What other songs deserve an episode of New British Canon? Trash Theory playlists - Spotify: tinyurl.com/yxp32pjf Deezer: tinyurl.com/y2mdp8h2 Also if you want to help out, here's my patreon link: patreon.com/trashtheory
21 Seconds by So Solid Crew is a MUST in bridging the gap between garage and what became known as grime, propelling it into the mainstream and creating chart success
The libertines and Pete Doherty’s influence on music / culture even fashion...now gone out not with the bang everyone expected at one point (ie by OD) instead fading away as he kind of has, never really getting clean... i think he was the most talented songwriter of his generation, but wasted so much potential. There’s a clip on TH-cam of Alan McGee saying more or less the same thing - even that he could have been as big as oasis. Not sure if I think he had enough general appeal for that, but he could have done something greater than he did at his peak circa 04-06 if surrounded by better musicians and less drugs. Pissed it all up the wall, you could say. It was foretold.
shes such a good role model legend, thank you MIA, also, for your voice for Tamil and opressed peoples all over the world, MIA is a MESSAGE, a good one
finally, a review that does justice to this brillant artist. I'm sick of people talking bout the gunshots in paper planes and taking the lyrics too serious and without any study of the meaning.
@Grant Kerr I used to think the song was about people hating immigrants and saying that "all they do is killing and taking our jobs" while the immigrant on the video is working hard.
I had no idea about M.I.A’s history and this has just made me love her even more. I grew up with her music and being the only person of colour among my family and friends, I related to her so much and felt a strong connection with her. She really inspires me a lot.
I was into other forms of music at the time her first album dropped (early college days) so I kinda skipped out on her until much later. But I'll say her first two albums are still really futuristic.
One of the first things I ever borrowed from the library was her Arular album. I was instantly attracted to all the colors on the cover when I was a kid. I read the lyrics from the booklet and was shocked, especially for 10 Dollar. For the first time, I realized music could be talking about real problems in the world. Pretty sure she's the reason I have high expectations for artists' lyrics.
The trailer did so well that Interscope asked the movie producers for an obscene amount of money to have it on the soundtrack. victim of its own success.
MIA is fascinating to me. I think my favorite thing is the verisimilitude she establishes by masking even her most politically poignant songs as dance club jams with lyrical cliches about dancing sprinkled in. It's like hearing pop music over the radio in a dystopian future and there's some secret organization of political dissidents that's desperately trying to squeeze their life experiences into the broader culture subliminally through pop hits. There's a very specific vibe to MIA's work. She's got a whole aesthetic.
Amen, as a 1st gen kid from a largely immigrant (Central American, African, S.E Asian) community and this coming out in my HS - College years this was so empowering. This was blasting out of everyone's cars back in day
MATANGI / MAYA / M.I.A. is probably the best documentary I've ever seen. It draws attention so clearly to the problems with American media as well as many other huge issues. It really puts things into perspective --- as well as being a brilliantly-made story about an amazing, unique popstar. Funny thing is, it barely makes any mention of Paper Planes 😂
as a Tamil from London and a British Asian, Im really happy you made this video. MIA is the type of artist that gives new artists of similar origin hope. as a musician myself, MIAs music is something completely different for me to listen to. my family is also from Jaffna and theres a lot in her music that's incredibly familiar, from the themes of immigration and refugees to the oriental styles of music that we grew up learning from our parents, and is pretty much a validation of the type of shit that we try to put out. a great British artist and one that I couldn't be prouder of.
I’ve liked MIA since 2004 when I heard Sun Showers. Am so glad she’s still making beautifully complex music. She’s definitely an icon. And crazy smart too.
I am from Tamilnadu. Most of our people don't even know her, even to these days. I am happy that she went ahead of all odds. Those were really pernicious time for tamil elams in sri lanka
To add another bit of her international influences, Bucky Done Gun is highly influenced by Brazilian funk. She even went to Brazil at the time. This was over 10 years ago, waaay before Brazilian funk go mainstream abroad
@@crieverytimsampling in & of itself doesn't mean otherwise. There are several examples in hiphop and electronic music that transform samples into very intricate and layered works. Furthermore a lot MIA's stuff mixes a lot of different and distant genres. Which isn't easy to do.
You don't know what "legendary" means. Understandable considering your frame of reference is limited and your general knowledge of the past 100+ years of music is non-existent.
Fiona Apple is a admitted reclusive that only releases albums every decade or so and when she does they’re always critically acclaimed. I’d hardly say she’s been blacklisted.
@@firemarshal2629 She was regarded as a joke by many people at the beginning of her career in the late 1990's. Everything from her looks to her personality received a lot of scrutiny from the media and the public in those early years... It slowly started getting better once she released her second album, but she had a rough start for sure.
Real Heel Ryan after her acceptance speech at the 1997 the media branded her as unhinged oddity or a diva that forced depression upon herself to make better art. they did try blacklist her because she spoke out against the pop machine and critiqued the media.
This is such a wonderful love letter to one of my most favourite artists of my teens. You've encapsulated why myself and so many people adore M.I.A. and her music and what she stands for. Thank you for this.
I was about 12 when “Galang” came out and I heard it on Fuse or some other now defunct music channel. I was immediately infatuated with how different it sounded from anything else at the time. Loved her music.
Heard Galang on a college station back in 2005, and liked it right away, because I thought it was a new dancehall song. It's still a banger after all these years.
