You know that feeling when a song just clicks? You're in the car, maybe the day was a total wash, and then those drums kick in. It’s "Cheap Thrills" by Sia. Specifically, the part where she sings come on come on turn the radio on, which has basically become a universal signal to stop worrying about your bank account for three and a half minutes.
It's Friday night.
Honestly, the song shouldn't have been this big. Originally, Sia Furler wrote it for Rihanna’s Anti album, but Rihanna passed. Can you imagine? It ended up becoming Sia’s first number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100 as a lead artist. That’s wild when you think about her long career as a songwriter for every major pop star on the planet.
The Story Behind Come On Come On Turn The Radio On
Pop music is often obsessed with "the flex." We hear about private jets, designer bags, and bottle service. "Cheap Thrills" went the opposite direction. It’s an anthem for the rest of us. The core hook—come on come on turn the radio on—is about the accessibility of joy. Sia isn't singing about a VIP lounge; she's singing about dancing in the living room because "I don't need no money."
Greg Kurstin produced the track. If you follow music credits, you know Kurstin is the guy behind Adele’s "Hello" and dozens of other massive hits. He gave this song a distinct "tropical house" vibe that was dominating the mid-2010s, but it felt more organic than the stuff Justin Bieber or Kygo were putting out at the time. The rhythm is almost like a heartbeat. It’s steady. It’s bouncy. It makes you want to move your feet even if you’re just standing in line at the grocery store.
The song actually exists in two main forms. There's the solo version, and then there's the remix featuring Sean Paul. While the solo version is great, Sean Paul brought that authentic dancehall energy that pushed the song into global territory. When he shouts "Duty wine!" it just adds a layer of party atmosphere that the radio edit desperately needed.
Why the Lyrics Stick
Why do we remember certain lines? It’s not always about complexity. Sometimes, it’s about the phonetics. The repetition in come on come on turn the radio on uses hard consonants that cut through the noise. It’s percussive. You aren't just singing lyrics; you're adding to the rhythm section.
- The "k" sounds in "come."
- The "t" in "turn."
- The rhythmic "on, on, on."
It is a masterclass in songwriting efficiency. Sia knows how to write a melody that stays stuck in your brain for three days straight. She’s famously said in interviews, including her talk with Rolling Stone, that she can write a hit song in about 15 minutes. "Cheap Thrills" feels like one of those moments of pure, unforced inspiration.
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A Cultural Shift in Pop Values
Around 2016, when this song was peaking, the world felt a bit heavy. We were seeing a shift in how people consumed music. Streaming was taking over. We didn't necessarily want to hear about unattainable lifestyles anymore. We wanted something relatable.
Sia tapped into a specific kind of "frugal joy." By using the phrase come on come on turn the radio on, she’s referencing an old-school way of connecting with music. The radio is free. It’s communal. You don't need a premium subscription or a $500 festival ticket to enjoy a song coming through the speakers of a 2005 Honda Civic.
People often forget that Sia was in her 40s when this song hit number one. In an industry that is notoriously ageist, especially toward women, that is a massive achievement. She did it while hiding her face behind that iconic black-and-blonde wig, letting the music and the choreography—usually performed by Maddie Ziegler—do the talking.
The Reggae Influence
You can't talk about these lyrics without acknowledging the dancehall influence. The "riddim" style of the beat is a direct nod to Jamaican music culture. This caused some debate. Some critics wondered if it was a bit too close to cultural appropriation, but the inclusion of Sean Paul helped ground the track in the genre it was imitating. It felt more like a collaboration than a theft.
The song's success was global. It didn't just top the charts in the US. It went number one in Germany, France, Italy, and Canada. There's something about the "hit the dance floor" sentiment that translates across every language barrier. You don't need to speak perfect English to understand what "hit the dance floor, check my pulse" means in the context of a heavy bassline.
Common Misconceptions About the Lyrics
A lot of people actually get the lyrics slightly wrong. They think she's saying "Come on, come on, let the radio play." Close, but no. The actual line come on come on turn the radio on is more active. It’s an invitation. It’s a command to start the party.
Another thing? People often mistake the "Cheap Thrills" vibe for being a song about being poor. It’s not. It’s about being content. There's a big difference. It's about the realization that the best things in life—music, dancing, connection—don't actually have a price tag.
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- Release Date: February 11, 2016 (as a single).
- Album: This Is Acting.
- Grammy Nominations: Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.
The album title, This Is Acting, is actually a clever meta-commentary by Sia. Since almost every song on the record was originally written for someone else, she felt like she was "acting" out the roles of other pop stars. But with "Cheap Thrills," she stepped into a role that ended up fitting her better than anyone else.
The Production Nuances
If you listen closely to the background of the track, there are kids' voices. It’s a subtle layer that adds to the "neighborhood block party" feel. It makes the song feel less like a polished studio product and more like a captured moment in time.
The synth lead is surprisingly simple. It’s a bright, plucky sound that mirrors the vocal melody. This is a classic Kurstin move—layering the lead instrument with the vocal so the hook becomes twice as strong. When you hear that synth, your brain automatically fills in the words: come on come on turn the radio on.
Actionable Takeaways for Music Lovers
If you're a songwriter or just someone who loves dissecting what makes a hit, there are a few things "Cheap Thrills" teaches us.
First, simplicity wins. You don't need a 40-piece orchestra if you have a rhythm that people can tap their pens to.
Second, the "rejection" of a song doesn't define its worth. Rihanna didn't want it. Kanye West reportedly didn't want it either. But it became a career-defining hit for Sia. If you're creating something and it gets a "no," it might just mean it hasn't found the right voice yet.
Finally, lean into the mood. This song doesn't try to be deep. It doesn't try to solve the world's problems. It just wants you to dance. Sometimes, that is the most important service a piece of art can provide.
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To get the most out of this track today, try listening to the "Performance Edit" versus the "Radio Edit." You'll notice how the removal of certain percussion elements in the verses makes the chorus hit much harder. It's a lesson in tension and release.
Next time you're feeling the weight of the week, take Sia's advice. Don't worry about the club cover charge or the fancy clothes. Just come on come on turn the radio on and let the rhythm do the heavy lifting for a while.
Check out the official music video if you haven't seen it in a while. The 1950s American Bandstand-style aesthetic of the lyric video is a cool contrast to the modern electronic beat. It reminds us that while the technology changes, the "thrill" of a good song remains exactly the same as it was seventy years ago.
Focus on the isolated vocal tracks if you can find them online. You'll hear the incredible grit and power in Sia's voice that often gets smoothed out in the final mix. Her ability to break her voice on certain notes gives the song an emotional honesty that most "polished" pop lacks.
Experiment with your own playlists by grouping this track with other "frugal" anthems like "Royals" by Lorde or "Paper Planes" by M.I.A. You'll see a fascinating trend of artists rejecting consumerism through high-energy production. It's a vibe that never really goes out of style.
Stop overthinking your weekend plans. The best nights usually involve nothing more than a good beat and the right company. If you have those two things, you've already won.