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Paper Planes (M.I.A. song)

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This article is about the M.I.A. song. For other uses, see Paper plane (disambiguation).
"Paper Planes"
Song

"Paper Planes" is an alternative hip hop dance song written and produced by M.I.A., Diplo, and Switch for M.I.A.'s second studio album, Kala (2007). Its backing track is a sample from the 1982 song "Straight to Hell" by The Clash,[1] while the chorus is based on that of the 1992 Wreckx-n-Effect song "Rump Shaker".[2]

It was released as the album's third single in early 2008, but did not begin to achieve commercial success until June 2008, after appearing in a high profile film trailer and TV spot for the film Pineapple Express. A special remixed version of the song is featured in the film Slumdog Millionaire, as well as its soundtrack. It peaked at #19 in the UK, making it M.I.A's first top 20 hit and highest charting single in the UK. The song reached #4 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song also appeared in the trailer for Michael Moore's documentary Capitalism: A Love Story. It was sampled in rappers T.I. and Jay-Z's single "Swagga Like Us", which reached #5 on the Hot 100. On 3 December 2008, the song was nominated for the Record of the Year at the 51st Grammy Awards.[3]

Background

"Paper Planes" was written and produced by M.I.A. and Diplo. Recorded in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, and includes kids from Brixton singing on the chorus.[4][5] The song's beat and melody are reworked from the song "Straight to Hell" by The Clash; the sample was Diplo's idea.[1] Additional production is by Switch, who mixed the track in London.[1]

In an interview in August 2008, M.I.A. described the song as being a satire "about people driving taxicabs 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".[6] She added that she felt that listeners could choose how to interpret the gunshots and cash register ringing in the song's chorus.[6] "People could say, 'Oh my God, this song is so violent,' but at the same time, there was a war in Iraq. I felt like certain people made so much money from selling ammunition and military weapons and stuff, and killed a million people, and it wasn't even an issue that was raised."[7] She has expressed surprise at the song's wide commercial success, telling Rolling Stone in October 2008, "I always took pride in being a little underground — it really is a very unlikely record to cross over."[8]

Release

Remix EP

On 11 February 2008, the Paper Planes - Homeland Security Remixes EP was released digitally on 7digital.[9] The EP included Blaqstarr's remix, which features tourmates Rye Rye and Afrikan Boy and was previously uploaded to M.I.A.'s MySpace page. The remix also showcased Diplo's Street Remix featuring Bun B and Rich Boy, which had previously circulated on the internet; in addition, the EP contained remixes by DFA Records and Scottie B, and a remix of the Kala track "Bamboo Banga" by DJ Eli. On 12 February 2008, the EP was made available for digital download on iTunes in the U.S. The tracklist differed slightly, with the "Bamboo Banga" remix replaced with a remix of "Paper Planes" by Adrock. A physical 12" vinyl release was released on 24 March 2008.[10] The CD single of "Paper Planes" was released later in the year.[5] Its cover art was influenced by the logo of British heavy metal band Iron Maiden.[11]

Covers and other references

People Vs. Money Tour tourmates Holy Fuck made a remix of "Paper Planes" which was uploaded onto the internet at the time of the remix EP's February 2008 release. The song has been covered by Rihanna in live performances and as the song "Tengazako" by Esau Mwamwaya.[12][13] Built to Spill have covered "Paper Planes" at their live performances in Italy.[14] Dizzee Rascal has covered the song at his live performances.[15]

The line "No one on the corner has swagger like us" was sampled by music producer Kanye West for use in the hook of "Swagga Like Us", a song by American rapper T.I. and Jay-Z.[16][17] Unofficial remixes released in September 2008 featured 50 Cent; State Property members Young Chris and Freeway, as well as Jim Jones, have also released their own remixes of the song.[16] The Los Angeles Dodgers used "Paper Planes" as their victory song during their three-week effort to win the National League West title in the 2008 season.[18]

"Paper Planes" is played in the theatrical trailer for the film Pineapple Express starring Seth Rogen and James Franco.[19][20] "Paper Planes" and the DFA Records remix both appear in Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire;[21] the remix also appears in the film Hancock [22] and also made an appearance in the trailer for Michael Moore's documentary Capitalism: A Love Story. Rock/rap supergroup Street Sweeper Social Club perform a live cover of "Paper Planes".[23]

Reception

The Stranger exclaimed that "Paper Planes" was "the standout track on an album full of contenders" and noted that it "contains more conceptual layers, musical information, and lyrical self-reference than seems possible in a three-and-a-half minute pop song".[24] musicOMH.com called the track "one of the many standouts."[25] The Observer called the song "a career high".[26] Billboard described M.I.A. on the song as "a revolutionary leading a class war".[27] NME commented that "Paper Planes", Kala's "only real pop moment [...] sabotages any FM potential by crafting its infectious chorus around four crystal clear gunshots. The song samples The Clash's 'Straight To Hell', and through that provides the clearest indication of where she sees herself, as the inheritor of true rebel music in an era of corporate punks".[28] Blender joked that "by M.I.A. standards [Paper Planes] is almost a ballad", naming it a highlight of the album.[29] Bill Lamb of About.com deemed it "one of the most bracing pop hits in recent history" and that "the song's patchwork world beat style expands the boundaries of current hit pop music".

The song placed number 17 on the Triple J Hottest 100 of 2007.[30] The Bun B and Rich Boy remix placed at number four on Pitchfork Media's Top 100 Tracks of 2007,[31], while Pitchfork Media placed the Diplo Remix as the third-best song of the 2000s.[32] "Paper Planes" placed number six on the Village Voice's Pazz & Jop poll of the top 40 singles of 2007,[33] and placed first the following year.[34] It ranked at number 3 on the "10 Best Singles of 2008" list by American magazine Entertainment Weekly.[35] Blender's Top 144 Songs of 2008 featured "Paper Planes" at number 2, with the DFA remix at number 63.[36] Rolling Stone Brasil named it the best song of 2008.[37]

Entertainment Weekly put it on its end-of-the-decade, "best-of" list, saying, "Admit it: That gunfire-and-cash-registers hook was stuck in your head for weeks after seeing the Pineapple Express trailer (or, uh, Slum-dog Millionaire) in 2008."[38] This song was number five on Rolling Stone

's 2009 list of the 50 Best Songs of the Decade.[39]

Controversy

In August 2008, Sri Lankan rapper DeLon circulated a viral YouTube video in which he rapped over "Paper Planes" and accused M.I.A. of "supporting terrorism" by using images of the tiger and discussing violence in her lyrics, and showing graphic images of violence connected to the Tamil Tigers. M.I.A responded, stating that her music is the voice of a civilian refugee and that she is not willing to discuss it with someone that is looking for self-promotion.[40][41] DeLon is Sinhalese (the ethnic majority in Sri Lanka), while MIA is a member of the Tamil minority.[42][43]

A censored version released by MTV in December 2007 differs from the version uploaded to M.I.A.'s YouTube account. In the censored version, M.I.A.'s vocals are doubled, the gun sounds are replaced with ambiguous popping sounds, and the word weed is removed (ostensibly due to weed being slang for cannabis) and replaced with the word seed. M.I.A. performed the song on the Late Show with David Letterman which, to her visible surprise, was similarly censored.[44][45] Following general fan disapproval of the leaked MTV version of the video, M.I.A. stated in a MySpace blog entry on 16 December 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.[46] 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."[46][47] She also referenced the Late Show performance, stating that what she had originally heard and agreed at a sound check to replace the gunshot sounds was different from what was played at the taping.[46][47] M.I.A. also spoke about the incident at her concert at the Austin City Limits a few days after the show, thanking David Letterman onstage "for letting her into the American mainstream."[48]

Chart performance

The song charted in the U.S. and Canada soon after its release.[49][50][51][52] In June 2008, the song charted on the Belgian singles chart, peaking at 18.[53] After its use in trailers for the film Pineapple Express, the track rebounded on the U.S. charts in July 2008, entering the Billboard Hot 100 chart at position 55, with 42,000 downloads. In subsequent weeks, it continued to climb the chart, eventually peaking at number four. It received heavy airplay on mainstream, pop, alternative, and some Urban Contemporary formatted stations. As of August, 2009, the song has sold over three million copies in the United States.[54]

On 7 September 2008, the song entered the UK Singles Chart at number 69 on downloads alone and peaked at number 19. On 15 February 2009, the song re-entered the charts at number 33 after it was used in the film Slumdog Millionaire, which became a hit and won 7 BAFTA awards and 8 Academy Awards.

Music video

The music video for the song was directed by Bernard Gourley.[55] It was made available on MTV's website two days prior[56] to its premiere on TRL on 17 December 2007.[57]

The video was shot in M.I.A.'s home neighborhood of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York. It was originally planned to be shot in a factory on the border of Ecuador, but the location changed to accommodate M.I.A.'s time constraints while touring in the U.S.[46][47]

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. M.I.A. uploaded the video onto her YouTube account in February 2008.[58] "Paper Planes" has peaked at #1 on MuchOnDemand's Daily Ten and Number 1 on TRL. It appeared at Number 56 on BET's Notarized: Top 100 Videos of 2008 countdown.