It's important to note that the Clash were credited as co-writers of the song. Some people seem to think she (and Diplo) just brazenly stole it. So the surviving members of the Clash have probably made a fairly decent amount from it over the years, given the song's enormous success.
It's crazy how one tune can absolutely blow up your career. That paper planes even though I'm not into that style of music completely grabbed me and stuck with me . Such a great song that goes with so many settings in life 😍
There is no other artist like M.I.A. she stays so true to herself and takes inspiration from such a wide variety of sounds so it is impossible to put her in a box. Edit: Free Palestine 🇵🇸🇵🇸
M.I.A. is such an underrated artist, i remember playing midnight club 3 as a kid and hearing fire fire and fell in love with it. never heard anything like it before
Brave and Real...Then Now and Forever. Thank you for making you're Music Mean Something. Thank you for standing for ones who can't stand, thank you for a voice, for ones who have no voice. This music is longevity becuse you told the truth. Massive Respect.
I love her so much! I didn’t appreciate her music when I was younger but now listening to it as an adult, she’s so phenomenal and inspirational. Some things you don’t appreciate or recognize until you’ve grown up a little lol
Your video essays are great! I always watch them, doesn't matter if I'm a fan of the artists or genre you're covering or not. Love your work, I feel like I'm actually learning something.
Paper Planes story reminds me of Lizzo's Truth Hurts, she also almost quit music after it was released. Until a netflix movie used it and the song blew up. Crazy how on thing can change your life forever.
I was always a fan of M.I.A, and have always been intrigued to know more about her. Her lyrics always controversial and antagonising and honest. Eclectic styles, but original and new
I had never heard of this artist or the song until I saw Slumdog Millionaire years after the film was released. Almost as soon as I had finished watching the film, I looked for where I could find the song, and more of the artist. I bought Kala and I have thoroughly enjoyed the album. Since I don't really pay much attention to popular music, I never realised how popular it was.
So glad i clicked on this. My interest level in M.I.A just went from about 25 to 100 real quick. Paper Planes has always been a banger. New subscriber.
Been MIA fan for a long time, didn't expect to have goosebumps and tear up watching this. I was very curious on the 20 minute video versus some older artist covered but she has such a powerful life. I downloaded Kala on my Zune it was promoted on briefly, the Bun B and rich boy remix of Paper Planes is one of my favorite songs of all time.
Started listening to her attentively on Kala, then paid attention to Arular, so on and so forth until AIM. If she were to pull a surprise album at any time now, it's duly awaited!
I was a junior in high school when this song came out. My favorite song from this album was actually '20 dollar.' I was quite young so hadn't really paid attention to the lyrics, but I'm so glad this video brought me back to the song and its lyrics. I'm so glad to know the inspiration for that song and to delve back into her music. M.I.A. is brilliant!
I am one of the biggest M.I.A. fans. I grew up listening to her music. I remember buying her albums and watching all her videos on TH-cam ... like watching this made me so happy. Idk why but I really can’t stand paper planes. Like it’s a great song I just use to hate when I would talk about her and it’s all people would mention. She has amazing work,..
Kala is properly imprinted in my mind as my first post-college soundtrack. It was August 2008. The opening of $20 made those daily bus rides from York University to my first post-college job at a shitty call centre, with the hot summer sun pouring through the window, absolutely uplifting and transportive. A ray of light during otherwise melancholy days.
I heard about M.I.A. on public radio, The World one day and liked it. Downloaded Arula and listened to it, a lot. I had no idea what I was singing, but I sang it anyway. No matter what playlist I was listening to, ARULA was in every playlist I made. The story covered a bit of her life, nothing this deep. All these people talking about "this girl who sings paper airplanes" and I just want to smack them on the forehead. This girl?? I was so excited that the song was so popular, but people don't want to bother to find out her as an artist. Go listen to Arula or never speak to me again.
I was just saying on one of her vids that her music suffers from the "Rage Against The Machine problem". Her music is fueled largely by a message, or messages, but it also sounds great and there's often a dissonance between the contents of the song and it's sound ("Sunshowers" is a good example) so the message itself gets lost. People just listen for the sound. Or mistaken the lyrics badly. Instead of a sarcastic and hyperbolic take on immigrant stereotypes and state propaganda, "Paper Planes" is seen as a g'd out finesse song about knockin down licks. No different than how Republicans can listen to RATM and somehow feel it only fits Democrats instead of them too. Ya gotta sound appealing to get the music in front of people. But not everyone is gonna pick up on the message, much less agree with it, and some will pervert it entirely and use it for their own bs. A lotta mfs will just hear what they wanna hear or twist it into whatever serves their purposes. It's a real problem with revolutionary music. Either the message is pure and nobody ever hears it or the song is big enough but to get it there the message can be easily overlooked or lost. Idk how ya overcome that as an artist. Even with all the real world activism and making it absolutely clear what RATM was about many people still don't know what an anarchist is, much less that it's the perspective they come from, and can warp their songs into everything from childish rebellion to partisan hackery. Most people who fw RATM aren't anarchists or any other tendency of anti-capitalist, anti-imperialist, anti-bigotry, pro-autonomy,, pro-democracy, pro-equality, pro-solidarity, thought. Plenty of bigots and xenophobes love M.I.A's music, no doubt. Most of the people who liked Public Enemy weren't on their Black Power wave. A whole lotta Clash fans were artsy liberals who were just as guilty as anyone they sang about and were not militant radicals. Hella reactionary rednecks listen to Steve Earle and completely miss his pretty explicit critiques of patriarchy, racism, capitalism, etc, from a pretty obvious libertarian-socialist perspective. I've known a lotta dead prez and Immortal Technique fans who don't really have a clue what they're about and plenty of punks that don't understand the political, social and economic message in much of the music they claim to live for. It's all frequently taken as this general rebellion that keeps power structures and social relations intact. Individual "rebellion", like dyed hair, over fundamental change. A whitewashed and sanitized rebellion that's safe for the middle class to dip their toes in. There's a massive issue of artist and message being too separated from the listener/viewer. Which then begs the question of is art still in the artists hands once they put it out there? Or can the public do as they wish despite any intentions the artist may have had? Not sure how ya fix any of it. But it's interesting. ✊👊☮️🖤🏴🥀🌐A///E
This comment really got me thinking about what happens to art once it leaves the mind of the creator, and by* extension most things that require creativity and perspective and communal interaction.
That's why pop is one of the greatest modern vehicle for propaganda and détournement. Pop is an alogirthm. MIA is the concept. MIA understands the problem of art and revolution in post industrial society very well. As a musician, she explicitly stated early that she wanted to make innovative pop songs that sounded like nothing but was saying something should u decide u wna peel back. That has actually been a point of critique against her since day 1 by cynics - that she is not militant or clear enough in her politics in her art (the truffle fries incident lol). Either it's too serious and heavy or it's not serious enough. The thing is she's not defined by politics like pundits, art and cultural critics are. The last thing on her mind would be to label herself. I would be that she still doesn't consider herself a musician (her interview on QTV). Her life has been materially affected by politics in its most brutal form - more so than others. But MIA as artist (making music) doesn't come from a place of doing-politics (different from being influenced by politics... whose live isn't?). Her art is not trying to DO politics i.e. BE revolutionary, BE political or even have a Message™. Being political is almost as much incidental as it is a core part of MIA's art. If anything, her art is like the best modern satire... with banging beats and visionary visuals. Plus it's fun. It's ok to just dance! The artist-art conundrum is age-old. The death of the author is also old by now. Now, it's eclipsed by the notion of being a brand. MIA's too chaotic and contradictory to be a brand. She's been called leftist, racist, radical, terrorist etc etc. She's too complex to be whittled down to a branding identity for the consumer market. And honestly, she probably couldn't, she simply is not that kind of person to be simply one thing. She is always looking for the bigger picture like any artist and insists on her creative independence and creative license to feel and say whatever she wants. Alas, that's not the time we have been or are living in. Be a brand or work for a brand 2020. As for why she didn't succeed in the mainstream music industry, it's mostly cos she revels in contradictions. We're lucky we have her. She is an endlessly creative fun bratty punk goofy forward-thinking unapologetic artist. Her instincts are unmatched. OG TINGZ
I still vividly remember the first time I heard this song. I was driving around with my friends and we must have heard this at least 3 times in a row. Epic.
I recall a time around 2007, M.I.A. was doing a 2 (maybe 3) night show at the Commodore Ballroom. I attempt to get tickets but it was sold out. I went down to the venue to see what tickets were going for. Let me tell you, between the scalper and the scalper, tickets were impossible to obtain at a reasonable price, and a tad bit pricey for my finances at the time. I even had one of the two scum-y hamster-gangster type scalpers tell me that I was scum because I was trying to by my tickets, from people who had extras, at cost. My jacket alone probably cost more then his whole attire. Despite my efforts. I never did get to go.
I always thought the gun shots meant ‘shotting’ - slang in the U.K. for selling drugs (weed mostly). Reloading at the time meant re-paying cash to your dealer to get another big bit for you to split up and then ‘shot’. So all I want to do is shot shot shot shot and reload (the trigger sound) and ‘ka-ching’ (cash register sound) and take your money. Sell the bits, reload from the bigger guy and pay him. Because even in a non government (lol) regulated industry, you’re still a cog in the chain. 🤷🏻♀️
Great video. That song is a masterpiece but never thought about it much. This gave me a new appreciation of what MIA went through and how dedicated she is to causes bigger than her, especially her family.
Definitely i live in Scotland and loved it when it 1st came out. Maybe the upper classes down south but i know a lot of people up here who liked it. Saying that I'm from a council estate so maybe the toffs up here didn't get it either as i wouldn't know because i don't know any.
She's a true artist. There is no was. She's still making music. Still amazing. Even if she got "canceled" for Maya and the superbowl middle finger. Also, Lorde's Royals literally uses the beat from paper planes.
I remember waiting for Sasha, and John Digweed to play their set at Coachella, or maybe it was just one of them, but I remember M.I.A. just pumping this song, I think she was pregnant too. I’ll never forget it!
i love this series sooo much, maybe you should do a video in charli xcx and how she is shaping the way pop is being made ps: sorry if my english is weird, its not my first language haha
Fantastic!Loved it! I needed this video in my life. THANK YOU so much. I can't wait to see here and absorb more from this artist on ALL mediums. Now I have a better idea of where and what to look for, thank you again.
