I love this song exactly for the meaning I read from it. There is the parallel with Saudi women not allowed to drive cars (outside the city?) - which means they can never get (far) away (fast) if they are in trouble or being abused. This song rebels to that idea.
The lyrics word for word don't necessarily make sense to be honest, it's the overall idea they create that makes sense. "Live fast, die young, bad girls do it well" - it literally implies that women who live the way they want (freely) still in many parts of the world still suffer harsh consequences for it. Whether it be because of their "own fault" because they weren't properly educated (on disease even) or because as soon as they act out of normal ("bad") men hold them accountable violently.
The video is double symbolic to me because the girls are racing ahead while a traditionally clothed man is ("still") riding a horse. Maybe it's supposed to imply that these traditional men try to suppress because these women are the future and they know it. They speed forward but the men can't keep up.
I love it most that she redefines "bad girls". Usually in pop culture "bad girls" are "slutty". She is implying "bad girls" are simply strong and act freely and men sometimes can't keep up with them. Disobedient, non-traditional, intelligent, defiant women. It has meaning everywhere in a way, not just in countries where women are physically suppressed. Even in western countries where we believe women to be "free", they easily become "outcast" for defying certain expectations of what a woman should be.
The music lyrics itself just talk about rebel girls and cars... Taking only that in account, this song could be at soundtrack of "fast n furious" movies series or whatever...
The music lyrics itself just talk about rebel girls and cars... Taking only that in account, this song could be at soundtrack of "fast n furious" movies series or whatever...
BUT when we see the music video, this gets a context and a real larger meaning... The young saudi rebels (bad boys and girls are that making drifts) are legitime insurgent against opresive laws. And lack of woman liberty (even to drive) become very clear... That's a cry for freedom!
BUT when we see the music video, this gets a context and a real larger meaning... The young saudi rebels (bad boys and girls are that making drifts) are legitime insurgent against opresive laws. And lack of woman liberty (even to drive) become very clear... That's a cry for freedom!
Just one small point: in my opion the horseman does not necesarely represent "the man"...
Just one small point: in my opion the horseman does not necesarely represent "the man" (in oposition to the girls), but the tradition! The horse means old life style and ideas...
M.I.A. isn't a Saudi, she's Sri Lankan Tamil and British, and when she was ten she moved to England. She grew up during times of civil war in Sri Lanka and her father was a political activist in the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam). She had a childhood that in sure wasn't pleasant or easy. i think alot of her songs speak out about oppression because she grew up around alot of it during times of war.
M.I.A. isn't a Saudi, she's Sri Lankan Tamil and British, and when she was ten she moved to England. She grew up during times of civil war in Sri Lanka and her father was a political activist in the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam). She had a childhood that in sure wasn't pleasant or easy. i think alot of her songs speak out about oppression because she grew up around alot of it during times of war.
I love this song exactly for the meaning I read from it. There is the parallel with Saudi women not allowed to drive cars (outside the city?) - which means they can never get (far) away (fast) if they are in trouble or being abused. This song rebels to that idea.
The lyrics word for word don't necessarily make sense to be honest, it's the overall idea they create that makes sense. "Live fast, die young, bad girls do it well" - it literally implies that women who live the way they want (freely) still in many parts of the world still suffer harsh consequences for it. Whether it be because of their "own fault" because they weren't properly educated (on disease even) or because as soon as they act out of normal ("bad") men hold them accountable violently.
The video is double symbolic to me because the girls are racing ahead while a traditionally clothed man is ("still") riding a horse. Maybe it's supposed to imply that these traditional men try to suppress because these women are the future and they know it. They speed forward but the men can't keep up.
I love it most that she redefines "bad girls". Usually in pop culture "bad girls" are "slutty". She is implying "bad girls" are simply strong and act freely and men sometimes can't keep up with them. Disobedient, non-traditional, intelligent, defiant women. It has meaning everywhere in a way, not just in countries where women are physically suppressed. Even in western countries where we believe women to be "free", they easily become "outcast" for defying certain expectations of what a woman should be.
I'm totally agree!
I'm totally agree!
The music lyrics itself just talk about rebel girls and cars... Taking only that in account, this song could be at soundtrack of "fast n furious" movies series or whatever...
The music lyrics itself just talk about rebel girls and cars... Taking only that in account, this song could be at soundtrack of "fast n furious" movies series or whatever...
BUT when we see the music video, this gets a context and a real larger meaning... The young saudi rebels (bad boys and girls are that making drifts) are legitime insurgent against opresive laws. And lack of woman liberty (even to drive) become very clear... That's a cry for freedom!
BUT when we see the music video, this gets a context and a real larger meaning... The young saudi rebels (bad boys and girls are that making drifts) are legitime insurgent against opresive laws. And lack of woman liberty (even to drive) become very clear... That's a cry for freedom!
Just one small point: in my opion the horseman does not necesarely represent "the man"...
Just one small point: in my opion the horseman does not necesarely represent "the man" (in oposition to the girls), but the tradition! The horse means old life style and ideas...
M.I.A. isn't a Saudi, she's Sri Lankan Tamil and British, and when she was ten she moved to England. She grew up during times of civil war in Sri Lanka and her father was a political activist in the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam). She had a childhood that in sure wasn't pleasant or easy. i think alot of her songs speak out about oppression because she grew up around alot of it during times of war.
M.I.A. isn't a Saudi, she's Sri Lankan Tamil and British, and when she was ten she moved to England. She grew up during times of civil war in Sri Lanka and her father was a political activist in the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam). She had a childhood that in sure wasn't pleasant or easy. i think alot of her songs speak out about oppression because she grew up around alot of it during times of war.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M.I.A._(rapper)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M.I.A._(rapper)
Interviews with M.I.A.:
Interviews with M.I.A.:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ji1V0tvFBE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgLpT2s64cI...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ji1V0tvFBE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgLpT2s64cI