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The song is also used as the theme tune for a new comedy pilot "Think Tank" shown on E4 in the UK in August 2008.<br />
The song is also used as the theme tune for a new comedy pilot "Think Tank" shown on E4 in the UK in August 2008.<br />


The line "No one on the corner had swagger like us." is used as a sample for the song "Swagger Like Us" off the upcoming albums, [[Paper Trail]] by T.I. and [[The Blueprint 3]] by [[Jay-Z]].
The line "No one on the corner had swagger like us" is used as a sample for the song "Swagger Like Us" off the upcoming albums ''[[Paper Trail]]'' by [[T.I.]] and ''[[The Blueprint 3]]'' by [[Jay-Z]].


In an interview in late August 2008, Arulpragasam described the song as being "about people driving [[taxi|cabs]] all day and living in a shitty apartment and 'appearing' really threatening to society. But not being so. Because, by the time you’ve finished working a 20-hour shift, you’re so tired you [just] want to get home to the family".<ref name="MIAPlanesew" >{{ cite web | url=http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2008/08/mia-interview.html | title=M.I.A., 'Paper Planes,' and coasting to fame on 'Pineapple Express' | work=[[Entertainment Weekly]] | date=2008-08-26 | accessdate=2008-08-31 }}</ref> On the gunshots and cash register ringing in the song's chorus, she felt "you can either apply it on a street level and go, oh, you’re talking about somebody robbing you and saying I’m going to take your money. But, really, it could be a much bigger idea: someone’s [[Arms industry|selling you guns]] and making money - that's probably the biggest moneymaker in the world..." adding "It is [alot for a [[pop song]]] but you only have three minutes to put in your [[thesis]]."<ref name="MIAPlanesew" />
In an interview in late August 2008, Arulpragasam described the song as being "about people driving [[taxi|cabs]] all day and living in a shitty apartment and 'appearing' really threatening to society. But not being so. Because, by the time you’ve finished working a 20-hour shift, you’re so tired you [just] want to get home to the family".<ref name="MIAPlanesew" >{{ cite web | url=http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2008/08/mia-interview.html | title=M.I.A., 'Paper Planes,' and coasting to fame on 'Pineapple Express' | work=[[Entertainment Weekly]] | date=2008-08-26 | accessdate=2008-08-31 }}</ref> On the gunshots and cash register ringing in the song's chorus, she felt "you can either apply it on a street level and go, oh, you’re talking about somebody robbing you and saying I’m going to take your money. But, really, it could be a much bigger idea: someone’s [[Arms industry|selling you guns]] and making money - that's probably the biggest moneymaker in the world..." adding "It is [alot for a [[pop song]]] but you only have three minutes to put in your [[thesis]]."<ref name="MIAPlanesew" />

Revision as of 19:12, 2 September 2008

Untitled

"Paper Planes" is the third single from M.I.A.'s second album Kala. It is written by Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam, Diplo, Joe Strummer and Mick Jones. The song was released on February 11, 2008.

Song information

It features a guitar riff sampled from the song "Straight to Hell" by The Clash.[1] The song placed number 17 on the Triple J Hottest 100 of 2007. "Paper Planes" is played in the theatrical trailer for the film Pineapple Express starring Seth Rogen and James Franco.[2][3] The song has been covered by Rihanna, I Am Sparticus, and as the song "Tengazako" by Esau Mwamwaya.[4]

In the summer of 2008, the song began getting significant pop radio airplay and renewed alternative radio airplay worldwide.

The song was recorded in Bed Stuy, Brooklyn and includes kids from Brixton singing on the chorus. The song was worked on further with Switch in London.[1]

The song is also used as the theme tune for a new comedy pilot "Think Tank" shown on E4 in the UK in August 2008.

The line "No one on the corner had swagger like us" is used as a sample for the song "Swagger Like Us" off the upcoming albums Paper Trail by T.I. and The Blueprint 3 by Jay-Z.

