Double Bubble Trouble

Last updated

"Double Bubble Trouble"
DoubleBubbleTrouble.jpg
Single by M.I.A.
from the album Matangi
Released30 May 2014 (2014-05-30)
Recorded2013; Jungle City Studios (New York City)
Genre
Length2:59
Label Interscope
Songwriter(s)
  • Maya "M.I.A." Arulpragasam
  • Ruben Fernhout
  • Jerry Leembruggen
  • Rypke Westra
Producer(s) The Partysquad
M.I.A. singles chronology
"Y.A.L.A."
(2013)		"Double Bubble Trouble"
(2014)		"Sexodus"
(2015)
Music video
"Double Bubble Trouble" on YouTube

"Double Bubble Trouble" is a song by recording artist M.I.A. from her fourth studio album, Matangi (2013). It is written by Maya "M.I.A." Arulpragasam, Ruben Fernhout, Jerry Leembruggen, and produced by DJ Punish (Richard Westra). The track references Shampoo's 1994 hit song "Trouble", [1] and incorporates such musical styles as reggae, trap [2] and kuduro. [3] "Double Bubble Trouble" was released as a promotional single in the Netherlands in 2013 and Sweden, [4] before becoming the fifth and final official single from Matangi in 2014. The song was performed on Late Night with Seth Meyers on 13 May 2014 [5] as well as on the 2014 Matangi Tour. The song is on the soundtrack of the 2023 movie The Marvels.

Contents

Critical response

"Double Bubble Trouble" received generally positive feedback from music critics. Hugh Montgomery of The Independent named it one of Matangi's "sublime, fully formed songs" [1] while Jesal 'Jay Soul' Padania of RapReviews.com stated that the song is "fucking crazy and completely epic". [6] However, in his PopMatters review, Arnold Pan was less enthusiastic, and while appreciating the song's "globetrotting" blend of "dub reggae rhythms, Indian strings, and hip-hop conventions", he also claimed that M.I.A. has "done similar things to more dazzling effect before, since there's less development here as she moves between these traditions rather than weaving them together more intricately". [7]

Chart performance

When released as a single in 2014, "Double Bubble Trouble" failed to impact music charts. However, the track had charted in France in November 2013, solely on individual downloads from its parent album.

Music video

On 10 April 2014, the singer reached out to her fans on Facebook and Twitter, explaining that she needed identical twins for "Double Bubble Trouble" video shoot, which she said would take place in London on 11 and 12 April. [8] [9] The music video for the song was directed by M.I.A. herself on location in Peckham, South London. [10]

The video begins with adolescents printing weapons using a three dimensional printer. It also features scenes of M.I.A. posing against the wall with '1984 is now' written on it, referencing George Orwell's novel Nineteen Eighty-Four , [11] as well as Barack Obama's 2008 campaign slogan 'Yes We Can' modified into 'Yes We Scan', which alludes to scanning and storing personal web information by Google. The Partysquad, who produced the song, also make a cameo appearance in the music video. [12]

M.I.A. premiered the video on 19 May 2014, tweeting a link to it, and revealed that her record label Universal Music Group had been holding the video for four days and would not let the singer release it. [13] When M.I.A. published the clip on YouTube herself, the label blocked it on copyright grounds, but reversed the decision when faced with an outpouring of protest. [14] The video went viral and quickly reached 2m views on YouTube. It has been noted and praised for its political undertones. [15] [16]

Track listing

Digital download [17]
  1. "Double Bubble Trouble" – 2:59

Charts

Chart (2013)Peak
position
France (SNEP) [18] 179
US Dance/Electronic Songs ( Billboard ) [19] 37

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">M.I.A. discography</span>

British rapper and singer M.I.A. has released six studio albums, two extended plays, two mixtapes, forty singles and twenty-nine music videos. Born Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam, M.I.A. began her career as a visual artist and film-maker, and moved into making music after filming a documentary on the band Elastica in 2001. The band's lead singer, Justine Frischmann, lent her a Roland MC-505 sequencer/drum machine which she used to make a demo tape that secured her a contract with British label XL Recordings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Won't Tell</span> 2007 single by Fat Joe featuring J. Holiday

"I Won't Tell" is a song by American rapper Fat Joe. It was released as the first single of his eight album The Elephant in the Room (2008), and features R&B singer J. Holiday. It was released on November 8, 2007 on Fat Joe's MySpace page. It was released through iTunes on December 4, 2007. It is a hip hop and contemorary R&B song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">M.I.A. (rapper)</span> British rapper (born 1975)

Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam, known by her stage name M.I.A., is a British rapper, record producer, and singer. Her music combines elements of alternative, dance, electronic, hip hop and world music with electronic instruments and samples.

