‘Was she even there?’ Fans fume at Sia’s first gig of Aussie tour

SIA kicked off her Australian tour last night in Melbourne — but left many fans underwhelmed with what they saw.

SIA’S current Australian stadium tour is not your average pop concert — and it’s leaving some fans very confused.

The Aussie-born star’s disdain for the limelight is legendary: She’s barely shown her face in public in several years and has used her music videos since 2014 worldwide hit Chandelier as a platform to instead showcase the talents of dancer Maddie Ziegler.

But many who attended her show at Melbourne’s AAMI Stadium last night were shocked to find Sia’s shyness extends to paying audiences.

Fans who’d paid up to $179 for tickets witnessed a 90-minute, hit-filled spectacular, with dancers and video screens — but barely a glimpse of the woman they’d come to see.

Sia stayed towards the back and side of the stage for the duration, her face obscured, and her entire body not visible to fans in some seats. Many fans reported they didn’t hear so much as a “Hello Melbourne” from their idol during the concert.

Some questioned whether she was even at the show — while others asked why the video screens showed prerecorded videos rather than a live feed of what was happening on stage.

Sat thru 3hrs of support acts for 75min show. Artist stood in same spot all show, no audience interaction, relied entirely on backing-track (no live band) & pre-record video. Boring & pretentious
Was @Sia even there or have we been had?@ChuggEnt Want my $140 back#siamelbourne

— Dave Lee (@davlee1991) November 30, 2017

I went to the concert to see sia pic.twitter.com/njNu0uU7Pm

— maddisyn (@maddisyn13) November 30, 2017

Big fan of #sia #siaconcert but not anymore after going to her concert. Was she even there? She stood in the corner and didn't say a word to the audience

— Aydin (@Aydin51853755) November 30, 2017

@Sia are you even here tonight? The videos are pre-recorded obviously @therealpauldano isn’t here and this could all be audio recording ?! Speak or move from your pedestal ?? #siamelbourne

— Rebecca (@Rebeccahrogers) November 30, 2017

@Sia can you confirm you were actually in Melbourne tonight? pic.twitter.com/CbqbNwRtNs

— E (@Otts3000) November 30, 2017

So agree with you. If this is her art it’s not a connecting experience. Will stay home and dance to her music in future. #sia

— Kristina (@katinatekya) November 30, 2017

Worst concert ever. Don’t think she was even here or sang any songs. So disappointed.

— Vijay Naiker (@vijay_naiker) November 30, 2017

I was hoping for greater interaction. Her position on the stage made it hard for a lot of people to see her. The mic wasn't loud enough either. She was there. She was singing but it was overrun by the backing track. Sia has an extraordinary voice and I really wanted to hear it.

— Merryn Auld (@Meztwits) November 30, 2017

Sia's concert is like watching it on DVD with several thousand other people. No connection with the audience, so tightly scripted and rehearsed. Not sure what is real and what is pre-recorded during the songs

— Angry truth tiger🌈 (@blue_bec) November 30, 2017

If anyone was at the @Sia concert tonight in #Melbourne and has a better pic than this...send me a tweet. pic.twitter.com/3QdZHtYp68

— E (@Otts3000) November 30, 2017

#unpopulartheory ? The #Sia concert felt like 1.5 hours of watching music videos. I go to live shows to get to know the artist. Great vocals, clever set, beautiful dancing, and GREAT support acts, but Sia stood in the corner and didn't utter a word for the duration - so gutted!

— Kelly St. Clare (@KellyStClare) November 30, 2017

@Sia that concert really sucked! The most expensive ticket I ever bought for the cheapest show in town.

— Dr Shane (@shanus_mcanus) November 30, 2017

so the video screens at sia's concert are prerecorded versions of exactly what theyre doing on stage. this is not exactly kosher right?

— 🏳️‍🌈 bonus letters and nothing to say (@baggers) November 30, 2017

Others spoke up to defend the Titanium hitmaker, arguing that the nature of the show had been well-documented since her world tour kicked off more than a year ago, and dubbing her a “visionary” for subverting the usual pop concert format:

People who go to #Sia concert expecting an Oprah style chat to the crowd = idiots. Flawless vocal, killer interpretation of vids, loved every second.

— Pitty (@pittworldwide) November 30, 2017

@Sia So enjoyed tonight's concert. Voice superb. Dancing/performances engrossing. Felt I was watching a play. Want to feel it again.

— Bouclay (@jardintree) November 30, 2017

people went to sia's concert last night and instead of being appreciative of seeing her live, were complaining about her just "standing there". well that's what she does and plus she's shy anyway so she'll be obviously nervous about audience interaction. smh leave her alone pic.twitter.com/CwGUMl4Bmr

— an (@minajthrills) November 30, 2017

Imagine not understanding the concept of the Nostalgic For The Present tour 🙄 Honesltly, how can critics write a review of the concert without knowing anything about its unique take? Forever baffled about this..

— SIA Furler Source (@SiaFurlerSource) November 30, 2017

What a perfect evening for an incredible show. The @Sia concert was unlike any other concert - a true visionary! Thank you for the early Christmas gift!!

— Nicholas Verso (@NickVerso) November 30, 2017

Love it or hate it, Sia’s 2017 live show is certainly a world away from her last Australian tour, in 2011. She was here as part of the Big Day Out and played a handful of theatre side shows, taking to the stage in attention-grabbing costumes and bantering at length with audiences — even noting during a gig at Sydney’s Enmore Theatre that those in attendance were “quite a horny bunch.”

Yep, that’s Sia — playing at Melbourne’s Palais Theatre in February 2011. Picture: Getty

Since then, though, Sia’s gone public with her mental health battles, and the toll her rising fame had taken on her state of mind. By 2013, she planned to retire as a singer and focus on songwriting instead, but instead found a compromise that works for her: Releasing music, but doing all she can to limit her visible public profile.

Sia’s Nostalgic for the Present Australian tour finishes up at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium this Saturday. Tickets are still available.

Originally published as ‘Was she even there?’ Fans fume at Sia’s first gig of Aussie tour