Bostonist: M.I.A. Brings Politics To Paradise

Lisa

Fri, 07 Oct 2005 18:32:02 -0500

The show did go by really quickly; but with only one album, what else could she do? maybe the Ba-naa-naaaa skit? Also Diplo wasn't djing the show, it was Contra. He ripped the opening set starting with that George Kranz tune! Spank Rock(opening group) was cool too; I'm not familiar with them at all.

Cory

Tue, 04 Oct 2005 16:20:07 -0500

Comments on the above: * All M.I.A.'s city references are at the beginning of Bucky Done Gun (e.g. "Chicago, quieten down I need to make a sound") * Sunshowers is also about a suicide bomber - there are two threads to the story. One guy gets killed bc he's a muslim. Another sets off a bomb -- "beat heart beat he's made it to the Newsweek, sweetheart see's he's done it for the peeps" -- hence "some showers I'll be aiming at you" * show will typically run about 1-1:20 (was 1:25 in Chicago last week). she had the flu for the Boston show, prob why she kept it short. there's typically some good between-song chat (some consistent show to show) and some improv'd. she does in fact have a couple songs that are not on Arular, though she'll rarely play them (you can hear them on "Piracy Funds Terrorism")

MaryT

Thu, 29 Sep 2005 22:43:38 -0500

M.I.A. on the O.C. tonight; anyone else catch it?

ed

Thu, 29 Sep 2005 13:59:17 -0500

I'm guesing she only did 40 minutes because that's all she has. think her cd is around 40 minutes or so, and i bet she did just about everything from the cd. calling someone missy is so boomer school teacher. weird.

MaryT

Tue, 27 Sep 2005 22:34:12 -0500

Mike: I wasn't endorsing her political message, merely acknowledging it. If you listen to her music, you inevitably listen to her "politics". (On that note, I use "politics" loosely, because I don't think her agenda is particularly pointed. She does reference violence and terrorism on the album, but with inconsistent nuances, not direct declarations.) Bright colors, good beats and clever samples allow M.I.A. to slip into the realm of mainstream media, regardless of what she's trying to communicate. Case in point: Honda ad. Ironic isn't it? And yes, I'm aware that her father, Arular, the namesake of her album, was a Tamil Tiger; I wouldn't have linked to a biography if I hadn't read it. So, I'll do my homework; you read the posts more thoroughly before writing shortsighted comments. The music's hot, however.

Mike

Tue, 27 Sep 2005 21:25:25 -0500

You might want to read the Village Voice there, missy, or take a lot at ink spilled on Mya when she hit the blog world--her "politics" are somewhat divisive. Daddy was a Tamil Tiger! Do your homework. The music's hot, however.

McCready

Tue, 27 Sep 2005 17:47:31 -0500

Although I wish M.I.A played here every night, I took issue with 2 things. 1. She played for less than 40 minutes, pretty beat seeing as how hyped this show was. 2. After her schpeel about the Honda commercial they do the song Pop where she bites the dead prez beat. I thought she would change the lyrics, but no, she still tells people not to "sell out to be product pushers." I have no problem with the commercial but she sounded pretty silly and hypocritical. Then again, I'm from DC and partial to bands that actually walk the walk --> Fugazi.

MaryT

Tue, 27 Sep 2005 14:50:33 -0500

She threw in a "Boston quiet down and I need to make a sound" yes?

Not@Show

Tue, 27 Sep 2005 14:38:09 -0500

What was the boston reference???