Talking to my old roommates in Williamsburg this past weekend, the subject of Bonnaroo Music Festival, which just recently came and went, was brought up.
"Bonnaroo isn't what it used to be" they said.
There were definitely a couple of curve balls in this year's line-up, but nothing was as strange as M.I.A.'s set on Friday the 13th, when the British singer kept on hinting at retirement.
Here's the deal:
1) M.I.A. (AKA Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam) performs in the States under a Visa that is bound to expire. Thusly, until she renews that Visa, she won't be able to perform for her adoring American fans anytime soon.
2) Due to her future marriage into money, it would make sense for her to take a brief hiatus. Yet, that is a whole different story within itself.
Let's just say, I find it a bit off-setting that a performer who has themes of rebellion against the "white man" weaved into her hit anthems and who is also the daughter of a head Tamil Tiger Rebel now charges $250 for shows and chooses to marry Benjamin Brewer, son of Warner Music Group Exec, Edgar Bronfman Jr.
3) Finally, although 2005's Arular was a better album, last year's Kala made M.I.A. a roaring success. It just wouldn't make sense if she ended her career now.
I am sure she will keep putting out hits and after her marriage, go on tour again. So for all you spandex clad "Paper Planes" fans, your beloved M.I.A. is here to stay.
Below is my all time favorite M.I.A. song. Listen up.
M.I.A. - "Sunshowers" (2005 Arular) via MediaFire
2 comments:
Hey hey now, that show was $250 because it was a benefit/black tie dinner party to support a museum and she wasn't the only big name there!
And who cares if she marries a record exec.? I'm not a big fan but she does her own thing & has always done her own thing and I respect that.
Just playing devil's advocate, please feel free to holler back.
"Talking to my old roommates in Williamsburg this past weekend, the subject of Bonnaroo Music Festival, which just recently came and went, was brought up.
"Bonnaroo isn't what it used to be" they said."
I think this is an interesting way to preface an article that passive-aggressively chastises a performer for the price of her concert tickets (which, as was aforementioned, benefits a museum).
Perhaps if you and your Williamsburg buddies stopped spending money on American Apparel clothing and coffee you might have been able to buy the ticket without making a crack about her not sticking to her rebellious nature (while you sit and try to box her into the rebellious label, the irony of it astounds).
Also, Bonnaroo isn't what it used to be? Interesting assessment from the Williamsburg crowd, it would be interesting for you to elaborate on that.
Lastly, "spandex clad"? Interesting way to assert your group of friend's superiority over similar hipsters. Too bad you're still all one and the same. Next time, consider taking out your resentment of the hipster queen's rising popularity (this causes her to lose hipster points, no?) in a more direct way and with a little more research. And without idiotic jabs at clothing choice. Spandex is passe, anyway.
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