time muse, playing an autistic teenager. The decision to cast a neurotypical actor and the inclusion of scenes involving physical restraint caused a massive outcry.
This created a strange dichotomy. On one hand, you had this song about being brave and making the world better. On the other hand, the creator was being accused of not listening to the very community she was trying to represent. It’s a complex lesson in "intent vs. impact." Sia eventually apologized for certain aspects of the film and added a warning label to the restraint scenes, but the damage to the film’s reputation was largely done.
However, "Courage to Change" took on a life of its own outside the film. It became a staple for graduation videos, social activist montages, and therapy playlists. It proves that once a song is released, the artist no longer owns the meaning. The public does.
Comparisons to "Chandelier" and "Elastic Heart"
People often compare this track to her 2014 era. It makes sense. All these songs share a "survivor" DNA. But "Chandelier" was about the downward spiral of addiction—the "party" that never ends. "Elastic Heart" was about the toughness required to survive a breakup.
"Courage to Change" is the evolution of that. It’s not just about surviving; it’s about evolving. It’s about the shift from endurance to action.
Actionable insights: How to actually apply the song's message
If you’re listening to this song and feeling like you’re stuck in a rut, just "feeling" the music isn't enough. Change is a verb. It requires a mechanical shift in your daily life. Sia’s lyrics suggest that the fear of losing everything is what keeps us from moving.
Start with the "One Percent" Rule
You don't need to change your entire life today. That’s how people burn out. In the song, she talks about a "million people rising." That starts with one person making one tiny adjustment. Maybe it’s waking up ten minutes earlier. Maybe it’s finally sending that email you’ve been dreading.
Identify your "Identity Anchor"
Sia often uses her wigs as a way to separate her public persona from her private self. It’s an anchor. To change, you need to identify what you’re clinging to that no longer serves you. Are you keeping a job you hate because you’re afraid of the title change? Are you staying in a relationship because you’re afraid of being "the single friend"?
Accept the discomfort of the "Bridge"
In music, the bridge is the transition. In life, the bridge is the messiest part. It’s the period where you’ve left the old you, but the new you hasn't quite arrived yet. It’s uncomfortable. It sounds like Sia’s high notes—strained and reaching. Embrace that strain. It means you’re actually moving.
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Where to go from here
If you want to dive deeper into the themes of the song, don't just loop the track. Look into the work of researchers like Brené Brown, who talks extensively about the courage to be vulnerable. The song is basically a musical adaptation of the idea that vulnerability is the birthplace of change.
Listen to the acoustic version of "Courage to Change" if you haven't yet. Without the heavy production, the lyrics hit much harder. You can hear the breath between the notes. It makes the "courage" part feel much more human and much less like a polished Hollywood production.
The reality is that change is boring, hard, and often invisible for a long time. Sia’s song gives us the "movie trailer" version of that struggle, which we all need sometimes just to get out of bed. But the real work happens when the song ends. Take that energy and put it into something tangible. Volunteer. Apologize to that person you hurt. Finally start that project. The world isn't going to wait for you to be ready. You just have to start.
Next Steps for You:
- Listen to the "Music" soundtrack but specifically contrast "Courage to Change" with "Together" to see the range of emotional intent Sia was aiming for.
- Audit your current habits. Pick one "micro-change" you can implement within the next 24 hours that aligns with the person you actually want to be.
- Research the "Hilltop" ad connection. Understanding the 1971 context of the melody she sampled adds a whole new layer of "global unity" to the listening experience.