🎵 Book a Lesson with Beth email beth@bethroars.com 📖 Get your signed copy of my album Fable here: www.bethroars.com/shop ☀ Find me on Spotify: open.spotify.com/artist/1W0He1MTuQoG0Yt2ccmhyL?si=b5qm82DmSRip8L4abe2-nw 🥁 Become a Patreon Supporter: www.patreon.com/bethroars
Vocal coaches don't frequently talk about Björk, and it's always a pleasure when they do. This is the very first song by her that I have ever listened to and it blew my mind. This is nothing short of a genius track, even 30 years after its release. She breaks the rules, but she doesn't do it randomly, she perfectly knows what she's doing there. The 90s were quite an adventurous decade in terms of music, but even in that context, Björk's artistry was (and still is) earthshaking. The problem today is that the music industry is not dealing with technological progress in the most original way. There still is quite some interesting material here and there, but you have to dig a lot in order to find it. Thank you for this video!
Bjork is just such a special artist. Can't easily put her in a box or category. I didn't get her at all when I was younger, but now I truly appreciate her brilliance.
It's really a phenomenon to me how little Björk we see in reaction channels, even those dedicated specifically to the voice. Hopefully this video will break the spell, her entire discography is packed with interesting performances
Finally, a Björk song. And this is the song that Björk hypnotized me and she's been my number one diva ever since. It will always be my favorite. Thank you!
Bjork is unique. Kate Bush is unique. They're the first ones that come to mind. Lately I see Aurora as their worthy heir. Even in your songs Beth I hear a very personal imprint and I congratulate you for this.
I've been a fan of Björk and Kate Bush since I was a teen, about 2019 I found Aurora and I agree, it feels just the same, such unique ways of living music.
This is like a wild Peter Gabriel video! Bjork's approach is always unique and interesting. I like her yodel flips. How about some more Aurora reactions? Thanks Beth☺
Bjork is a true artist and I especially like her early work. Her videos were always phenomenal and were works of art in their own right. You should listen to Gling Glo. Her second album but her first adult album sung in Icelandic and English. Her ability to be so soft and so loud, many times in the same song, always amazes me. Her performance on MTV Unplugged is especially good. So creative.
I really like your channel especially the fact you are taking the time to explain technical terms as I don't know anything about singing! I l love Bjork and it's great that you are disecting her technique. Great job, subscribed!
The drum sample I recognized from my childhood as the music they would play during promos or cut to commercial on Action Theater every Saturday afternoon, UHF channel 29 Philadelphia, back when it was known as WTAF. We're going back a bit here, I have no idea how I remember this let alone a music sample from commercial break 40 years ago. No way I would have figured out it was Quincy Jones, cause you know we didn't have the internet back then and what not, but thanks for filling in that hole in my childhood.
Bjork is on a different level to the rest of us. Her recent release (Oral) shows that she can still make pop songs but like Kate Bush, she puts out what she likes herself. The more recent stuff needs a few repeated and concentrated listens, then it gets under your skin.
Fun fact: "Oral" is not a recent release.The production is new,but the song and her voice recording is...old ;) "At some point between 1997’s Homogenic and 2001’s Vespertine, Björk wrote and recorded “Oral,” a sweeping pop song about the fantastical possibilities of meeting someone new. Deciding it didn’t fit with what she was working on at the time, she shelved it and promptly lost it among her archives. Newly rescued, this updated version features co-production from Sega Bodega and vocals from Rosalía." (Pitchfork)
I also have had a hard time with her recent works, but I’m glad she does what she wants. I find eccentric artists can produce a number of albums that are hard to appreciate or connect with. What I really like Björk’s earlier works is that the eccentricity still is woven around a framework of melody and hooks that ground the “weirdness”.
Thank you for reacting to this, Beth. 'Debut' was such an amazing album when it was released, I liked 'The Sugarcubes' and bought 'Birthday', 'Cold Sweat', 'Planet', 'Hit', 'Vitamin', and 'Leash Called Love'. I liked all of her up to the time of 'Vespertine' after that her work became a bit too avant-garde for me.
This song is so much better when she sings it live. She’s much more expressive in her facial expressions and vocals. Was watching a behind the scenes video of the making of the Mutual Core video which is fantastic. I found it interesting she was not lip syncing while filming. She was actually singing live to the song. Of course the video is the album recording though.
Glad you appreciate her! From when that video dropped to now I have maintained that Bjork is among the most erotic beings that will ever exist. The video for Pagan Poetry still blows my mind!
My older sister brought home Björks CDs when I was a kid, and still to this day, her music captures me each time, bringing out such strong and beautiful emotions. Absolute genius! ❤
Thank you Beth for helping me to like this song by your explanations. I just didn´t get it when it was released but that indicates how unique artist and singer Björk is. I´ve always loved Björk from her first LP when she was 12 years old until today.
