Top 5 Best M.I.A Songs

Mathangi Arulpragasam or better known as M.I.A made her debut in 2000 as a Sri Lankan rapper, visual artist, and badass artist who holds meaning in her lyrics.

M.I.A is not like many other female artists or rappers for that matter, she thinks differently, dresses differently, and even tries to implement different styles of music in her songs.

Here are my top five favorite songs of hers:

5. Matangi

I find it very impressive how she is able to celebrate and acknowledge all of the countries she names. She lists 40 countries showing love to all of them while the background sounds are raw.

“The whole time I’ve been alive on this planet, my mom never mentioned where my name came from. Matangi was the goddess of knowledge and the arts — music, art, dancing, spoken word. When they invented this mythology 4,000 years ago, the concept of someone being about all those things was normal,” said M.I.A.

My favorite lines of the song are:

"I'm ice cream

and you're sorbet."

And let's not forget...

"We started at the bottom

but Drake gets all the credit."

4. Freedun

"Bass bass, bass bass

I'm a swagger man

Rolling in my swagger van

From the People's Republic Of Swaggerstan."

If you don't find that lyric funny, clever and overall a good play on words, then I honestly am confused. The way she starts this song gives a preview to how great the lyrics will turn out.

What's even better about this song is that some of the lyrics were suggestions made by fans, which shows that she accepts all types of creative genius. I also appreciate how she does on play on words when referring to Swaggerstan because she is saying we are apart of a country that lives in "swag."

3. Borders

"Freedom, 'I'dom, 'Me'dom

Where's your 'We'dom?

This world needs a brand new 'Re'dom

We'dom - the key

We'dom the key'dom to life!

Let's be 'dem

We'dom smart phones

Don't be dumb!"

One thing I enjoy about M.I.A is her ability to speak on important issues and to get her message across through a solid beat and melody.

This opening is a challenge to us, the me'dom is being able to fight for what we believe is right like with the recent shooting in Florida or gun laws in general. The we'dom is being able to come together in a time if need, and re'dom is being able to stop the cycle of violence, injustice and issues that are plaguing our society.

When I listen to music I like to be challenged and I love a good message!

2. Finally

Now trying to figure out if this song would be second or first was hard but I decided this deserved the second place.

When I say that I absolutely enjoy this song for everything it holds, I am not joking. This song just showcases her genius.

The fact that she says I'm someone's shot of whiskey not everyone's tea is a lyric I appreciate because she is making it known that she is a different type of artist in this industry.

This song is just her anthem to everyone who dislikes her music or dislikes her inability to conform to mainstream music.

"Finally what haters say about me don’t worry me

I keep it moving forward to what’s ahead of me

You gonna see I’m gonna be

And you’re gonna remember me."

1. Paper Planes

I had to reserve this spot for a song that I could sing in my sleep. This song for sure is a great karaoke alternative.

I first heard of M.I.A because of this song and because of The Slumdog Millionaire, I was able to enjoy this song.

This song again has to deal with an issue that was important then and is still relevant now. Immigration is such a huge issue in our society today, with programs like DACA she is showcasing how immigrants fleeing their countries are similar to planes flying.

In a interview M.I.A said this, "It’s about immigration and immigrants, and how we are seen to be really scary because we can take people’s jobs. People think it’s about robbing banks or something or it’s about terrorism, but it’s not. It’s about immigrants coming over and us being really scary to people."

Some of my favorite lyrics from this song are:

"M.I.A

Third world democracy

Yeah, I've got more records than the K.G.B

So, uh, no funny business

Are you ready all?

Some some some I some I murder

Some I some I let go

Some some some I some I murder

Some I some I let go."

Fun fact: the KGB were the world's largest spy system so ultimately she's letting her competition know that she is a threat and surely after that song she has been able to excel.

What do you guys think? What's your favorite song by her?