In an interview in late August 2008, Arulpragasam described the song as being "about people driving cabs all day and living in a shitty apartment and 'appearing' really threatening to society. But not being so. Because, by the time you’ve finished working a 20-hour shift, you’re so tired you [just] want to get home to the family".[5] On the gunshots and cash register ringing in the song's chorus, she felt "you can either apply it on a street level and go, oh, you’re talking about somebody robbing you and saying I’m going to take your money. But, really, it could be a much bigger idea: someone’s selling you guns and making money - that's probably the biggest moneymaker in the world..." adding "It is [alot for a pop song] but you only have three minutes to put in your thesis."[5]

Music video

File:MIA PaperPlanesVid.jpg
M.I.A. in the Paper Planes music video

A music video for the song was directed by Bernard Gourley.[6] Its planned premiere on TRL was December 17, 2007,[7] but it was made available on MTV's website two days earlier.[8]

This video is shot in the Bedford Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn. It was originally planned to be shot in a factory on the border of Ecuador, but was not due to M.I.A.'s time constraints while touring the U.S.[9][10]

In the video, several paper planes fly over New York City. M.I.A. appears as an immigrant who sells sandwiches from a van to several other New Yorkers. At the sound of the gunshots, quick shots of street signs, people, and restaurant signs appear. She can be seen wearing a Metallica Ride the Lightning shirt in several parts of the music video. Mike D and Adrock of the Beastie Boys, Rye Rye and Afrikan Boy make cameo appearances in the video. Paper Planes has peaked at #1 on MuchOnDemand's Daily Ten and #1 on TRL.

Remix EP

A remix of the song featuring tour mates Rye Rye and Afrikan Boy was uploaded to M.I.A.'s MySpace and another remix featuring Bun B and Rich Boy has also circulated. On February 11, 2008, an EP containing remixes of "Paper Planes," titled Paper Planes - Homeland Security Remixes was released digitally on 7digital. This included the above remixes, as well as a remix by DFA, Scottie B, and a remix of the Kala track "Bamboo Banga" by DJ Eli. On February 12, 2008, the EP was made available for digital download on iTunes in the US. The tracklisting differed slightly, with the Bamboo Banga remix replaced with a remix of "Paper Planes" by Adrock. A physical 12" vinyl release of the EP was released on March 24 2008.

Controversy

M.I.A. performed a censored version of the song on the Late Show with David Letterman on September 21, 2007. The song's gunshots were replaced with ambiguous "popping" sounds, which left her visibly surprised [citation needed] during the performance.

The version released by MTV in December and the version uploaded to M.I.A.'s YouTube account differ greatly. In the MTV version, M.I.A.'s vocals are doubled, the gun sounds are replaced with the same ambiguous popping sounds, the gun cocking sound is replaced with a cash register sound, and the word weed is removed. Following general fan disapproval of the leaked MTV version of the video, M.I.A. stated in a MySpace blog entry on December 16, 2007 that MTV's decision to change the sound disappointed and angered her; she felt that the video she had recorded for the song was already much more safe and mainstream than her regular videos.[9] She said "To the bloggers who are lazy enough to follow the MTV link and post up and comment on the sound when that hasn't been compromised...makes me sad...the song is what I wanted to preserve in this case."[9][10] She also referenced the Late Show performance, stating that what she had originally heard and agreed to in a sound check to replace the gunshot sounds was different from what was played at the taping.[9][10] M.I.A.'s two previous singles "Galang" and "Sunshowers" also faced censorship controversies with MTV upon release.

