She's British with Sri Lankan ancestry. She's controversial for some people, and is banned from entering the US for some of her lyrics and connection to her father's association with a group the US govt categorized as terrorist. Sri Lanka has a history of civil war and a lot of violence, so she takes that into her persona
MIA said that it's about clichés and stereotypes about refugees. She said, “People don’t really feel like immigrants or refugees contribute to culture in any way. That they’re just leeches that suck from whatever. So in the song, I say “All I wanna do is [sound of gun shooting and reloading, cash register opening] and take your money.” I did it in sound effects. It’s up to you how you want to interpret. America is so obsessed with money, I’m sure they’ll get it.”
@@sarahh4eva Fr, but I really think you need to know more about M.I.A.'s background and how her music always focuses on the marginalized, "third world" peoples of the world and how the "first world" impacts those people to understand where she's coming from.
Several people have mentioned it, but the song samples Straight to Hell by The Clash. Definitely worth a listen and immediately recognizable in this song (which I also love).
M.I.A is such an amazing artist try Borders, Bucky done gun & Bad Girls. Paper Planes is a great record but it definitely doesn't give the full story as to what an important musician she is, Borders for example touching on the very serious subject of immigration being a Sri Lankan refugee herself it probably fuels her political and social commentary
@@reeferman42078 Not sure where you heard that. Maybe she wrote it and sat on it for 15 years but she was over 30 when it came out. She was born in 1975.
@@s12856 i always thought Slumdog came before Pineapple Express but you're right! I definitely remember hearing this song first in the trailer for Pineapple Express back then. I didn't actually hear it in full until a few years after
It was famous before the movie in my book. Well before. It's just that you may be one of people that learned of it by the movie, therefore you have this perception.
Yall have to remember, she is from the UK (the Brits, have dark and odd sense of humor like punk rock and hip hop (dark , political lyrics behind happy sounding music, not to be taken too literally). lol. This song is not even about gangbanging. In this case, paper plane (immigrant visas). Beastie Boys are in this video as well. She is of South Asian descent, pretty woman with a son (from an ex husband), very outspoken, too. She is a unique artist with good songs, videos the past 10 years or so. She is alternative hip hop with world music, African folk music, dance, punk, indie, new wave, etc mixed in her songs. Very similar to Santigold (yall need to check her out, too!), Gorillaz (see them, too), etc M.I.A. other cool songs are "Borders", "Bad Girls", etc. Yall probably heard this song on Pineapple Express as well, a funny movie from the 2000s about dope/weed dealers. With James Franco, Craig Robinson, Danny McBride, Rosie Perez and Seth Rogen. lol . And movie Slumdog Millionaire, about slums and tough life in India. Song also was sampled from UK punk band, The Clash " Straight to Hell".
Wow you guys found M.I.A. One of my all-time favorites. Got to see her playing the tent at Coachella just before she really blew up. Anything from his first record ARULAR is good. Particularly "Pull up the People", "Bucky Done Gun" and "Galang."
"Killin it" is a term we use in sales. This is a play on that. The song isn't meant to be taken literally, it's about people coming to America and making it happen.
The video is shot in Manhattan. She wrote the song as a protest because she was denied a US Visa. Edit: Not Manhattan. Brooklyn. Also, to be fair ... could be anywhere. So the song isn't about coming to America specifically. Yes, she's British.
"Paper Planes" is a Protest Song denouncing violence, and stereotypical views of Immigrants. Partly the song was also influenced by M.I.A.'s frustrations in trying to secure a US work Visa (according to M.I.A. the "Paper Planes" in the song refers to the Visa). .
She was born in London, but her family returned to their native Sri Lanka when she was an infant. Then they moved back to London due to civil war in Sri Lanka.
Santigold is also worth checking out, I'd recommend almost anything from her debut album (Santogold), particularly "Lights Out", "Creator", "L.E.S Artistes" or "I'm a Lady".
Forget all your preconceptions about Rap, it originated in the Irish song style "come-all-ye". Just another immeasurable gift of language & wit that the Irish has bestowed on the world ! Scary Éire ~ Truncheon Song Scary Éire ~ The Dole Q Scary Éire ~ Ten Victories Scary Éire ~ Howld Yer Whist .
