Analytic Dreamz: Notorious Mass Effect - "SEAN PAUL & SIA - CHEAP THRILLS (REMIX)"

Episode Date: July 16, 2026

Linktree: ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/Analytic⁠⁠Join The Normandy For Ad-Free NME, Additional Bonus Audio And Visual Content For All Things Nme+! Join Here:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://ow.ly/msoH50WCu0K⁠⁠ Join analytic dreamz on Notorious Mass Effect for a deep dive into one of the biggest global pop hits of the 2010s: Sia & Sean Paul’s “Cheap Thrills.” This segment delivers a complete breakdown covering the song’s origins, including its initial rejection by Rihanna, its release as Sia’s solo single in December 2015, and the Sean Paul remix that launched it to worldwide success in 2016. analytic dreamz explores Sia’s journey from Australian acid-jazz roots to pop superstardom, the track’s synthpop, dance-pop, reggae, and dancehall fusion, and its status as a carefree party anthem.Get detailed chart performance stats, including its 4-week run at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100—making Sia the first woman over 40 to top the chart since Madonna—52-week longevity, and international #1 peaks. Dive into sales and certifications: 11× Platinum (Diamond) in the US, 6× Platinum in the UK, Diamond in Italy, plus over 1.7 million pure US downloads in 2016 alone. Streaming highlights feature 2+ billion Spotify streams and 3+ billion combined YouTube views across official videos. Plus, cultural impact, viral Maddie Ziegler choreography, key industry insights, and why “Cheap Thrills” remains a benchmark for long-term streaming success.Perfect for fans of Sia, Sean Paul, and data-driven music analysis. Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Shepard, promise me you'll tell them to subscribe for a free content. I know you're probably thinking to yourself, how in the world are we talking about a song from 2015? Like you already know, notorious mass effect covers the gaming and music IPs that notoriously affect the masses. So safe to say, if we're in the year of 2026, why focus on a particular song that came out December 17, 2015? you guys see that's the problem well i would be pleased and very thrilled to let you know that not only has sean paul just defied the odds but for some reason cheap thrills is currently the fifth most watch video on youtube right now and of course once again ladies and gentlemen in case you a time traveler just though as of me recording this it is july 15 2026 and this song came out

December 17th, 2015. So you're probably thinking to yourself, how in the world is this even possible? And now we have to bring up the algorithm hustlers out there. As when you look at it specifically, YouTube's algorithm, Instagram, Reels algorithm, and of course, TikTok, and don't forget we are in the summertime. You know what I'm saying?

I'm not saying what y'all may be doing out there in the summertime, you know what I mean? Shepard. All right, my fault. But basically, people are putting on certain anthems. to enjoy whatever summer vacation they're currently on. So if you didn't know, cheap thrills, you know, aside from it being the fifth most watched video on YouTube, it also re-entered Spotify Global's charts around July 1st, 2026 for the first time since 2016.

Now, if you didn't know, there was a certain someone that was just on the grandiose stage in Yankee Stadium alongside Beyonce's husband. you know what I'm saying? I mean, alongside Jay-Z. When it comes to Rihanna, Grathing the stage to basically do a favor for Jay-Z, the main reason why I'm bringing up, Rihanna,

is because she was supposed to be a part of the track, Cheap Thrills. Now, at first glance, y'all may be thinking to yourself, well, what is the song Cheap Thrills? Well, if you listen to it, you will automatically understand where the high acclaim comes from

as far as this particular song, you will definitely recognize it upon pressing play because it's just a straight-up classic now we're going to get into the analytical data of that in the second but of course i wanted to focus on riana as this was a this song cheap throws by sean paul of course was originally written for riana's anti-album but ultimately riana rejected it i know that ain't who i think it is so shah paul of course found somebody else to have sing the track and it appeared on Sia's album as far as this is acting that came out in 2016 now of course Rihanna's album's anti is a classic so I'm not saying that she did a

I'm not saying that she was in the wrong basically rejecting this song but what I'm saying is it would have definitely helped out an already classic album that is anti now with that out the way of course this track had a successful run with without Rihanna as if you don't know, Sean Paul and Rihanna did have her collab in 2006 for the Break It Off track. And of course, Sean Paul said it was one of his most memorable collaborations, right? So he tried to do it again a decade later.