I love her music and I'm always listening to her discography since I was a kid but I didn't know much about the backstory of her music. This video was dope
✈️💯 As someone whom named Mohammad I used to put this song on repeat while I’m in airports I was studying in UK 🇬🇧 For me it was clearly about mocking the xenophobic not about being gangster It’s an artistic take on what we go through as travelers to western cities. For me I can understand what she meant instantly from the title of the song “Paper Planes” that we are harmless planes unlike the metal planes ✈️ which destroyed the twin towers in 9/11 We are the threat landing towards western cities although this threat is false because we are harmless & won’t cause any distraction just like paper planes .. harmless & playful looking for fun or good times nothing serious. and every time I land in London Heathrow or Amsterdam etc they makes me wait longer than other usually with me some Indian Sikh with turban these people maybe suffer more than Muslim men in airports I feel bad for them 😂💔 and they then ask me like I’m a suspect & why I’m here etc also in my university once the Chilean lady who’s in charge of overseas students took me in a room after some incident in the chemistry lab she said “without any evidence or even any link” that I might be suspicious, for me it was obvious she picked me just because my name is Mohammad tall dark & oddly quiet 😂 although I was helping her & the university with international students for free I used to take them around & guide them to local shops etc, so this song reminded me of those sad & good times of being studying in England where occasionally treated with racism & xenophobia with some hints of islamophobia .. that being said I’ve met many wonderful people there they’re over all nice & decent people but the problem is with official workers like airports employees or universities staff, in shops restaurants etc most people don’t care who you’re they’re ok so if you’re British or Dutch don’t get me wrong I salute you all 🌹
great source of knowledge. cannot stop watching one after another. huge respect and gratitude. and i found a song i've been looking for for a ddeeccaddee:OOO
What other songs deserve an episode of New British Canon?
Trash Theory playlists - Spotify: tinyurl.com/yxp32pjf Deezer: tinyurl.com/y2mdp8h2
Also if you want to help out, here's my patreon link: patreon.com/trashtheory
How Soon is Now.
Tubthumping by Chumbawamba please xx
The streets pls. Also you could make whole Pirate Radio scene and how influential it was for UKG and other genres
21 Seconds by So Solid Crew is a MUST in bridging the gap between garage and what became known as grime, propelling it into the mainstream and creating chart success
The libertines and Pete Doherty’s influence on music / culture even fashion...now gone out not with the bang everyone expected at one point (ie by OD) instead fading away as he kind of has, never really getting clean... i think he was the most talented songwriter of his generation, but wasted so much potential. There’s a clip on TH-cam of Alan McGee saying more or less the same thing - even that he could have been as big as oasis. Not sure if I think he had enough general appeal for that, but he could have done something greater than he did at his peak circa 04-06 if surrounded by better musicians and less drugs. Pissed it all up the wall, you could say. It was foretold.
"got more records than the KGB" is an iconic bar
could you please explain the meaning?
Mug
@@elysian5028 ...and a famously lacking bar. (All Vodka)
I mean it's very good but it isn't widely used enough or historical enough to be "iconic".
shes such a good role model legend, thank you MIA, also, for your voice for Tamil and opressed peoples all over the world, MIA is a MESSAGE, a good one
finally, a review that does justice to this brillant artist. I'm sick of people talking bout the gunshots in paper planes and taking the lyrics too serious and without any study of the meaning.
@Grant Kerr I used to think the song was about people hating immigrants and saying that "all they do is killing and taking our jobs" while the immigrant on the video is working hard.
@Grant Kerr
I just randomly was binging stuff about MIA and what do ya know? A recent thread! That's rare
What do they say about the gunshots? Just sounds kind of interesting
@Grant Kerr this is a very interest take too, I'll try to find where i found about the meaning of this music being related to foreign/immigrants
@Grant Kerr did he wrote the lyrics?
I had no idea about M.I.A’s history and this has just made me love her even more.
I grew up with her music and being the only person of colour among my family and friends, I related to her so much and felt a strong connection with her. She really inspires me a lot.
She is awesome... enjoy who you are too :)
damn bro it most be hard to be the only people of color in ur family and neighborhood
"If I'm going to sing then I'm going to have to sing a bit weird." - M.I.A.
These are words to live by.
MIA's first 2 albums were like soundtracks to my childhood, and listening to them now they hold up soooo fucking well
So true.. her music is timeless
I'm going to a 2000s butlins weekend think I'm going to go as her!! She inspired my style so much I loved how colourful but chill she looked 😍😁
"how colourful and chill"
The best description ever 😉
I was into other forms of music at the time her first album dropped (early college days) so I kinda skipped out on her until much later. But I'll say her first two albums are still really futuristic.
Your childhood must have been really stupid and bad.
god i love this series. so good to see video essays that aren’t completely US-centric
Absolutely! It's fantastic to see another perspective
Right? It's like people think were the only scene, even though most good shit comes from over there...
Now imagine everything that's out there outside the English speaking world.
Sonic Goo oh man tell me about it, same with movies as well
@@frnk8650 yeah i went down a korean cinema rabbit hole last xmas...korean movies are often better than hollywood for production and story telling
She's so far ahead of her time
We still haven't entered her time
Her album Maya is absolutely incredible. I think M.I.A. doesn't get enough credit for how ahead of her time she is. She's a true rebel.
Paper planes was a cultural reset PERIODT!
absolutely
One of the first things I ever borrowed from the library was her Arular album. I was instantly attracted to all the colors on the cover when I was a kid. I read the lyrics from the booklet and was shocked, especially for 10 Dollar. For the first time, I realized music could be talking about real problems in the world. Pretty sure she's the reason I have high expectations for artists' lyrics.
