Double Bubble Trouble
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Double Bubble Trouble
| cover = DoubleBubbleTrouble.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = M.I.A.
| album = Matangi
| released = {{start date|2014|5|30|df=yes}}
| recorded = 2013; Jungle City Studios (New York City)
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = {{flatlist|
}}
| length = {{duration|m=2|s=59}}
| label = Interscope
| writer = {{flatlist|
- Maya "M.I.A." Arulpragasam
- Ruben Fernhout
- Jerry Leembruggen
- Rypke Westra
}}
| producer = The Partysquad
| prev_title = Y.A.L.A.
| prev_year = 2013
| next_title = Sexodus
| next_year = 2015
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|v9AKH16--VE|"Double Bubble Trouble"}}}}
}}
"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",{{cite news |last=Montgomery |first=Hugh |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-review-mia-matangi-xl-8929513.html |title=Album review: MIA, Matangi (XL) |work=The Independent |date=10 November 2013 |accessdate=12 November 2013}} and incorporates such musical styles as reggae, trap{{cite news |last=Ham |first=Robert |url=http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2013/11/mia-matangi.html |title=M.I.A.: Matangi :: Music :: Reviews :: Paste |work=Paste |date=5 November 2013 |accessdate=25 February 2015}} and kuduro.{{cite news |last=Calvert |first=John |url=http://www.factmag.com/2013/12/03/m-i-a-matangi/ |title=Matangi - FACT Magazine: Music News, New Music. |work=Fact |date=3 December 2013 |accessdate=25 February 2015}} "Double Bubble Trouble" was released as a promotional single in the Netherlands in 2013 and Sweden,{{cite web |url=http://www.discogs.com/MIA-Double-Bubble-Trouble/master/758751 |title=M.I.A. (2) - Double Bubble Trouble at Discogs |website=www.discogs.com |accessdate=2015-02-25}} 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{{cite web |url=http://exclaim.ca/Music/article/mi-double_bubble_trouble_live_on_meyers |title=M.I.A. "Double Bubble Trouble" (live on 'Meyers') |author=Josiah Hughes |date=2014-05-13 |website=exclaim.ca |accessdate=2015-02-22}} as well as on the 2014 Matangi Tour. The song is on the soundtrack of the 2023 movie The Marvels.
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" while Jesal 'Jay Soul' Padania of RapReviews.com stated that the song is "fucking crazy and completely epic".{{cite news |last=Padania |first=Jesal 'Jay Soul' |url=http://www.rapreviews.com/archive/2013_11_matangi.html |title=M.I.A. :: Matangi :: N.E.E.T/Interscope |work=RapReviews.com |date=5 November 2013 |accessdate=25 February 2015}} 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".{{cite news |last=Pan |first=Arnold |url=http://www.popmatters.com/review/176184-m.i.a.-matangi/ |title=M.I.A.: Matangi |work=PopMatters |date=4 November 2013 |accessdate=25 February 2015}}
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.{{cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/miauk/posts/10152010070452073 |title=MIA - ARE YOU A TWIN? ARE YOU FROM LONDON ? ARE YOU ON INSTAGRAM ?... |author=MIA |date=2014-04-10 |website=www.facebook.com |accessdate=2015-02-22}}{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/miauniverse/status/454388872471130112 |title=M.I.A on Twitter: "identical twins needed for double bubble trouble video Fri / sat 11th 12th in London" |author=M.I.A |date=2014-04-10 |website=twitter.com |accessdate=2015-02-22}} The music video for the song was directed by M.I.A. herself on location in Peckham, South London.{{cite web |url=http://www.starnow.co.uk/ayodejioluwa |title=Ayodeji Oluwa |website=www.starnow.co.uk |accessdate=2015-02-22}}
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,{{cite news |last=Locker |first=Melissa |url=https://time.com/105212/m-i-a-double-bubble-trouble-video/ |title=M.I.A. Debuts the Video for "Double Bubble Trouble": Watch |work=Time |date=19 May 2014 |access-date=25 February 2015}} 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.{{cite news |last=Rigby |first=Sam |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a572121/mia-makes-directorial-debut-with-double-bubble-trouble-video-watch.html |title=MIA makes directorial debut with 'Double Bubble Trouble' video - watch |work=Digital Spy |date=19 May 2014 |accessdate=25 February 2015}}
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.{{cite news |last=Reed |first=Ryan |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/m-i-a-s-uncensored-new-video-includes-3-d-weapons-parrots-neon-20140519 |title=Watch M.I.A.'s Uncensored New 'Double Bubble Trouble' Video |work=Rolling Stone |date=19 May 2014 |accessdate=25 February 2015}} 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.{{cite news |last=Slavik |first=Nathan |url=http://www.djbooth.net/index/tracks/review/mia-double-bubble-trouble |title=M.I.A. - Double Bubble Trouble |website=DJBooth |date=20 May 2014 |accessdate=25 February 2015}} The video went viral and quickly reached 2m views on YouTube. It has been noted and praised for its political undertones.{{cite news |last=Pelly |first=Jenn |url=http://pitchfork.com/news/55177-mia-directs-her-hyperactive-political-double-bubble-trouble-video/ |title=M.I.A. Directs Her Hyperactive, Political "Double Bubble Trouble" Video |work=Pitchfork Media |date=19 May 2014 |accessdate=25 February 2015}}{{cite news |last=Keay |first=Lara |url=http://studentjournals.co.uk/2014/05/why-you-should-watch-m-i-a-s-new-music-video-double-bubble-trouble/ |title=Why you should watch M.I.A.'s new music video 'Double Bubble Trouble' |website=studentjournals.co.uk |date=26 May 2014 |accessdate=25 February 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150225170948/http://studentjournals.co.uk/2014/05/why-you-should-watch-m-i-a-s-new-music-video-double-bubble-trouble/ |archivedate=25 February 2015 }}
Track listing
;Digital download{{cite web |url=https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/double-bubble-trouble-single/id879411376 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140623064639/https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/double-bubble-trouble-single/id879411376 |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 June 2014 |title=iTunes - Music - Double Bubble Trouble - Single by M.I.A. |website=iTunes |access-date=2015-02-22}}
- "Double Bubble Trouble" – 2:59
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |
| Chart (2013)
! Peak |
|---|
| {{singlechart|France|179|artist=M.I.A.|song=Double Bubble Trouble|accessdate=January 27, 2015|rowheader=true}} |
| align="left"|US Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard){{cite web |url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/276832/mia/chart?f=1234 |title=M.I.A. - Chart history | Billboard |accessdate=2016-06-17 |publisher=www.billboard.com}}
|align="center"|37 |
References
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{{M.I.A.}}
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Category:Interscope Records singles