It’s de rigueur to blame David Guetta for the repetitive state of Top 40 music. Assuming duties as producer and artist, the French DJ has been cranking out hit after hit over the last few years, his near-templated tunes making him an easy target.

If anything, Guetta’s musical output has been inconsistent to the extreme. A transcendent number delivered by Kelly Rowland is followed by a debasing track featuring Akon. A club stomper from Kelis, then a lazy clunker from Flo Rida and Nicki Minaj. Or a lazy clunker from Taio Cruz.

From my point of view, the ultimate worthiness of Guetta’s musical output rests a great deal on the artists with whom he chooses to collaborate. However, it certainly hasn’t escaped my attention that neither of the highpoints I’ve called out above cracked the Top 40, and ridiculous numbers of folks have liked the songs I find laughable, at least enough to make them hits.

Happily, the latest guest to visit Guetta’s pop-dance factory is a supremely talented one (and perhaps not surprisingly, female). Australian singer-songwriter Sia appears on “Titanium,” taken from his forthcoming album, Nothing But The Beat. Though Sia penned the fiercely fearless anthem and demoed it, Mary J. Blige recorded the song for Guetta’s project. In the end, however, Guetta opted to put out Sia’s version of “Titanium” instead.

Listening to both, Guetta made the right decision. While Blige has the bigger voice, Sia’s has a certain vulnerability to it, making the “I Will Survive” message at the heart of “Titanium” that much stronger and more powerful. Hear here:

Guetta’s new album, Nothing But The Beat, which also features Jennifer Hudson and Jessie J, is out September 26.

Purchase David Guetta feat. Sia – “Titanium” via iTunes.