Concert Review: M.I.A. - Central Park, NYC - Sunday 7 August 2005

Writer: Nilda Velez

M.I.A. is proceeded by her hype. The internet chatter about the Sri Lankan born political singer/songwritter is deafening. So I had specific expectations for the 28 year old when she performed at New York City's Summer Stage in Central Park. She exceeded just about all of them.

The crowd, the largest audience in all of Summer Stage's concerts so far this season, must have been the source of her buzz because, in perfect synchronization, they sang along with her. There was something almost hypnotic in the way her beats made us nod our heads in unified agreement. The beats were injected with something extra for this crowd because they were composed of a lot more than the Bhangra and techno infusion M.I.A. is known for. On the wheels, Diplo mixed in an eclectic variety of tracks that kept the headboppers enthralled.

When the petite M.I.A. emerged with an oversized geometric top and aqua, lace leggings, I had no idea that her retro ensemble would be reflected in the music. The beats for her own tracks dropped and she practically ate the mic with her convincing patois repertoire. Midsong, the DJ switched it up, blending everything from decade old hits to current radio smashes as M.I.A. continued to sing/spit her original material. She did her thing over beats like the Eurythmics' Sweet Dreams, Salt-n-Pepa's Push It, and Ciara's Oh. It's not only the kind of variety that can keep the ADD generation's attention, but it shows the performer's insight to music.

The vibe of the show was tribal and sexual. The cardboard tiger and palm trees coupled with the barely dressed dancers who shook and jiggled all their parts certainly made the show something to see as well. And, at times, we needed the distraction. M.I.A. was earnest while bouncing around the stage and stepping to its very edge to make eye contact with fans. However, inexperience showed between songs where the lag time was too long and there was literal silence as she talked to the DJ and whispered to the dancers. She was easily forgiven during her encore, though. During Pull Up the People, a sweaty, semi-nude fan made it onto the stage and danced close to her for about a minute before he was chased off by the prerequisite security detail. She didn't miss a note and even went on to challenge the crowd. As the beat for Galang, her mix tape hit, pounded the speakers, she demanded, "You want the radio to play this song? Then do something about it!" We're working on it!

RELATED LINKS:
M.I.A. - official website



Buy M.I.A.'s Arular at Amazon UK (CD) / US (CD)



PUBLISHED: 10 September 2005 .

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