M.I.A. Ends Retirement, T.I. Spits Surprise Set at Diesel Party

On Saturday night, the grand finale of Diesel's international 30th anniversary celebration brought M.I.A., Franz Ferdinand, T.I., N.E.R.D., Hot Chip and Chaka Khan together under one enormous, makeshift tent for a much-hyped Rock and Roll Circus. It was an event of unique collaborations and oddball extravagance, as 5,000 attendees flocked to Pier 3 at Brooklyn's waterfront for free carnival food and roaming freak circus acts, including fire eaters and sword swallowers. Overhead acrobats, marching bands, monsoons of confetti and two DJ sets from Benji and Joel Madden kept the crowd entertained between performances.

T.I. popped in for a surprise six-song set, and brought out M.I.A. to handle her sample on "Swagga Like Us." Franz Ferdinand backed the MC on "Live Your Life" before the Scots delved into their own 40-minute set (the longest of the night). Earlier, Hot Chip performed three songs before turning into Chaka Khan's band for three of her hits, including "I'm Every Woman."

Just after 1 a.m., M.I.A. ended her brief retirement, taking the stage in spandex and a short leather jacket that revealed her previously hidden pregnant stomach. She and Baltimore rapper Rye Rye ended the five-song set with crowd-favorite "Paper Planes" and an N.E.R.D. cameo. Pharrell repeated "Brooklyn, how do you feel?" and reminded the crowd, "We got to take advantage of this mothafuckin' moment!" N.E.R.D. did just that, managing to work in a climactic 15-minute set before the party ended at 2 a.m.

• 
  MUSIC 100 Greatest Debut Albums
• 
  MOVIES 'Star Trek' Is Crazy Good
• 
  TV 10 Shows to Watch This Summer
• 
  POLITICS No Price Big Banks Can't Fix

Song Stories

“Youth Knows No Pain”

Lykke Li | 2011

“Like on 'Youth Knows No Pain' — we are the ones that should demonstrate, because we can take it,” Likke Li said. “We can pierce ourselves, take Ecstasy, dance all night and still go to work at our McDonald's jobs.” Despite the hedonistic sentiment in the song, the Swedish singer also admitted in hindsight her youth had repercussions. “I remember when I was 18-19 and feeling that I know it all,” Li said. “I always feel that I know it all. But that song is about realizing you don’t, and reflecting, ‘Boy, if I only knew what would follow.’”

More Song Stories entries »

Twitter