Boyz (song)

Infobox Single
Name = Boyz


Caption =
Artist = M.I.A.
from Album = Kala
A-side =
B-side =
Released = 11 June, 2007 (UK)
Format = 12", CD, digital download, USB flash drive
Recorded = Trinidad, India; 2006
Genre = Dappan koothu / Gaana
Soca
Dance
Length = 3:26
Label = XL (Worldwide)
Interscope (U.S. distribution)
Writer = Maya Arulpragasam, Switch
Producer = Maya Arulpragasam, Switch
Certification =
Chart position =
Last single = "Galang '05" (2005)
This single = "Boyz" (2007)
Next single = "'Jimmy" (2007)

"Boyz" is a dance/gaana/soca song written and produced by Switch and M.I.A. for M.I.A.'s second album "Kala" (2007). The song was released as the album's lead single on 11 June 2007 (see 2007 in music). In December 2007, it placed at #9 on the "Rolling Stone" "100 Best Songs of 2007" list. [cite web | title= "Rolling Stone's 100 Best Songs of 2007"| url= http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/17601363/the_100_best_songs_of_2007/3 | work = Rolling Stone | date=2007-12-11 | accessdate=2007-12-11]

Background and release

Written and co-produced by Maya Arulpragasam and Switch, the song was the first official single to be lifted from M.I.A.'s second studio album "Kala". M.I.A. recorded the beats using urumee drummers from Chennai, India, before taking her material to Trinidad where she recorded the vocals, and layered the song with soca music influences. "Boyz", like her other song "Bird Flu" from "Kala" utilizes the gaana music genre [cite web | title= "M.I.A."| url= http://sl2uk.com/content/miabirdflu.shtml | work = SL2UK | accessdate=2007-10-16] (Dappan koothu music), a sound M.I.A. also often heard from temples near where she lived during her childhood. She admits: "There's this one drum called the urmisic that I really wanted to use on my album...It's like a spoke drum that they use in temples; they use it in this kind of music called 'gaana.' ... That’s the same drum in 'Boyz' too." [cite web | title= "Life in Exile"| url= http://www.thefader.com/blog/articles/2007/08/07/video-interview-mia-jimmy | work = Fader | date=2007-07-08 | accessdate=2007-10-16] She says that the song has a "very outdoors" sound, and that although she "didn't record the drums outdoors, I think it sounds like that." [cite web | title= "Video: M.I.A., "Boyz""| url= http://www.vibe.com/music/revolutions/2007/06/video_mia_boyz/ | work = VIBE | date=2007-06-14 | accessdate=2007-06-06] The track was worked on with collaborator Switch, and recording also took place in Brooklyn.

The song was premiered on Zane Lowe's Radio 1 show on 24 April 2007. On 3 June 2007, the HQ Radio Edit of Boyz was leaked to the internet. On 10 June 2007, details of the release were published on M.I.A.'s official website. The track was released internationally via XL Recordings, in the UK via XL as a limited edition 12 inch maxi single and in USB key format on June 11th, and as a 12 inch vinyl and enhanced EP CD single in the US via Interscope Records on 17 July. [cite web | title= "M.I.A."| url= http://www.miauk.com/info/ | work = M.I.A. Official site | date=2007-06-10 | accessdate=2007-06-11] [cite web | title= "Pitchfork: M.I.A. Namez First Kala Single "Boyz""| url= http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/43415-mia-namez-first-ikalai-single-boyz | work = Pitchforkmedia | date=2007-06-06 | accessdate=2007-06-07]

The single was also released through M.I.A.'s official website's store on 10 August. The single was available for purchase in physical CD-single format, 12" vinyl and also limited edition 512MB USB stick/wristband (released in five different colors). [cite web | title= "M.I.A. >> August 10th"| url= http://www.miauk.com/info/?p=40 |date=2007-09-10 | accessdate=2007-08-11] [cite web | title= "M.I.A PRODUCTS"| url= http://www.backstreet-merch.com/bands/mia/default.asp | work = Backstreet-Merch.com | date=2007-08-10 | accessdate=2007-08-11]

The release includes a cappella and instrumental versions of the single, photos, remix parts, the video, and a making of the video part 1 feature.

The song was released on 18 June 2007 on iTunes Stores in Europe and peaked at number nineteen on the UK iTunes Dance Most Downloaded Songs.

"Boyz" featured in the episode "Fight or Flight" from season 2 of the TV show "Heroes", and in a sixth season episode of the TV show "". It was featured in "FIFA Street 3" along with the song "Bird Flu" and in the basketball game "NBA 08". On October 9, 2008, A remix to Boyz was leaked featuring Jay-Z and Wale. It is said to be off of a re-release of Kala.

Music video

The music video for the single was directed by Jason "Jay Will" Williams and M.I.A., and shot in Jamaica towards the end of April 2007. Photographs from the set of the video appeared on the internet in early May. The video features M.I.A. singing and dancing in serene surroundings with vibrant, neon colours and animation graphics, accompanied by several male dancers of different dance crews in Jamaica. One scene sees M.I.A. dancing around a defunct car. [cite web | title= "Pitchfork: Photos: M.I.A.'s Jamaican Vacation"| url= http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/42752-photos-mias-jamaican-vacation | work = Pitchforkmedia | date=2007-05-04 | accessdate=2007-05-09] The video premiered on M.I.A.'s official website and Myspace page on 10 June 2007. In the "Making of 'Boyz' video" feature, Arulpragasam stated she "wanted the frame to end up looking just like ripped-off flyer posters." [cite web | title= "M.I.A. The Making of "Boyz""| url= http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=rDoTKVLHNzA | work = Boyz EP | publisher = YouTube| date=2007 | accessdate=2008-10-09]

Track listings and formats

Promo CD
#"Boyz" – 3:28
#"Boyz" [a cappella] – 3:00
#"Boyz" [instrumental] – 3:29

12" vinyl
#"Boyz" [album version] – 3:28

U.S. CD single (Enhanced EP)/USB wristband
#"Boyz" – 3:28
#"Boyz" [a cappella] – 3:00
#"Boyz" [instrumental] – 3:29
#Photos
#Remixes
#Video
#Making of the Video Part 1

Charts

References