Those first two MIA albums man, what an adventure they were. Third album got shit on for being too loud and paranoid, but in hind sight................
This whole album was amazing when it came out, so many different sounds from different countries and cultures. I still have it on my phone and listen to it to this day👌
It's about stereotypes about immigrants, particularly by British people towards former Colonies. M.I.A is second generation Sri Lankan who grew up in London, hence the accent. She's incredible, even worked with Timbaland on several songs. Lex's British Accent is frighteningly similar to Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins! 😂
Paper planes is comment on stereotypes about immigration, MIA herself is ethnically a Tamil whose family was forced to flee Sri Lanka as a child for the UK during that countries civil war
This song is just a spoof on stereotypes of the "dangerous illegal immigrant". She's working in a sandwich truck trying to make a living, but her lyrics are all like "some I murder, some I let go." She's pointing out the ridiculousness of the media's portrayal of "evil immigrants" vs. the fact that people who emigrate to another country do so in order to take advantage of opportunities that are not available to them at home.
Big fan of M.I.A.'s different sounds, much of which she mixes and dubs herself. Most of her best stuff is her alone, but she's also got some good collabs. She reminds me in a way - not directly comparing sound - of Santigold from her Master of my Make-Believe period with songs like Disparate Youth.
@Gavin TyeYour point? I didn't say she doesn't sample, I said she creates a range of different sounds. This song was inspired by Straight to Hell, the Clash shares writing credits, and Mick Jones has talked about Paper Planes, its theme, and its sound in interviews.
I was a huge M.I.A fan back in the day! Her first couple of albums are bangers! I saw her in concert back in 2008! If I'm not mistaken she hasn't been back to Dallas since! If she did I'm sure I would have known about it
Another great lady that I often see in the recomendation when I look up M.I.A is "Santigold" ... her songs are "L.E.S Artists" th-cam.com/video/ciJDA0tcQfs/w-d-xo.html "Creator" th-cam.com/video/I_M1M26s6o4/w-d-xo.html "Girls" th-cam.com/video/O5ocODl0fUI/w-d-xo.html "Desparate Youth" th-cam.com/video/mIMMZQJ1H6E/w-d-xo.html
More MIA! This one rips: th-cam.com/video/RvUVxYndYuU/w-d-xo.html She's often super political, daughter of a Sri Lankan revolutionary. This one hits on refugee crisis in EU and UK: th-cam.com/video/CPr_0AF9rWg/w-d-xo.html This short docu gives some interesting background on the song: th-cam.com/video/oWu2RrIUgsU/w-d-xo.html
That was 08'. Shame never went big in the U.S. she was blacklisted actually because of some of the lyrics in her songs. She was from the same wave of UK artists coming up such as rita ora, lana del rey or Jessica J in early 2010.
Sri Lanka used to be known as CEYLON, and CEYLON tea is the best in the world. It's a small island, independent country off the coast of India in the Bay of Bengal. The name was changed to Sri Lanka when they won their independence from England
MIA and her family are Tamils from Sri Lanka. They were linked to the Tamil Tigers politically. The Tamils had to flee Sri Lanka at the end of the civil war there. Her and her family are spied on by secret police in every country they go to. MIA has also collaborated with Elastica Frontwoman Justine Frischmann, who was the coolest women in the UK in the 90s. Check out the Elastica song Vaseline…1 minute 30 seconds of brilliance
M.I.A. (Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam) is amazing. She's a Brit whose family is from Sri Lanka, Tamil origin, and she's quite the humanist. Very impressive. This song is about the cliches the British have about immigrants. This is parody, There's a documentary about her -- "Matangi/Maya/M.I.A." -- that's well worth checking out.
She is a brilliant artist, and has a gift for working powerful political and social commentary into her work. This whole album of hers is stellar, and worth listening to.
Her parents are from Sri Lanka, she was born in England, but her parents are from Sri Lanka. She is Sri Lankan, as am I, my last name is Wickramasekera
Check out MIA - Borders next. Great song and one that you definitely need to watch the video for. Also, in your own time, watch the documentary 'Matangi/Maya/M.I.A'. There's a LOT more to her than you think.
