10 Underrated Alternative Pop Music Singers Of The 2010s
9. M.I.A
Undoubtedly, M.I.A. stands as the pioneering force behind 2000s alt-pop, revolutionizing the genre by intertwining political messages into pop melodies. Drawing from her personal experiences of growing up and immigrating to London, M.I.A. crafted the iconic hit Paper Planes in collaboration with Diplo. The song brilliantly satirised and challenged stereotypical perceptions of immigrants through an excellent sample of The Clash's Straight to Hell.
With a Grammy nomination under her belt for the song, it looked like M.I.A. was to become the reigning alt-pop queen. However, in the 2010s, her impact on the mainstream felt short-lived. Although Bad Girls in 2012 met with moderate success, there was never another phenomenon like Paper Planes. It's certainly unfortunate that M.I.A has been relatively left in the shadows in the world of alt-pop, but whenever you tune into that nostalgic 2000s playlist, you'll be reminded of her legacy.
But who's to say? M.I.A.'s career could be far from finished. Perhaps she has a surprise waiting, and rest assured, we wouldn't dare utter a single complaint if that turns out to be the case.