In less than 24 hours the fiercely debated video for the singer’s new single “Born Free” was pulled from YouTube due to excessive violent imagery. The Romain Gavras-directed video depicts military personnel rounding up redhead men and leading them to a desert-style execution. The video is still available at M.I.A.’s website, where nearly a million viewers have watched it.
Music fans had another bone to pick, as the song relies heavily on Suicide’s 1977 song “Ghost Rider.” The singer’s last big release “Paper Planes” also leaned on the Clash’s “Straight to Hell” for its catchy fame. Both were produced by Diplo and Switch.
M.I.A.’s political intentions have also been questioned as promotional. The Minneapolis City Pages called her latest work “Like an episode of ’24,’” while the New York Times examined her connection to the Tamil Tiger rebels last year.
The singer revealed the track list for her as-yet untitled album yesterday via Twitter.
TOPICS: News