Many have already filled in details of the artist, so I'll just add that she's worth picking up again: Bucky Done Gun Galang Borders Come Around (with Timbaland)
This was also used in the classic movie "This Is The End", whilst they were making "Pineapple Express 2" during the Apocalypse. "You couldn't handle my midriff."
She's British with Sri Lankan ancestry. She's controversial for some people, and is banned from entering the US for some of her lyrics and connection to her father's association with a group the US govt categorized as terrorist. Sri Lanka has a history of civil war and a lot of violence, so she takes that into her persona
Yes , finally someone with a brain . This was controversial , because if ( LLT ) .
Nice info thanks ..makes her intersting now to me mmmm crazy
The Tamil Tigers, shit went south after the assassinations in the India subcontinent post independence.
Uh! She appeared on Madonna’s Super Bowl halftime show - flipping the bird.
She is not banned from the US
MIA said that it's about clichés and stereotypes about refugees. She said, “People don’t really feel like immigrants or refugees contribute to culture in any way. That they’re just leeches that suck from whatever. So in the song, I say “All I wanna do is [sound of gun shooting and reloading, cash register opening] and take your money.” I did it in sound effects. It’s up to you how you want to interpret. America is so obsessed with money, I’m sure they’ll get it.”
Yes, this. It's stressing me out that they are taking it as being about killing, robbing and selling drugs for real. 😂
@@sarahh4eva well the world is full of FAKE refugees who are just migration economists
Dinghy divers be like " All I wanna do * BANG BANG BANG BANG * is take your money "
basically another "I hate whitey" song
@@sarahh4eva Fr, but I really think you need to know more about M.I.A.'s background and how her music always focuses on the marginalized, "third world" peoples of the world and how the "first world" impacts those people to understand where she's coming from.
Several people have mentioned it, but the song samples Straight to Hell by The Clash. Definitely worth a listen and immediately recognizable in this song (which I also love).
Seconded, The Clash rules.
Did not know. Thanks, will check it out. Clash, such an influential band. Always and forever.
@@Alpha_7227 They recorded a couple different versions, I like the version they used on The Story of the Clash (greatest hits type album)
It ain't Coca Cola... its rice...
This is one of the rare examples where the sampled song is an improvement over the original.
She's actually an interesting person to look into outside of music
Yeah, anti-vax is interesting
@@johndough3809 oh shut up. There’s way more to people than political opinions. Get over it.
"Interesting" as in "certifiably nuts"?
M.I.A is such an amazing artist try Borders, Bucky done gun & Bad Girls. Paper Planes is a great record but it definitely doesn't give the full story as to what an important musician she is, Borders for example touching on the very serious subject of immigration being a Sri Lankan refugee herself it probably fuels her political and social commentary
What I was thought was amazing was that she was only fourteen when she recorded the song if I am not mistaken
@@reeferman42078 Not sure where you heard that. Maybe she wrote it and sat on it for 15 years but she was over 30 when it came out. She was born in 1975.
When I saw Bad Girls the first time, I knew: I'm not cool enough for this.
Hi guys. Yes she is British..song became famous via the film Slumdog Millionaire which won an Oscar.
She is so cool. Try Bad Girls too!
Think slightly before that it was used in the trailer for Pineapple Express
@@s12856 i always thought Slumdog came before Pineapple Express but you're right! I definitely remember hearing this song first in the trailer for Pineapple Express back then. I didn't actually hear it in full until a few years after
It was famous before the movie in my book. Well before. It's just that you may be one of people that learned of it by the movie, therefore you have this perception.
Slumdog Millionaire is such a GOATED film man ❤
@towfuuu3935 uh no but nice try thanks for playing 👍😉
Yall have to remember, she is from the UK (the Brits, have dark and odd sense of humor like punk rock and hip hop (dark , political lyrics behind happy sounding music, not to be taken too literally). lol. This song is not even about gangbanging. In this case, paper plane (immigrant visas). Beastie Boys are in this video as well. She is of South Asian descent, pretty woman with a son (from an ex husband), very outspoken, too. She is a unique artist with good songs, videos the past 10 years or so. She is alternative hip hop with world music, African folk music, dance, punk, indie, new wave, etc mixed in her songs. Very similar to Santigold (yall need to check her out, too!), Gorillaz (see them, too), etc
M.I.A. other cool songs are "Borders", "Bad Girls", etc.