<i>Battle of the Sexes</i> (album) 2010 studio album by Ludacris

Battle of the Sexes is the eighth studio album by American rapper Ludacris, released March 9, 2010 on Disturbing tha Peace and Def Jam South. The album was recorded during 2008 to 2010 and its production was handled by several producers, including T-Minus, Bangladesh, Swizz Beatz, The Neptunes, and The Runners.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big Sean discography</span>

American rapper Big Sean has released five studio albums, four mixtapes, thirty-one singles, eight promotional singles, and thirty-nine music videos. In 2008, Big Sean was discovered by American rapper and record producer Kanye West, who signed Sean to his record label GOOD Music—distributed through Def Jam Recordings. Since 2008, after signing a record deal to West's label G.O.O.D. Music, Sean's breakthrough career continued through his mixtapes such as Finally Famous Vol. 2: UKnowBigSean (2009) and Finally Famous Vol. 3: BIG (2010). While he was releasing these mixtapes, he collaborated on various tracks and/or singles from West, Royce da 5'9" and Chris Brown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bad Girls (M.I.A. song)</span> 2012 single by M.I.A.

"Bad Girls" is a song by British recording artist M.I.A. for her fourth studio album, Matangi (2013). The song is written by Maya "M.I.A." Arulpragasam, Marcella Araica and Floyd Nathaniel "Danja" Hills, and produced by Danja. The song, Arulpragasam's first release following her departure from the UK's XL Recordings in 2011, was self-released worldwide under exclusive license to Interscope Records in the US on 31 January 2012. A shorter version of the song appeared on Vicki Leekx, a mixtape released for free online on 31 December 2010. "Bad Girls" was released as a digital download a day after its world premiere on radio and online.

<i>Matangi</i> (album) 2013 studio album by M.I.A.

Matangi is the fourth studio album by British rapper and singer M.I.A. It was released on 1 November 2013 on her own label, N.E.E.T. Recordings, an imprint of Interscope Records. M.I.A.'s longtime collaborator Switch primarily handled Matangi's production; Hit-Boy, Doc McKinney, Danja, Surkin, and The Partysquad provided additional contributions. The album was recorded in various locations around the world and featured uncredited input from WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. Its title is a variant of M.I.A.'s real first name and references the Hindu goddess Matangi. The lyrics feature themes related to Hinduism, including reincarnation and karma, and the music blends Western and Eastern styles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">High School (song)</span> 2013 single by Nicki Minaj featuring Lil Wayne

"High School" is a song by rapper Nicki Minaj featuring Lil Wayne for her reissued second studio album Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded – The Re-Up (2012). It was released on April 16, 2013, by Young Money, Cash Money, and Republic as the third single from the album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bring the Noize</span> 2013 single by M.I.A.

"Bring the Noize" is a hip-hop song by British recording artist M.I.A. from her fourth studio album, Matangi (2013). The track was written by Maya "M.I.A." Arulpragasam, Surkin, Switch, Para One and Hugues Rey, and produced by Switch and Surkin. It references Public Enemy's 1987 song "Bring the Noise" and Janis Joplin's track "Me and Bobby McGee".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fashion Killa</span> 2013 single by ASAP Rocky

"Fashion Killa" is a song by American hip hop recording artist A$AP Rocky. The song was serviced to urban contemporary radio in the United States in November 2013, as the fourth single from his debut studio album Long. Live. A$AP. The song was produced by both Hector Delgado and Rocky himself under the pseudonym LORD FLACKO and Friendzone as the co-producer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Change Your Life (Iggy Azalea song)</span> 2013 single by Iggy Azalea featuring T.I.

"Change Your Life" is a song recorded by Australian rapper Iggy Azalea for her debut studio album, The New Classic (2014). It features guest vocals by American rapper T.I. Initially a demo by Indian-American songwriter Raja Kumari, the song's final composition was co-written by Azalea, Natalie Sims, Kumari, the song's producers The Messengers, Lovy Longomba and T.I. It is a mid-tempo dub-step and synthpop song inspired by Azalea's personal dating experiences, and comprises bass-driven and synth-heavy production. Described by Azalea as "a kind of rap duet", it features her singing on a track for the first time which she took upon to showcase growth and versatility from her previous material.

"From Time" is a song recorded by Canadian recording artist Drake for his third studio album, Nothing Was the Same (2013). The song was written by Drake and its producers Chilly Gonzales and Noah "40" Shebib, while American singer-songwriter Jhené Aiko provided additional vocals and writing. "From Time" is the second collaboration between Drake and Aiko, during which she wrote to the music Drake provided for her.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trouble (Shampoo song)</span> 1994 single by Shampoo

"Trouble" is a song by British female pop music duo Shampoo, released in July 1994 by Food Records as the first single from the duo's debut album, We Are Shampoo (1994). The song peaked at No. 11 on the UK Singles Chart and reached the top 20 in Australia, Belgium, Finland and the Netherlands, as well as No. 37 in Canada. Attempting to break into the US market, the song was released as a promotional single for the 1995 film Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie, in anticipation of the release of the US version of We Are Shampoo. A new music video was filmed featuring clips from the Power Rangers film. NME magazine ranked "Trouble" at No. 23 on their list of the 50 best songs of 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Till It's Gone</span> 2014 single by Yelawolf

"Till It's Gone" is a song by American hip hop recording artist Yelawolf, featured on his 2015 album Love Story. Written by Yelawolf, producer WLPWR, guitarist Mike Hartnett and mixing engineer Matthew Hayes, it was originally featured on some versions of the 2014 Shady Records compilation Shady XV. The song was released as the second single from both albums on September 16, 2014.

