The blogosphere is still buzzing about the banned-from-You-Tube video for the latest single from M.I.A., “Born Free.” This uncomfortably long clip is alarming for a pair of reasons: it’s gratuitous look at a not-so-distant dystopian future where redheads are rounded up and beaten (They came first for the gingers, and I didn’t speak up because I hated Danny Bonaduce…), and because M.I.A. went all Judgment Night soundtrack with her new hard rock sound. (Actually it’s more M.I.A. mixed with Consolidated, but I’m just a sucker for a Judgment Night reference.)
Got nine minutes to spend with this NSFW video? Let us know your thoughts…
End Hits: This is the worst thing to happen to redheads since Jay Leno kicked Coco off the air.
Well.
Well.
I…um…I..hahahaha because this…OH GOD I AM SCARRED IN MY HEART PLACE NOW.
I love this song and I love this video. The song reminds me of early Tricky before his brain melted and he could still use some hard beats.
But….
The social commentary is a bit heavy-handed, but MIA isn’t really a subtle person, ya know?
Dear Ezra,
Thank you for the Judgment Night reference. I was surprised how incensed I was last week when JN was shockingly, inexplicably left off the AV Club Inventory that SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS DELIBERATELY MADE TO INCLUDE IT.
http://www.avclub.com/articles/the-urban-m…
Cheers,
Commenty Colin
Here’s link to a pop-art site where there’s a discussion going on in the comments: http://www.booooooom.com/2010/04/26/m-i-a-…
Colin
I have never actually seen the movie, but I own the soundtrack on cassette and CD. I still think the Teenage Fanclub + De La Soul song holds up. Can’t say the same for Onyx and Biohazard.
The Teenage Fanclub/De La Soul song rocks, and I must admit the Sonic Youth/Cypress Hill and Helmet/House of Pain were guilty pleasures.
The M.I.A. video is cinematic coolness. The song is forgettable, as M.I.A. has become.
can anyone say ARIZONA
this is why the blazers have to beat phoenix in the playoffs
The song is rad. It’s weird how MIA mashes up all these styles that I hate and yet I LOVE IT.
@ ezra: I don’t even remember the music, except that it was rock-hiphoppity. Do yourself a service, and rent Judgment Night. It is fucking hilarious.
Very funny video…gingers have no soul and we better get them before they get muhammads goo.
Loved when carrottop got blown up in the last few seconds of the video, that was classic.
the song is kinda not the point except that the title can kinda relate to the video “born free”.
i don’t think there are really any other lyrics of note.
this director has done similar videos, movies(?), for Justice as well and are equally emotional, including his tour documentary on Justice.
There is a “nice” video in his collection though.
That’s his Vimeo page there.
to add,
i doubt MIA had anything to do with the making of this video or even perhaps it’s concept.