videoM.I.A. 'Borders' by M.I.A.M.I.A.'s back doing what she does best, merging politically-charged pop with her unique brand of hard-hitting music videos to tackle pressing issues.Borders is a timely confrontation by the British artist of Sri-Lankan descent, addressing the West's immigrant-phobic response at a time when millions of people - including over half of the Syrian population - has been displaced and urgently need help. In it, M.I.A. (who relocated to London as a refugee herself when she was eleven years old) is dwarfed by masses of refugees on ships, standing alongside as they climb massive gated borders, but is still no less iconic in her steadfast resolution to stare us down and speak her mind. With lyrics urging the West to question their wayward, consumerist values, M.I.A. highlights the moral dubiousness of our society's trendy catchphrases (including "killing it" and "break the internet") as well as broader topics, "borders, politics, police shots, identities, your privilege."
Cat Velez - 30th Nov 2015