Bjork is such a brilliant artist, who definitely follows her heart in the music she creates. I'm with you, the newer stuff can be a bit avant garde, but I still check it out. "Homogenic" is one of my favorite albums of all time, wonderful stuff. In a tangent, there is a Swedish hard rock/metal/prog band named Gaupa, whose lead singer Emma Näslund has a similar voice to Bjork. Just imagine if Bjork joined a metal band, threw in a little Janis Joplin, and you would have Emma. Check out the live performance of "Sömnen & Febersvan" from Monkey Moon Studios.
I love Bjork’s voice! I totally get that it’s not for everyone. But, for me, it’s so interesting and stirring. My favorite is her little growls. I appreciate your analysis. She absolutely does break musical rules but, does it well. I do agree with you on her newer work it’s a bit too out of my range to really connect with. My favorite album of her’s is “Vespertine”. Check it out sometime, it’s just beautiful.
I recall a magazine cover feat. Bjork many years ago. She was done up in a very outlandish costume with makeup, and the headline “Bjork: Animal? Vegetable? Mineral?” But she’s ultimately Bjork. And I think subtracting depth from art reduces valuable substance.
1993 in general was an impressive year in regards to pop music. So much variation in styles, all highly polished productions. Examples: Lenny Kravitz - Are You Gonna Go My Way, Naughty By Nature - Hip Hop Hooray, Stakka Bo - Here We Go, M People - One Night In Heaven, R.E.M. - Man On The Moon, Janet Jackson - That's The Way Love Goes, Duran Duran - Ordinary World, The Beloved - Sweet Harmony, Paul McCartney - Hope Of Deliverance, Spin Doctors - Two Princes, Soul Asylum - Runaway Train, Meat Loaf - I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That), Pet Shop Boys - Go West, Haddaway - What Is Love ...
Geez I love bjork!! She’s an amazing artist that always satiates my need for off beat music separate from my taste for avant garde jazz. You educate me so much on voice, so much I didn’t know! Spot on vocal analysis Beth!
How could I have gone so long without hearing this! i felt the energy like a child having a visceral dream in the car coming back from an overnight hike, while a homemade tape keeps playing Joni Mitchell's 'The Jungle Line' & Tom Wait's Mule Variations, and Jefferson AIrplane's 'White Rabbit'. love Björk
Yeah!! 🎉 Bjork!! Would love a reciew of her live Vespertine concert especially with Generous Palmstroke and a full symphony of sorts at the Royal Albert Hall!! 🎉
The part of this song that really gets me is when she sings human behaviour on repeat with the atmosphere, dept and something like a hall effect. I can listen to that part constantly
Yes, we are losing something these days. In the 70s and 80s, you would just sit down and listen to a whole record. And even the radio would play songs way longer than the usual 4 min. pop song. Theses days pop songs sometimes even don't hit the 3 min. mark, and even that's too long for some people. So the whole song must be "told" in the first 30 sec. more or less. The attention span of the consumers just goes down and down. Even in clubs you got DJs that give you like 20 sec. of a song just to than mash it up into another song. On the other hand, the opportunity to discover all kinds of music theses days is better than ever with all the streaming and stuff. I would have loved to check out new band with a click of a button instead of driving to a record store, hoping the record is in stock, and take a listen, than spend your money and buy it. And there is still a lot good music out there. It's just not that easy to not get lost in the sheer amount of option you get, and pass along all the stuff that get's thrown at you over and over again.
Bjork is one of those once a generation geniuses that is never fully understood because they are so out there with their vision of music. Her first album was mind blowing, very influenced by what was going on at the time at clubs in the UK with her own unique spin on it. She'd outgrown the band she was in that were very much a straight pop rock band and wanted to explore the sounds she heard while living in London, she does so many things musically that doesn't make sense and it shouldn't work but it does.
Are we losing something going for the short TikTok soundbite? My answer is Bach's "Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 in G Major", Ravell's "Bolero", Mike Oldfield's "Tubular Bells", and Procol Harum's "A Salty Dog". As a start. That bit about Bjork meaning 'birch tree' is VERY interesting. The birch tree has many spiritual meanings. -The birch tree is a pioneer species; they are often the first trees to colonize areas that have been damaged by fires, floods, landslides, or clear cuts, so is a symbol of rebirth, new beginnings, and growth. -Birch trees are symbolic of the one who never stops wondering. -It can symbolize the ability to create new beginnings, even after catastrophic events. -In Celtic mythology, birch symbolizes renewal and purification. -The birch tree can remind us of our childlike innocence and our inner resolve to adventure beyond the ordinary world.