And Rihanna essentially just went with the track she already had laid out. But of course, I did not stop Sean Paul from putting this particular track out. Of course, Sean Paul in totality. is one of the biggest dance hall creators ever really pioneering the dance hall genre into the mainstream especially in the 2000s so now when you look at his multiple number ones as far as get busy temperature we'd be burning like hold up now i ain't gonna say it see that's gross ladies and gentlemen that's growth right there is a pg platform but anyways uh cheap thrills is the other one that was a most that was a number one hit for Sean Paul and the main thing

I wanted to get at for that particular track is when it first came out of course it peaked at number one it stayed number one for four consecutive weeks and it became Cia's first number one hit in the United States and it made Cia the first female artist over age 40 to top the hot 100 since Madonna in 2000s and another thing I have to add on to that is that Madonna currently ladies and gentlemen and where her album Confessions has the number one album in the world with her first week sales being 132,000 beating out Olivia Rodriguez. I forget what week it is for her, like fourth or fifth week. Olivia sold like 100,000 first week. Madonna with her first week sales beat out Olivia for the number one slot. So shout out to Madonna for that. So when it comes to Sia making history alongside

Madonna in the year of 2000s, when Madonna made history in 2000s and then Sia became the first female artist over the age of 40 to top of the hot 100 since Madonna in the 2000s. I mean, obviously that's a huge accomplishment. And of course, when it comes to the other countries, it was number one in Canada, number one in France, number one in Germany, several additional international markets. Of course, when it comes to the RIAA certification, because you already know, if it's not RIAA certified, then the masses will not quantify it as a diamond hit. Because for some reason, RIAA has definitely tricked the music industry.

to be like, hey, I know your song is immensely popular. But guess what? If it hits that threshold of platinum, of diamond, go on cuff up that bread, my boy. You got you. You know what I'm saying? See, that's the problem. And for some of those who are confused out there,

if you don't know, you have to pay to get your song certified as far as officially. Now, of course, you're not paying, well, some people do. You're not paying for the streams. But basically, when you look at it in totality, the official RIAA certification only comes after you pay for the official packaging from them. So you have to pay R IAA to actually certify diamond and platinum,

even if the streams are already there. And so with that being said, that's why some artists, they don't even certify it because they're like, why am I paying you? Now, I don't know the actual number as far as how much you have to pay RIAA, but obviously it's a significant amount for artists to be like, I'm not paying it. You know, my song, my fan base already knows is immensely popular. So anyways, getting back into the cheap thrills track,

it is 11 times platinum, achieved diamond status, January 2026, which is of course the year we're in right now. And sold approximately 1.7 million pure digital copies in the U.S. during 2016 alone. Finish as the 10th bestselling digital song of 2016 in the U.S. So if you're wondering to yourself, why are we focusing on a particular track that came out 2015? Well, ladies and gentlemen, you guys, just know this particular track is still, as far as the video for it, the fifth most watched video on YouTube and if you look at the channel it's from bimu edm it's not even from sean paul's account it's from bmoo edm with 855 subscribers why am i saying that because it

currently has a whopping 2.3 million views in three days so that's what i'm saying authentic engagement for this particular track because of the high quality just showcases time and time again that sean paul is the king at longevity and of course the king of dance hall so with that said, don't forget he is currently, there's not a plug, you know, it's not a shameless plug or whatever for Sean Paul. This is just showcasing my astute research for the Sean Paul connoisseurs out there. So if you're a huge Sean Paul fan, just know he will, well, he's already on the timeless tour. It's an ongoing Europe slash North America tour with festivals plus arenas like Gerton Festival. I hope that said it right. Door, like D-O-U-R and Toronto.

So with that being said, it seems like the tour is going well. And when it comes to the high demand, he is still going until July 26. So guess what? By the time I put this out, you have 10 plus days to actually catch him live. So hey, you're welcome, you know what I mean? But that out the way, click my link to share in my bio to follow me on my social media. And of course, for my people over at Spotify, if you're a huge dance hall fan. Who is your favorite dance hall artist?

Is it Sean Paul or if not, comment down below who you're just. below who your favorite dance hall artist is and why