"Don't chase me, I'm an illusion, a suicide bomb."

November 11, 2012 3:56 AM

In the long history of love songs the attention of a beautiful woman has been compared to many things – but perhaps only in Pakistan's tribal belt would it be likened to the deadly missile strike of a remotely controlled US drone.
posted by infini (28 comments total)

There and in a song by the Coup.
posted by feloniousmonk at 3:57 AM on November 11, 2012 [3 favorites]

Her dancing is out of order.
posted by Foci for Analysis at 4:02 AM on November 11, 2012 [2 favorites]

Wow, really interesting. Thanks, infini.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:11 AM on November 11, 2012 [1 favorite]

In a sign of how the routine hunting down and killing of militants by unmanned CIA planes has leached into the popular imagination,

Where 'militant' is defined as "male who happens to be the target of a strike". Oh, also, anyone who helps a wounded militant. They're militants too. Basically, anyone that dies to a drone strike is automatically a militant unless they prove otherwise -- and dead people are lousy witnesses in court.

Hey, it's the new frontier in crimefighting. Think of how useful remote assassinations will be in the drug war. (It's a war, too. Says so, right on the tin!)
posted by Malor at 4:14 AM on November 11, 2012 [9 favorites]

This is in the tradition of Haseena Atom Bomb, a Pushto film from 1990. Military metaphors abound in the songs of Pushto movies. And Punjabi movies, for that matter, but not to the same degree.
posted by bardophile at 4:30 AM on November 11, 2012 [1 favorite]

From one of the comments in the regular version of the site:

"In a sign of how the routine hunting down and killing of militants by unmanned CIA planes has leached into the popular imagination"

Yeah, and throughout the 1970s some of the most popular carpets to be purchased in Kabul and environs featured finely embroidered attack helicopters, AK-47s et al, on a background of explosions and dead bodies. Just as well designed and produced as the more 'traditional' designs (which were nearly impossible to find - 'no demand').

People, especially 'folk artists/craftsmen' are inspired by their environment, and produce handicrafts and art which reflects their everyday experience.

posted by infini at 4:42 AM on November 11, 2012 [4 favorites]

Yeah, and throughout the 1970s some of the most popular carpets to be purchased in Kabul and environs featured finely embroidered attack helicopters, AK-47s et al, on a background of explosions and dead bodies. Just as well designed and produced as the more 'traditional' designs (which were nearly impossible to find - 'no demand').

The local Hmong communities made similar carpets, depicting their flight from Viet Nam.
posted by kavasa at 5:40 AM on November 11, 2012 [1 favorite]

The bikini comes to mind too.
posted by elgilito at 6:38 AM on November 11, 2012 [3 favorites]

I'm reminded of the Cuff Links' 1956 doo-wop hit Guided Missiles.
posted by Jon_Evil at 7:56 AM on November 11, 2012

I'm reminded of "Don't Step on My Blue Suede Shoes" *sigh*
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 8:25 AM on November 11, 2012

The bow and arrow were presumably pretty high-tech military weaponry when they were first assigned to the mythological Eros (Cupid).
posted by yoink at 10:00 AM on November 11, 2012 [2 favorites]

I prefer the subtlety of International Small Arms Traffic Blues:

Our love is like the border between Greece and Albania
Our love is like the border between Greece and Albania
Trucks loaded down with weapons
Crossing over every night
Moon yellow and bright

posted by oulipian at 10:30 AM on November 11, 2012 [3 favorites]

Here's the actual song. I'm confused. Is it from a movie? Here's a report from PRI's The World.
posted by NoMich at 11:06 AM on November 11, 2012 [1 favorite]

The song "Ranaji" from the Hindi/Bollywood movie "Gulaal (2009)" has lyrics that liken the anger of a husband/lover to:

- the anger of 9/11 terrorists;
- the US invasion of Iraq;
- the act of restricting various freedoms in democracies; and
- the destruction of Afghanistan.
posted by vidur at 11:36 AM on November 11, 2012 [1 favorite]

But but... The Gap Band!

nthing the "dancing out of order"... I have no clue what that is.
posted by symbioid at 12:30 PM on November 11, 2012

Or - Terre Thaemlitz - SLYT

and the web page for that album.
posted by symbioid at 12:39 PM on November 11, 2012

What recourse do Pakistan's 'civilian drone victims' have? In Pakistan's tribal belt, locals have no access to police stations, Pakistani courts, or the International Court of Justice to report being wrongly targeted by drones.
posted by homunculus at 12:45 PM on November 11, 2012 [3 favorites]

Obama victory infuriates Pakistani drone victims
posted by homunculus at 12:46 PM on November 11, 2012 [1 favorite]

This might have been done earlier except that men typically drone on more than women.
posted by msalt at 1:59 PM on November 11, 2012 [1 favorite]

I dunno. Ever listen to those unmanned women?
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 2:34 PM on November 11, 2012 [3 favorites]

Obama victory infuriates Pakistani drone victims

Yeah, al Qaeda was mighty pissed. They were rooting for a President who'd invade Pakistan, instead, to give them something to shoot at.
posted by Dasein at 7:32 PM on November 11, 2012 [3 favorites]

She reminds me of Selma Bajrami a little:


posted by Katjusa Roquette at 9:02 PM on November 11, 2012

Yeah, al Qaeda was mighty pissed. They were rooting for a President who'd invade Pakistan, instead, to give them something to shoot at.

If only all the people killed by drone attacks and most of the people terrorized by the drones circling overhead were actually al-Qaeda or Taliban members, what a significantly happier world this would be.
posted by bardophile at 9:35 PM on November 11, 2012 [1 favorite]

bardophile, I read your comment to the tune of "What a wonderful world this would be"

and homunculous, what a damper on the hipshaking eye gazing mood of the thread ...
posted by infini at 10:58 PM on November 11, 2012

vidur, from your link, this line

jaise bisleri ki botel peeche bangaye inglishman
as if holding bottled mineral water (Bisleri is a brand) would make you an Englishman/foreigner

ooo Snark!
posted by infini at 11:06 PM on November 11, 2012

Here is a recent profile of the lyricist - Piyush Mishra, who has done a lot of amazing work.

Minor translation correction: "drinking", not "holding" (pee kay), and the allusion is to foreign tourists in India, though the actual words don't spell it out in detail
posted by vidur at 7:41 PM on November 13, 2012

lyrics...
posted by infini at 5:13 AM on November 14, 2012

Cool Drones
posted by homunculus at 9:03 AM on November 18, 2012