Track listings and formats

Remixes

  1. "Paper Planes" (DFA Remix)
  2. "Paper Planes" (Afrikan Boy & Rye Rye Remix)
  3. "Paper Planes" (Diplo Street Remix feat. Bun B & Rich Boy)
  4. "Paper Planes" (featuring Afrikan Boy & Rye Rye) [Blaqstarr remix]
  5. "Paper Planes" (remix for the children by Adrock)
  6. "Paper Planes" (Scottie B Remix)
  7. "Paper Planes" (featuring Jim Jones, Hunt & Freeway)[Remix]
  8. "Paper Planes" (featuring Freeway)[Remix]
  9. "Paper Planes" (Featuring 50 Cent) [Remix]
  10. "Paper Planes" (Featuring Lil' Wayne) [Remix]
  11. "Paper Planes" ("Take Ya Money" Freestyle) (performed by M.I.A. & Lucky Luciano)
  12. "Paper Planes" (Kid Cudi freestyle)
  13. "Paper Planes" (Featuring Jim Jones)

Charts

Chart (2008) Peak
position
Australian Singles Chart 66
Canadian Hot 100[59] 7
Belgian Singles Chart[60] 18
Danish Singles Chart 18
Dutch Singles Chart[61] 28
Irish Singles Chart[62] 32
UK Singles Chart 19
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[63] 4
U.S. Billboard Hot Modern Rock Tracks[63] 12
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Singles Sales[63] 1
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs[64] 36
U.S. Billboard Hot Rap Tracks[63] 6
U.S. Billboard Pop 100[63] 8

End of year

Country (2008) Position (Year End Singles Chart)
New Zealand 98
United Kingdom 121[65]

References

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  2. ^ Eric Grandy (2007-11-14). "Life in Exile". The Stranger. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
  3. ^ "GRAMMY.com". Retrieved 2008-12-03.
  4. ^ Samson, Rob (2008-10-13). "M.I.A. - Paper Planes - Narc Magazine". NARC. NARC. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
  5. ^ a b "M.I.A. - Paper Planes Release". Remote Control Records. 2008-10-18. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
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  7. ^ "First a top hit, now Grammy nod: M.I.A. firmly pop". MSN. Microsoft. 2008-12-04. Retrieved 2008-12-04.
  8. ^ Hiatt, Brian (2008-10-16). "M.I.A.'s unexpected smash". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. Retrieved 2008-10-10.
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  10. ^ a b M.I.A. • Paper Planes - Homeland Security Remixes. XL Recordings. Retrieved 2008-03-03
  11. ^ Iron Maiden website, ironmaiden.com
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  15. ^ Haynes, Gavin (2008-12-05). "Dizzee Rascal". NME. Retrieved 2008-12-05.
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  26. ^ Emma Warren (2007-07-15). "Mia, Kala". The Observer. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 2008-12-04.
  27. ^ Todd Martens (2008-09-01). "Kala". Billboard. Nielsen Company. Retrieved 2008-12-08.
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  30. ^ "Hottest 100". Triple J. abc.net.au. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
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  32. ^ http://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/7693-the-top-500-tracks-of-the-2000s-20-1/2/
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  34. ^ "Singles - All votes". Village Voice. 2009-01-21. Retrieved 2009-01-21.
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  37. ^ http://www.rollingstone.com.br/edicoes/28/textos/3590/
  38. ^ Geier, Thom; Jensen, Jeff; Jordan, Tina; Lyons, Margaret; Markovitz, Adam; Nashawaty, Chris; Pastorek, Whitney; Rice, Lynette; Rottenberg, Josh; Schwartz, Missy; Slezak, Michael; Snierson, Dan; Stack, Tim; Stroup, Kate; Tucker, Ken; Vary, Adam B.; Vozick-Levinson, Simon; Ward, Kate (December 11, 2009), "THE 100 Greatest MOVIES, TV SHOWS, ALBUMS, BOOKS, CHARACTERS, SCENES, EPISODES, SONGS, DRESSES, MUSIC VIDEOS, AND TRENDS THAT ENTERTAINED US OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS". Entertainment Weekly. (1079/1080):74-84
  39. ^ Hermes, Will; Hoard, Christian; Rosen, Jody; Sheffield, Rob (December 24, 2009), "50 Best Songs of the Decade". Rolling Stone. (1094/1095):59-62
  40. ^ Burns, Marshall (2008-08-09). "MIA denies supporting terrorism". The Celebrity Cafe. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
  41. ^ "Singer MIA denies terror support". BBC News Online. 2008-08-08. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
  42. ^ Wang, Olivia (2005-05-09). "M.I.A.: Rapper and Daughter of Revolution". NPR Morning Edition. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
  43. ^ Fuller, Thomas (2009-02-10). "The Dissonant Undertones of M.I.A." New York Times. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
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  54. ^ Week Ending Aug. 23, 2009: Over 50 And Still On Top Yahoo Music Blog (written by Paul Grein): Retrived August 26, 2009
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  59. ^ Billboard Canadian Hot 100 - Paper Planes
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  61. ^ http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=M%2EI%2EA%2E&titel=Paper+Planes&cat=s
  62. ^ "M.I.A. - "Paper Planes" charts". acharts.us. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
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  64. ^ "M.I.A. - Hot R&B/Hip Hop songs". Billboard. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
  65. ^ http://www.ukchartsplus.co.uk/ChartsPlusYE2008.pdf
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