[Verse 1]

Lyrics:
Come on, come on, turn the radio on
It’s Friday night and I won’t be long
Gotta do my hair, I put my makeup on
It’s Friday night and I won’t be long

Grammar & Vocabulary Notes:

• Come on – This is an encouraging expression. Native speakers use it to motivate others or show excitement. Example: “Come on, we’re going to be late!”
• Turn on – A phrasal verb meaning to activate a device. Note: “Turn the radio on” and “turn on the radio” are both correct.
• Gotta – Informal contraction of “got to” (meaning “have to”). This is casual speech; in formal writing, use “I have to do my hair.”
• Friday night – In Western culture, Friday night marks the beginning of the weekend. This is why the singer in cheap thrills sia is excited and getting ready to go out.

[Pre-Chorus]

Lyrics:
Till I hit the dance floor
Hit the dance floor
I got all I need
No I ain’t got cash
No I ain’t got cash
But I got you baby

⚠️ Important Grammar Warning:

The phrase “I ain’t got cash” contains two informal elements:

1. Ain’t – This is non-standard English. It means “am not,” “is not,” “are not,” “have not,” or “has not” depending on context. While common in songs and casual speech, avoid using “ain’t” in formal situations, exams, or professional writing.
2. Got instead of have – “I got all I need” is informal for “I have everything I need.”

Vocabulary:

• Hit the dance floor – Idiomatic expression meaning “start dancing” or “go to the dance area.” Example: “When the DJ played my favorite song, I hit the dance floor immediately.”

[Chorus]

Lyrics:
Baby I don’t need dollar bills to have fun tonight
(I love cheap thrills)
Baby I don’t need dollar bills to have fun tonight
But I don’t need no money
As long as I can feel the beat
I don’t need no money
As long as I keep dancing

⚠️ Double Negative Explanation:

The line “I don’t need no money” contains a double negative (“don’t” + “no”). In standard English grammar, this is incorrect. The correct form is “I don’t need any money” or “I need no money.”

However, double negatives are common in informal speech, especially in certain dialects and music genres like hip-hop and dancehall. Sean Paul’s influence brings this Jamaican Patois style to the remix of cheap thrills sia. Understanding this pattern helps you recognize it when listening to native speakers, but remember: do not use double negatives in formal writing or exams.

Key Grammar Structure:

• As long as – This conditional phrase means “provided that” or “if.” It introduces a condition that must be true. Examples:
  • “You can borrow my car as long as you drive carefully.”
  • “I’ll be happy as long as you’re safe.”
  • “She can stay out late as long as she calls me.”

Vocabulary:

• Cheap thrills – “Thrills” means exciting experiences or pleasures. “Cheap” here means low-cost or inexpensive. Together, “cheap thrills” refers to simple, affordable pleasures that bring happiness—like dancing, listening to music, or spending time with friends.
• Feel the beat – “Beat” refers to the rhythm or pulse of music. “Feeling the beat” means sensing and moving to the music’s rhythm.
• Keep + -ing – This structure means “continue doing something.” Example: “Keep dancing,” “keep studying,” “keep practicing.”

[Verse 2 & Bridge]

Lyrics:
Come on, come on, turn the radio on
It’s Saturday and I won’t be long
Gotta paint my nails, put my high heels on
It’s Saturday and I won’t be long

Vocabulary:

• Paint my nails – Apply nail polish
• High heels – Shoes with elevated heels, typically worn for formal or party occasions

[Outro]

Lyrics:
La, la, la, la, la, la
(I love cheap thrills)

Cultural Note: The repetitive “la la la” and final emphasis on “I love cheap thrills” reinforce the song’s central message: happiness doesn’t require money. This theme resonated strongly after the 2008 economic recession, when people began valuing experiences over material possessions. You can read more about this cultural phenomenon on BBC Culture. Such insights make studying cheap thrills sia particularly valuable for understanding modern Western values.

1. The /θ/ Sound (Voiceless “th”)

Word: Thrills /θrɪlz/

Common Mistake: Persian and Arabic speakers often pronounce this as /srɪlz/ or /trɪlz/.

How to Practice:

• Place your tongue between your teeth
• Blow air out without vibrating your vocal cords
• Practice: “thin,” “think,” “thank,” “thrills.”

For additional pronunciation help with sounds in Cheap Thrills Sia, visit Cambridge Dictionary’s pronunciation guide.

2. The /æ/ Sound

Word: Cash /kæʃ/

Common Mistake: Pronouncing it like “cush” /kʌʃ/ or “cash” with a long vowel.

How to Practice:

• Open your mouth wide
• Keep your tongue low and forward
• Practice: “cat,” “hat,” “bat,” “cash.”

3. The Schwa Sound /ə/ (Unstressed Syllables)

Words: “Tonight” /təˈnaɪt/, “Baby” /ˈbeɪbi/

Tips: In fast, natural speech, unstressed syllables become very short and neutral (schwa sound). Listen carefully to how Sia pronounces these words in the chorus of Cheap Thrills Sia.

