Sia’s First Australian Show For 2017 Left Fans Totally Divided

Not since the great gold/blue dress saga of 2015 has something torn society in half as much as Sia‘s first Nostalgic For The Present concert in Australia.

The paperbag popstar took the stage at Melbourne’s AAMI Park last night to perform her first gig on home turf in six long years (as part of her current Aussie tour), but it didn’t have everyone swinging from the chandelier.

According to News Corp, Sia “stood at the back of the stage for the show with her trademark wig covering her face and only spoke at the very end”.

And while some fans dubbed it a “unique and captivating” performance in keeping with the reclusive pop kween’s anti-fame approach and visuals, others were left bamboozled and angry, wondering if Sia was even there at all:

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Promoter Michael Chugg has responded to the criticism via News Corp, assuring fans that “Sia was definitely on stage in Melbourne”.

“She’s always covered her face to perform, at Coachella and all the American concerts, that’s how it is. That’s part of her whole thing. I saw 26,000 kids going apeshit, what can I say?” he says, adding that Sia hasn’t talked between songs in any of the shows on her world tour and always performs without a live band.

Others have questioned whether a stadium like AAMI Park was merely the wrong venue for a performer like Sia.

Meanwhile, Sia’s mini-me and dance protege Maddie Ziegler also hit the stage last night, providing her trademark interpretive dance routine. But even that seemed to have fans divided:

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Despite the flak, many Sia diehards who attended the concert thought it was The Greatest.

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The Australian leg of Sia’s tour will wrap up in Sydney tonight, with support from Charli XCX, Danish artist  and Australia’s own Amy Shark.

The Adelaide-bred popstar previously kicked up a bit of controversy, leaving fans pissed about her “arrogant” two-show tour announcement, which didn’t include a stop in her hometown.

Catch footage of Sia performing live in Melbourne below.

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