Thank you for doing this, I loved the Sugarcubes growing up, I actually got to see them in 1992. I didn't gravitate to her solo stuff as much. I still laugh about the clip of her on MTV where she was asked if she laughed at farts, it was on English MTV
She is amazing… You should check out MTV’s “Bjork Unplugged” concert here on RUclips from her early days - simply phenomenal - right up there with the very best of the Unplugged series . Her version of “like someone in love” accompanied by only a harp is breathtaking !❤
I'm with you, Beth. Vulnicura was the last one I bought, and didn't like it. Medulla was the last one that I enjoyed thoroughly. Have you reacted to her "Triumph of a Heart?"
Totally get what you were saying about Björks more recent music, I feel pretty much the same. The first couple of records are in their own way incredibly catchy, specially, Debut and Post.
Hi Beth, I heard this piece from Björk as it was released in Britain. It was a game-changer for "popular music" as we knew it back then. Aye, I found that it avoided popular scales of the time. This piece, for me, showed how far out of the curve of normality one can go, but still have a positive reaction from people who listen to mainstream music. Groove is a big factor too , I find. Thanks for your reaction. Wild video too, for the time...
20 years ago I saw her live right after Massive attack. One of the greatest concerts I've been to and I've been to a whole lot. She is so talented and she just erupts with sound like a volcano!
I've never listened to much Bjork. A skosh on the weird side, but just enough to be catchy and fun. The timpani felt like it was the footsteps of that bear to me. And to answer you question... "Yes!" I do feel like we keep losing more and more (and not just in music) as life keeps getting faster and faster. We've forgotten how to slow down and relax and wait. To the point where I'm sure that out addiction to modern conveniences (he says while participating in social media...) has contributed to the uptick in mental health issues.
It's been a while since I've left a comment, but since you're doing one of my favourite Bjork songs, well, I gotta! The video is so fun, too. Bjork is such a delightful weirdo, and I'm really into the more recent stuff she's put out as well. I have always liked experimental music, though, things that demand your attention (by that I mean things are not a good mix with other mentally demanding tasks like studying). I think what happening to pop music is a bit sad, but since I'm mainly a metal guy I'm pretty removed from that scene. Still, going from disliking 90% of mainstream music to disliking 99% of mainstream music is significant in its own way.
I used to LOVE this song (and Bjork, to be honest). She's such a strange and unique singer with just an awesome voice. She made a whole movie with a lot of original songs called Dancer in the Dark (2000). Kind of a depressing watch but still worth it, I think.
I love this album. It was on constant rotation for me back in the day, when I wasn't listening to Little Earthquakes. She's not as special to me as Tori is, but Debut and Post especially were fantastic albums.
I've been a fan since 1993 when Debut was released. Venus as a boy, One day, Come to me & Anchor song are my top songs on the album, but all songs are special. Her second album Homogenic 1997 was produced mostly by her and Mark Bell from the 90's legendary electronic band LFO. The build up of the drums or percussion and strings in Hunter was inspired by Maurice Ravel - Bolero which is a masterpiece. Bachelorette, All Neon Like, Immature & All Is Full All Love produced by Howie B Another giant in the 90's electronic scene are amazing songs. But I really love the entire album. Mark Bell's Love Is The Message is a Classic. 🙂
Actually she explained this one very explicitly: "There was once a little bird. It wanted to sing, but it could not sing. It wanted to fly, but it could not fly. It was very sad, but it was very happy about that. It laughed and laughed and laughed, but then it cried and cried and cried." Straight from the horse's mouth and clear as a bell... But, seriously, after laughing and crying, a really accessible and truly epic tune of hers is "All Is Full of Love": ruclips.net/video/9JE6rUwfckI/видео.html
OK now I get it : you're not into Björk's recent work but you do connect a lot with her first (more "pop") songs. In her own words, she never tried to make pop or commercial music. She sees herself more like a folk musician. She always wanted to make music for herself first and never wanted to please anybody else. Even with that icredibly unique voice, she wasn't inititially a singer but more of a composer. She learned the piano, the flute and some guitar at en early age and she's classicaly trained. She's been borught up into the wild icelandic nature so she's in love with (environmental) sounds. She's actually a music geek just like you, Beth! 🙂 As I discovered that song when she released it (I was 13 at the time) it striked something unusual, unknown, mysterious in me and I just couldn't resist that! She was already portrainting herself as the musical adventurer she has been since then. I know that you are a busy woman and you won't probably read my comment but because I see you enjoyed that song, please listen to the whole album ("Debut", 1993) and if you enjoy it as much (and I'm sure you will) let yourself dive into her discography chronogically... so then you will fully understand and appreciate the value of what she's doing today. I wish you a good trip. It is worthy! ;-)
It would make my day for you to check out a band that covered Bjork's "Army Of Me" - The Great Discord! Singer Fia Kempe has a wonderful, rich voice that more people need to hear!