🎯 Practice Exercise: Shadowing Technique

Instructions: Play the chorus section (0:45–1:15) and repeat each line immediately after Sia sings it. Try to match her rhythm, stress, and emotion. Do this 3 times, then record yourself and compare.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Complete the lyrics with the correct words:

1. “Come on, come on, turn the ______ on.” (Answer: radio)
2. “Till I ______ the dance floor.” (Answer: hit)
3. “I don’t need ______ bills to have fun tonight.” (Answer: dollar)
4. “As long as I can feel the ______.” (Answer: beat)
5. “I love ______ thrills.” (Answer: cheap)

Exercise 2: Grammar Correction

Rewrite these informal sentences in formal, standard English:

1. “I ain’t got cash.” → I don’t have any money.
2. “I don’t need no money.” → I don’t need any money.
3. “Gotta do my hair.” → I have to do my hair.

Exercise 3: Create Your Own Sentences

Use these structures from the song to write your own sentences:

1. As long as… (Example: I’ll be happy as long as my family is safe.)
2. Hit the… (Example: Let’s hit the beach this weekend.)
3. I don’t need ______ to ______. (Example: I don’t need fancy clothes to feel confident.)

✅ Answer Key

Check your answers and practice saying them aloud. If you made mistakes, review the relevant sections above before moving on. Mastering these patterns from Cheap Thrills Sia will significantly improve your conversational English.

Step 1: Listen with Lyrics (First Time)

Initially, play the song while reading the lyrics above. Focus on understanding the general meaning and identifying words you recognize in this Sia track.

Step 2: Listen without Lyrics (Second Time)

Next, listen again without looking at the text. Try to catch familiar phrases and notice the rhythm and stress patterns that make cheap thrills sia so catchy.

Step 3: Shadowing Practice (Third Time)

Afterward, repeat each line immediately after Sia sings it. Focus on matching her pronunciation, rhythm, and emotion. This technique dramatically improves speaking fluency when applied to songs like cheap thrills sia.

Step 4: Sing Along (Fourth Time)

Finally, sing the entire song from memory. Don’t worry about perfection—focus on having fun and internalizing the language patterns unique to this Sia hit.

💡 Pro Tip:

Add this song to your workout or cleaning playlist. The more you hear it in different contexts, the more natural the vocabulary and expressions will become. For more listening practice beyond cheap thrills sia, check out ESL Lab for interactive listening exercises.

Q1: What does “cheap thrills” mean exactly?

A: “Thrills” means exciting or pleasurable experiences. “Cheap” means inexpensive or low-cost. Together, “cheap thrills” refers to simple, affordable pleasures that bring happiness—like dancing, listening to music, or spending time with friends. The phrase emphasizes that you don’t need money to enjoy life, which is the core message of Cheap Thrills.

Q2: How do you pronounce “thrills” correctly?

A: “Thrills” is pronounced /θrɪlz/. The challenging part is the /θ/ sound at the beginning. To make this sound, place your tongue between your teeth and blow air out without vibrating your vocal cords. Practice with these words: thin, think, thank, thrill, thrills. Mastering this sound will significantly improve your pronunciation in songs like cheap thrills sia.

Q3: Is “ain’t” correct English?

A: No, “ain’t” is non-standard English. It’s commonly used in informal speech, songs, and certain dialects, but you should avoid it in formal writing, exams, and professional communication. Instead, use “am not,” “is not,” “are not,” “have not,” or “has not” depending on the context. Understanding its usage in cheap thrills sia helps you recognize informal speech patterns.

Q4: What’s the difference between the original and remix versions?

A: The original version was released by Sia alone in January 2016. Later, a remix featuring Jamaican dancehall artist Sean Paul was released and became a global hit. The remix has Sean Paul’s distinctive dancehall verse and a more energetic rhythm. This lesson focuses on the remix version because it’s more popular and contains additional cultural learning opportunities within the Cheap Thrills Sia phenomenon.

Q5: Why does the song say “I don’t need no money” instead of “I don’t need any money”?

A: “I don’t need no money” contains a double negative (“don’t” + “no”), which is grammatically incorrect in standard English. However, double negatives are common in informal speech, hip-hop, and Jamaican Patois (influenced by Sean Paul’s style). Understanding this pattern helps you recognize it when listening to native speakers in contexts like cheap thrills sia, but remember: do not use double negatives in formal situations.

Q6: How can I use “as long as” in my own sentences?

A: “As long as” introduces a condition. It means “provided that” or “if.” Examples: “You can borrow my car as long as you drive carefully.” “I’ll be happy as long as you’re safe.” “She can stay out late as long as she calls me.” This versatile structure appears prominently in the chorus of Cheap Thrills Sia.