A fresh take on one of Sia’s most powerful anthems has just been released by Allie Sherlock, and “The Greatest” is a track that is carried entirely by conviction and feeling. This performance has been added to her channel, and a genuine pop classic has been reinterpreted here, one built around a message of resilience that is still felt strongly today. The full performance can be watched below, and the story behind the song is told further down the page.
About This Performance
This cover has been posted to Allie’s official YouTube channel, and it is counted among her more memorable releases. “The Greatest” is a song that is driven by stamina and heart rather than vocal gymnastics, its power is found in sincerity, and that quality is played to well by Allie, a performer who has always been connected to audiences through genuine emotion rather than showmanship.
About the Song
“The Greatest” was released by Sia, featuring Kendrick Lamar, in September 2016 as the lead single from the deluxe edition of her seventh studio album, This Is Acting. The song was written by Sia and Greg Kurstin, who also produced the track, and it was met with strong chart performance internationally, reaching the top five in several countries. Its accompanying music video, in which dozens of young performers are freed from confinement, was widely interpreted as a tribute to the victims of the 2016 Orlando nightclub shooting, even though this was never officially confirmed by Sia herself. Its message is simple but powerful: no matter how much breath is lost along the way, freedom and greatness can still be claimed. That universal theme of resilience is a big part of why the song is still so widely performed and covered today.
Why Allie’s Version Stands Out
The best covers of a song like this are not reinvented, they are meant. Allie’s following was earned by busking on the streets of Dublin, precisely because a song everyone knows can be made to feel personal and immediate by her. A track about stamina and quiet defiance is sat perfectly in that wheelhouse, and this is exactly why her stripped back, voice forward approach to big anthems tends to be resonated with by listeners.
Who Is Allie Sherlock?
Allie Sherlock is an Irish singer and guitarist from Douglas, Cork, born on April 7, 2005. Fame was found by her through busking on Dublin’s Grafton Street, and virality was achieved in 2017 with a cover of Ed Sheeran’s “Supermarket Flowers.” Today her YouTube channel is followed by over 6 million subscribers, and a path has been carved by her from street performances into original music and headline touring across Europe.
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Frequently Asked Questions
It is a cover. The original was written by Sia and Greg Kurstin and released by Sia, featuring Kendrick Lamar, in September 2016.
The song was written by Sia and Greg Kurstin, who also produced the track; it was released as a single by Sia, featuring Kendrick Lamar, and top five positions were reached by it in multiple countries.
She’s best known for busking on Grafton Street in Dublin, Ireland, shares performances on her YouTube channel, and tours live across Europe.
She was born on April 7, 2005, in Cork, Ireland.
She uploaded it to her official YouTube channel on July 8, 2026
