O... Saya
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox song
| name = O... Saya
| cover =
| alt =
| type = song
| artist = A. R. Rahman and M.I.A.
| album = Slumdog Millionaire: Music from the Motion Picture
| released = 25 November 2008
| recorded = 2008
| studio = Panchathan Record Inn and AM Studios (Chennai, India)
| genre =
| length = 3:33
| label = Interscope
| writer = A.R. Rahman
M.I.A.
| producer = A.R. Rahman
}}
"O... Saya" (ओ साया, {{translation|O Shadow}}) is a song from the soundtrack of the 2008 film Slumdog Millionaire. It was composed by Indian musician A. R. Rahman and British rapper M.I.A., both of whom performed on the recording.
Song information
Rahman became interested in M.I.A. after listening to her debut album Arular, and upon meeting Rahman in the recording sessions of her follow-up album, the singer said she was a big fan of his work.{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/4535090/Interview-with-AR-Rahman-the-composer-behind-the-Slumdog-Millionaire-soundtrack.html|title=Interview with AR Rahman, the composer behind the Slumdog Millionaire soundtrack|work=The Telegraph|date=6 March 2009|author=Peter Culshaw }} Director Danny Boyle suggested M.I.A. work with Rahman on a piece for the score of the film,{{cite web|author=Mark Slutsky|url=http://www.montrealmirror.com/2008/121108/film1.html|title=Making it in Mumbai|date=December 11, 2009|work=Montreal Mirror|access-date=November 19, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120630172222/http://www.montrealmirror.com/2008/121108/film1.html|archive-date=June 30, 2012|url-status=dead}} and even though she had announced a retirement earlier at Bonnaroo Festival, she said the offer could not be refused.{{cite web|author=Perez, Rodrigo|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/mia-170-1328594|publisher=MTV|title=DANNY BOYLE AND POP SENSATION M.I.A. TALK 'SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE' SOUNDTRACK|date=24 November 2008|access-date=12 October 2010}} Rahman was halfway through his score when M.I.A. met him in London, and both eventually shared initial ideas.[https://www.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-37167920090122 Just a Minute With: A. R. Rahman on "Slumdog Millionaire"] The song was then composed through continuous e-mailing between Rahman in India and M.I.A. in England,{{Cite web|url=http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2008/11/ar_rahman_on_slumdogs_sound.html|title=Composer A.R. Rahman on the Sounds of ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ and Being M.I.A.’s Idol|work=New York|date=2008-11-12|access-date=2009-07-19}} and once he recorded his parts, M.I.A. contributed her vocals from New York, where she had moved. According to the digital music sheet published at musicnotes.com, the song is written in the key of B minor, with a moderately fast tempo.{{cite journal|title=Digital Sheet Music, M.I.A. - 'O, Saya'|work=Musicnotes.com|publisher=Peer International Music Publishing|id=SC0128549 (Product Number)|year=2009}}
The song was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song at the 81st Academy Awards,{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/269567/slumdog-wall-e-lead-oscar-music-nominees|title='Slumdog, 'WALL-E' Lead Oscar Music Nominees|first=Jonathan|last=Cohen|work=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|access-date=23 February 2009|date=22 January 2009}} but eventually lost to the song "Jai Ho", also from Slumdog Millionaire. M.I.A. said the nomination was an honor, stating "Maybe I can afford to book Dave Chappelle at the baby shower now."{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/01/23/mia-responds-to-oscar-nod-i-can-afford-to-book-dave-chappelle-at-the-baby-shower-now/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090126050209/http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/01/23/mia-responds-to-oscar-nod-i-can-afford-to-book-dave-chappelle-at-the-baby-shower-now|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 January 2009|title=M.I.A. Responds to Oscar Nod: "I Can Afford to Book Dave Chappelle at the Baby Shower Now"|work=Rolling Stone|date=2009-01-23|access-date=2009-07-19}} At the awards ceremony, the song was performed by Rahman, surrounded by dancers and taiko drums.{{Cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/269365/slumdog-millionaire-sweeps-music-oscars|title='Slumdog Millionaire' Sweeps Music Oscars|work=Billboard|date=2009-02-23|access-date=2009-07-19}} M.I.A. expressed interest in performing, even though she had just given birth, but ultimately declined once she learned only the performance would last for only one minute.[https://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/30/magazine/30mia-t.html M.I.A.’s Agitprop Pop]
"O... Saya" charted in the Billboard Hot 100 at 93,{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/269283/soulja-boy-climbs-hot-100|title= Soulja Boy Climbs Hot 100|work=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc| access-date=2009-07-19|first=Ayala|last=Ben-Yehuda}} and the Canadian Hot 100 at 68.
The song was featured during the 2009 NFL draft.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}
Chart performance
| class="wikitable"
!align="left"|Chart !align="left"|Peak |
| align="left"|Canadian Hot 100{{cite web|url=https://acharts.co/canada_singles_top_100/2009/11|title= Canadian Hot 100|work=Billboard|publisher=Acharts| access-date=9 March 2009|date=26 January 2020}}
|align="center"|68 |
| align="left"|U.S. Billboard Hot 100{{cite web|url=https://acharts.co/us_singles_top_100/2009/11|title=US SINGLES TOP 100 COMPILED BY: BILLBOARD HOT 100|work=Acharts|date=26 January 2020}}
|align="center"|93 |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{A. R. Rahman}}
{{M.I.A.}}
{{Authority control}}
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Category:M.I.A. (rapper) songs