‘Cheap Thrills’ by Sia and Sean Paul Hits 9X Platinum Certification in the US

“Cheap Thrills”, the 2016 smash hit by Australian singer-songwriter Sia featuring Dancehall icon Sean Paul, has hit a major milestone with its 9X Platinum certification in the United States. This recognition was awarded by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on Wednesday, July 3, after the track achieved the sales and streaming equivalent of 9 million units in the country.

This milestone brings “Cheap Thrills” close to becoming Sia’s second Diamond-certified single, following the earlier success of “Chandelier,” which also reached Diamond status on the same day.

Produced by Greg Kurstin for Sia’s seventh studio album, “This Is Acting,” the version of “Cheap Thrills” that features Sean Paul’s distinctive vocals was later released for digital download. The track, a lively, Dancehall-tinged synthpop song, marked Sia’s first No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. For Sean Paul, it was his fourth top song and his first chart-topper in ten years. The success of “Cheap Thrills” also made Sia the first woman over 40 to top the Billboard Hot 100 since Madonna did with “Music” in 2000.

In the United Kingdom, “Cheap Thrills” enjoyed a lengthy stay on the Singles Chart, remaining for 66 weeks. Additionally, the song was nominated for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards.

The lyric video for “Cheap Thrills,” which debuted in February 2016, has amassed over 1.8 billion views on YouTube. Interestingly, the song was initially written for Rihanna’s “Anti” album. After being turned down, Sia decided to record it herself for “This Is Acting,” an album comprised of tracks originally intended for other artists.

In November 2021, Sean Paul and Sia, who have never met in person, released the visuals for their second collaboration, “Dynamite.”

Sean Paul’s collection of platinum singles in the United States includes “Rockabye” with Clean Bandit and Anne-Marie (3X Platinum), “Get Busy” (Platinum), “Temperature” (3X Platinum), “We Be Burnin” (Platinum), “Bailando” with Enrique Iglesias (4X Platinum), “Do You Remember” with Jay Sean and Lil Jon (2X Platinum), and “Shake Señora” with T-Pain and Pitbull (Platinum).

“Cheap Thrills” is part of Sia’s “This Is Acting” album, known for featuring songs she originally wrote for other artists. This album showcases Sia’s incredible talent for songwriting, transforming rejected songs into chart-topping hits. The collaboration with Sean Paul on “Cheap Thrills” proved to be a perfect mix of pop and Dancehall, appealing to a wide audience and earning multiple platinum certifications.

“Cheap Thrills” remains a significant milestone in both Sia and Sean Paul’s careers, underlining their lasting appeal in the music industry. As it approaches Diamond certification, the song continues to be a testament to their successful collaboration.

The transformation of “Cheap Thrills” from a rejected song to a global hit underscores the unpredictable nature of the music industry. It highlights the importance of resilience and innovation, showing that even initially overlooked songs can achieve great success. Both Sia and Sean Paul have demonstrated that with the right collaboration, a song can reach phenomenal heights.