My general hate for M.I.A. has been well documented. See exhibits A, B and C . Suffice it to say, M.I.A? No likey. It's not because I'm a music snob. (Because shh, I am.) I have readily (and publicly) admitted to having more than a few guilty pleasures ie Justin Timberlake (see flickr -- specifically the photoset from Wasaga). I like his album I will not lie, but I like it for its airheaded goodness.
As I remarked to Tool, as soon as I listen to his lyrics I feel guilty, because usually I tune out what he's actually saying "If I told you you were beautiful/ Would you date me on the regular?" Who talks like this? And for ffs am I 15?
But no. I will not hate on Justin because I take him for what he is a pop musician who knows he's a pop musician.
Enter M.I.A.
Perhaps if she or her label were not marketing her as the most innovative thing since a monkey picked up a set of cymbals and bashed them together, I may not hate her. Her production is slick. I like the beat, I like the sound of her voice, and yes, she has all the makings of falling into the guilty pleasure category right along with Justin. Her lyrics suck just as much as his do "don’t order me about/ I’m an outlaw from the badland." What a badass eh? Only a graduate of Central St.Martins could be so hardcore yo. She sort of reminds me of a UK version of, dare I say it, Avril Lavigne. But with just a smidge more street cred. (To give credit where it's due, M.I.A. is a great visual artist.)
If I found Avril's music infectious, I could add her to my list of guilty pleasures, but she sucketh. M.I.A. on the other hand has me torn. I really want to like her, because she's sort of like me, minus the LTTE father etc (why quibble). But more so because she's a product of the diaspora than anything else. If you watch the above video you can see the slickness of the production and the kids running around (I'm a fan of the little gyrating boy in the shorts). But wtf is up with the last frame? Yes can we please randomly throw in the LTTE symbol at the end of a video that has absolutely nothing to do with their cause? Thx.
M.I.A. you make pop music, which you call "dancehall" to a puritan it isn't even really that. (*cough* like how Avril Lavigne is not punk, or even "light" rock, she is pop.) Stop with the fake politics, it ain't going to sell records. If you didn't take yourself so seriously, I can guarantee you a top spot in my very large collection of guilty pleasures.
Moving along.
Now these are Sri Lankan musicians at their best. If we diasporic types were to put together an ensemble like this, I hands down could be the fat chick with the beads, slothy the fellow who tries to rap in English (since I hear he can't speak Sinhala), and drac as the Anarkali-a-like. I'm sure he can shake what his momma gave him after a few drinks, and by all accounts if he grew his hair again nothing would be amiss. He's got the slender girlish figure of an 18 year old already. Which leaves that guy with the curly-ish hair left. Aiya's too fat, so any other takers?
17 comments:
Let me set the record straight. I absolutely cannot shake what my momma gave me, drunk or otherwise.
Attempting to do so means that I've passed the point of no-return as far as waking up with a hangover the next morning is concerned.
Secondly, did you just compare me to her? I... I ... don't know what to say. Except HOW VERY DARE YOU!!!11oneone
slender girlish figure..uh, ok. someone might have gotten their mental images just a wee bit wrong, despite all my efforts at setting expectations appropriately.
drac: Until someone other than yourself discounts your Anarkali-like attributes (mainly, but not limited to you not being a fatty), you will be shaking what your momma gave you in my ensemble cast of musicians/artists.
Unless you have a better substitute? I am open to suggestions.
Also, that photo? It give me the willies.
drac, you're so anar! The hair and the booty says it...well most of it.
That said, I'm so not cap-guy. I'm too slow to rap and I don't do caps. I shall be curly singing in broken sinhala.
I don't like M.I.A. because of the LTTE crap. Call me biased but endorsing terrorists just makes me want to not bother listening.
Is it just me that thinks Ana looks like a dog, esp in that pic drac so kindly posted? As in an actual canine? I think it's the eyes, she has the hungry look of a starving stray staring at the rubbish heap.
ffs already has a "for" in it. Recognise.
Now that I've stopped laughing,let me spring to Drac's....defence. While he has many virtues, a resemblance to that alleged sex symbol is not one of them.
