"If you're not causing some kind of controversy at this point, you're just not trying."
This quote by M.I.A. suggests that in order to stand out, make an impact, or be significant, one must challenge norms, provoke thought, or stir debate – in other words, create a controversy. It implies that if you're not pushing boundaries, questioning conventions, or causing a stir, then you might not be striving for meaningful progress or originality in your endeavors.
"In a world where there's so much negativity and violence, I think it's important to stand out and be an individual."
This quote highlights the importance of self-expression and individuality in a world often characterized by negativity and violence. By standing out as an individual, one can contribute positively to society, offering a unique perspective and promoting unity through diversity. It suggests that each person's distinct identity is valuable and essential for fostering change and promoting peace.
"You can't keep up with the times unless you are prepared to change with them."
This quote by M.I.A. emphasizes the importance of adaptability in today's rapidly changing world. It suggests that maintaining a static mindset or approach will not enable one to keep pace with societal, technological, or personal advancements. Instead, it underscores the necessity to embrace change and be open to evolving oneself as time moves forward. To survive and thrive in today's dynamic environment, flexibility, resilience, and a willingness to learn and grow are essential qualities.
"I don't care what anyone else thinks. That's the key to success - being unapologetically yourself."
The quote by M.I.A., "I don't care what anyone else thinks. That's the key to success - being unapologetically yourself," is a powerful statement that emphasizes self-expression and authenticity as essential components for achieving success. In essence, it suggests that one should prioritize their personal truth over external opinions and expectations. This mindset allows individuals to live in alignment with their unique identity, fostering the courage and resilience needed to overcome challenges and achieve personal goals. Moreover, this quote underscores the idea that by embracing oneself fully, one can inspire others to do the same, creating a more authentic and vibrant world.
"Music is a powerful tool for change, and it's my responsibility as an artist to use it that way."
This quote by M.I.A. emphasizes the transformative potential of music and her commitment as an artist to harness this power for positive social change. In essence, she views music not just as entertainment but as a tool for advocacy and impact, recognizing the role artists play in shaping societal discourse and influencing collective thought and action.
My uncle was the first brown person to have a market stall on Petticoat Lane in the 1960s. He worked his way up from the street. He was homeless, but eventually he got a car so he could sell from the boot. And by the 1980s, he was a millionaire wholesaling to companies like Topshop. So in a way, fashion put me in England.
- M.I.A.
Basically, when I went to school in Sri Lanka from age five onward, the classes there were sometimes sorted into a hierarchy of your skin tone. So the fairer-skinned kids sat at the front row, and the darker-skinned kids sat at the back by the poor ones who played out in the street all day long.
- M.I.A.
You have, in America, you have gang signs. Well, 5,000 years ago, there was thing called a mudra, which is your sitting position when you do yoga or you're meditating or you're praying or whatever. And there's not a lot of them that are named after gods and goddesses, but the middle-finger is specifically named the Matangi mudra.
- M.I.A.
Sri Lanka is an island off the coast of India. There's two ethnicities there; one the Sinhalese, which is the majority and the government, and the minority, who are the Tamils. That's where I'm from. And my lifetime sort of began there; I spent 10 years, and I was there during when the war started and fled as a refugee to England.
- M.I.A.
I'm just so grateful for the 10 years that I had in Sri Lanka when it was in the middle of a war and I was getting shot at, because now and again I remember glimpses of those times, and I just go, 'Wow, I'll never, ever see that again in my life. And I'm never gonna feel that, and I'm never gonna feel for a human being like that.'
- M.I.A.
When we moved to England in 1986, I was ten years old and I didn't know anything about punk or hip hop. The only words I knew in English were 'dance' and 'Michael Jackson.' We got put in a flat in Mitchum, and the council gave us second hand furniture, second hand clothes and a second hand radio that I took to bed with me every night.
- M.I.A.
The theme of counterfeits, of those that produce and sell them, has always been part of the culture of M.I.A. When I was contacted by Versace, it seemed a great idea to invert the circle. Versace's designs have always been copied; now it's Versace that copies the copies, so those that copy must copy the copies. So this will continue.
- M.I.A.
The first 10 years of my life, I lived as 'Matangi.' When I came to England in '86, my first week of school was terrible because I would put my hand up to answer things, and no one would choose me because they couldn't say my name. My auntie came from Europe to visit us, and she was like, 'Just call yourself something else.'
- M.I.A.
It's interesting, because I named my first album after my dad because I wanted to find him. My second album was named after my mom because I felt like I learned all my creative talents I learned from her. All the survival stuff, too. And then the next album is 'Maya,' which is not my real name. It's fake.
- M.I.A.
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