20 M.I.A. Quotes for You to Enjoy

M.I.A.

British Musician

Born: Jul 18, 1975

First Me Music People Think You

Related authors: Brian Eno Cat Stevens Freddie Mercury George Harrison George Michael Jimmy Page Robert Plant Sting

Madonna did amazing songs. She had an amazing sense of style, without a stylist. And she was flawed, and sometimes she admitted it. I'll fight the fight for Madonna. I think she should send me some chocolates or something to thank me. M.I.A.

Me Fight Sometimes Amazing Style Sense Think I Think Madonna Some Admitted Something Had Songs She Without Stylist Thank Did Send Flawed Chocolates Should

I don't understand why people make me want to make music that's a join-the-dots thing by numbers. I find it really difficult when people say, 'Aw, you should have made a really big hip hop record, that would have been really good for you' or, 'You should have made a song like Lily Allen, that would have been so great.' M.I.A.

Music Good Great Me You People Song Made Big Difficult Say Hop Would Find People Say Record Allen Like Make Lily Understand Hip Hip-Hop Been Want Really Should Aw Why Thing Numbers

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.

Fashion Me Car Millionaire Uncle First Market Way Boot Brown Could He Put 1980s 1960s Like Got His His Way Sell Up Person Stall Worked Lane England Companies Homeless Eventually Street

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.

You have to constantly redefine who you are. M.I.A.

You Constantly Redefine Who

I was part of the generation that pushed the Internet. In fact, I broke as an artist in the U.S.A. because of the Internet. M.I.A.

Generation Internet Broke Fact Pushed Part Because Artist In Fact

I feel like people either love me or hate me, which is good, because that was the point of what I do. The point of M.I.A. is to be - it's either to be loved or hated. At least you evoke that much of a strong opinion about music. M.I.A.

Love Music Good Me You Love Me Hate People Strong Evoke I Feel Hated I Feel Like About Point Feel Like Because Opinion Least Loved Either Which Much

Tamils all over the world have a sense of belonging to the world itself, but our ancient roots come from India. I would like to explore India. I will keep coming back. This is the closest I can get to home. M.I.A.

In India, you see the way they embrace color in the culture - it's very celebratory of the existence of color. There's no rule of what color belongs together or doesn't belong together. They're not precious about it. It's very full-on. M.I.A.

You Together Culture Rule Way India Embrace See About Color Existence Very Precious Full-On Belong Belongs

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.

Life War Grateful Human Being Remember My Life Those I Remember Wow See Never Had Feel Like Because Sri Lanka Go Years Times Getting Human Just Middle Being Again Gonna Shot Lanka Now Ever

I remember taking my demo to every dance person in London. People were like, 'We don't know what this is!' The first people to champion me were a club in Manchester. M.I.A.

Me Champion People Remember Dance First Club Every I Remember London Taking Like Demo Know First People Were Person Manchester

In my head, I actually think my songs are pop songs. I think, 'Damn, that's a pop song!' I can practice in front of the mirror with my hairbrush for as long as I want to. But when it finally comes out, it sounds avant-garde to people. M.I.A.

Before the Greeks were the Tamils. The Tamils are one of the oldest civilizations that's still surviving. M.I.A.

Before Civilizations Still Were Greeks Surviving Oldest

My father had no influence on my political beliefs, and to imply otherwise is wrong and irresponsible. M.I.A.

Political Father Otherwise Had Wrong Imply Political Beliefs Irresponsible Influence Beliefs

It is a coincidence that Mathangi is the Goddess of Music and the spoken word, which can be rap. M.I.A.

Music Word Goddess Rap Spoken Spoken Word Which Coincidence

My record label always says you shouldn't talk about money because it makes people extremely uncomfortable. Refugees can't talk about money. Rappers can talk about money; refugees can't talk about money. M.I.A.

You People Money Extremely Says Rappers Record Record Label About Uncomfortable Talk Because Makes Always Label Refugees

I don't like the idea of spirituality done the way it's done. The only way I could understand it was through creativity, not by going to an Ashram, or finding a guru or joining a temple. I made work out of it. M.I.A.

Work Creativity Made Spirituality Way Out Finding Temple Guru Only Joining Could Through Idea Like Understand Done Going Work Out

M.I.A. Quotes

No more M.I.A. quotes