"O... Saya" (ओ साया, transl. 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.
| "O... Saya" | |
|---|---|
| Song by A. R. Rahman and M.I.A. | |
from the album
| |
| Released | 25 November 2008 |
| Recorded | 2008 |
| Studio | Panchathan Record Inn and AM Studios (Chennai, India) |
| Length | 3:33 |
| Label | Interscope |
| Songwriter(s) | A.R. Rahman M.I.A. |
| Producer(s) | A.R. Rahman |
Song information
editRahman 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.[1] Director Danny Boyle suggested M.I.A. work with Rahman on a piece for the score of the film,[2] and even though she had announced a retirement earlier at Bonnaroo Festival, she said the offer could not be refused.[3] Rahman was halfway through his score when M.I.A. met him in London, and both eventually shared initial ideas.[4] The song was then composed through continuous e-mailing between Rahman in India and M.I.A. in England,[5] and once he recorded his parts, M.I.A. contributed her vocals from New York, where she had moved.[4] 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.[6]
The song was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song at the 81st Academy Awards,[7] 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."[8] At the awards ceremony, the song was performed by Rahman, surrounded by dancers and taiko drums.[9] 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.[10]
"O... Saya" charted in the Billboard Hot 100 at 93,[11] and the Canadian Hot 100 at 68.
The song was featured during the 2009 NFL draft.[citation needed]
Chart performance
edit| Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canadian Hot 100[12] | 68 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100[13] | 93 |
References
edit- ^ Peter Culshaw (6 March 2009). "Interview with AR Rahman, the composer behind the Slumdog Millionaire soundtrack". The Telegraph.
- ^ Mark Slutsky (11 December 2009). "Making it in Mumbai". Montreal Mirror. Archived from the original on 30 June 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2011.
- ^ Perez, Rodrigo (24 November 2008). "DANNY BOYLE AND POP SENSATION M.I.A. TALK 'SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE' SOUNDTRACK". MTV. Retrieved 12 October 2010.
- ^ a b Just a Minute With: A. R. Rahman on "Slumdog Millionaire"
- ^ "Composer A.R. Rahman on the Sounds of 'Slumdog Millionaire' and Being M.I.A.'s Idol". New York. 12 November 2008. Retrieved 19 July 2009.
- ^ "Digital Sheet Music, M.I.A. - 'O, Saya'". Musicnotes.com. Peer International Music Publishing. 2009. SC0128549 (Product Number).
- ^ Cohen, Jonathan (22 January 2009). "'Slumdog, 'WALL-E' Lead Oscar Music Nominees". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 23 February 2009.
- ^ "M.I.A. Responds to Oscar Nod: "I Can Afford to Book Dave Chappelle at the Baby Shower Now"". Rolling Stone. 23 January 2009. Archived from the original on 26 January 2009. Retrieved 19 July 2009.
- ^ "'Slumdog Millionaire' Sweeps Music Oscars". Billboard. 23 February 2009. Retrieved 19 July 2009.
- ^ M.I.A.’s Agitprop Pop
- ^ Ben-Yehuda, Ayala. "Soulja Boy Climbs Hot 100". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 19 July 2009.
- ^ "Canadian Hot 100". Billboard. Acharts. 26 January 2020. Retrieved 9 March 2009.
- ^ "US SINGLES TOP 100 COMPILED BY: BILLBOARD HOT 100". Acharts. 26 January 2020.