I remember people being upset that the song wasn't on the Pineapple Express soundtrack.
Still mad about it. It fit the trailer so well!!!
The trailer did so well that Interscope asked the movie producers for an obscene amount of money to have it on the soundtrack. victim of its own success.
MIA is fascinating to me. I think my favorite thing is the verisimilitude she establishes by masking even her most politically poignant songs as dance club jams with lyrical cliches about dancing sprinkled in. It's like hearing pop music over the radio in a dystopian future and there's some secret organization of political dissidents that's desperately trying to squeeze their life experiences into the broader culture subliminally through pop hits. There's a very specific vibe to MIA's work. She's got a whole aesthetic.
MIA was fantastic. That record just spoke to people, with the Clash beat it was unescapable.
Amen, as a 1st gen kid from a largely immigrant (Central American, African, S.E Asian) community and this coming out in my HS - College years this was so empowering. This was blasting out of everyone's cars back in day
Strummer would have loved her.
I still think Galang is a killer single.
the version I downloaded from LimeWire (I know) had M.I.A. the hidden track behind it, I really like both songs.
MATANGI / MAYA / M.I.A. is probably the best documentary I've ever seen. It draws attention so clearly to the problems with American media as well as many other huge issues. It really puts things into perspective --- as well as being a brilliantly-made story about an amazing, unique popstar.
Funny thing is, it barely makes any mention of Paper Planes 😂
as a Tamil from London and a British Asian, Im really happy you made this video. MIA is the type of artist that gives new artists of similar origin hope. as a musician myself, MIAs music is something completely different for me to listen to. my family is also from Jaffna and theres a lot in her music that's incredibly familiar, from the themes of immigration and refugees to the oriental styles of music that we grew up learning from our parents, and is pretty much a validation of the type of shit that we try to put out. a great British artist and one that I couldn't be prouder of.
Still some of the most futuristic pop around over a decade later.
I’ve liked MIA since 2004 when I heard Sun Showers. Am so glad she’s still making beautifully complex music. She’s definitely an icon. And crazy smart too.
I am from Tamilnadu. Most of our people don't even know her, even to these days. I am happy that she went ahead of all odds. Those were really pernicious time for tamil elams in sri lanka
To add another bit of her international influences, Bucky Done Gun is highly influenced by Brazilian funk. She even went to Brazil at the time. This was over 10 years ago, waaay before Brazilian funk go mainstream abroad
Everyone, please watch her documentary. It's MUCH more than some 'behind the music' type shit and is crazy powerful and thoughful.
do you know where i can watch it?
I wasn’t too big on her, until I watched this, and started listening. She’s a talent!!
It’s crazy how the most legendary artist are so musically advanced that people don’t understand their artistry
is that the case? or did it not sound good and most people didnt want to listen to it.....
It wasn’t musically advanced or a lack of understanding . She and Diplo took established sounds from around the globe.
@@crieverytimsampling in & of itself doesn't mean otherwise. There are several examples in hiphop and electronic music that transform samples into very intricate and layered works.
Furthermore a lot MIA's stuff mixes a lot of different and distant genres. Which isn't easy to do.
@@moihawk666 I dunno. Singles that chart at the top3 of popular music billboard doesn't quite scream "music that nobody wanted to listen to"
You don't know what "legendary" means. Understandable considering your frame of reference is limited and your general knowledge of the past 100+ years of music is non-existent.
I found her music in 2006 and that shit still gives me chills.
Yep straight to hell gives me chills too
"People be sleeping on me so much I feel like a mattress
They be giving too much credit to these girls that be actress." M.I.A., OHMNI, 2020.
pls do a video on the misunderstanding of fiona apple, and how she was undeservingly blacklisted by mainstream media!!! thank u
Yes please!
Fiona Apple is a admitted reclusive that only releases albums every decade or so and when she does they’re always critically acclaimed. I’d hardly say she’s been blacklisted.
@@firemarshal2629 She was regarded as a joke by many people at the beginning of her career in the late 1990's. Everything from her looks to her personality received a lot of scrutiny from the media and the public in those early years... It slowly started getting better once she released her second album, but she had a rough start for sure.
Real Heel Ryan after her acceptance speech at the 1997 the media branded her as unhinged oddity or a diva that forced depression upon herself to make better art. they did try blacklist her because she spoke out against the pop machine and critiqued the media.
Please!!!
Just rewatched her documentary, true badass, have had her on repeat for a week
Ooo! Where’s it streaming?
Repeat and repeat
This is such a wonderful love letter to one of my most favourite artists of my teens. You've encapsulated why myself and so many people adore M.I.A. and her music and what she stands for. Thank you for this.
Interesting that Public Enemy and Madonna were big influences on MIA. I know she has other influences but I can see the influences of those two acts
I was about 12 when “Galang” came out and I heard it on Fuse or some other now defunct music channel. I was immediately infatuated with how different it sounded from anything else at the time. Loved her music.
Heard Galang on a college station back in 2005, and liked it right away, because I thought it was a new dancehall song. It's still a banger after all these years.
It's important to note that the Clash were credited as co-writers of the song. Some people seem to think she (and Diplo) just brazenly stole it. So the surviving members of the Clash have probably made a fairly decent amount from it over the years, given the song's enormous success.
