Bad Girls – M.I.A: MUSIC VIDEO REVIEW
The “Bad Girls” music video is predicted to be one of the best videos of 2012 and after watching it I would have to agree with this statement. Impressive.
I have been a fan of the poster girl for the refugee community M.I.A since the first time I heard her on “Paper Planes” and had a whole new respect for her when she collaborated a track titled “Mango Pickle Down River” with The Wilcannia Mob a young Aboriginal rap group from Wilcannia in country New South Wales a town further west from where my family are from.
The track is a unique one about well, bad girls living and acting recklessly. It is M.I.A’s attempt at a female empowerment track (even if it is glorifying bad behaviour, it IS M.I.A after all!). It is a far cry from her bubblegum tack on singing role on “Give Me All Your Luvin’ ”
VISUALS
The music video is set in Morocco and features young men and women driving vehicles recklessly and fast fuelled by disregard for everything (including their life) and adrenalin. “Bad Girls” looks like a scene from the films The Fast and The Furious, something you’d see in a street car race.
The car stunts in the clip were very impressive (and would have cost a small fortune) yet as M.I.A admits herself, were very dangerous:
“I thought I was gonna die on the shoot when I saw the drifting. It was a four day shoot so everyone was on edge the whole time — specifically ME when I had to do blue steel singing to the camera while the cars did doughnuts on the wet road ten feet away. In my mind I was thinking how I was gonna deliver the video with no legs.”
I was squealing in delight at the 2:00 minute mark when she files her nails as the car is driving on two wheels. Like SERIOUSLY?!?
The fashion throughout the music video is typically M.I.A’s colourful, eclectic style of ‘let’s throw everything I can in my wardrobe on at the same time and hope it looks good’ but that’s what I love about Mathangi “Maya” Arulpragasam, she doesn’t care what people think of her.
I would like to hear what women in/from the Middle East think about their portrayal in this video. M.I.A is known for her clever mix of politics and music.
Slant Magazine offers their interesting perspective on the politics of “Bad Girls:”
“ Amid the usual array of bedazzled burkas and vague evocations of political violence, the perfectly drab-looking cars featured in the video end up being one of M.I.A.’s most fascinating, multivalent symbols. When she raps, “I’m coming in the Cherokee/Gasoline/There’s steam on the window screen,” she acknowledges the car as liberator of American teenage sexuality; pulling up in her own vehicle at the beginning of the clip, but leaving all of the stunt driving to the traditionally clad Arab men, she acknowledges that the ability to drive has also been the object of political struggle for Middle Eastern feminists. The various shots of M.I.A. leaning out of the passenger’s side (in one shot, while the car has tilted diagonally, she hovers over her audience with regal swagger) or leading a parade of revelers through the streets, depict her in positions of varying power, but she always projects her inimitable attitude.”
THE VERDICT
I can’t stop watching this music video over and over. The Middle Eastern sounds of the track matched with the visuals is truly a joy to watch thanks to the video producer Roman Gavras. Despite not really understanding the underpinning politics of the video (which I would love someone to enlighten me with) I appreciate that it gets me thinking – and is a far cry from the vacuous pop “Give Me All Your Luvin’ “ (check out my music video review) which she features on currently with Madonna and Nicki Minaj.
“Bad Girls” gives me layers of controversy, politics, entertainment and culture – all traits that combine to make M.I.A one of my all time favourite female rappers.
I thank you M.I.A for NOT shaking your ass in booty shorts, rolling around in money and singing about sex. You are one of the few rappers today that hasn’t sold out and still sings about politics while giving us a unique sound and style.
Check out the music video for ”Bad Girls” by M.I.A below:
Lyrics “Bad Girls” – M.I.A
[M.I.A.]
Live fast, die young
Bad girls do it well
Live fast, die young
Bad girls do it well (x2)
My chain hits my chest
When I’m bangin’ on the dashboard
My chain hits my chest
When I’m bangin’ on the radio
Get back, get down
Pull me closer if you think you can hang
Hands up, hands tied
Don’t go screaming if I blow you with a bang
Ahh; Sookie Sookie,
I’m coming in the Cherokee
Gasoline
There’s steam on the window screen
Take it, take it
World’s bouncing like a trampoline
When I get to where I’m going, gonna have you trembling
Live fast, die young
Bad girls do it well
Live fast, die young
Bad girls do it well (x2)
My chain hits my chest
When I’m banging on the dashboard
My chain hits my chest
When I’m banging on the radio
Yeah back it, back it
Yeah pull up to the bumper game
With a signal
Cover me, cause I’m changing lanes
Had a handle on it
My life, I broke it
When I get to where I’m going, gonna have you saying it
Live fast, die young
Bad girls do it well
Live fast, die young
Bad girls do it well (x2)
My chain hits my chest
When I’m banging on the dashboard
My chain hits my chest
When I’m banging on the radio (x2)
Get back, get down
Pull me closer if you think you can hang
Hands up, hands tied
Don’t go screaming if I blow you with a bang
You can follow M.I.A on Twitter.
Buy “Bad Girls” below:
What do you think of the“Bad Girls” video by M.I.A?
Miss Fancye
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