The Greatest

Kendrick Lamar, Sia

About The Greatest

"The Greatest" is a song recorded by Australian singer and songwriter Sia for the deluxe edition of her seventh studio album, This Is Acting (2016). Being made available for digital consumption as the record's third single on 5 September 2016 through Monkey Puzzle and RCA Records, "The Greatest" features the vocal collaboration of American rapper Kendrick Lamar. The electropop and tropical house song was written by Sia, Greg Kurstin, and Lamar while production was solely handled by Kurstin. The solo version was written solely by the former two. The song was initially supposed to be in a new album called We Are Your Children. An accompanying music video for the single was filmed by Sia and Daniel Askill, and portrays American dancer Maddie Ziegler among 48 others. Although the singer has not provided an interpretation of the video's plot, numerous media outlets have perceived it as a tribute to the 49 victims of the Orlando nightclub shooting. Commercially, "The Greatest" reached the top five in several countries and was awarded with certifications in various territories. The music video was nominated for a 2017 MTV Video Music Award for Best Choreography. 


Year:
2016
3:30
5,745 
#34

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Uh-oh, running out of breath, but I
Oh, I, I got stamina
Uh-oh, running now, I close my eyes
Well, oh, I got stamina
And uh-oh, I see another mountain to climb
But I, I, I got stamina
Uh-oh, I need another lover, be mine
Cause I, I, I got stamina

Don't give up, I won't give up
Don't give up, no no no
Don't give up, I won't give up
Don't give up, no no no

I'm free to be the greatest, I'm alive
I'm free to be the greatest here tonight, the greatest
The greatest, the greatest alive
The greatest, the greatest alive

Well, uh-oh, running out of breath, but I
Oh, I, I got stamina
Uh-oh, running now, I close my eyes
But, oh oh, I got stamina
And oh yeah, running through the waves of love
But I, I got stamina
And oh yeah, I'm running and I've just enough
And uh-oh, I got stamina

Don't give up, I won't give up
Don't give up, no no no
Don't give up, I won't give up
Don't give up, no no no

I'm free to be the greatest, I'm alive
I'm free to be the greatest here tonight, the greatest
The greatest, the greatest alive
The greatest, the greatest alive (oh oh)

Oh-oh, I got stamina (ooh hoo ooh)
Oh-oh, I got stamina (ooh hoo ooh)
Oh-oh, I got stamina (ooh hoo ooh)
Oh-oh, I got stamina (ooh hoo)

Ay, I am the truth
Ay, I am the wisdom of the fallen, I'm the youth
Ay, I am the greatest
Ay, this is the proof
Ay, I work hard, pray hard, pay dues, ay
I transform with pressure, I'm hands-on with effort
I fell twice before, my bounce back was special
Letdowns'll get you, and the critics will test you
But the strong'll survive, another scar may bless you, ah

Don't give up (no no), I won't give up (no no)
Don't give up, no no no (nah)
Don't give up, I won't give up
Don't give up, no no no

I'm free to be the greatest, I'm alive
I'm free to be the greatest here tonight, the greatest
The greatest, the greatest alive (don't give up, don't give up, don't give up, no no no)
The greatest, the greatest alive (don't give up, don't give up, don't give up, no no no)

The greatest, the greatest alive (don't give up, don't give up, don't give up, no no no)
The greatest, the greatest alive (don't give up, don't give up, don't give up, no no no)
The greatest, the greatest alive (don't give up, don't give up, don't give up, no no no)
The greatest, the greatest alive (I got stamina)
The greatest, the greatest alive (I got stamina)
The greatest, the greatest alive (I got stamina)

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Sia

Sia Kate Isobelle Furler (/ˈsiːə/ SEE-ə; born 18 December 1975) is an Australian singer, songwriter, record producer and music video director. She started her career as a singer in the acid jazz band Crisp in the mid-1990s in Adelaide. In 1997, when Crisp disbanded, she released her debut studio album titled OnlySee in Australia, but it did not sell well. She moved to London, England, and provided lead vocals for the British duo Zero 7. more »

28 fans

Written by: GREG KURSTIN, KENDRICK LAMAR, BLAIR MACKICHAN, SIA KATE FURLER

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Production and Release
"The Greatest" by Sia was released on September 6, 2016, as a single from her album "This is Acting” and as part of the lead single from the deluxe edition.
Collaboration
The song features vocals from American rapper, Kendrick Lamar, though the version often played in the radio is the solo version without any features.
Chart-Peaking
This single hit number 24 on the Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at number 5 in the UK singles chart.
Music Video Significance
The music video directed by Sia and Daniel Askill, features 49 dancers, a symbolic representation of the 49 victims of the Orlando nightclub shooting incident, showcasing a tribute to the incident.
Video Star
Maddie Ziegler, a frequent collaborator with Sia, plays the principal character in the song's music video, with her face painted in rainbow colors which is seen as a nod to LGBTQ+ pride.
Award Nomination
The song received a 2017 MTV Video Music Awards nomination in the category "Best Choreography".
Lyrics Interpretation
The chorus lyrics "I've got stamina" are often interpreted by fans as a reflection of Sia's personal battles with addiction and bipolar disorder.
Streaming Success
"The Greatest" was a streaming sensation, reaching over 200 million streams on Spotify alone.
Accolades
The song also found its place in several year-end list of best songs including Rolling Stone, Billboard, and People magazine.
Social Impact
Its music video has been frequently used by activists and commentators as a powerful statement against gun violence and a tribute to the strength and resilience of the LGBTQ+ community.

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