MIA’s New Video

MIA’s new video, released via Twitter

Looks like it was literally produced via webcam, but it’s OK. The hook is kinda beautiful, and that’s pretty much repeated over and over again. It’s not a big media release as much as something sent via Twitter (TwitVid to be exact) and it feels pretty much like that. Slate has a debate whether the song is hauntingly lovely or monotonous. I’d concur that it’s half-baked, but still better than some of the more grating tracks on her albums. The song is vaguely billed as a protest against the New York Times’ positive coverage of Sri Lanka. That, like her angry tweets at the time, is a bit of a joke and the message doesn’t really get across.

It’s basically a song about floating around in space. Perhaps a metaphor for the diasporal condition, but no real reason to poop on a little island below trying to rebuild itself. I think MIA’s very talented, but she puts about as much effort into her politics as this video, filmed for $100 in a night. Actually fixing rather than punishing Sri Lanka will take a bit more work, and tourism helps. That’s a separate issue of course. I try to keep MIA’s music and petulant politics apart.

8 Comments

  3. lol.. webacam.. MIA’s is bankrupt coz the war is over.. Soon we’ll see her begging on the street.

  5. 1. MIA is bringing out points that Sinahala chauvinists detest and would like to cover up.

    2. I don’t agree with all MIA’s methods but she has a point.

    3. Only a transparent investigation will help the healing process not sinhala chauvinism that’s trying to reap the benefits of western tourism

    4. the sinhala chauvinists need to ask if their so-called new partners China, Myanmar, Libya, Iran will send droves of tourists to fill sinhala chauvinist coffers?

    5. Will sinhala chauvinists send their children to Universities in Tehran, Hanoi, Beijing, Yangon?

    6. Will sinhala chauvinists procure citizenship in China, Libya, Iran, Vietnam, Myanmar?

  6. @myil selvan
    You do miss the pont about a few 100kms. Don’t you ?

    The question is what can be done to fix the country to make sure that we create an inclusive society for all ethinicities.

    As for MIA, she has just had a very tough childhood that forever coloured her.
    Some people can never move on.

  7. Surely you know that blaming “sinhala chauvinists” does not make “tamil chauvanism” any less repulsive. They are equally retarded.

    What MIA is doing doesn’t help ordinary Tamils or Sinhalese in Sri Lanka because she clearly has other priorities.

    And you question why Sinhalese would not ‘procure citizenship’ in foreign countries. This is as retarted as
    asking why Tamils dont’ go back to Tamil Nadu.

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