Galang

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For the island, see Galang Island.
“Galang”
“Galang” cover
Single by M.I.A.
from the album Arular
Released 2003 (limited edition)
November 1, 2004 (re-release)
October 11, 2005 ("Galang '05")
Format 12" and CD single
Recorded 2003
Genre Dancehall, Grime, Electro
Length 3:35
Label Showbiz Records, XL Recordings
Writer(s) Maya Arulpragasam,
Justine Frischmann,
Steve Mackey,
Ross Orton
Producer Maya Arulpragasam
Steve Mackey
Ross Orton
M.I.A. singles chronology
"Galang"
(2003)		 "Sunshowers"
(2004)
"Sunshowers"
(2004)		 "Galang"
(re-release)
(2004)		 "Bucky Done Gun"
(2005)


"Bucky Done Gun"
(2005)		 "Galang '05"
(2005)		 "Boyz"
(2007)


Alternate covers
The artwork for the first re-release of "Galang", CD #1
The artwork for the first re-release of "Galang", CD #1
The artwork for the first re-release of "Galang". CD #2
The artwork for the first re-release of "Galang". CD #2

"Galang" is the first single from M.I.A.'s album Arular. It is written by Maya Arulpragasam, Justine Frischmann, Ross Orton and Steve Mackey. The word 'galang' comes from the Jamaican patois for 'go on'. The first time Arulpragasam released "Galang", in 2003, it was released on an indie label, Showbiz Records, who only pressed 500 vinyl copies of the single. As a result of her fame, it was re-released in November 2004 when she signed to XL Records[1] and was re-released for a third time as "Galang '05" in 2005 (see 2003, 2004, and 2005 in music).[2][3]

The single initially made an impact when released on the white label Showbiz Records, becoming popular with DJs such as Pete Tong who included the song as part of his Essential Selection radio set in 2003. File-sharing of the single, followed by the fast propagation of it around the Internet by word-of-mouth increased its international listenership. M.I.A. performed the song on November 5, 2004 on Sen kväll med Luuk and on 27 May 2005 on Late Night with Conan O'Brien. "Galang" was featured in an ad for the Honda Civic, and was also used in the episode "The Abyss" from season 2 on Entourage.

Contents

[edit] Music video

Maya Arulpragasam in the music video for "Galang".
Maya Arulpragasam in the music video for "Galang".

The accompanying video for "Galang", featuring multiple M.I.A.s amid a backdrop of her graffiti artwork animated and brought to life, was directed by Ruben Fleischer and art directed by M.I.A.. The video received some airplay on MTV2's Subterranean, and was also shown when she appeared as a guest on the show on May 29, 2005.[4]

M.I.A. about the song:

“ This was only the second track I ever wrote, so I was still experimenting. I just wanted to put down all the advice everyone had said to me about how to survive in London. ”

[edit] Track listings and formats

[edit] Showbiz Records 12" Vinyl

  1. "Galang" – 3:35
  2. "Galang" [a capella] – 3:18
  3. "Galang" [instrumental] – 3:40

[edit] XL Recordings

[edit] "Galang"

CD: 1

  1. "Galang" 3:35
  2. "Galang" [Cavemen Remix] – 3:55

CD: 2

  1. "Galang" 3:35
  2. "Galang" [South Rakkas Mix] - 3:55
  3. "Galang" [Cavemen Remix] - 3:58
  4. "Galang" [Cavemen Remix Instrumental] – 3:58

12" vinyl

  1. "Galang" [Cavemen's remix] – 3:55
  2. "Galang" [Cavemen's remix] [instrumental] – 3:55
  3. "Galang" [South Rakkas's remix] – 3:52
  4. "Galang" [South Rakkas's remix] [instrumental] – 3:52

[edit] "Galang '05"

CD: 1

  1. "Galang '05" – 3:35
  2. "Galang" [ Dave Kelly remix] (featuring Cham)

CD: 2

  1. "Galang '05" – 3:35
  2. "Galang" [ Serj Tankian remix]
  3. "U.R.A.Q.T." [DJ C remix]

7" vinyl

  1. "Galang '05" – 3:35
  2. "Galang" [Dave Kelly remix] (featuring Cham)

[edit] Personnel

  • Maya Arulpragasam - main performer, artwork, producer
  • Steve Mackey - producer, mixing
  • Ross Orton - producer, mixing

[edit] Charts

Chart (2004) Peak
Canadian Singles Chart[5] 19
U.K. Singles Chart[6] 77
Chart (2005) Peak
U.S. Hot Dance Singles Sales[7] 11
U.K. Singles Chart[8] 77

[edit] References

  1. ^ XL News
  2. ^ Galang ‘05
  3. ^ Welcome to Rough Trade Shops
  4. ^ "altmusictv Subterranean archive 2003-2006". altmusictv. Retrieved on 2008-03-05.
  5. ^ M.I.A. Galang @ Top40-Charts.com - 40 Top 20 & Top 40 Music Charts from 25 Countries
  6. ^ Chart Log UK: M - My Vitriol
  7. ^ allmusic ((( M.I.A. > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))
  8. ^ Chart Log UK: M - My Vitriol
v • d • e
M.I.A.
Studio albums
Arular (2005)  · Kala (2007)
EPs
Sustainable Development EP  · Live Sessions  · Boyz EP  · Paper Planes - Homeland Security Remixes EP
Other albums
Singles
"Galang"  · "Sunshowers"  · "Bucky Done Gun"  · "Boyz"  · "Jimmy"  · "Paper Planes"
Other songs
Tours
Related articles