Yall probably heard this song on Pineapple Express as well, a funny movie from the 2000s about dope/weed dealers. With James Franco, Craig Robinson, Danny McBride, Rosie Perez and Seth Rogen. lol . And movie Slumdog Millionaire, about slums and tough life in India. Song also was sampled from UK punk band, The Clash " Straight to Hell".
Wow you guys found M.I.A. One of my all-time favorites. Got to see her playing the tent at Coachella just before she really blew up. Anything from his first record ARULAR is good. Particularly "Pull up the People", "Bucky Done Gun" and "Galang."
She is British, so that’s why she sounds it.
Yay, I been waiting like 5 years for someone to react to this. This is one of my favorite songs.
Btw. the beat is a The Clash sample!
Slumdog Millionaire was a great movie and the scene where they played this song is still in my minds eye.
"Killin it" is a term we use in sales. This is a play on that. The song isn't meant to be taken literally, it's about people coming to America and making it happen.
You realize she's British right?
The video is shot in Manhattan. She wrote the song as a protest because she was denied a US Visa. Edit: Not Manhattan. Brooklyn. Also, to be fair ... could be anywhere. So the song isn't about coming to America specifically. Yes, she's British.
"Paper Planes" is a Protest Song denouncing violence, and stereotypical views of Immigrants.
Partly the song was also influenced by M.I.A.'s frustrations in trying to secure a US work Visa (according to M.I.A. the "Paper Planes" in the song refers to the Visa).
.
I could swear that the part she’s passing off as a cash register noise after the gun fire (but before the drawer opens) is a hammer being cocked back.
You got an automatic like just for doing this song
This entire album, and the next, contained some next-level diy sampling. She's creative af.
She was born in London, but her family returned to their native Sri Lanka when she was an infant. Then they moved back to London due to civil war in Sri Lanka.
Wife here..Amazingly unique artist..!!..I remember when this first came out..I thought "very clever"..."Catchy"..You two always on point!!
Santigold is also worth checking out, I'd recommend almost anything from her debut album (Santogold), particularly "Lights Out", "Creator", "L.E.S Artistes" or "I'm a Lady".
Yes! Love her!!
I love Santigold, incredible artist
Also the guys giving her the watch in the video are AD Rock and Mike D from The Beastie Boys.
A singer with a similar voice but more on the alternative side from that era is Santigold, the song Disparate Youth
This is sampled from an incredible Clash song- 'Straight to hell.' That's the song you should do.
Forget all your preconceptions about Rap, it originated in the Irish song style "come-all-ye".
Just another immeasurable gift of language & wit that the Irish has bestowed on the world !
Scary Éire ~ Truncheon Song
Scary Éire ~ The Dole Q
Scary Éire ~ Ten Victories
Scary Éire ~ Howld Yer Whist
.
It makes fun negative stereotypes of immigrants. Paper planes are visas.
Those first two MIA albums man, what an adventure they were. Third album got shit on for being too loud and paranoid, but in hind sight................
This whole album was amazing when it came out, so many different sounds from different countries and cultures.
I still have it on my phone and listen to it to this day👌
VERY unusual chorus! I've always loved this for its creativity.
It's about stereotypes about immigrants, particularly by British people towards former Colonies. M.I.A is second generation Sri Lankan who grew up in London, hence the accent. She's incredible, even worked with Timbaland on several songs. Lex's British Accent is frighteningly similar to Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins! 😂
Chim Chim-a-ney,
Chim Chim-a-ney,
Chim Chim Cha Roo.
I Draws, Wot I Likes, And I Likes, Wot I Drew...
@@calebclunie4001
Whoa my British professor just made the same "Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins" joke. I guess that's a thing.
The tune is a loop sample from The Clash's Straight to Hell. Highly recommend listening to the original.
Sample of The Clash song ‘Straight To Hell’
Also Beastie Boys (AdRock & Mike D.) cameo, as food truck customers.
