There are five known artists under this name:

1. Mathangi “Maya” Ar… Read Full Bio ↴There are five known artists under this name:

1. Mathangi “Maya” Arulpragasam also known as M.I.A., (born 18 July 1975 in Hounslow, London, U.K.) is a British artist of Sri Lankan descent. As a baby she moved with her family to their native Sri Lanka, where her father became increasingly politically active in militant activities. As the Civil War escalated the rest of the family was forced to flee as refugees, first to India and then the UK. “M.I.A.” [“Missing In Action”] references both her London neighborhood (Acton) and her politically tumultuous youth.

Her style contains elements of hip-hop, reggae, alternative, dance hall, electro and baile funk and is strongly inspired by her Sri Lankan background.

2. American Punk/Hardcore band formed in Orange County, CA in 1981 by Chris Moon, drums; Mike Conley, bass; Nick Adams, guitar (all previously of Las Vegas, NV punk band The Swell); and Art Carasco, vocals. Their sound was generally hardcore and thrasher, though they produced more melodic and progressive sounds in their later albums. Allmusic called the band "one of the 50 best So-Cal punk bands of the great early-'80s second wave explosion. In 1984 they signed a deal with the cult Alternative Tentacles label, after the label's founder, Dead Kennedys frontman Jello Biafra, saw them play at a secret illegal punk nightclub in Las Vegas. Biafra was impressed by Mike Conley's distinctive voice, saying "The minute you hear a song with him singing you know it's him." They released the album Murder in a Foreign Place on Alternative Tentacles in 1984, followed in 1985 by Notes From the Underground on National Trust Records, and in 1987 by After the Fact on Flipside Records. The band split up in 1988. In 2001, Alternative Tentacles released Lost Boys, a 37-song retrospective of the band's work, including Last Rites, Murder in a Foreign Place, and several additional tracks. On February 28, 2008 vocalist Mike Conley was found dead in a Chicago hotel parking lot. Conley was taken to Gottlieb Memorial Hospital in Melrose Park, where he was pronounced dead at 6:25 a.m. On April 27, 2008, there was a secret warm-up show at Detroit Bar featuring Todd Sampson of Self Abuse and Samson's Army on vocals, Jello Biafra of Dead Kennedys on guest vocals, Chris Moon and Larry Pearson on drums, Nick Adams on guitar, and Bob Thomson on bass. The next day, the "Beautiful Noise" benefit show took place at the Anaheim House of Blues with Jigsaw, Naked Soul, Cadillac Tramps, Social Distortion and MIA with the same lineup as the previous night, but adding Kevin Seconds of 7 Seconds on guest vocals. The proceeds of "Beautiful Noise" went to Mike Conley's family.

(3) Formed in the mid 70s, Independent Musicians Associated (MIA) was a group of musicians, technicians and drawers gathered together by Lito and Liliana Vitale’s parents. They produced their own records and concerts in an independent way. Their music is a complex symphonic rock with definite Argentinean/latin folk influence with multiple chorals and vocals beautifully contrasting with the keyboards and a great guitar sound upon a strong rhythmic section. They were highly influenced by symphonic music, more noteworthy by Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Gentle Giant and Focus.

4. Merriweathers is a member of Underground Resistance under the alias of The Unknown Soldier.

5. mia's page (Michaela Grobelny).

FireFire
M.I.A. Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Growing up, brewing up
Guerilla getting trained up
Look out Look out
From over the rooftop

Growing up, brewing up
Guerilla getting trained up
Look out Look out

From over the rooftop

Competition coming up now
Load up. Aim. Fire! Fire! Pop!

Competition coming up now
Load up. Aim. Fire! Fire! Pop!

Row the boat - straight to the ocean
Give em a run, a run at his own game
Signal the plane and I landed on the runway
A survivor, independent foreigner
First your beats had me running to the running man
Then your chat had me want to do the bogle man
Click suits and booted in the timberland
Freaking out to missy on a timberland

Growing up, brewing up
Guerilla getting trained up
Look out! Look out!
From over the rooftop

Growing up, brewing up
Guerilla getting trained up
Look out! Look out!
From over the rooftop

Competition coming up now
Load up. Aim. Fire! Fire! Pop!

Competition coming up now
Load up. Aim. Fire! Fire! Pop!

You should have been good to me
Then I wouldn't get so rowdy, rowdy
You should have kept ya eye on me
Then I wouldn't get so baddy, baddy

Whether you are,
Swinging out to swing beat
Laying low and jacking up to Lou Reed
Chasing out to Pixies and the Beasties
Doing accede with hair-colored geek freaks
F-F-W-D onto the '04
Got my own flow get you to the dance floor

Little mama doing the booty rolls
Crump clowns got me rooting for the Linos.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of M.I.A.'s song FireFire describe the journey of a guerilla fighter who is trained up and growing up to face competition. The song is a representation of how she is standing up for herself and fighting for what she believes in. The first verse repeats the line "Growing up, brewing up / Guerilla getting trained up / Look out, Look out / From over the rooftop" which sets the tone for the whole song. The repetition of the phrase emphasizes her determination and resilience in facing her opponents head-on.

The second verse talks about how the singer is a survivor, an independent foreigner who has faced many challenges in her life. M.I.A. references popular music icons like Missy Elliot and Lou Reed, indicating that music has played a big role in her life. She is inspired by artists who are unconventional, something that is also reflected in her own music. The lines "F-F-W-D onto the '04 / Got my flow, get you to the dance floor / Little mama doing the booty rolls" highlight her fun, carefree spirit positively. The chorus repeats twice more emphasizing the idea of competition and gearing up to fight it out. By the end, the listener understands that M.I.A.'s biggest opponents are those who didn't treat her with the respect she deserved, which made her fierce.

Line by Line Meaning

Growing up, brewing up
As I matured, I was cultivating a plan for revolution

Guerilla getting trained up
I was learning the necessary tactics to bring about this revolution

Look out Look out
Be cautious and vigilant

From over the rooftop
Observing from a strategic vantage point

Competition coming up now
The time for action is approaching

Load up. Aim. Fire! Fire! Pop!
Prepare and take action to ignite the revolution with force

Row the boat - straight to the ocean
Move forward with determination and purpose

Give em a run, a run at his own game
Challenge the existing system using their own methods

Signal the plane and I landed on the runway
Executing a plan flawlessly to the desired result

A survivor, independent foreigner
Overcoming challenges as a resilient outsider

First your beats had me running to the running man
Your music initially inspired me to dance and celebrate

Then your chat had me want to do the bogle man
Your message convinced me to act and rebel

Click suits and booted in the timberland
Dressing in the uniform of the revolution to show solidarity

Freaking out to missy on a timberland
Celebrating the progress of the revolution through music and dance

You should have been good to me
If you had treated me with respect and fairness

Then I wouldn't get so rowdy, rowdy
I wouldn't have to be so aggressive

You should have kept ya eye on me
If you had monitored me carefully

Then I wouldn't get so baddy, baddy
I wouldn't have become so rebellious

Whether you are,
Regardless of who you are

Swinging out to swing beat
Dancing to swing music

Laying low and jacking up to Lou Reed
Relaxing and listening to Lou Reed's music

Chasing out to Pixies and the Beasties
Pursuing the music of Pixies and Beastie Boys

Doing accede with hair-colored geek freaks
Collaborating with like-minded individuals who are considered outcasts by society

F-F-W-D onto the '04
Moving forward into the future

Got my own flow get you to the dance floor
Creating my own style that inspires and motivates others to dance

Little mama doing the booty rolls
A woman dancing suggestively

Crump clowns got me rooting for the Linos.
Cheering for a dance group called The Linos

Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, NW ROYALTY CONSULTING, LLC.
Written by: ZEMROY THOMAS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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