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M.I.A. Releases Graphic Video for 'Born Free'

After recently releasing 'Born Free,' the first single for her third album, M.I.A. is keeping up her busy streak going by premiering a new video for the song -- and it's a doozy. If you're into cinematic displays of violence that make overt political statements about the way state-run armed forces control people, then this one's for you. The video depicts a raid, where a government squad goes looking for someone -- at the beginning, we're not so sure who, but just know that they won't spare anyone from a bruise in order to find their mark.

The commandos finally find who they're looking for, a redheaded boy, and take him prisoner, putting him on a jail bus. We won't spoil the surprise, but let's just say that the offenders of the state aren't your typical enemies. Along with a very direct message about M.I.A.'s thoughts on current events, the video also has some startling imagery that we don't suggest watching while eating.

YouTube allegedly pulled the video from airing in the US, causing M.I.A. to rail against her label, Interscope/Universal Music Group, in a tweet that read, "F--- UMG who won't show it on YouTube." She then retracted her statement, saying "OK, not UMG fault." Whatever the situation was, several versions of the video are up on the site now.

In related M.I.A. 140-character news, she's also taking over Pitckfork's Twitter feed on Monday, and we can only assume that she'll rate her own video an 8.9, while giving recent foreign policy decisions made by the European Union a lowly 2.2.

Watch M.I.A.'s NSFW video for 'Born Free' below:

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WAKE UP!

When they came for ___ i said/did NoThing
When they came for ___ i said/did NoThing
When they came for ___ i said/did NoThing

When they came for me ... there was nobody left to say/do anything (FOR/to HELP) Me.

what a sad, wretched world of COWARDS we all 'live' in .

May 14 2010 at 7:11 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Lacey

So when you suck as a singer, you release a bullshit controversial video for attention. Only thing missing in this video was Cartman. MIA sucks!

May 02 2010 at 2:33 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Mark

American flags on the storm troopers? OK, this is controversy for controversy's sake. It's been going on forever. Don't get ticked off at such a stupid, simple ploy.

May 01 2010 at 2:42 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Russ


I believe her point being, that the government will eventually come for everyone and that this is what its armed forces are capable of doing and are currently doing in other countries. In this Video she portrays the distinction of the race of red headed children. It's not all that impossible to imagine, yet hard to watch. Doesn't mean it can't happen. Races, Religions, Governments, have been genociding nationalities and bloodlines for centuries.
I just think there was a much better way to portray a political message on this issue. If your going to use music and video to send a message you become an artivist, someone who speaks through their art. This was very dark and very unnerving for a weird reason.

May 01 2010 at 3:02 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Shocked

This is absolutely terrible. I applaud youtube for banning it. The people of this world are exposed to enough violence without promoting it in video. If you have a point, make your point, but this is just glorifying violence

April 30 2010 at 11:14 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Harald

Just what is her point? She is one angry brat who spreads her personal despair trying to be profound.
Juvenile and Silly!

April 30 2010 at 9:49 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
stephiefbabyy

Don't promote ginger genocide to prove your points against governments!

April 27 2010 at 2:28 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply