What's That Song in the 'Pineapple Express' Trailer?

'Paper Planes,' by M.I.A.

Doesn't 'Pineapple Express' sound like a cute little kids' movie about Koko the talking tropical fruit, who feels like an outcast among all his popular apple, pear and raspberry friends? Well, that couldn't be further from the truth. Sony Pictures chose 'Paper Planes,' M.I.A.'s highly aggressive track to support the cutesy titled film trailer, but a song built around gunshots most definitely does not complement a kiddie flick.

This comedy, starring Seth Rogan and James Franco, centers around Dale (Rogen) who witnesses a murder while he's toking up. In a panic, he drops his Pineapple Express marijuana before leaving the scene. His drug dealer, Saul (Franco), informs him that this strain of ganga is so rare that it could in fact be traced back to Saul. The duo take off, running for their lives while a dirty cop and the city's most dangerous druglord are hot on their trail.

Born in London with the name Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam, her father moved the family back to Sri Lanka when she was just 6 months old, to continue the revolutionary work in his home country. Her father, Arul Pragasam, is an active member of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (informally known as the Tamil Tigers) -- a militant Tamil nationalist organization that has been conducting an often violent secessionist campaign against the Sri Lankan government. It's no surprise, then, that his daughter would compose a song about politics and governmental policies. 'Paper Planes,' the third single off M.I.A.'s second album, 'Kala,' addressed her feelings on state regulation of immigration.

The British singer's most recent single, 'Paper Planes,' features a catchy, upbeat chorus while still maintaining the edgy sound Sony Pictures was looking for its film trailer. This is not the first time M.I.A. has lent her music to accompany moving images -- her song 'Boyz' was featured in an episode of the ABC drama 'Heroes.'

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