Sloth on the other had, after several beers have being consumed, bears a striking resemblance to Jacqueline Fernandez - especially his porcelain white skin.
slothy: curly you shall be! Thankfully you are not short, because um, if you were, you know what we'd be calling you.
darwin: You know it doesn't totally bother me that she's pro-LTTE, it bugs me that she's a faux-political singer, one line about a pipe bomb doesn't make otherwise shitty lyrics prolific. If she was to incorporate more of how she felt about the LTTE, the cause etc, I would so go out and buy.
Also re: the dog. I agree. He most certainly picked the worst picture of her possible, just to prove his weak point.
Curious Yellow: You damn puritan :)
elric: see, it's not just about his resemblance to good ol' Anar it's the skillz on the dancefloor we're looking for among other things. I hear (much of it coming from him) that he has sex appeal in spades, much like her.
Also the combination of "Halle Berry, Avril Lavigne" and the ability to wear a "diamond necklace" were all attributes put forth in the cap-wearer's rap re: Anarkali. Considering that none of these three have anything in common with the fourth, I stand unmoved. Drac is still the best fit, if only for his teeny tiny waist line :)
oo also, elric. Even without the benefit of beer goggles, slothy would make a better lust object in that particular music video than drac hands down, but i must confess, as the fat chick with the beaded braids, I don't want to be overshadowed by SO MUCH beauty.
justin timberlake has indeed become a guilty pleasure with most people and a not so guilty pleasure with some of the braver souls.
In the case of MIA, her LTTE connection is her marketing tool, something to add to her allure. Like you have said in your comment, it doesn't go beyond that. It's not a cause for her and that makes her more shallow than her counterparts like Avril Lavigne.
Prolific?
And wtf is up with the eye photos?
Hmm... I've found that for the most part, the line that divides those who like her and those who don't runs parallel to the ethnic divide in Sri Lanka.
There are probably exceptions, but that's been my overall observation. Make what you will of that.
And, rk, you know how I feel about this subject.
hey be nice! that cap chaps one of my good mates! I think I'm gonna go drop him an email and have a good laugh at this expense :)...that said for some odd reason Anarkali looked pretty scrumptious in that video..eh maybe I've been away from SL too long already.
Coulda sworn the LTTE actually tried to knock MIA's dad off back in the day? She's pretty fit despite her black tiger scouts affiliation...or maybe again I've been away from SL too long
Har har har poor dracster. You know what, (speaking of guilty pleasures) A doesn't look too bad if you mentally fade out her face, especially in that maroon dress. (That's maroon isn't it?) So drac, its not too bad.
I've heard about MIA beofre but never got a chance to listen to her work. I hope her other songs are better than this. I just couldn't watch it for more than 30 seconds. Really.
sach: I can't believe you have forced me to defend that bag o' bones, but. I am. I think she's actually less shallow than Avril strictly based on the fact that her music SOUNDS better :)
Chris: I know. You love M.I.A. and want her babies. Clearly I haven't been able to get through to you.
N: Really? Cap Chap is one of your chums? I think you should hand him a copy of GQ or even Esquire and hope for the best ;)
M.I.A. though i totally think she's a cutie, and as i've maintained before her stylist is amazing, props to whoever dresses her. But this Anar business...don't let the clothes fool you! Many a previous male i'm sure has made the same mistake and had to pay for it with VD. (cites example of Paris Hilton)
Spectral: I would suggest that Anar flies out to Paris and get a face transplant stat. There is no other way to deal with a smoking bod and a fugly face in my opinion.
haha...see I keep telling him to get rid of that damn cap...but will try ur advice :)
btw..blind and suspect taste in women?!
ouch!!! Its a loong time since I've seen brown girls! I have good taste..I think...
N: maybe suspect was too harsh. Since you think M.I.A.'s cute, which she is, i'd say you lack discernment. You have been downgraded from suspect to "dodgy taste." Kareena Kapoor? Come on.
Babies... Hmpgh.
I'll tell her all about you when I talk to her.
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