Search - Mia :: Boyz

Boyz, boyz!

E. A Solinas | MD USA | 07/23/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"If you haven't heard of M.I.A., start listening to her now.



Because not much more can be said about what this Sri Lankan singer creates anymore -- wild, infectious, full-blooded music. And she only gets better in "Boyz," the first single from her sophomore album "Kala," along with a pocketful of alternate versions, a music video, and a few other tidbits.



The title song opens with a dancefunky beat, rattling drums, blares of horns, and the faint sound of crowds cheering. And over it all, we have M.I.A. happily chanting like the head of a cheerleading squad: "How many tequilas in the place?/How many beers are in the case?/ BOYZ there? How many.... boyz there?"



The wild festival dancefunky sound doesn't abate, but it does change themes a bit, from party-hearty to, "How many no money boyz are crazy/How many boyz are raw?/How many no money boyz are rowdy/How many start a war?" and "Can we go ridin' up a dirty track up in Laventille/Will you, show me before I make it back somewhere I can chill?"



Then there's an instrumental version, and an a capella version, but neither are as exciting or vibrant as the original edit. And for the record, you also get "remix parts," which you can use to construct the "Boyz" remix of your choice and personal taste.



And, of course, the much-anticipated music video -- psychedelic colourful backdrops like splashes of paint, animated background, lines of dancing Jamaican men, and animated shapes bouncing in front of them. And, of course, M.I.A. in punk pink and gold jewelry. Everyone looks like they're having a great time -- it has all the colour and playfulness of a children's TV show, but the spark and energy of the best party music.



And finally there's some photos, and a behind-the-scenes video showing how they made the music video. It includes M.I.A. talking about the video style, hanging out with a dancer, Ding Dong expressing his worries, and the dancers trying out their moves and chatting with the camera as well.



In other words, M.I.A. (real name: Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam) wrings every last drop of potential from "Boyz," and crams it onto one little single. I never thought I'd be so happy with a single with no B-sides or remixes, but "Boyz" is actually pretty well worth it, though the alternate versions don't quite measure up. Maybe they're for remix parts.



The instrumentation itself is a glorious, riotous tangle of instruments -- I hear trumpets, tribal drums, tambourines, electro swips and scratches, and together it fuses dance, funk, hip-hop and traditional instrumentals. It sounds like M.I.A. took a Bollywood orchestra and forced them to play dance music in the streets, with a crowd cheering on either side.



"Boyz" is an infectious, gloriously fresh song, and the extras aren't too bad either. Hard to think of a better way to whet the appetite for "Kala.""

Infectious Tune That Sticks...But It's A Good Thing

Jill Dunsmore | 12/22/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"M.I.A.'s Boyz is the most infectious tunes I think I've ever heard in my life. When I first heard the full song, I thought that it would be an instant hit, but too bad it isn't.



Anyway, it sticks in your head, and it's a good thing. You'll be walking down the street singing "NANANNANNANNANNA" all the time, and it's going to be really fun, because you know how much you love the song.



Boyz is one of the best songs of 2007, and that's the truth."

Na na na na na... how many how many?

W. E. Phillips | USA | 07/20/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It's been awhile, but she is back and better than ever with her new single, "Boyz." The infectious track, produced by M.I.A. and Switch, is a collage of tribal drums and Bollywood-style vocal samples. It is an energetic, fun and quirky summer jam. The audio portion of this EP includes not only the original song, but also the acapella and instrumental versions.



But that's not all. When you pop this into your computer, the enhanced CD unlocks more great stuff. There are tons of photos from the set of the video. It also includes the music video for "Boyz," which matches the song in energy with shapes and colors flying across the screen while the Jamaican guys do some crazy dancing. If you didn't get enough of the dancing, you can watch the making of the video, directed by Maya herself. It's quite fascinating. Last, it contains "remix parts," which are files of the seperate instruments and vocals so you can use them for your own remixes of the song.



So if you're a fan, this is a must have. If not... why not give M.I.A. a try? Her music is addictive and this single surely gives you the bang for your buck."