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).

LISTEN UP
M.I.A. Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

All I ever talk about is my fresh way.
Excuse me! What's the problem here?
What about you can't hear the words I say.
Excuse me! What's the problem here?
What about you can't hear all the words I say.
If you listen up, you can hear me all day.
All i ever talk about is keeping fresh way.
Keeping my sway.

Keeping my A. A. A. A.
I sway all day.
You can come on your own or
you can have the crew.
You can step up like a man and
I'll dance with you.
You can thank me later or
have an attitude.
If you don't feel me now,
you'll never feel me boo.
Excuse me! What's the problem here?
What about me that you can't seem to hear.
If you listen up you can hear me all day.
All I ever talk about is keeping fresh way.
All I ever talk about is my fresh way.
All I ever talk about is my fresh way.
All i ever talk about is my fresh way.
All I ever talk about is my fresh sway.
Sway. Sway. Sway all day.
Sway, sway, sway, sway, sway
All fucking day
All I ever talk about is
my fresh-ish, ish my fresh-ish,
ish my fresh-ish, ish my fresh-ish
ish my fresh-ish....
Excuse me! What's the problem here?
What about me that you can't seem to hear.
If you listen up, you can hear me all day.
All I ever talk about is keeping fresh way.
All I ever talk about is my fresh way.
All I ever talk about is my fresh way.
All I ever talk about is my fresh way.
All I ever talk about is my fresh sway.
Sway. Sway. Sway all day
Sway, sway, sway, sway, sway...
All fucking day.
All I ever talk about ish my fresh-ish,

ish my fresh-ish, ish my fresh-ish
ish my fresh-ish, ish my fresh ish.

Overall Meaning

In the song "Listen Up" by M.I.A., the singer begins by speaking directly to the audience, addressing their inability to hear her words. She consistently talks about "my fresh way," which can be interpreted as her unique, individual way of living or conceptualizing life. She tells the audience that if they "listen up" they will hear her all day. The repetition of the phrase "excuse me! what's the problem here?" reiterates the idea that the singer feels unheard and unacknowledged. Although the singer is confident and assertive in their approach, they also acknowledge that the audience has choices, as they can come on their own or with a crew, dance with them, or have an attitude towards them. The singer ends by repeating the phrase "ish my fresh-ish" which can suggest that their perspective on keeping fresh changes with time.

The song is rebellious and motivational in nature, with lyrics that encourage individualism and self-expression. The phrase "my fresh way" can be seen as both a message of confidence and a challenge to society's norms. M.I.A. often incorporates her own experiences as a refugee in her music and this song can be interpreted as her way of asserting her identity in a world that has often marginalized her. The repetition of lyrics and the use of an upbeat, electronic sound helps to emphasize the importance of the message.

Line by Line Meaning

All I ever talk about is my fresh way.
My main topic of conversation revolves around my unique and modern approach.

Excuse me! What's the problem here?
I am frustrated and curious about why there seems to be an issue or disagreement.

What about you can't hear the words I say.
Why are you unable to comprehend the message I am conveying?

If you listen up, you can hear me all day.
Pay attention, and you will understand and hear my point throughout the day.

Keeping my sway.
Maintaining my unique demeanor and attitude.

Keeping my A. A. A. A.
Maintaining my exceptional and extraordinary qualities.

You can come on your own or you can have the crew.
You have the option to come by yourself or with a group.

You can step up like a man and I'll dance with you.
If you assert yourself confidently, I will engage in a dance with you.

You can thank me later or have an attitude.
You can choose to either show gratitude, or alternatively, have a confrontational attitude.

If you don't feel me now, you'll never feel me boo.
If you fail to understand me now, you will never fully grasp who I am.

All fucking day
Continuously throughout the day.

All I ever talk about is my fresh-ish, ish my fresh-ish, ish my fresh-ish, ish my fresh-ish, ish my fresh-ish....
I constantly focus on my new, unique approach, that may not always be fully formed or concrete.

Contributed by Josiah J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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