Claim: Titanium was written in part by a DJ.

`` Titanium '' is a song by French DJ and music producer David Guetta , featuring vocals by Australian recording artist Sia . Taken from Guetta 's fifth studio album , Nothing but the Beat , the song was written by Sia , David Guetta , Giorgio Tuinfort and Afrojack . Production was also handled by Guetta , Tuinfort and Afrojack . `` Titanium '' was initially released for digital download on August 8 , 2011 , as the first of four promotional singles from the album . It was later released as the album 's fourth single in December 2011 . The song originally featured the vocals of American recording artist Mary J. Blige , whose version of the song leaked online in July 2011 .   `` Titanium '' is a ballad which draws from the genres of house , pop and urban-dance . The song 's lyrics are about inner strength . Sia 's vocals on `` Titanium '' received comparisons to those by Fergie and the song was also musically compared to Coldplay 's work . Critics were positive towards the song and noted it as one of the standout tracks from Nothing but the Beat . `` Titanium '' attained top 10 positions in several major music markets , including Australia , Austria , Denmark , Finland , France , Germany , Hungary , Ireland , Italy , The Netherlands , New Zealand , Norway , Spain , Sweden , Switzerland and the United States . In the United Kingdom , it peaked at number one , becoming Guetta 's fifth number-one single on the chart and Sia 's first .   The song 's accompanying music video premiered on December 21 , 2011 but does not feature appearances by Guetta or Sia . Instead , the video focuses on a young boy , played by actor Ryan Lee , with supernatural powers . Along with other songs , `` Titanium '' was pulled from radio stations in the US after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting .