So after I gushed over Rihanna’s fun video for her song Rude Boy, commenters started to ‘Go Hard’ on the Beijan princess, saying she had in fact ripped her technicolor, playful concept off of M.I.A’s 2005 video for Galang:
Reader Will said, “I liked this video when MIA came out with it a couple years ago. it was called Galang back then.”
I must admit, the colors and style are very similar, but Rihanna’s version is decidedly steamier. Honestly, there isn’t anything ‘new’ under the sun, and artists are constantly inspired by other artists.
But what do you think? Rip off or Inspiration?
Rihanna, Rude Boy
M.I.A, Galang
March 3, 2010 11:14 am
Both of the videos were directed by the same person. Her name is Melina Matsoukas.
March 3, 2010 11:23 am
Thanks fluff! People kill me always trying to say who’s jacking who. Give me break. MIA’s video was not the first ever technicolor video, jeez.
March 3, 2010 11:29 am
And the videos are nothing alike.
March 3, 2010 12:06 pm
Oh please and in the end the all copied reggae influenced videos so who really cares
March 3, 2010 12:31 pm
THANK YOU Christina!!! MIA didn’t invent this.
March 3, 2010 1:29 pm
Yeah but rihanna does copy a lot of people.and yeah MIA didn’t invent it but she did re-introduce this style of video.
March 3, 2010 3:08 pm
Rihanna’s video was killing M.I.A’s video..Tell the haters to be quiet they wished MIA’s video even ccompared to Rihanna’s
March 3, 2010 4:06 pm
Claire I love the blog, but I have to tell you it’s Bajan, not Beijan!
I had to for my country….
March 3, 2010 4:17 pm
bla bla bla… who cares! personally im a fan of riri more… but everyone bits everyone at some point in life. its all about the spin you put on it to make it your own… && umm like someone said they arent the first techno color videos put out cuz honestly i wasent thinkn nothin about no mia when i saw riri’s video… it REALLY reminded me of george clinton & his video for dog cather. {i think thas the name of the song. lol} sooo yea… && NOT TO MENTION… everyone’s favorite “Queen B” .. Miss Beyonce STEALS everything she does sooooo nff said!!
March 3, 2010 4:24 pm
similar? eh. yeah. definetely not a rip off, please. “rude boy” actaully reminded me of M.I.A’s “boyz” video, but i mean all three videos/songs are west indian (carribean) based soooo…stop hatin on my girl!!
March 4, 2010 12:00 am
To any that knows about fashion and pop culture should know nothing is new…nothing. Check out Neneh Cherry’s Buffalo Stance and plenty other videos from the 80′s. music video is about visual stimulation not really about originality.
March 4, 2010 2:50 am
Why is it “ripping off”? Why can’t be “was inspired by”, etc.. Especially as jboogie noted, when you are dealing with fashion. I liked both videos. I mean, is it really that serious? LOL! And it was the same director!! I have realized that some folks like to nitpick when there is nothing else to do..
March 4, 2010 3:57 am
Does anyone remember the video for “Pump Up The Jam”? That was, like, 1989 I believe. Both those videos are in that style. Either way, Galang and Rude Boy are both awesome videos and both ladies are cooler than cool.
March 5, 2010 8:05 am
Yawn people waste so much time on trying to say rihanna copied this or that .
March 5, 2010 8:28 am
Wow…lol are people serious about saying Rihanna copied someone else?..almost all the music artistes out there have “copied” someone’s work.
SMH..And what do Americans know about Caribbean music?
BTW MIA’s voice is REALLY irritating..never liked her music..
Not a big fan of Rihanna but she is from the Caribbean and we ARE a VERY talented group of ppl so big up! yuh large!
March 6, 2010 4:04 am
i like both videos. i think MIA brought the style back first but she didnt get as much airplay as rhi-rhi. but its whatever. they are both good artist in totally different ways.
March 6, 2010 6:47 am
Bajan though, not Beijan.