“Ghost Rider” — Suicide, M.I.A., Guards

In the rap world, sampling a song is essentially like doing a cover of it. So when shock jock rapper M.I.A. sampled “Ghost Rider” from the synth-punk band Suicide for her single “Born Free,” it was her way of showing respect to a song she likes.

1. 1st Serving
   Suicide“Ghost Rider” · “Ghost Rider,” 1977steely, screeching, first▶ Play it

   The original “Ghost Rider” is a steely, screeching power synth jam by electro duo Alan Vega and Martin Rev. The twosome were highly influential in the ’70s, and laid the foundation for what techno music would become. M.I.A.’s single heavily samples the rip-roaring intro riffs for her controversial jam “Born Free.”

2. 2nd Serving
   M.I.A.“Ghost Rider” · “Born Free,” 2010the sample with a message▶ Play it

   In true M.I.A. style, her take includes saucily whipped vocals that sing politically driven lyrics. The song is a tidal wave of snarling reverb sucked into a vortex of smashing drums. M.I.A.’s voice sounds like it’s coming from a radio with poor reception, as she sings “You could try to find ways to be happier/You might end up somewhere in Ethiopia.”

   In “Born Free,” M.I.A. continues her outspoken stance against violence and genocide. The single’s nine-minute video shows the brutality of violence, with scenes of a SWAT team rounding up redheads in a town and shipping them off to be shot. M.I.A. received significant criticism for the video, and has asserted that it is an artistic representation of the cruelty of genocide.

3. 3rd Serving
   Guards“Ghost Rider” · “Born Free” coversame message, sunnier▶ Play it

   However, for those of you who like political messages delivered with a sunnier disposition, be sure to check out indie band Guards, who covered “Born Free.”

   The up-and-coming group is relatively unknown, but gained some recognition last year opening for Cults. Their cover makes the song sound more like an uplifting anthem to a hot and wild summer.

In the end, the message is clear to us: we were born free.