Sri Lankan rapper Delon accused M.I.A of "supporting terrorism" by using images of the tiger and discussing violence in her lyrics in a YouTube video, in which he rapped over Paper Planes while showing graphic images of violence he connected to the Tamil Tigers. M.I.A, however, was quoted as denying the allegation claiming that her music is the voice of civilian refugee. She further claimed that she was not willing to discuss with someone who is looking for self-promotion.[11][12]

Track listings and formats

Charts

The song "Paper Planes" charted soon after its release, on charts in the U.S. and Canada.[15][16][17][18] In early to mid June, the song charted on the Chilean and Belgian singles charts, peaking at 33 and 18 respectively.[19][20] With use in trailers for the film Pineapple Express, the track rebounded on the US charts in July 2008, entering the Billboard Hot 100 chart for the first time, at position 55, with 42,000 downloads. It then jumped from 36 to 16, then to 5 (its current position as of August 14, 2008), to become her first Billboard Hot 100 top 5.[21] It continues gathering additional airplay on Mainstream, Pop, and Alternative stations.

Chart (2008) Peak
Position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[22] 5
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Airplay[23] 55
U.S. Billboard Pop 100[22] 15
U.S. Billboard Hot Modern Rock Tracks[22] 18
Canadian Hot 100[24] 11
Canadian Singles Sales Chart[25] 5
Belgian Singles Chart[26] 18
United World Chart 21
Chart (2007) Peak
Position
Australian ARIA Singles Chart 380

References

  1. ^ a b Alex Wagner (2008-08-07). "Life in Exile". The Fader. Retrieved 2007-10-20.
  2. ^ "Pineapple Express: Theatrical trailer". Internet Movie Database. Amazon.com. Retrieved 2008-07-10.
  3. ^ Jonathan Foerster (2008-06-12). "We've got the soundtrack to your summer". Naples Daily News. E. W. Scripps Company. Retrieved 2008-07-10.
  4. ^ "Esau Mwamwaya, "Tengazako" (MIA's "Paper Planes")". The Fader. 2007-08-06. Retrieved 2008-07-10.
  5. ^ a b "M.I.A., 'Paper Planes,' and coasting to fame on 'Pineapple Express'". Entertainment Weekly. 2008-08-26. Retrieved 2008-08-31.
  6. ^ ""Video Static: Music Video News: Immigrant Films"". BOOKED: M.I.A. - Bernard Gourley, director. Retrieved 2007-10-20.
  7. ^ Tour Dates And News
  8. ^ Music Video. MTV.
  9. ^ a b c d blog.myspace.com/mia. "PAPER PLANES VIDEO" (2007-12-16). Retrieved on 2007-12-17.
  10. ^ a b c Gillian Reagen (2007-17-12). "Tube Surfing: M.I.A.'s 'Paper Planes'". The New York Observer. Retrieved 2008-08-29. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  11. ^ [1]
  12. ^ Singer MIA denies terror support
  13. ^ M.I.A. • Paper Planes - Homeland Security Remixes. 7Digital.
  14. ^ M.I.A. • Paper Planes - Homeland Security Remixes. XL Recordings. Retrieved 2008-03-03
  15. ^ "Hot Canadian Digital Charts". Billboard. Retrieved 2008-08-15.
  16. ^ "Hot Dance Singles Sales". Billboard. Retrieved 2008-08-15.
  17. ^ "Hot Singles Sales". Billboard. Retrieved 2008-08-15.
  18. ^ "Pop 100 Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved 2008-08-15.
  19. ^ Chilean Singles Chart. Issue date: July 5, 2008. Retrieved on June 24, 2008.
  20. ^ Ultratop (Belgian Singles Chart) M.I.A. - PAPER PLANES. Issue date June 14, 2008.
  21. ^ http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/chart_display.jsp?g=Singles&f=The+Billboard+Hot+100
  22. ^ a b c Billboard.com - Artist Chart History - M.I.A.
  23. ^ http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/chart_display.jsp?g=Singles&f=Hot+100+Airplay
  24. ^ Billboard Canadian Hot 100 - Paper Planes
  25. ^ [http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Charts/SINGLES.html Canadian Singles Sales Chart - Paper Planes]
  26. ^ Ultratop (Belgian Singles Chart) M.I.A. - PAPER PLANES. Issue date June 14, 2008.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Paper_Planes_(M.I.A._song)&oldid=235871376"