If you think you've seen everything when it comes to Sia's 2014 hit "Chandelier," think again. Sure, both Lena Dunham and Jim Carrey have done comic interpretations of the wild dancing in nude bodysuits from the music video, but it was a mime interpreting "Chandelier" on SNL in sign language that stole tonight's show and put a new spin on the hit song. That's right, a mime, complete with sad black and white makeup and a jaunty bowler cap. While Maddie Ziegler of Dance Moms fame did take the stage for "Elastic Heart," (sadly, Shia LaBeouf was not in attendance) the second Sia performance of the night featured a new performer with a new talent. Who was that mime? Why was he making me feel things about this song all over again? I like the decision to have someone interpret the song in American Sign Language, front and center on a live televised performance. Usually the ASL interpreters are off to the side, which is unfortunate because they get so into it! However, I'm not sure I understand the choice of costume. Mime is a different art form altogether. Was it a metaphor? Did Sia's bangs, which looked like blinders, have anything to do with it? Either way, the exposer was good and the mime in question will hopefully be remembered for his signing rather than his clowning makeup.
The performance was also somewhat stripped, with string instruments instead of the synth beats and a simple stage setup. It was a smart move for the artist, in my opinion. We heard that song so much last year, and it was refreshing to get something a little different out of Sia's Saturday Night Live debut.
Lots of fans took to Twitter to express their confusion with the mime, their explanations of the mime, and even to compare the "Sia mime" to Billy Eichner!
Watch the full performance below. Do you want more of the mime?
Image: Dana Edelson/NBC
