Band Beat

Image via The Wall Street Journal

I remember the first time I heard M.I.A. It was a couple of years ago by accident, actually. Serendipitous, for sure! I was browsing the Net, adding songs to my iTunes, and there she was . . . clad in bright, 80s-inspired attire and dancing around in front of crazy backdrops in Galang. I thought, look at her style! Look at her hair! I love her voice! She's so freakin' dope!!!!!!!!!! (Yeah, I said, "dope." Sooooo I was/am a little over-the-top about her.) I started researching her work and found Paper Planes (before it was featured in Pineapple Express, mind you) and instantly fell in love. It's my jam. I love the beat, I love the lyrics, I love the video . . . everything. Take a gander!

Paper Planes
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 down 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
Bonafide hustler making my name

All I wanna do is (BANG BANG BANG BANG!)
And (KKKAAAA CHING!)
And take your money

Pirate skulls and bones
Sticks and stones and weed and bongs
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 hell just pumping that gas

All I wanna do is (BANG BANG BANG BANG!)
And (KKKAAAA CHING!)
And take your money

M.I.A.
Third world democracy
Yeah, I got more records than the K.G.B.
So, uh, no funny business

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