New Music Video - M.I.A. -"Paper Planes"

We've had this track on repeat around the office for a little over a month now. it's one of the reasons we've got Kala as one of our favorite albums this year. The video is the first shot in America and features a short cameo from the Beasties. Apparently there was a little trouble making it for Maya and she wrote her fans a letter about it. you can read that after the video.


Here is the letter to her fans.

PAPER PLANES VIDEO

LOOK I KNOW THERE ARE HATERS OUT THERE, I DEAL WITH IT EVERYDAY THATS NO FUCKING BIG DEAL AND IVE DEALT WITH WORSE IN MY LIFE, A FEW PEOPLE TALKING SHIT DONT MATTER TO ME, BUT TWISTING TRUTH ISNT THE LESSON I WANNA LEARN IN MY TIME IN MUSIC, SO WHO EVER THAT IS DOING IT , I WANNA SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT


1, I ORIGINALLY WANTED TO SHOOT THE VIDEO IN A FACTORY ON THE BORDER OF
EQUADOR, BUT COULDNT. I WAS TOURING THE U.S, I COULDA BEEN ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD RIGHT THEN BUT THERE I WAS IN AMERICA, IN NYC, IN BROOKLYN, IN BEDSTUY , I WAS TORN BETWEEN SCRAPIN SHOWS IN AMERICA AND MEETING AMERICAN FANS OR SHOOTING IN NYC ON MY ONLY DAY OFF I'D HAD IN 4 MONTHS AND GETTING ON WITH IT.

2, SO THAT WAS THAT! I NEVER MADE A VIDEO IN AMERICA AND HEY ITS STILL A PART OF WHAT I DO AND SAY, ITS WAS STILL VALID, SO I WAS READY TO ROLL WITH IT.

3, YOU ALL KNOW HOW THE SONG SOUNDS, THATS WHY WHEN U GO ON YOUTUBE 400, 000 PEOPLE WOULD RATHER LISTEN THE SONG AS IT IS AND STARE AT SOME PICTURE THEN TO ACTUALLY WATCH A VIDEO

4, WHEN LETTERMAN CENSORD ME IT WAS WAC OF COURSE!!!!!! , AND YES I FELT SOOOOOO BAD FOR WHAT THEY DID TO MY SOUND. I WAS ABEL TO SOUND CHECK FOR THAT SHOW AND THEY LET ME SOUND CHECK FINE, THEN ON THE ACTUAL TAPING MY SOUND WAS SOOO DIFFERENT FROM WHAT ID AGREED, AS SOON AS I OPENED MY MOUTH THE DIFFERENCE BLEW ME AWAY, I FELT I WAS GETTING BULLIED ON NATIONAL TELEVISON, AND I COULDNT EVEN REACH OUT TO MY LABELS OR MY MANAGEMENT TO HELP, SINCE THEY ARE NEW TO WHAT HAPPENS TO AN ARTIST LIKE ME IN MAINSTEAM AMERICAN CULTURE.


SO THEY TRIED TO SHUT ME DOWN AGAIN. I MADE THE PAPER PLANES VIDEO. I MADE IT HOW THEY WANTED. NO VIOLENCE. AMBIGUOUS. MTV - FRIENDLY. NOW TODAY, I CHECK YOUTUBE AND SEE THE LEAKED MTV PAPER PLANES VIDEO UP FOR THE FIRST TIME. I CLICKED ON IT AND OUT COMES THIS FUCKED UP MESS WITH DOUBLE-TRACKED BULLSHIT MESS

WHO THE THE FUCK IS DOING THIS TO ME?????

THE VIDEO WAS SABOTAGED FOR WHATEVER REASON AND IM DISAPPOINTED THAT MTV HAS HAD SUCH A MAJOR ROLE IN THIS. THE BLOGGERS WHO ARE LAZY ENOUGH TO FOLLOW THE MTV LINK AND POST UP AND COMMENT ON THE SOUND WHEN THAT HASNT BEEN COMPROMISED AND THE GUNSHOT ARENT REPLACED AND EDITED MAKES ME SAD. I DID FIGHT FOR THE SOUND , BECAUSE PUTTING MEANINGS IN YOUR VIDEOS, IN MY OPINION IS A DYING ART. I CAN FILM MY SELF ANYWHERE ANYTIME AND LET YOU KNOW THE TRUTH , BUT THE SONG IS WHAT I WANTED TO PRESERVE IN THIS CASE.

