Paper Planes (song)

Infobox Single
Name = Paper Planes


Artist = M.I.A.
alt Artist =
Album = Kala
Released = February 11, 2008 (UK Download) February 12, 2008 (US iTunes) March 24, 2008 (12")
October 13, 2008 (UK Physical)
Recorded = 2007
Genre = Alternative dance, alternative hip hop, alternative rock
Language =
Length = 3:24
Writer = Mathangi Arulpragasam, Topper Headon, Mick Jones, Wesley Pentz, Paul Simonon, Joe Strummer
Composer =
Label = XL Recordings U.S. Distribution: Interscope
Producer =
Last single = "Jimmy" (2007)
This single = "Paper Planes" (2008)
Next single =
Misc = Extra album cover 2
Upper caption = Alternate covers
Type = EP


Cover size = 200px
Lower caption = The artwork for the 7Digital release "Paper Planes - Homeland Security Remixes", EP (digital)
Border =

"Paper Planes" is the third single from M.I.A.'s second album "Kala" released on February 11, 2008.

ong information

It features a guitar riff sampled from the song "Straight to Hell" by The Clash.cite web | title=Life in Exile | url=http://www.thefader.com/blog/articles/2007/08/07/video-interview-mia-jimmy | author=Alex Wagner | work=The Fader | date=2008-08-07 | accessdate=2007-10-20] The song placed number 17 on the Triple J Hottest 100 of 2007. 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.

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

In an interview in late August 2008, Arulpragasam described the song as being a satire "about people driving cabs all day and living in a s***ty 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," adding that she felt listeners could choose how to interpret the gunshots and cash register ringing in the song's chorus. 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 ] 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." cite web | url=http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/23399805/mias_unexpected_smash | title=M.I.A.'s unexpected smash | author=Hiatt, Brian | work=Rolling Stone | publisher=Wenner Media | date=2008-10-16 | accessdate=2008-10-10 ]

Covers, remixes and other references

Remix EP

On February 11, 2008, an EP containing remixes of "Paper Planes," titled "Paper Planes - Homeland Security Remixes" was released digitally on 7digital. This included Blaqstarr's remix featuring tour mates Rye Rye and Afrikan Boy, previously uploaded to M.I.A.'s MySpace, Diplo's Street remix featuring Bun B and Rich Boy which also circulated on the internet beforehand, as well as a remix by DFA Records, 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 was released on March 24 2008.

Covers and other references

People Vs. Money Tour tour mates 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. [ cite web | url=http://www.thefader.com/articles/2007/08/06/audio-esau-mwamwaya-tengazako-mias-paper-planes | title=Esau Mwamwaya, "Tengazako" (MIA's "Paper Planes") | work=The Fader | date=2007-08-06 | accessdate=2008-07-10 ]

"Paper Planes" is played in the theatrical trailer for the film "Pineapple Express" starring Seth Rogen and James Franco. [cite web | url=http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2729574681/ | title=Pineapple Express: Theatrical trailer | work=Internet Movie Database | publisher=Amazon.com | accessdate=2008-07-10 ] [ cite web | url=http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2008/jun/12/summer-mix-08-weve-got-soundtrack-your-summer/ | title=We’ve got the soundtrack to your summer | author=Jonathan Foerster | work=Naples Daily News | publisher=E. W. Scripps Company | date=2008-06-12 | accessdate=2008-07-10 ]

The line "No one on the corner had swagger like us" is sampled and used for the hook of "Swagga Like Us", a song featured in the albums "Paper Trail" by T.I. and "The Blueprint 3" by Jay-Z. Unofficial remixes released in early September 2008 featured 50 Cent, while State Property members Young Chris and Freeway, as well as Jim Jones have also released their own remixes of the song.cite news |first=Shaheem |last=Reid |title=T-Pain Proves His Rap Skills On Pr33 Ringz; Andre 3000 Wants You To Say He's Wack: Mixtape Monday|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1594197/20080905/story.jhtml |work=MTV |date=2008-09-08 |accessdate=2008-10-11 ]

"Paper Planes" was used as the victory song of the Los Angeles sportsteam the LA Dodgers.cite news |first=Dylan |last=Hernandez |title=Dodgers clinch NL West Title|url=http://www.latimes.com/sports/printedition/la-sp-dodgers26-2008sep26,0,1978877.story|work=LA Times |date=2008-09-26 |accessdate=2008-10-11 ]

Music video

The music video for the song was directed by Bernard Gourley. [cite web | title= "Video Static: Music Video News: Immigrant Films"| url= http://www.videostatic.com/vs/immigrant_films/index.html | work = BOOKED: M.I.A. - Bernard Gourley, director | accessdate=2007-10-20] Its planned premiere on "TRL" was December 17, 2007, [ [http://www.miauk.com/info/ Tour Dates And News] ] but it was made available on MTV's website two days earlier. [ [http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1803648&vid=195024 Music Video] . MTV.]

