THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

915-M.I.A.-Paper Planes.

2007- Did not chart in the UK until 2009, when reaching Number 19.

Best Bit-At 0.56.The sound of gun fire frightens me. but the sound of tills cashing, gets me excited.

‘Paper Planes’ is a critically acclaimed song, taken from M.I.A.’s second studio Album,’Kala,’ from 2007, music critics have lauded the song for bringing ‘unconventional subject matter’ in to the world of Hip-Hop, and Dance Music.

M.I.A. was born Mathangi Arulpragasam, in London, England, on July 18th, 1977, her father Arul Pragasam (1948-2019,) was a Tamil activist, and former revolutionary.

‘Paper Planes’ is an attack on those who stereotype illegal immigrants, claiming that it is not true that they all want to harm you, and take all your jobs. It also satirises American perceptions of visa seeking foreigners, and immigrants from Third World nations.

The song was co-written by M.I.A. and her then partner ‘Diplo’ (see also best songs 210,) who also produced the track. The song samples ‘Straight to Hell,’ by the Clash, and they are also credited as co-writers. It has also been pointed out that the chorus sounds similar to the 1992 song, ‘Rump Shaker,’ by Wreckx-N-Effect’s.

‘I fly like paper, get high like planes, if you catch me at the border, I got visas in my name.’