Music Discussion Thread: M.I.A.

[Menchy]

Disclaimer: I did a search, so please don't kill me.;)

You might know M.I.A. through her recent smash hit single Paper Planes, which ran in the Pineapple Express trailer this summer. However, as M.I.A. is my favorite recording artist, and knowing the fact that I own everything she has ever done, I wanted to get some other opinions on M.I.A.'s music and their opinions on how a Sri Lankan rapper with beats that include gunshots, African drums, and chicken squawks managed to cross over to mainstream audiences. Discussion.

Some Facts About M.I.A.-

Her sophmore album Kala was named as the best album of 2007 by Rolling Stone Magazine.

Her real name is Maya Arulpragasm, and she is a refugee of the Sri Lankan Civil War.

She now has a record label, and is set to produce the album of her protege Rye Rye.

Digital sales of Paper Planes have reached about 1.6 million.

http://www.miauk.com <-- For more info on M.I.A.

[Lord Pyre]

I thought you were asking about a music thread that disappeared...

:runaway:

[Ugly-Caco]

Hey I like M.I.A! She's cool. I also like Peaches...but not as much as M.I.A. Lady Sovereign is OK too but I find her a little obnoxious but she's alright I guess.

[DrRansom]

I loved M.I.A.'s entire debut album setup back a few years ago. I think one of her songs from that album (galang galang maybe?) got picked up for a car commercial or something. It was great road trip music too.

But Thennn.... one of my jewish family members pointed out her lyrics that seemed to lean in support of the P.L.O., which they researched only to find that she has some actual Sri Lankan terrorism ties.

So despite having a really good producer (Diplo) and produing enjoyable music, I can't see myself giving her any more of my money to someone who seems to support things that the "Tamil Tigers" and the PLO support (namely killing people who don't agree with them).

[Menchy]

I loved M.I.A.'s entire debut album setup back a few years ago. I think one of her songs from that album (galang galang maybe?) got picked up for a car commercial or something. It was great road trip music too.

But Thennn.... one of my jewish family members pointed out her lyrics that seemed to lean in support of the P.L.O., which they researched only to find that she has some actual Sri Lankan terrorism ties.

So despite having a really good producer (Diplo) and produing enjoyable music, I can't see myself giving her any more of my money to someone who seems to support things that the "Tamil Tigers" and the PLO support (namely killing people who don't agree with them).
This is actually one of the biggest M.I.A. misconceptions. Yes, she does have ties to the Tamil Tigers, namely, her father was the leader of them. However, she has voiced repeatedly in interviews that she is not associated with the group and that she does not approve of their actions. Specifically, she sent out this myspace/facebook message in response to accusations that she was a terrorist/ supported terrorism.
NO ONE IS ALLOWED TO TELL THE TRUTH, AND SET THE FACTS STRAIGHT. SO HERE IS THE COMMENT I WANTED TO MAKE!

THE TRUTH TO WHY I LEFT TO SRILANKA WAS ...
A. I COULD , I WAS BORN IN LONDON.

B. EVERY TOWN AND VILLAGE MY MOTHER TOOK US TO WOULD GET BURNED DOWN BY THE ARMY. IN THE END EVEN THE TAMILS WOULDN'T LET US STAY THERE AND AFTER MY SCHOOL WAS SET ON FIRE BY THE ARMY, I HAD NOTHING TO DO THERE, AND WAS REALLY ******* BOARD.

C. **** YOU TO ALL THESE EVIL PEOPLE TWISTING THE TRUTH. YOU DONT SPEAK FOR ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I CAN SPEAK FOR MY SELF.

D.WHAT PEOPLE NEED TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT YOU DONT HAVE TO BE A TAMIL OR A LTTE SUPPORTER TO KNOW THAT BURNING DOWN A SCHOOL WITH 800 KIDS IN THE NAME OF FIGHTING TERRORISM IS NOT COOL. I AM NOT A LTTE SUPPORTER. I WAS JUST AN 8 YEAR OLD THAT DIDNT GET KILLED ON THAT DAY, THATS ALL. I'M A MUSICIAN WHO DOESNT WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS AGAIN AND AGAIN, ESPECIALLY IN THE MUSIC PRESS.


THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HEARING THIS

EVERYTHING IN ME WAS KILLED BUT MY ART IS NOT DEAD!

i love you xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx m.i.a

Additionally, in a Pitchfork TV interview, she was quoted saying

I think it's rediculous that I had to write that message just to tell people, like, I'm not a ******* terrorist

[Ugly-Caco]

I like how M.I.A. dances. Its bordering sexy and awkward. Her fashion sense is F'd and it only fortified my gf's belief in her own F'd up sense of fashion (Me to my gf: "Fine! As long as you don't go too 80's."). M.I.A. is awesome.

[DrRansom]

"EVERYTHING IN ME WAS KILLED BUT MY ART IS NOT DEAD!
i love you xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx m.i.a."
Additionally, in a Pitchfork TV interview, she was quoted saying
I think it's rediculous that I had to write that message just to tell people, like, I'm not a ******* terrorist

Hey thanks for posting this, I really appreciate it.

Here's a counselor's perspective.. If you listen carefully to the lyrics of her first album, her own personal confusion regarding this stuff really comes through. It's interesting that in her kidnapped/pow song she describes a fictional girl who was kidnapped by a guerilla terrorist and eventually comes to love them. In another song she speaks of the PLO in a positive light and who can forget "I've got the bombs to make you blow".. singing of course about her own music but revealing associations of her past. An entire thesis paper could be written about her art in light of her personal struggle. I commend her decision NOT to support the terrorist groups but her inner draw towards them is present in her lyrics, possibly in subconsious references. I think the fact that for part of her life she grew up in a traumitizing environment, coupled with her PLO, Tamil trained dad, she's got allot of things pulling at her psyche.

In short, I find her to be a fascinating study of Stockholm syndrom. I commend her for fighting those inner demons. I still see allot of her lyrics as promoting that which she disowns in public statments, in a simmilar way that Eminem personally disavows street violence but sings songs of people being murderously violent.

[Menchy]

I like how M.I.A. dances. Its bordering sexy and awkward. Her fashion sense is F'd and it only fortified my gf's belief in her own F'd up sense of fashion (Me to my gf: "Fine! As long as you don't go too 80's."). M.I.A. is awesome.
I'm ging to have to agree with you there on all points. Her music videos are rediculous.


"EVERYTHING IN ME WAS KILLED BUT MY ART IS NOT DEAD!
i love you xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx m.i.a."
Additionally, in a Pitchfork TV interview, she was quoted saying
I think it's rediculous that I had to write that message just to tell people, like, I'm not a ******* terrorist

Hey thanks for posting this, I really appreciate it.

Here's a counselor's perspective.. If you listen carefully to the lyrics of her first album, her own personal confusion regarding this stuff really comes through. It's interesting that in her kidnapped/pow song she describes a fictional girl who was kidnapped by a guerilla terrorist and eventually comes to love them. In another song she speaks of the PLO in a positive light and who can forget "I've got the bombs to make you blow".. singing of course about her own music but revealing associations of her past. An entire thesis paper could be written about her art in light of her personal struggle. I commend her decision NOT to support the terrorist groups but her inner draw towards them is present in her lyrics, possibly in subconsious references. I think the fact that for part of her life she grew up in a traumitizing environment, coupled with her PLO, Tamil trained dad, she's got allot of things pulling at her psyche.

In short, I find her to be a fascinating study of Stockholm syndrom. I commend her for fighting those inner demons. I still see allot of her lyrics as promoting that which she disowns in public statments, in a simmilar way that Eminem personally disavows street violence but sings songs of people being murderously violent.

That is really interesting. It must be an odd conflict for her, considering her life experiences tell her that a certain thing is bad, while people who are close to her tell her that the same thing is good. :confused:

As an artist, I really do have enormous respect for M.I.A. She is doing things that noone else is doing, and experimenting with beats, vocal styles, and even tackling issues in her lyrics that noone else is doing or talking about.

[DrRansom]

As an artist, I really do have enormous respect for M.I.A. She is doing things that noone else is doing, and experimenting with beats, vocal styles, and even tackling issues in her lyrics that noone else is doing or talking about.
I hear that. No doubt, her crazy lax style of rapping is a fresh wind in our society of over polished mimicry. Diplo remixing it just gives it that western techno edge to help all of us relate to it. I'm a big Detroit techno fan and this all came out around the same time as a few of my favorite Carl Craig songs (who mixes world samplings with a techno perspective as well). It all just fit together to make one great summer of music back in '06.. or was it '07? Can't remember now. 8) Time flies.