"Jimmy" is a cover of the song "Jimmy Jimmy Jimmy Aaja" sung by Parvati Khan in Hindi from the 1982 Bollywood movie Disco Dancer, written by Bappi Lahiri. "Jimmy" features different orchestration and beats from the previous version, and original English lyrics written by Arulpragasam. M.I.A. performed the track on BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend in 2007.
The single was released in the UK on October 1 in CD single, 7" and 12" formats. In February 2008 the single began to gain traction on the US dance charts, peaking at #28 after five weeks on the chart.
M.I.A. explained that "Jimmy Jimmy Aaja" was a track she used to dance to when she was a child. "My mum used to hire me out when I was a kid as a party buffer. It was my track that I used to do my routine to. I had a little tape recorder, and a cloak and a cardboard cut out guitar, and that was my joint." Describing the recording and writing processes, she revealed that she had already recorded the strings and other parts of the song in India, but initially didn't attempt to do "Jimmy" when she was with co-producer Switch, explaining "I had to be drunk enough to be that disco. It all came together that week." Arulpragasam wrote the song about an invitation she received from the journalist Ben Anderson while working in Liberia, to meet him whilst covering a genocide tour. The 70's disco-pop style of the song stands in marked contrast with other songs on Kala.
"Jimmy" has been covered by the indie pop band Of Montreal.
The music video for "Jimmy" was directed by childhood friend Nezar Khammal. It premiered in Japan in July, and was premiered elsewhere around the world in August, the month of her second album release Kala. The music video features M.I.A. dancing with a golden crown on her head, with eleven dancers dressed in yellow in an Indian fashion, all dancing a variation of the Thousand Hand Bodhisattva. Occasionally the video cuts to show M.I.A. dancing by herself and two other girls in a different style of clothing against a white backdrop.
The video has received some airplay on MuchMusic in Canada.
A slightly different version of the music video, using the Dan Carey Radio Mix of the song, was used to promote "Jimmy" in the UK and in Italy.
Jimmy
M.I.A Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Come back Jimmy
When you go Rwanda Congo
Take me on a genocide tour
Take me on a truck to Darfur
Take me where you would go
Got static on ya satellite phone
Gotta get you somewhere warm
So you get me all alone
Jimmy! (Adja)
Jimmy! (Adja)
Jimmy! (Adja)
Jimmy! (Adja)
Time and time and time and time again
You keep pushing that button but I don't know what you're sayin'
You hit me on AIM, tryin' to flip me on some game
Are you coming, are you going, are you leaving, are you staying?
You tell me that you're busy
Your lovin makes me crazy
I know that you hear me
Start actin like you want me!
You tell me that you're busy
Your lovin makes me crazy
I know that you hear me
Start actin like you want me!
Time and time and time and time again
You keep pushing me, what are you sayin?
You hit me on AIM, tryin' to flip me on some game
But I still don't know what you're sayin
You tell me that you're busy
Your lovin makes me crazy
I know that you hear me
Start actin like you want me!
You tell me that you're busy
Your lovin makes me crazy
I know that you hear me
Start actin like you want me!
Jimmy! (Adja)
Jimmy! (Adja)
Jimmy! (Adja)
Jimmy! (Adja)
M.I.A's song "Jimmy" paints the picture of a tumultuous relationship and a longing for connection. The opening lines "Jimmy gone M.I.A, come back Jimmy" express the desire for the subject of the song, presumably a lover, to return to M.I.A. The lyrics then take a darker turn as she asks Jimmy to take her "on a genocide tour" through countries plagued by violence such as Congo and Darfur. It seems as though M.I.A is willing to go to great lengths to be with Jimmy, even if that means being in dangerous situations.
The chorus repeats Jimmy's name with the addition of a repetitive African beat, highlighting the influence of African music in M.I.A's sound. The verses explore the tension between M.I.A and Jimmy, with her expressing frustration at his unclear intentions ("You hit me on AIM, tryin' to flip me on some game. Are you coming, are you going, are you leaving, are you staying?"). The repeated line "Your lovin makes me crazy" shows the intensity of her emotions and the impact Jimmy has on her.
Overall, "Jimmy" is a complex and layered song that touches on themes of love, desire, danger, and power dynamics within relationships. M.I.A's unique sound and diverse cultural influences shine through in the lyrics and the music.
Line by Line Meaning
Jimmy gone M.I.A.
Jimmy is missing in action.
Come back Jimmy
Come back, Jimmy.
When you go Rwanda Congo
When you go to Rwanda or Congo.
Take me on a genocide tour
Take me on a tour of the genocide-affected areas.
Take me on a truck to Darfur
Take me to Darfur on a truck.
Take me where you would go
Take me to the places where you would normally go.
Got static on ya satellite phone
I am having difficulty hearing you on your satellite phone.
Gotta get you safe at home
I need to get you safely back home.
Gotta get you somewhere warm
I need to get you to a warm place.
So you get me all alone
So that I can be alone with you.
Jimmy! (Adja)
Calling out Jimmy's name.
Time and time and time and time again
Repeatedly, over and over again.
You keep pushing that button but I don't know what you're sayin'
You keep trying to communicate with me, but I don't understand what you're saying.
You hit me on AIM, tryin' to flip me on some game
You message me on AIM, trying to win me over with your words.
Are you coming, are you going, are you leaving, are you staying?
Are you leaving or staying? Make up your mind.
You tell me that you're busy
You tell me that you're busy.
Your lovin makes me crazy
I am crazy in love with you.
I know that you hear me
I know that you can hear me.
Start actin like you want me!
Act like you want to be with me.
Jimmy! (Adja)
Calling out Jimmy's name.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Roba Music, Universal Music Publishing Group, CONEXION MEDIA GROUP, INC.
Written by: SAMEER ANJAAN, MATHANGI N ARULPRAGASAM, BAPPI LAHIRI, DAVID N TAYLOR (GB 2)
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@scorpio4bingo
She is saying Jimmy Aja, which means come Jimmy, come. This song is actually based on an old Indian movie I saw 25 years ago. Basically a movie about a performer who is scared to perform on stage and he is frozen because his mom had just died. A friend of his, sings Jimmy Aja to encourage him to move and sing because life can't stand still. A very emotional movie and a good song. MIA just took that song and added her own influence.
@alphalite
I've seen clips of that movie and now that you've explained it, I can understand what's going on during this song, Thanks! :)
@babzluv
I know the movie your talking about, I love that movie, its such a classic movie, and I really like MIA influence on the song, I think she complement it very nicely :)
@pedrovargasduran8182
Can you please tell me what movie this is that you are speaking about? Thanks..
I Love M.I.A...
@scorpio4bingo
The name of this movie is Disco Dancer, Indian movie - came out in 1982. You can probably find it online
@pedrovargasduran8182
Thank you very much. I will look into it. I love foreign movies.. and because this song is one of my favorites, I am curious to see, perhaps, the source of inspiration.
Thank you..
@fairy097
She had the balls to do this at that time. She was definitely ahead of her time and no doubt she slayed it.
@agnesbamurange7404
I’m dying to listen to her new album
@fujikawa_j
balls to do what
@0raribaby
@@fujikawa_j lol fr