Born Free by M.I.A. is one of the most badass songs ever!
This song is so gangsta, I was a little shocked when I first heard it. I was like...wait what did she say, like 20x
Paper planes is comment on stereotypes about immigration, MIA herself is ethnically a Tamil whose family was forced to flee Sri Lanka as a child for the UK during that countries civil war
You two are a perfect combo for these reviews and I love watching! Keep em coming!
This is a great song but you need to listen to Straight To Hell by the Clash. This song samples it but the Clash song is incredible.
3:58 2 of the 3 Beastie Boys. Like this song especially since I am big fan of The Clash.
Mr. B the Gentleman Rhymer's version "paper plates" is all I hear now
3:58 is a Beastie Boys cameo.
Beastie Boys in this video!
This song is more than it first seems…
It’s about how immigrants are perceived by the natives!
Yes I thought that was them. The last to customers at the food stand
..
Btw, that's the Beastie Boys trying to sell her a watch.
This song is just a spoof on stereotypes of the "dangerous illegal immigrant". She's working in a sandwich truck trying to make a living, but her lyrics are all like "some I murder, some I let go." She's pointing out the ridiculousness of the media's portrayal of "evil immigrants" vs. the fact that people who emigrate to another country do so in order to take advantage of opportunities that are not available to them at home.
Big fan of M.I.A.'s different sounds, much of which she mixes and dubs herself. Most of her best stuff is her alone, but she's also got some good collabs. She reminds me in a way - not directly comparing sound - of Santigold from her Master of my Make-Believe period with songs like Disparate Youth.
I love me some Santigold!
@Gavin TyeYour point? I didn't say she doesn't sample, I said she creates a range of different sounds. This song was inspired by Straight to Hell, the Clash shares writing credits, and Mick Jones has talked about Paper Planes, its theme, and its sound in interviews.
Yes I feel like her and SantiGold were the cool eclectic girls back in 07-08
It probably reminds you of Santigold because they're both intps.
She was ahead of her Own World, She thrusted Her way In and showed off her Skillz, I remember listening to this when I Was young. Nostalgic
@Gavin Tye No
I was a huge M.I.A fan back in the day! Her first couple of albums are bangers! I saw her in concert back in 2008! If I'm not mistaken she hasn't been back to Dallas since! If she did I'm sure I would have known about it
She’s still been churning things out, you should try being a fan again
The music is samples from the clash
This is one of the most sonically pleasing songs ever.
for real. the only melody that i think comes close is sunflower by post malone and rae
Sri lanka gangsta printing passports, love the realization half way through. "Live fast, die young"
No one on the corner have swagger like us
Another great lady that I often see in the recomendation when I look up M.I.A is "Santigold" ... her songs are
"L.E.S Artists" th-cam.com/video/ciJDA0tcQfs/w-d-xo.html
"Creator" th-cam.com/video/I_M1M26s6o4/w-d-xo.html
"Girls" th-cam.com/video/O5ocODl0fUI/w-d-xo.html
"Desparate Youth" th-cam.com/video/mIMMZQJ1H6E/w-d-xo.html
This song was on the SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE soundtrack
No one on the corner has swagga like us!
As a refugee from Sri Lanka, she writes to give voice to the voiceless. Paper planes is more than just a party thumper
The Beastie Boys at the fast food van window :)
She did "Swagga like us" with T.I., Kanye, Jay Z and Lil Wayne that samples this. It's 🔥 🔥
And this samples “straight to hell” by the clash
Never forget her performing swagger like us at the Grammys one day before her due date nine months pregnant
Yes! The only band that matters is sampled here: The Clash!
Let’s all admit we only heard this song from the “Pineapple Express” movie and trailer lmao
More MIA! This one rips: th-cam.com/video/RvUVxYndYuU/w-d-xo.html She's often super political, daughter of a Sri Lankan revolutionary. This one hits on refugee crisis in EU and UK: th-cam.com/video/CPr_0AF9rWg/w-d-xo.html
This short docu gives some interesting background on the song: th-cam.com/video/oWu2RrIUgsU/w-d-xo.html
Do The Clash “Straight To Hell” when they were on Saturday Night Live. This is a great song but that riff is a sample from the only band that matters.
