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).
Lovalot
M.I.A. Lyrics
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But now it feels like a chicken factory
I feel cooped up I wanna bust free
Got nothing to lose if you get me
Like a Taliban trucker, eating boiled up yucca
I keep my eyez down like I'm in a black burka
Been through shit yeah it's a fucker
Shaka laka la, shaka laka lee, shaka lakalakalaka lucky lucky me
If you check me, I check you
If they kick you, then I back you
Say somin' new, say somin' cool
I give you my time, but I ain't no fool
Acca Acca I, breaker, breaker jaw every every time, someone steps on my toe
I fight the ones that fight me
I really love a lot
I really love a lot
I really love a lot
I really love a lot,
But I fight the ones that fight me
But I fight the ones that fight me
I fight the ones who fight me
But I fight , but I fight, but I fight
But I fight the ones that fight me
Who's in town
Like Hu Jintao
Them no like me, me no like dem
Instead of them I got a new found friend
Someone I can love up like me
Like Obama needs to love up chen
Like a hand me down sucker trowing bombs out to Mecca
Call it goodwill, get money to get better
Keep ya head down like a Unicef worker
If you get hit you can't question the fucker
How come how come I, yeah but yeah but why?
If I be the f, who the f, b the I
If you met me then you'll get me but if you get me, will you get a fee
Shit mennnu be free where's Bob Marley
And I won't turn my cheek like I'm Ghandi
I fight the ones that fight me
I fight the ones that fight me
I really love a lot
I really love a lot
I really love a lot
I really love a lot,
But I fight the ones that fight me
But I fight the ones that fight me
I fight the ones who fight me
But I fight, but I fight, but I fight
But I fight the ones that fight me
M.I.A.'s song "Lovalot" is a commentary on the current state of our society and how it feels like we've lost our freedom. The opening line "They told me this is a free country, but now it feels like a chicken factory" suggests that we are being controlled and that our individuality is being suppressed. The use of the metaphor of a chicken factory implies that we are being treated like animals and that our lives are just as disposable.
As the song continues, M.I.A. talks about her struggle to break out of this system, to "bust free." She compares herself to a "Taliban trucker, eating boiled up yucca," someone who is living in a completely different world and experiencing a completely different reality. This juxtaposition of cultures highlights the vast differences that exist in our world, and the fact that we are often unable or unwilling to connect with people who are different from us.
The chorus of "I really love a lot, but I fight the ones that fight me" seems to be about the conflict that arises when we try to hold on to our love for the world and others, while also recognizing that there are those who wish to harm us or stand in our way. M.I.A. is urging us to stand up for ourselves and fight back against those who would oppress us, while also holding on to our love for one another.
Line by Line Meaning
They told me this is a free country
Although they claim this is a free country, my current situation feels like a chicken factory
I feel cooped up I wanna bust free
I feel trapped and I want to break free
Got nothing to lose if you get me
I have nothing to lose by fighting for my freedom
Like a Taliban trucker, eating boiled up yucca
I am like a Taliban truck driver who eats boiled yucca while keeping my head down like I'm wearing a black burka
Been through shit yeah it's a fucker
I have been through a lot of bad things, it was really tough
Now I make tunes say shaka laka laka
Now I make music and use sounds like 'shaka laka laka'
If you check me, I check you
If you try to challenge me, I will challenge you back
If they kick you, then I back you
If someone tries to harm you, I will support you
Say somin' new, say somin' cool
Tell me something new or interesting
I give you my time, but I ain't no fool
I am willing to spend my time with you, but I'm not naïve
Acca Acca I, breaker, breaker jaw every every time, someone steps on my toe
I will confront anyone who hurts me or disrespects me
I fight the ones that fight me
I will fight back against those who try to harm me
I really love a lot
I have a lot of love to give
But I fight , but I fight, but I fight
Although I have love to give, I am still willing to fight for what I believe in
Who's in town
Who is here?
Like Hu Jintao
Similar to the Chinese political leader Hu Jintao
Them no like me, me no like dem
I don't like them because they don't like me
Instead of them I got a new found friend
I have found a new friend instead of those I don't like
Like Obama needs to love up chen
Similar to how Obama should show love to the Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng
Like a hand me down sucker trowing bombs out to Mecca
I am like someone who is passed down a bomb and throws it towards Mecca, although it may seem wrong, it is done in good will to create a better future
Keep ya head down like a Unicef worker
I keep my head down like a worker for UNICEF, an agency that focuses on providing humanitarian aid and developmental assistance to children and mothers in developing countries
If you get hit you can't question the fucker
If you get hurt, you can't ask the person responsible why they did it
How come how come I, yeah but yeah but why?
Why is it that things are the way they are?
If I be the f, who the f, b the I
If I am the 'f', then who is the 'f'? I will be the 'I'
If you met me then you'll get me but if you get me, will you get a fee
If you get to know me, then you will understand me, but will you be willing to pay the price for knowing me?
Shit mennnu be free where's Bob Marley
We should be free like how Bob Marley sang about freedom
And I won't turn my cheek like I'm Ghandi
I won't be like Gandhi and turn the other cheek when someone wrongs me
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DAVID JAMES ANDREW TAYLOR, JOHN GRAHAM HILL, MATHANGI ARULPRAGASAM, OPAL ALICIA JOSEPHS, SEKOU KHARI AKIL DAVIS, SHELDON MURRAY PENNICOTT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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