TO ALL MY FANS, LOOK, ITS LIKE THIS,
IM LEARNING THINGS ABOUT THIS WORLD WITH YOU, I WANT YOU TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS TO ME , I WANT YOU TO SEE HOW PEOPLE WILL SIT AND SPEND ALL SUNDAY TEARIN ME DOWN FOR SOMETHING I DIDNT EVEN MAKE OR PUT OUT, SO PEOPLE WELCOME TO MODERN DAY PROPAGANDA MESSAGE MANGLING.

IN 2007, AN OUTSIDER OPINION WILL BE CONFRONTED THIS WAY , AND THIS IS HOW THE BATTLE GOES, MY MESSAGES AND IDEAS AND MEANING WILL ALWAYS BE BROUGHT TO YOU WITH SLIGHTLY TAINTED CHANNELS. IF YOU SUPPORT ME BE SMART, AND KNOW THAT.

I LOVE YOU, U KEEP ME GOING.
XXXXXX
MAYA

HERE IS THE REAL AMERICAN VERSION WITH GUN SHOTS! Gander On!

Vegoose - The Leftovers

We finally managed to sort through the rest of our pictures from Vegoose last weekend and there were definitely some winners. We also managed to find some video of the crazy dance party M.I.A. threw on stage. Check the video below and Gander on for some great photos.









Gander On!

Vegoose Day 1

It was a long day in the Las Vegas desert yesterday but thee performances were well worth it. Eugene Hutz and Gogol Bordello got us started off with a rousing set filled with gypsy punk theatrics including Eugene bathing himself in wine and to our count breaking at least three mic stands. Next for was Atmosphere who came out looking like he was going to sing us some country songs rather than some great hip-hip tunes. The fans were shoe gazing early as Slug played some new tunes but after playing "God Loves Ugly" they quickly began to pump their fists and sing along.
Public Enemy hit the stage late but showed they still have the energy to rock a crowd half their age that probably doesn't even own a Public Enemy album. Flavor Flav was in full effect leading the crowd in chants of Fuck George Bush, Fuck Disk Cheney, and Fuck Condoleeza, and throwing in a Fuck Tony Blair for good measure.
We got to Cypress Hill just in time to hear "Insane In The Membrane" and hear them go through nearly a dozen more songs about reefer and the police. The stage show really hasn't changed for Cypress in a while but they still know how to rock a crowd.
After checking the Red Sox score we headed over to M.I.A. who we have been wanting to see all year but visa problems for her and work for us always got in the way. The set was full of gunshots and M.I.A. moved rhythmically to their sound. Later in the set she brought a good third of the crowd onstage to dance with her and caused some alarm for security. We made sure to lead the crowd around us in the unique dance moves that go along with M.I.A.'s music. Our favorite being stomp the cockroach.
The rest of the evening is kind of a blur. We listened to a little of Iggy while we waited to take a trip through Axe's sexy haunted house and then caught Thievery Corporation before making our way to get a good spot for Daft Punk. We made some international friends in the crowd who were giving everyone drinks from their bag of wine and who were also kind enough to glitter us up for Daft Punk. The French duo like always were amazing and put on a light show to be remembered. We were trying to imagine what it was like to see the show from the planes landing overhead. We were a sweaty mess and the end of the day but the smile produced by Daft Punk is still on ur face as we type this morning. Day 2 starts with Ghostland Observatory and ends with Rage Against the Machine. We'll be updating all day so stay tuned. Gander On!

Spike Jonze Spends Saturday With M.I.A. Parts 3-6

Last Week we brought you parts one and two and on this great Monday we have he rest of the series. Enjoy!

Gander On!

Spike Jonze Spends Saturday With M.I.A.

Our favorite music video director recently spent a Saturday afternoon with M.I.A. The interview has been broken down into six parts and today we've got one and two. In part one Spike gives M.I.A a few gifts and we learn that her hair stylist enjoys taking Ketamine on the job. Part 2 isn't as exciting but it's mostly conversation on their way to meet Afrikan Boy but it's worth watching. Check out part 1 below and Gander On for Part 2. Big thanks to GvsB for the link.

Gander On!

MIA in Echo Park

As I walked up to meet up with some people to the show tonight - who
do I run into? MIA herself crossing the street on Sunset. She was way
cool and I told her I'd be at the show tonight. The crowd is looking
hyped for night #1 of MIA - the line to get in goes down the street. Gander On!

M.I.A wil be M.I.A. at Sasquatch

Once again M.I.A whose real name is Mathangi Arulpragasam has for unknown reasons been denied a U.S. Visa. This means no Sasquatch festival for her this weekend. She has been replaced by The Long Winters and is still planning to make her other U.S. dates including Lollapalooza. Gander On!