It's crazy how one tune can absolutely blow up your career. That paper planes even though I'm not into that style of music completely grabbed me and stuck with me . Such a great song that goes with so many settings in life 😍
1 of the greatest artists of our lifetime everyone should watch her documentary
What is it called? I enjoy her work soooo much 👌🏾
@@pathfinder759 Matangi/Maya/M.I.A
@@gale_poot thank you so much 👌🏾🙇🏽♀️
There is no other artist like M.I.A. she stays so true to herself and takes inspiration from such a wide variety of sounds so it is impossible to put her in a box.
Edit: Free Palestine 🇵🇸🇵🇸
Hi Funny Little Frog, we both love the Beastie Boys, but do you know that they cameoed in the Paper Planes video as customers in her food truck?
@@evapalma9899 Yes, i have been listening to the song for a long time but only noticed their cameo this year 😁 u can imagine my surprise
I had such a big crush on her as a kid lol
Damn...how old are you dawg?
Lehlila Devandria just turned 21 bout two weeks ago 🤣
To be fair she looked pretty cool/interesting hehe
I always said paper planes was my funeral song. & I still stand by those words
M.I.A is such an inspiring artist, she is so talented. Thank you for the video!!!
M.I.A. is such an underrated artist, i remember playing midnight club 3 as a kid and hearing fire fire and fell in love with it. never heard anything like it before
Brave and Real...Then Now and Forever.
Thank you for making you're Music Mean Something. Thank you for standing for ones who can't stand, thank you for a voice, for ones who have no voice. This music is longevity becuse you told the truth.
Massive Respect.
Her song "XXXO" is my favorite song and video from her
I love her so much! I didn’t appreciate her music when I was younger but now listening to it as an adult, she’s so phenomenal and inspirational. Some things you don’t appreciate or recognize until you’ve grown up a little lol
Your video essays are great! I always watch them, doesn't matter if I'm a fan of the artists or genre you're covering or not. Love your work, I feel like I'm actually learning something.
Paper Planes story reminds me of Lizzo's Truth Hurts, she also almost quit music after it was released. Until a netflix movie used it and the song blew up. Crazy how on thing can change your life forever.
It was an episode of ru Paul's drag race
I was always a fan of M.I.A, and have always been intrigued to know more about her. Her lyrics always controversial and antagonising and honest. Eclectic styles, but original and new
I mean, there’s something irresistible about that awkward elbow dance!
yessss M.I.A is my favorite artist ever, thank you so much for doing this, and for recognizing her immense talent. Love you talent 🤍🤍
Arular remains one of my favourite albums to this day.
M.I.A. is amazing. I remember when "Maya" came out. My fave song from that album is "Meds and Feds". It sounds best cranked up with the subwoofers.
I had never heard of this artist or the song until I saw Slumdog Millionaire years after the film was released. Almost as soon as I had finished watching the film, I looked for where I could find the song, and more of the artist. I bought Kala and I have thoroughly enjoyed the album. Since I don't really pay much attention to popular music, I never realised how popular it was.
*"I fly like paper get high like planes"* always liked that bar.
So glad i clicked on this. My interest level in M.I.A just went from about 25 to 100 real quick. Paper Planes has always been a banger. New subscriber.
I love these short films - brilliantly researched, really well put together, and I always learn something. Please do more.
This is why she is one of my favorite humans on this planet! Super underrated in my opinion, so happy I got to meet her. Forever humbled!
Well shout out to Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band for creating Sunshower for M.I.A. to sample. She did a great job!
Been MIA fan for a long time, didn't expect to have goosebumps and tear up watching this. I was very curious on the 20 minute video versus some older artist covered but she has such a powerful life. I downloaded Kala on my Zune it was promoted on briefly, the Bun B and rich boy remix of Paper Planes is one of my favorite songs of all time.
Started listening to her attentively on Kala, then paid attention to Arular, so on and so forth until AIM. If she were to pull a surprise album at any time now, it's duly awaited!
She’s the best rapper of all time in my view. So many of her songs are just so powerful.
I was a junior in high school when this song came out. My favorite song from this album was actually '20 dollar.' I was quite young so hadn't really paid attention to the lyrics, but I'm so glad this video brought me back to the song and its lyrics. I'm so glad to know the inspiration for that song and to delve back into her music. M.I.A. is brilliant!
Loved this album back in the day. Nice to see it get a spotlight put on it again. Great video man
I am one of the biggest M.I.A. fans. I grew up listening to her music. I remember buying her albums and watching all her videos on TH-cam ... like watching this made me so happy.
Idk why but I really can’t stand paper planes. Like it’s a great song I just use to hate when I would talk about her and it’s all people would mention. She has amazing work,..
Kala is properly imprinted in my mind as my first post-college soundtrack. It was August 2008. The opening of $20 made those daily bus rides from York University to my first post-college job at a shitty call centre, with the hot summer sun pouring through the window, absolutely uplifting and transportive. A ray of light during otherwise melancholy days.
I love her so much
Thank you for this and all of your other videos! Definitely one of my favorite channels.
This series just gets better and better. Essential content.
Every single video of yours is so good. Incredibly good job.
"Borders" is in the new Netflix preview for "The Old Guard". I love that song too!
I heard about M.I.A. on public radio, The World one day and liked it. Downloaded Arula and listened to it, a lot. I had no idea what I was singing, but I sang it anyway. No matter what playlist I was listening to, ARULA was in every playlist I made. The story covered a bit of her life, nothing this deep.
