Some People Have Real Problems cover art

  Studio Album · No. 4

Some People Have Real Problems Songwriting Credits by Sia

2008 Monkey Puzzle / Hear Music 13 tracks 59 min

Produced by Jimmy Hogarth

Monkey Puzzle / Hear Music PopSoulIndie Pop
92%
Authorship
Artist

Holds writing credit on 12 of 13 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 12 / 13 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 13 tracks with documented writers, by whether Sia carries a lyricist or composer credit.

92%
12 trackswritten by Sia 1 trackoutside writers
Sia's roles on this album

Share of the 13 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist92%
Composer92%
Producer0%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

13
Tracks
13
Lyricists
1
Producers
2008
Released
Data Insight

Some People Have Real Problems is Sia's fourth album and her US breakthrough, all of it produced by Jimmy Hogarth. She co-wrote the songs with collaborators including Samuel Dixon, Dan Carey and Rick Nowels, keeping the singer-songwriter authorship of her earlier work while warming the sound toward pop and soul. Beck added backing vocals on two tracks, and the album became her first to chart in the United States.

Sia's fourth studio album, released January 1, 2008 on Monkey Puzzle Records and Hear Music. Produced entirely by Jimmy Hogarth, the album marked a shift toward a more polished indie-pop sound and was her first release on her own Monkey Puzzle imprint. It features co-writing contributions from Samuel Dixon, Dan Carey, Greg Kurstin, and Rick Nowels, and includes a cover of the Kinks' 'I Go to Sleep'. The album produced the singles 'Soon We'll Be Found' and 'The Girl You Lost to Cocaine' and built further recognition for Sia in the United States.

Track Listing & Credits 13 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
Little Black Sandals
SiaDan Carey Sia Kate Isobelle FurlerDan Carey Jimmy Hogarth Sia (Lead Vocals)
2
Lentil
SiaSamuel Dixon Sia Kate Isobelle FurlerSamuel Dixon Jimmy Hogarth Sia (Lead Vocals)
3
Day Too Soon #65
SiaSamuel Dixon Sia Kate Isobelle FurlerSamuel Dixon Jimmy Hogarth Sia (Lead Vocals)
4
You Have Been Loved
SiaClifford JonesPeter-John Vettese Sia Kate Isobelle FurlerClifford JonesPeter-John Vettese Jimmy Hogarth Sia (Lead Vocals)
5
The Girl You Lost to Cocaine #56
SiaRob AllumPhil MartenEddie Myer Sia Kate Isobelle FurlerRob AllumPhil MartenEddie Myer Jimmy Hogarth Sia (Lead Vocals)
6
Academia
SiaDan Carey Sia Kate Isobelle FurlerDan Carey Jimmy Hogarth Sia (Lead Vocals)
7
I Go to Sleep
Raymond Douglas Davies Raymond Douglas Davies Jimmy Hogarth Sia (Lead Vocals)
8
Playground
SiaSamuel DixonFelix Bloxsom Sia Kate Isobelle FurlerSamuel DixonFelix Bloxsom Jimmy Hogarth Sia (Lead Vocals)
9
Death by Chocolate
SiaGreg Kurstin Sia Kate Isobelle FurlerGreg Kurstin Jimmy Hogarth Sia (Lead Vocals)
10
Soon We'll Be Found #94
SiaRick Nowels Sia Kate Isobelle FurlerRick Nowels Jimmy Hogarth Sia (Lead Vocals)
11
Electric Bird
SiaHenry Binns Sia Kate Isobelle FurlerHenry Binns Jimmy Hogarth Sia (Lead Vocals)
12
Beautiful Calm Driving
SiaSamuel Dixon Sia Kate Isobelle FurlerSamuel Dixon Jimmy Hogarth Sia (Lead Vocals)
13
Lullaby
SiaSamuel Dixon Sia Kate Isobelle FurlerSamuel Dixon Jimmy Hogarth Sia (Lead Vocals)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 15 contributors

S
Sia
Writer · Vocals
On this album12 written
SK
Sia Kate Isobelle Furler
Writer
On this album12 written
SD
Samuel Dixon
Writer
On this album5 written
DC
Dan Carey
Writer
On this album2 written
CJ
Clifford Jones
Writer
On this album1 written
EM
Eddie Myer
Writer
On this album1 written
FB
Felix Bloxsom
Writer
On this album1 written
GK
Greg Kurstin
Writer
On this album1 written
HB
Henry Binns
Writer
On this album1 written
PV
Peter-John Vettese
Writer
On this album1 written
PM
Phil Marten
Writer
On this album1 written
RD
Raymond Douglas Davies
Writer
On this album1 written

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Frequently Asked Questions Some People Have Real Problems

Did Sia write Some People Have Real Problems herself?
Sia co-wrote most of the tracks on Some People Have Real Problems with collaborators including Samuel Dixon, Dan Carey and Rick Nowels. She led the songwriting as she had on her earlier albums. The whole record was produced by Jimmy Hogarth.
Why is Sia's Buttons known for its video?
'Buttons' was released as a single from the album and is remembered for its deliberately grotesque music video, in which Sia distorts her face with tape and props. The clip leaned into self-deprecating humor about image. It became one of the album's most talked-about moments.
What is The Girl You Lost to Cocaine and how did it chart?
'The Girl You Lost to Cocaine' was a single from the album that peaked at number 56 on the UK Singles Chart. It later gained traction through dance remixes by Sander van Doorn and StoneBridge. The track is one of the more upbeat cuts on the record.
Who produced Some People Have Real Problems?
Every track on Some People Have Real Problems was produced by Jimmy Hogarth, continuing his partnership with Sia from Colour the Small One. The album was released in January 2008. Beck contributed backing vocals on two songs.
How did Some People Have Real Problems perform commercially?
The album reached number 26 on the US Billboard 200, becoming Sia's first to chart in the United States, and sold about 20,000 copies in its first week. It peaked at number 41 in Australia. It was later certified Gold by ARIA in 2011.
What genre is Some People Have Real Problems?
Some People Have Real Problems sits in pop and soul with indie pop leanings, warmer and more accessible than Sia's earlier downtempo work. Critics gave it mixed reviews, with a Metacritic score of 64. It marked a step toward the pop direction of her later career.

Sources

Wikipedia: Some People Have Real Problems Wikipedia: Sia discography MusicBrainz release group Cover Art Archive front cover Cover Art Archive: Some People Have Real Problems by Sia