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Paper Planes

M.I.A.
Language: English


M.I.A.

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mia"Paper Planes" is from M.I.A's 2007 album, Kala. This protest song denounces violence & the stereotypical view of immigrants. The song also was born from M.I.A.'s frustrations of trying to secure a US work Visa (according to M.I.A. the paper planes in the song refers to the Visa). As a British artist with Sri Lankan Tamil descent, she viewed herself as a victim of racial profiling. In connection with her Visa problems, back in 2006, she was placed on the Department of Homeland Security risk list because of the political content of her lyrics.

The song samples The Clash's "Straight To Hell". That sample alone could be viewed as a statement of intent. M.I.A. is the very embodiment of the rebellious punk spirit of The Clash. Even though there may be genre & cultural differences, the objective of the music really wasn't that different. The sound of the gun shot and cash register adds potency to the message, and concerning this M.I.A. made the following statement: "You can either apply it on a street level and go, oh, you’re talking about somebody robbing you and saying I’m going to take your money. But, really, it could be a much bigger idea: someone's selling you guns and making money. Selling weapons and the companies that manufacture guns – that's probably the biggest moneymaker in the world."

Who says that the revolution can't have a beat that you can dance to?

from The 10 Best Protest Songs of the 2000s
fly like paper, get high like planes
If you catch me at the border, I got visas in my name
If you come around here, I make 'em all day
I get one done in a second if you wait

I fly like paper, get high like planes
If you catch me at the border, I got visas in my name
If you come around here, I make 'em all day
I get one done in a second if you wait

Sometimes I think sitting on trains
Every stop I get to, I'm clocking that game
Everyone's a winner, we're making our fame
Bona fide hustler making my name

Sometimes I think sitting on trains
Every stop I get to, I'm clocking that game
Everyone's a winner now we're making our fame
Bona fide hustler making my name

All I wanna do is (BANG BANG BANG )
And a,((KACHENG)) and take your money
All I wanna do is(BANG BANG BANG )
And a, (KACHENG)and take your money

All I wanna do is(BANG BANG BANG )
And a, (KACHENG)and take your money
All I wanna do is(BANG BANG BANG )
And a,(KACHENG) and take your money

Pirate skulls and bones
Sticks and stones and weed and bones
Running when we hit 'em
Lethal poison through their system

Pirate skulls and bones
Sticks and stones and weed and bones
Running when we hit 'em
Lethal poison through their system

No one on the corner has swagger like us
Hit me on my burner, prepaid wireless
We pack and deliver like UPS trucks
Already going to hell, just pumping that gas

No one on the corner has swagger like us
Hit me on my burner, prepaid wireless
We pack and deliver like UPS trucks
Already going to hell, just pumping that gas

All I wanna do is(BANG BANG BANG )
And a,(KACHENG) and take your money
All I wanna do is(BANG BANG BANG )
And a,(KACHENG) and take your money

All I wanna do is(BANG BANG BANG )
And a,(KACHENG) and take your money
All I wanna do is(BANG BANG BANG )
And a,(KACHENG) and take your money

M.I.A., third world democracy
Yeah, I got more records than the KGB
So, uh, no funny business, are you all ready?

Some, some, some I, some I murder
Some I, some I let go
Some, some, some I, some I murder
Some I, some I let go

All I wanna do is(BANG BANG BANG )
And a,(KACHENG) and take your money
All I wanna do is(BANG BANG BANG )
And a,(KACHENG) and take your money

All I wanna do is(BANG BANG BANG )
And a,(KACHENG) and take your money
All I wanna do is(BANG BANG BANG )
And a,(KACHENG) and take your money

2013/12/5 - 23:43




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