The video was 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. cite web | url=http://www.observer.com/2007/tube-surfing-m-i-paper-planes | title=Tube Surfing: M.I.A.'s 'Paper Planes' | author=Gillian Reagen | work=The New York Observer | date=2007-17-12 | accessdate=2008-08-29 ]

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. M.I.A. uploaded the video onto her YouTube account in February 2008.cite web | title= "YouTube - worldtown's Channel| url=http://uk.youtube.com/user/worldtown|work = YouTube| accessdate=2008-10-11] "Paper Planes" has peaked at #1 on "MuchOnDemand"'s Daily Ten and #1 on "TRL".

Controversy

A censored 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 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.blog.myspace.com/mia. "PAPER PLANES VIDEO" (2007-12-16). Retrieved on 2007-12-17.] 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." 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. 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. [ [http://www.thecelebritycafe.com/features/18788.html] ] [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7549472.stm Singer MIA denies terror support] ]

Track listings and formats

Digital 7digital EP [ [http://www.7digital.com/artists/m-i-a/paper-planes-homeland-security-remixes/ M.I.A. • Paper Planes - Homeland Security Remixes] . 7Digital.]
(Released February 11, 2008)
#"Paper Planes"
#"Paper Planes" (DFA Remix)
#"Paper Planes" (Afrikan Boy & Rye Rye Remix)
#"Paper Planes" (Diplo Street Remix feat. Bun B & Rich Boy)
#"Paper Planes" (Scottie B Remix)
#"Bamboo Banga" (DJ Eli Remix)

Digital US iTunes EP
(Released February 12, 2008)
#"Paper Planes" (featuring Afrikan Boy & Rye Rye) [Blaqstarr remix]
#"Paper Planes" (remix for the children by Adrock)
#"Paper Planes" (featuring Bun B & Rich Boy) [Diplo Street Remix]
#"Paper Planes" (DFA Remix)
#"Paper Planes" (Scottie B Remix)

XL 12" Vinyl EP [ [http://shop.xlrecordings.com/release/~paper-planes-homeland-security-r-1/ M.I.A. • Paper Planes - Homeland Security Remixes] . XL Recordings. Retrieved 2008-03-03]
(Released March 24, 2008)
#"Paper Planes"
#"Paper Planes" (DFA Remix)
#"Paper Planes" (Afrikan Boy & Rye Rye Remix)
#"Paper Planes" (Diplo Street Remix feat. Bun B & Rich Boy)
#"Paper Planes" (Scottie B Remix)
#"Bamboo Banga" (DJ Eli Remix)

UK CD
1. Paper Planes
2. Paper Planes (Diplo Street Remix ft Bun B & M.I.A.)

UK 7-inch
A. Paper Planes
B. Paper Planes (DFA Remix)

Charts

The song "Paper Planes" charted soon after its release, on charts in the U.S. and Canada.cite web | title=Hot Canadian Digital Charts| url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=346&cfgn=Singles&cfn=Hot+Canadian+Digital+Singles&ci=3098502&cdi=9863120&cid=08%2F16%2F2008 | work=Billboard | accessdate=2008-08-15] cite web | title=Hot Dance Singles Sales| url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=361&cfgn=Singles&cfn=Hot+Dance+Singles+Sales&ci=3096752&cdi=9800423&cid=06%2F14%2F2008| work=Billboard | accessdate=2008-08-15] cite web | title=Hot Singles Sales| url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=353&cfgn=Singles&cfn=Hot+Singles+Sales&ci=3097919&cdi=9839578&cid=07%2F26%2F2008| work=Billboard | accessdate=2008-08-15] cite web | title=Pop 100 Airplay| url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=397&cfgn=Singles&cfn=Pop+100+Airplay&ci=3098609&cdi=9867698&cid=08%2F16%2F2008 | work=Billboard | accessdate=2008-08-15] In early to mid June, the song charted on the Chilean and Belgian singles charts, peaking at 33 and 18 respectively. [ [http://top100chile.blogspot.com/ Chilean Singles Chart] . Issue date: July 5, 2008. Retrieved on June 24, 2008.] [ [http://www.ultratop.be/nl/showitem.asp?interpret=M%2EI%2EA%2E&titel=Paper+Planes&cat=s Ultratop (Belgian Singles Chart) M.I.A. - PAPER PLANES] . Issue date June 14, 2008.] 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 at position 55, with 42,000 downloads. In subsequent weeks, it jumped from #36 to #16 to #5. It remained at this position for four weeks before peaking at #4. It continues gathering additional airplay on mainstream, pop, alternative, and even some R&B stations. It is one of only a handful of songs in Billboard history to chart on the alternative and hip-hop charts.

The song has also peaked at number 15 on the World Singles Chart and number 36 on the Brazil Hot 100. [ cite web | url=http://www.hot100brasil.com/chtsinglesb.html| title=Hot 100 singles | work=Hot 100 Brasil | accessdate=2008-09-15 ]

On September 7 2008, the song entered the UK Singles Chart at #69 on downloads alone and has so far peaked at #19.

References

External links

*Youtube|JqlY0VOFtyA| Official "Paper Planes" music video
* [http://blogs.villagevoice.com/statusainthood/archives/2007/12/mia_and_the_dou.php Village Voice - "M.I.A. and the Double Standard of MTV Censorship"]