Sia Returns to 'SNL' With Powerful 'This Is Acting' Performances | Rolling Stone 

Sia Returns to 'SNL' With Powerful 'This Is Acting' Performances

Singer performs "Alive" and "Bird Set Free" in her second 'SNL' musical guest spot of 2015

Sia performed "Alive" and "Bird Set Free" in her second 'Saturday Night Live' musical guest spot of 2015

For the second time this year, Sia was recruited to serve as

 musical guest, this time for the show\'s much anticipated Donald Trump-hosted episode. Her return visit came less than 10 months after the singer recreated her unique, Grammy-nominated music videos in an electrifying pair of performances, and Sia didn\'t mess with that formula in her second

Watch Sia's Martial Arts-Themed Video for 'Alive' »

For the choir-backed "Alive," Sia – face again nearly obscured by hair that\'s topped by an enormous wig and cartoon eyes painted on her cheeks – was accompanied by a young martial artist whose often-unorthodox karate moves turn into a manic dance routine that corresponds with the music; the single\'s music video boasted a similar motif, albeit with a different dancer. On the liberating, piano-driven "Bird Set Free," Sia\'s second performance of the episode, she was again augmented by her dancing doppelgänger who this time pantomimed being trapped in a cocoon and then bursting out, wings fluttering.

– "Alive" and "Bird Set Free" – were originally written for Adele, who will be the

musical guest in two weeks. Next week\'s episode will feature host Elizabeth Banks and musical guest Disclosure, who will be joined by Lorde and Sam Smith.

Watch Sia Bring Her Music Videos to Life on 'SNL'

Hear Sia's Liberating New Song 'Bird Set Free'

Hear Sia's Epic New Song 'One Candle'

Justin Bieber’s ‘I’ll Show You’ Teaser Gives Us Purpose

Demi Lovato Wants to Duet With Ariana Grande As Much As You Want Her To

25 Artists You Totally Forgot Justin Bieber Collabed With

Eminem’s ‘Shady Wars’ Game Is Frustratingly Addicting

Louis Tomlinson Just Hit The Most Epic High Note On One Direction’s New ‘End Of The Day’

'Saturday Night Live': Backstage Pics From 40 Year History

Will Power: Every Will Ferrell Movie, Ranked

6 Famous Movies That Started Out As Complete Disasters

Adele: Inside Her Private Life and Triumphant Return

Larry David Wins $5,000 for Calling Donald Trump a Racist on 'SNL'

Barely Legal: 30 Nearly Pornographic Mainstream Films

John Oliver Explains Preposterous U.S. Prisoner Re-Entry Process

On the Charts: Chris Stapleton Travels to Number One After Huge CMA Awards