<i>Imperial Blaze</i> 2009 studio album by Sean Paul

Imperial Blaze is the fourth studio album by dancehall artist Sean Paul. The album was released on 18 August 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Borders (M.I.A. song)</span> 2015 single by M.I.A.

"Borders" is a song by recording artist M.I.A. for her fifth studio album, AIM (2016). The track was written by M.I.A., Levi Lennox and Amish Patel, and has been described as an electronic song incorporating such musical styles as hip hop and world music.

"Swords" is a song by British recording artist M.I.A. The track was written by M.I.A., Jerry Leembruggen, Ruben Fernhout, Yo Yo Honey Singh, Tevin Plaate and Kaushal Sahil. Leembruggen and Fernhout are part of the Partysquad, who produced the song alongside M.I.A. and Spanker. The track is centred around the sound of clinging swords, recorded during filming the music video, and was completed overnight during the singer's stay in India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Y.A.L.A.</span> 2013 song by M.I.A.

"Y.A.L.A." is a song by recording artist M.I.A. from her fourth album Matangi, released in 2013. It was released as the fourth single from the album. The track was written by M.I.A. together with Ruben Fernhout and Jerry Leembruggen of the Dutch production team The Partysquad who also produced the track.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Come Walk with Me (song)</span> 2013 single by M.I.A.

"Come Walk with Me" is a song by the British recording artist M.I.A. for her fourth studio album, Matangi (2013). The track was written by Maya "M.I.A." Arulpragasam and Switch, and produced by the latter. M.I.A. first uploaded a demo of the track online in April 2012, and the final version of the song was self-released worldwide as a digital download, under exclusive license to Interscope Records, on 3 September 2013. The song was the third single from the album, and was performed the on The Colbert Report, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, the 2013 YouTube Music Awards and during the Matangi Tour. "Come Walk with Me" was met with acclaim from music critics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Check (Meek Mill song)</span> 2015 single by Meek Mill

"Check" is a song by American rapper Meek Mill from his second studio album, Dreams Worth More Than Money (2015). The song was produced by Metro Boomin and Southside, who served as co-writers with Mill. After Mill shared a preview on April 30, 2015, it was released as the album's lead single on June 1, through Maybach Music Group. A club number, it is reliant on three synth notes. In the lyrics of the song, Mill raps about heavy spending at nightclubs and his rise to the top.

References

  1. 1 2 Montgomery, Hugh (10 November 2013). "Album review: MIA, Matangi (XL)". The Independent . Retrieved 12 November 2013.
  2. ↑ Ham, Robert (5 November 2013). "M.I.A.: Matangi :: Music :: Reviews :: Paste". Paste . Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  3. ↑ Calvert, John (3 December 2013). "Matangi - FACT Magazine: Music News, New Music". Fact . Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  4. ↑ "M.I.A. (2) - Double Bubble Trouble at Discogs". www.discogs.com. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  5. ↑ Josiah Hughes (13 May 2014). "M.I.A. "Double Bubble Trouble" (live on 'Meyers')". exclaim.ca. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  6. ↑ Padania, Jesal 'Jay Soul' (5 November 2013). "M.I.A. :: Matangi :: N.E.E.T/Interscope". RapReviews.com. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  7. ↑ Pan, Arnold (4 November 2013). "M.I.A.: Matangi". PopMatters . Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  8. ↑ MIA (10 April 2014). "MIA - ARE YOU A TWIN? ARE YOU FROM LONDON ? ARE YOU ON INSTAGRAM ?..." www.facebook.com. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  9. ↑ M.I.A (10 April 2014). "M.I.A on Twitter: "identical twins needed for double bubble trouble video Fri / sat 11th 12th in London"". twitter.com. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  10. ↑ "Ayodeji Oluwa". www.starnow.co.uk. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  11. ↑ Locker, Melissa (19 May 2014). "M.I.A. Debuts the Video for "Double Bubble Trouble": Watch". Time . Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  12. ↑ Rigby, Sam (19 May 2014). "MIA makes directorial debut with 'Double Bubble Trouble' video - watch". Digital Spy . Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  13. ↑ Reed, Ryan (19 May 2014). "Watch M.I.A.'s Uncensored New 'Double Bubble Trouble' Video". Rolling Stone . Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  14. ↑ Slavik, Nathan (20 May 2014). "M.I.A. - Double Bubble Trouble". DJBooth. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  15. ↑ Pelly, Jenn (19 May 2014). "M.I.A. Directs Her Hyperactive, Political "Double Bubble Trouble" Video". Pitchfork Media . Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  16. ↑ Keay, Lara (26 May 2014). "Why you should watch M.I.A.'s new music video 'Double Bubble Trouble'". studentjournals.co.uk. Archived from the original on 25 February 2015. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  17. ↑ "iTunes - Music - Double Bubble Trouble - Single by M.I.A." itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  18. ↑ "M.I.A. – Double Bubble Trouble" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
  19. ↑ "M.I.A. - Chart history | Billboard". www.billboard.com. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.