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Lyrics, Audiences, and Mixtapes
After sifting through the heaps (mounds?) of MIA discussion around the internet over the past few months, Torontoist thought it’s about time we came up with some of our own opinions on the Sri Lankan/British, by-way-of-blog superstar. As most conscious MIA listeners already know, there’s a growing controversy over MIA’s Palestine Liberation Organisation shout-out as well as alleged ties to the Tamil Tigers. As Torontoist interprets it, the MIA debate surrounds the political message of her songs, and her attachment to said message.
Firstly, this seems truly odd to discuss the PLO reference. MIA herself cites a precedent set by the Wu Tang Clan’s “PLO-style,” a lyric re-used many times over the last decade by Method Man. Nextly, in the hit song “Drop It Like It’s Hot,” Snoop Dogg outright pledges allegiances to the Crips, a Los Angeles gang involved in brutal gang wars that resulted in thousands of homicides in the 90’s. Could the Crips not be considered a terrorist group in their own right? Perhaps MTV and these concern listeners should jump on Snoop for that? Furthermore, isn’t there hundreds of cases worse than ‘aiming sun showers’? Like when Lynard Skynard gave a shout-out to segregation? If anything, doesn’t this show that pop-music fans usually overlook lyrics in favour of overall appeal? Let’s switch it over to another more music-related issue.
Over at the pictureless-yet-interesting eye blog, Caroline removes her glove and throws it down in front of college-crowd favorites Bedouin Soundclash. In response, selected graduates of the band’s Alma Mater, Queen’s University, have come to defend and not defend their band. The issue at hand: Does the Dave Matthews Band-listening, Coors Light-drinking, Abercrombie and Fitch shirt-wearing, frat boy-type crowd reflect negatively upon the bands they watch?
This case is rather clear cut, as Bedouin Soundclash seem to attract those looking for exoticism in their music but afraid to venture below the state of Florida to get it. More akin to Graceland-era Paul Simon than Augustus Pablo, the music is unabashed mainstream pop (‘reggae-pop,’ if you must). As such, songs like “Santa Monica” or “When the Night Feels My Song” will attract a broad, mainstream audience (of frat boys). You could blame the music, or, more logically, you could blame the bland, go-where-there-might-be-girls’n’beer culture.
Anyway, it was fun pretending we are Zoilus, but really we don’t have the musical knowledge or writing skill to appropriately pay homage. All we really did right was bold the beginning of each paragraph. So here’s the mixtape:
1. Bedouin Soundclash – “National Water”
2. Farm Fresh – “Fresh As That”
Manitoba rap-act an extension of midwest American hip-hop. Or at least the Guess Who. From Peanuts&Corn Recs.
3. The Books – Enjoy Your Worries May You Never Have Them Again”
Just as a reminder that Lost & Safe is due out April 5.
4. Hot Hot Heat – “Island of the Honest Man”
Went looking for the dumb new Weezer track, and came up with this dumb song…
5. Kardinal Offishall – “Forward Riddim”
That Can-grime hit from January that everyone is still hot on.
6. MIA – “Sunshowers” (Diplo Mix)
7. New Order – “Waiting for the Sirens’ Call”
Windows media audio file.
8. The Kills – “No Wow”
A rock’n’roll duo that is not the White Stripes or Fiery Furnaces. With funny names (VV and Hotel). Go figure.
That’s it. Until next week…