M.I.A. is leading by example. “Bring the Noize,” the rapper-singer’s latest single, is chaotic and strident, mixing digital crunch with vague calls for liberation — its message may be unclear, but it guarantees you’ll have to listen. Maya’s newly unveiled video (via, appropriately, Noisey) for the song is cacophonous in its own way, a barrage of provocative images that leave a powerful effect even if they don’t immediately cohere. Hot-pink hair, great, but what does that glowing cow have to do with it? Why are those people standing stoically in all-white clothing — and then dancing? What’s with the melted-gold imagery at the end that brings to mind the cover art for Watch the Throne? Those aren’t the only questions surrounding the long-promised release of upcoming album Matangi, but part of M.I.A.’s genius is ensuring we’ll stick around to (try to) find the answers.
Watch M.I.A. ‘Bring the Noize’ in Dark, Head-Scratching Video