All these people talking about "this girl who sings paper airplanes" and I just want to smack them on the forehead. This girl?? I was so excited that the song was so popular, but people don't want to bother to find out her as an artist. Go listen to Arula or never speak to me again.
I was just saying on one of her vids that her music suffers from the "Rage Against The Machine problem".
Her music is fueled largely by a message, or messages, but it also sounds great and there's often a dissonance between the contents of the song and it's sound ("Sunshowers" is a good example) so the message itself gets lost. People just listen for the sound. Or mistaken the lyrics badly. Instead of a sarcastic and hyperbolic take on immigrant stereotypes and state propaganda, "Paper Planes" is seen as a g'd out finesse song about knockin down licks. No different than how Republicans can listen to RATM and somehow feel it only fits Democrats instead of them too.
Ya gotta sound appealing to get the music in front of people. But not everyone is gonna pick up on the message, much less agree with it, and some will pervert it entirely and use it for their own bs. A lotta mfs will just hear what they wanna hear or twist it into whatever serves their purposes.
It's a real problem with revolutionary music. Either the message is pure and nobody ever hears it or the song is big enough but to get it there the message can be easily overlooked or lost. Idk how ya overcome that as an artist. Even with all the real world activism and making it absolutely clear what RATM was about many people still don't know what an anarchist is, much less that it's the perspective they come from, and can warp their songs into everything from childish rebellion to partisan hackery.
Most people who fw RATM aren't anarchists or any other tendency of anti-capitalist, anti-imperialist, anti-bigotry, pro-autonomy,, pro-democracy, pro-equality, pro-solidarity, thought. Plenty of bigots and xenophobes love M.I.A's music, no doubt. Most of the people who liked Public Enemy weren't on their Black Power wave. A whole lotta Clash fans were artsy liberals who were just as guilty as anyone they sang about and were not militant radicals. Hella reactionary rednecks listen to Steve Earle and completely miss his pretty explicit critiques of patriarchy, racism, capitalism, etc, from a pretty obvious libertarian-socialist perspective. I've known a lotta dead prez and Immortal Technique fans who don't really have a clue what they're about and plenty of punks that don't understand the political, social and economic message in much of the music they claim to live for. It's all frequently taken as this general rebellion that keeps power structures and social relations intact. Individual "rebellion", like dyed hair, over fundamental change. A whitewashed and sanitized rebellion that's safe for the middle class to dip their toes in.
There's a massive issue of artist and message being too separated from the listener/viewer. Which then begs the question of is art still in the artists hands once they put it out there? Or can the public do as they wish despite any intentions the artist may have had? Not sure how ya fix any of it. But it's interesting.
✊👊☮️🖤🏴🥀🌐A///E
Bob Marley is another example of casual listeners missing the message completely.
This comment really got me thinking about what happens to art once it leaves the mind of the creator, and by* extension most things that require creativity and perspective and communal interaction.
@@PoipleBabby You should look up Barthes' Death of the Author. :)
And people in this very comment section are still somehow missing the point. Its really astounding
That's why pop is one of the greatest modern vehicle for propaganda and détournement. Pop is an alogirthm. MIA is the concept.
MIA understands the problem of art and revolution in post industrial society very well. As a musician, she explicitly stated early that she wanted to make innovative pop songs that sounded like nothing but was saying something should u decide u wna peel back. That has actually been a point of critique against her since day 1 by cynics - that she is not militant or clear enough in her politics in her art (the truffle fries incident lol). Either it's too serious and heavy or it's not serious enough.
The thing is she's not defined by politics like pundits, art and cultural critics are. The last thing on her mind would be to label herself. I would be that she still doesn't consider herself a musician (her interview on QTV). Her life has been materially affected by politics in its most brutal form - more so than others. But MIA as artist (making music) doesn't come from a place of doing-politics (different from being influenced by politics... whose live isn't?). Her art is not trying to DO politics i.e. BE revolutionary, BE political or even have a Message™. Being political is almost as much incidental as it is a core part of MIA's art. If anything, her art is like the best modern satire... with banging beats and visionary visuals. Plus it's fun. It's ok to just dance!
The artist-art conundrum is age-old. The death of the author is also old by now. Now, it's eclipsed by the notion of being a brand. MIA's too chaotic and contradictory to be a brand. She's been called leftist, racist, radical, terrorist etc etc. She's too complex to be whittled down to a branding identity for the consumer market. And honestly, she probably couldn't, she simply is not that kind of person to be simply one thing. She is always looking for the bigger picture like any artist and insists on her creative independence and creative license to feel and say whatever she wants. Alas, that's not the time we have been or are living in. Be a brand or work for a brand 2020.
As for why she didn't succeed in the mainstream music industry, it's mostly cos she revels in contradictions. We're lucky we have her. She is an endlessly creative fun bratty punk goofy forward-thinking unapologetic artist. Her instincts are unmatched.
OG TINGZ
You really should drop these episodes as podcasts aswell! I would love a new british canon podcast and i'm sure it would do well!
Thanks to this channel for highlighting artist that challenge the status quo instead of being part of it
Paper Planes, Borders and Bad Girls are classic 😊🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
I still vividly remember the first time I heard this song. I was driving around with my friends and we must have heard this at least 3 times in a row. Epic.
I recall a time around 2007, M.I.A. was doing a 2 (maybe 3) night show at the Commodore Ballroom. I attempt to get tickets but it was sold out.
I went down to the venue to see what tickets were going for.
Let me tell you, between the scalper and the scalper, tickets were impossible to obtain at a reasonable price, and a tad bit pricey for my finances at the time.
I even had one of the two scum-y hamster-gangster type scalpers tell me that I was scum because I was trying to by my tickets, from people who had extras, at cost.
My jacket alone probably cost more then his whole attire.
Despite my efforts. I never did get to go.
This has nothing to do with mia and everything to do with your bad outlook on life
One of my favorite songs EVER. Such a nostalgic and dancing vibe, rocks me every time!
I'm a bit older.... So to me.... It sounds like one of my favorite Clash songs. It sticks with you & won't leave your brain. Love the Clash
this video couldn’t have come at a better time. being from london this song is played at EVERY party and it’s helping me get through quarantine
This was wonderful to watch. I love M.I.A. but had no idea she drew some much inspiration and influence from some other great musicians.
I always thought the gun shots meant ‘shotting’ - slang in the U.K. for selling drugs (weed mostly). Reloading at the time meant re-paying cash to your dealer to get another big bit for you to split up and then ‘shot’. So all I want to do is shot shot shot shot and reload (the trigger sound) and ‘ka-ching’ (cash register sound) and take your money. Sell the bits, reload from the bigger guy and pay him. Because even in a non government (lol) regulated industry, you’re still a cog in the chain. 🤷🏻♀️
MIA is one of the greatest musicians of the 21st century
Great video. That song is a masterpiece but never thought about it much. This gave me a new appreciation of what MIA went through and how dedicated she is to causes bigger than her, especially her family.
Paper Planes was big in the hood before anywhere, then it was in slumdog and became huge because upper classes were exposed to it.
Yup
it was already huge before that
Definitely i live in Scotland and loved it when it 1st came out. Maybe the upper classes down south but i know a lot of people up here who liked it. Saying that I'm from a council estate so maybe the toffs up here didn't get it either as i wouldn't know because i don't know any.
yeah much MySpace in the ghetto
So awful how the industry tried to push M.I.A out of the picture because of her stance
She's a true artist. There is no was. She's still making music. Still amazing. Even if she got "canceled" for Maya and the superbowl middle finger. Also, Lorde's Royals literally uses the beat from paper planes.
I remember waiting for Sasha, and John Digweed to play their set at Coachella, or maybe it was just one of them, but I remember M.I.A. just pumping this song, I think she was pregnant too. I’ll never forget it!
Great delve into that! I had no idea there was so much musical inspiration that fed her as an artist etc, quite interesting
i love this series sooo much, maybe you should do a video in charli xcx and how she is shaping the way pop is being made
ps: sorry if my english is weird, its not my first language haha
What a fantastic, informative video. Amazing job, and extra for picking a song that really did just explode what was possible in pop at the time.
MIA is the real deal, always been underrated imo
This is the greatest channel on youtube, this is everything I've ever wanted
I associate Kala so strong with my last couple years at school, walking around with my obscenely loud earphones in.
Peaches is at the center of my two favorite musicians, feist and M.I.A.
Fantastic!Loved it! I needed this video in my life. THANK YOU so much. I can't wait to see here and absorb more from this artist on ALL mediums. Now I have a better idea of where and what to look for, thank you again.
this song is one song that i will never ever get tired of. my favorite song of all time.
"Sound of the future" indeed... her first singles especially sound super-modern even now
Wonderful Documentary. She really does have many layers
I love her music and I'm always listening to her discography since I was a kid but I didn't know much about the backstory of her music. This video was dope
I missed a lot of the subtext when this came out, thanks for educating me on this
✈️💯 As someone whom named Mohammad
I used to put this song on repeat while I’m in airports I was studying in UK 🇬🇧
For me it was clearly about mocking the xenophobic not about being gangster
It’s an artistic take on what we go through as travelers to western cities.
For me I can understand what she meant instantly from the title of the song “Paper Planes” that we are harmless planes unlike the metal planes ✈️ which destroyed the twin towers in 9/11
We are the threat landing towards western cities although this threat is false because we are harmless & won’t cause any distraction just like paper planes .. harmless & playful looking for fun or good times nothing serious.
and every time I land in London Heathrow or Amsterdam etc they makes me wait longer than other usually with me some Indian Sikh with turban these people maybe suffer more than Muslim men in airports I feel bad for them 😂💔 and they then ask me like I’m a suspect & why I’m here etc
also in my university once the Chilean lady who’s in charge of overseas students took me in a room after some incident in the chemistry lab she said “without any evidence or even any link”
that I might be suspicious, for me it was obvious she picked me just because my name is Mohammad tall dark & oddly quiet 😂
although I was helping her & the university with international students for free I used to take them around & guide them to local shops etc, so this song reminded me of those sad & good times of being studying in England
where occasionally treated with racism & xenophobia with some hints of islamophobia ..
that being said I’ve met many wonderful people there they’re over all nice & decent people but the problem is with official workers like airports employees or universities staff, in shops restaurants etc most people don’t care who you’re they’re ok so if you’re British or Dutch don’t get me wrong I salute you all 🌹
great source of knowledge. cannot stop watching one after another. huge respect and gratitude. and i found a song i've been looking for for a ddeeccaddee:OOO
The concepts behind MIA music is amazing af