<P> Making pop about a specific tragedy is necessarily a tricky job . So it's no crime that some of the other mainstream original songs memorializing Orlando have been as rote as issue - oriented singles are often stereotyped as being...But "The Greatest" is very potent, a work of art, not charity...There's no break here from the rest of Sia's catalogue about pain and release in everyday life: You hear a sad voice wailing about bucking up, very stark emotional peaks and valleys, and a danceable backing of explosive drums, toy - box melodies, and reggae grooves . Sia and Greg Kurstin may have written the song even before the massacre . But in the context of Orlando, the possible platitude of the chorus becomes gutting: "I'm free to be the greatest / I'm alive ." She's pepping the listener up, but she's also defining the value of life, marking the human potential that's been lost . </P> <P> The Orlando shooting commemoration was also praised by Bruno Russell from The Edge, who called the song's concept "inspirational" as "the message is clear: that we can make a difference and be' The Greatest,' but we have to act now ." Russell awarded a 5 - star review for the song, praising her performance as having "somewhat of a narrative feel, especially from the childish nature of the instrumental backing, which emphasises the vulnerability there to be exposed and challenged (though, at the same time, there is also a power within this from the more powerful chorus)." Russell also praised Lamar's rap in the single release of the track . </P> <P> Upon the song's release, "The Greatest" debuted on several charts worldwide, including the US Billboard Hot 100 at number 52, UK Singles Chart at 49, and Australian Singles Chart at number 25, and achieved top ten debuts in France, New Zealand, Scotland, Finland, Norway, Hungary, Spain, and Sweden . In its second week on UK Singles Chart, the song climbed to number 5, making it Sia's ninth top ten single on that chart, and Kendrick's second . It later rose to number 2 in Australia, number 1 in Switzerland, and number 18 in the US . In its fourth week on the singles chart, "The Greatest" was certified Gold in both Australia and Canada . </P> <P> The music video was directed by Sia and Daniel Askill and choreographed by Ryan Heffington . The director of Photography was Mathieu Plainfosse . It was released on 5 September 2016 and has been viewed on YouTube more than 520 million times . </P>

What is sia's the greatest song about