“Unstoppable” is a song by the Australian singer-songwriter Sia, from her seventh album “This Is Acting” released in 2016. Sia co-wrote the song with Christopher Braide, and it was produced by Jesse Shatkin. It came out as the final promotional single from the album on January 21, 2016.
Later, in July 2016, a new version of the song was created for Gillette’s 2016 Olympic ad campaign, “Pretty Isn’t Perfect,” featuring a verse from American rapper Pusha T.
Sia’s “Unstoppable” is a powerful song that encourages self-belief and resilience. The lyrics and Sia’s strong vocals motivate listeners to face challenges with confidence.
This article will explore the meaning behind the song’s lyrics.
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“Unstoppable” Lyrics Meaning
[Verse 1]
I’ll smile, I know what it takes to fool this town
I’ll do it ’til the sun goes down and all through the night time
Oh, yeah
Oh, yeah, I’ll tell you what you wanna hear
Keep my sunglasses on while I shed a tear
It’s never the right time, yeah-yeah
In Verse 1, Sia talks about wearing a smile to deceive or fool others, suggesting that she knows how to present herself in a way that hides her true feelings or struggles, as she sings, “I’ll smile, I know how to trick this town.”
She plans to maintain this facade throughout the day and night, singing, “I’ll keep it up until the sun sets and all through the night.”
In the line “Oh yeah, I’ll say what you want to hear,” Sia acknowledges that she will tell people what they want to hear, rather than expressing her true emotions.
The line “Keep my sunglasses on while I cry” symbolizes hiding one’s tears or vulnerability behind sunglasses. It suggests that despite outward appearances, the singer may be experiencing inner turmoil or sadness.
Sia implies that she never finds the right moment to express her true feelings, as expressed in the line “It’s never the right time, yeah yeah.”
[Pre-Chorus]
I put my armor on, show you how strong I am
I put my armor on, I’ll show you that I am
In the Pre-Chorus, Sia uses the metaphor of putting on armor, which symbolizes protection and resilience. By doing so, she demonstrates her inner strength and fortitude to others.
[Chorus]
I’m unstoppable, I’m a Porsche with no brakes
I’m invincible, yeah, I win every single game
I’m so powerful, I don’t need batteries to play
I’m so confident, yeah, I’m unstoppable today
Unstoppable today, unstoppable today
Unstoppable today, I’m unstoppable today
In the chorus, Sia compares herself to a Porsche without brakes, symbolizing her unstoppable nature and relentless drive. She sings, “I’m unstoppable, I’m like a Porsche with no brakes.” This metaphor suggests that she possesses immense momentum and determination, unable to be slowed down or hindered by obstacles.
Sia declares her invincibility, implying that she consistently triumphs over challenges and obstacles, as expressed in the line “I’m invincible, yeah, I win every single game.”
In the line “I’m so powerful, I don’t need batteries to play,” Sia asserts her inner strength and vitality, implying that her power comes from within and is not reliant on external sources.
Sia reaffirms her confidence and determination, emphasizing that she is unstoppable in the present moment. She sings, “I’m so confident, yeah, I’m unstoppable today.”
[Verse 2]
Breakdown, only alone I will cry out loud
You’ll never see what’s hiding out
Hiding out deep down, yeah-yeah
I know, I’ve heard that to let your feelings show
Is the only way to make friendships grow
But I’m too afraid now, yeah
In Verse 2, Sia acknowledges that she experiences breakdowns or moments of emotional distress, but only when she is alone. She sings, “Breakdown, only alone I will cry out loud.” This suggests that she may feel the need to maintain a facade of strength in front of others, but allows herself to express her true emotions in private.
She implies that there are hidden aspects of herself that others may never see or understand, as expressed in the line “You’ll never see what’s hiding out, hiding out deep down, yeah-yeah.”
In the following line “I know, I’ve heard that to let your feelings show is the only way to make friendships grow,” Sia reflects on the common advice to be open and vulnerable in order to foster deeper connections with others. However, she admits that she is too afraid to follow this advice.
The final line “But I’m too afraid now, yeah” reinforces Sia’s reluctance to show her true emotions. Despite understanding the potential benefits of being open with others, she feels paralyzed by her fear of vulnerability.
Deeper Meaning Behind “Unstoppable”
Sia’s “Unstoppable” is a powerful anthem that speaks to the resilience and strength found within oneself, despite internal struggles and external challenges. It conveys the idea of putting on a brave face to overcome life’s obstacles while grappling with inner vulnerabilities.
The song portrays a dichotomy between outward strength and inner turmoil, as Sia describes wearing a smile to conceal her true emotions and shedding tears behind sunglasses: “Keep my sunglasses on while I cry.” Despite presenting a facade of invincibility, she acknowledges moments of breakdown and vulnerability: “Breakdown, only alone I will cry out loud.”
However, amidst this internal conflict, Sia asserts her unstoppable nature and unwavering determination to overcome adversity: “I’m unstoppable, I’m like a Porsche with no brakes.”
She also exudes confidence, declaring her invincibility and inner strength with lines like: ‘I’m so confident, yeah, I’m unstoppable today.'”
In the end, “Unstoppable” encourages those who may be feeling vulnerable to put on their armor and face life’s challenges with determination. It builds on the message of Sia’s previous track, “Alive,” and takes it to new heights. Instead of just surviving, “Unstoppable” reminds us that we possess the inner strength to attain greatness, regardless of what we face.
Jacob Carter is a lyricist. He created the lyrics writing course to teach people how to analyze and write lyrics. He graduated from the University of Oxford with a degree in English Literature, so he’s skilled at playing with words.
He’s also an amateur guitarist, which means he knows music and melody very well. With this background, he’s a great lyricist you can rely on to learn writing lyrics.