PAPER 46 PLANES

“The other songs on the chart were Katy Perry and the Jonas Brothers,” says M.I.A. “Then you saw ‘Paper Planes,’ and it’s cool because there’s hope: ‘Thank God the future’s here.’ ” With its gunshot and cash-register sound effects, producer Diplo’s brilliantly flipped sample of the Clash’s “Straight to Hell, and M.I.A.’s gleeful boasts about running drugs and taking your money, “Paper Planes” sure didn’t sound like Katy Perry. As M.I.A. said, “[I was] thinking that really the worst thing that anyone can say [to someone these days] is some shit like, ‘What I wanna do is come and get your money,’ ” she said. “America is so obsessed with money, I’m sure they’ll get it.” Sure enough, it became a surprise hit.