I think that song was a part of Slumdog Millionnaire OST
It's so weird to encounter people who never heard that song,shit was everywhere when it was hot
This really isn't my style of music but this song is infectious. Matter of fact the record is good and trippy.
Santigold and M.I.A can't miss reviews
More M.I.A. videos pls her songs are so different and unique, a true gem in pop.
That was 08'. Shame never went big in the U.S. she was blacklisted actually because of some of the lyrics in her songs. She was from the same wave of UK artists coming up such as rita ora, lana del rey or Jessica J in early 2010.
Sri Lanka used to be known as CEYLON, and CEYLON tea is the best in the world. It's a small island, independent country off the coast of India in the Bay of Bengal. The name was changed to Sri Lanka when they won their independence from England
Don't forget at the end where she said, "some I murder, and some I let go"!! This song is wild in references!
Best line in an 00s song…”no one on the corner has swagger like us!”
Really?
lame
Love how she was moving her shoulders with that swagger line
look at 3:57, two of the three Beastie Boys. Ad Rock and Mike D.
MIA and her family are Tamils from Sri Lanka. They were linked to the Tamil Tigers politically. The Tamils had to flee Sri Lanka at the end of the civil war there. Her and her family are spied on by secret police in every country they go to. MIA has also collaborated with Elastica Frontwoman Justine Frischmann, who was the coolest women in the UK in the 90s. Check out the Elastica song Vaseline…1 minute 30 seconds of brilliance
Brad, can you not wait until after she's finished the chorus before pausing 🤯
You saw the 'Ride the Lightning' shirt, yeah?
This is anti war, anti drugs, big business. Great protest song.
Did you notice the cameo in the video of two of the Beastie Boys?
That's a good song, I usually listen to this on the gym. 😂
3:57 …and two of the beastie boys make an appearance! Mike D and Ad-Rock
Beastie Boy at truck window
This song was so cool, so different.
You should check more from her, she's unique.
the cameo from 2 of the Beasties at 3:57in the clip is nice as well
M.I.A. (Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam) is amazing. She's a Brit whose family is from Sri Lanka, Tamil origin, and she's quite the humanist. Very impressive. This song is about the cliches the British have about immigrants. This is parody, There's a documentary about her -- "Matangi/Maya/M.I.A." -- that's well worth checking out.
Santigold next!
S
A
N
T
I
G
O
L
D
💥
Sri Lanka was a British Possession for a long time, Sri Lanka has the best Tea leaves 🍃 in the world, and British love their tea
She is a brilliant artist, and has a gift for working powerful political and social commentary into her work. This whole album of hers is stellar, and worth listening to.
She also made sure she had a baby with an heir to billion dollar fortune,
Tom Morello from RATM makes the song
This song is about immigrant hustle. Did you see the Beasties in the vid?
She sounds British because she is 😁
Her parents are from Sri Lanka, she was born in England, but her parents are from Sri Lanka. She is Sri Lankan, as am I, my last name is Wickramasekera
The clash straight to hell pleaee
Just dropping by to rep HOUNSLOW 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧 we love MIA
Haha…MIA at the Caribbean food stand…can I get a roti?
And she’s wearing a Metallica Ride the lightening shirt🤘
British Hip hop we are back 😂
Check out MIA - Borders next. Great song and one that you definitely need to watch the video for. Also, in your own time, watch the documentary 'Matangi/Maya/M.I.A'. There's a LOT more to her than you think.
This is on my list of Top 10 songs of the 21st Century
Hahaha I love your British accent lex.
have to watch MIA "Bad Girls"...VIDEO, must be the video, one of the best videos. of ALL TIME
Many have already filled in details of the artist, so I'll just add that she's worth picking up again:
Bucky Done Gun
Galang
Borders
Come Around (with Timbaland)
I love her Bad Girls song!
Its a clash sample
This was also used in the classic movie "This Is The End", whilst they were making "Pineapple Express 2" during the Apocalypse.
"You couldn't handle my midriff."
M.I.A. sporting the Metallica "Ride the Lightning" t-shirt! 🎸. She is good and makes cool music. Also, the Clash sample is on this song.