Shortly after "Debut" came out I bought it as my first CD, a CD-ROM drive for my Macintosh Performa 475, and the game "Monkey Island", and so I sat many afternoons and played the game while drinking grog and looping "Debut". Good times, good times! P.S. "Human Behaviour" IS a good song, but I like "Play Dead" better on that album.
Bjork was introduced to the western world with The Sugarcubes and then went solo as Bjork. I think she did it to bring her music to a wider audience, but she definitely did it for the music and not the money, (although the success did come with more money, surely). Record labels, however, wanted to squeeze as much money as possible out of her music and offered her deal after deal while she explained to them she wasn't interested in an excess of money. The record label execs didn't, (or couldn't), understand and they didn't leave her alone. She therefore took her leave of the western scene and went back to Iceland to sing in her native tongue. She took her band and her music with her to escape the pushy corporate executives. What do I think of modern music? Basically, I agree with Bjork. Modern art, in all its forms, has been ruined by big business. Corporations have a responsibility to their shareholders to make more and more money every fiscal quarter. This requires cutting out the expensive creativity step by streamlining the creation of art through an assembly line process. Music, movies, and television, (including the news), are all negatively affected. We're not out of ideas, we're cut out of the process as artists. I wonder if it will affect painting, sculpting, architecture, etcetera, or if these mediums aren't profitable enough to be noticed by the greedy behemoth. Also... I loved when Beth mentioned sound bites when discussing modern lyrics. Spot on, fair maiden! Spot on! TLDR: NVM
Hi Beth, I recommend you react to Richie Kotzen. He's a virtuoso guitarist and a great vocalist. As a fan, I would recommend the song 'Doin' What the Devil Says to Do', I love your reactions, greetings
Other than this song I can't think of one song by her. If you have all the vocal range in the world it means little if the songwriting isn't there. The bear is her Id. Her Id overcomes her superego (the hunter) and consumes her. She is consumed by her Id/desire.
🎵 Book a Lesson with Beth email beth@bethroars.com
📖 Get your signed copy of my album Fable here: www.bethroars.com/shop
☀ Find me on Spotify: open.spotify.com/artist/1W0He1MTuQoG0Yt2ccmhyL?si=b5qm82DmSRip8L4abe2-nw
🥁 Become a Patreon Supporter: www.patreon.com/bethroars
Recommend all LIVE versions of Japanese singer Ado, it is another new world, for example "SHOW" "unravel"
*So when I thought I was falling in love with Bjork, I was really in love with Quincy Jones?*
Bjork is a unique talent, to say the least. Love her.
Björk. ö. The dots are not decoration. They completely change the wovel.
@@johankaewberg8162 Not on my keyboard
Vocal coaches don't frequently talk about Björk, and it's always a pleasure when they do. This is the very first song by her that I have ever listened to and it blew my mind. This is nothing short of a genius track, even 30 years after its release. She breaks the rules, but she doesn't do it randomly, she perfectly knows what she's doing there.
The 90s were quite an adventurous decade in terms of music, but even in that context, Björk's artistry was (and still is) earthshaking. The problem today is that the music industry is not dealing with technological progress in the most original way. There still is quite some interesting material here and there, but you have to dig a lot in order to find it. Thank you for this video!
Bjork is just such a special artist. Can't easily put her in a box or category. I didn't get her at all when I was younger, but now I truly appreciate her brilliance.
Yea it took me to age 64 to finally “get” her. Always thought she was just weird. Now I am obsessed, her voice is just so unique and beautiful
Unboxable.
It's really a phenomenon to me how little Björk we see in reaction channels, even those dedicated specifically to the voice. Hopefully this video will break the spell, her entire discography is packed with interesting performances
Totally agree, it's one of those artist perfect to reaction channels cause theres so much going on on her songs
she is phenomenal live... nails all her studio vocals everytime - and she's so quirky & eccentric
Respect & Peace
Björk's singing in the track had something innocent to it, like a little girl with headphones on, just singing to her favorite music without care.
Finally, a Björk song. And this is the song that Björk hypnotized me and she's been my number one diva ever since. It will always be my favorite. Thank you!
Love Bjork- only have seen her live twice, but both times absolutely amazing! A creative genius that comes around very rarely.
‘Possibly Maybe’ is my favorite song of hers.
I would have loved to be there for the filming of the video.
There's a great collection of Michel Gondry videos that goes into his creative process.
Bjork is unique. Kate Bush is unique. They're the first ones that come to mind. Lately I see Aurora as their worthy heir. Even in your songs Beth I hear a very personal imprint and I congratulate you for this.
Add Happy Rhodes.
Joanna Newsom.
I've been a fan of Björk and Kate Bush since I was a teen, about 2019 I found Aurora and I agree, it feels just the same, such unique ways of living music.
A few others well worth looking into imo would be Katiejane Garside (Queenadreena, Ruby Throat), Jenny Hval, and Julia Holter.
This is like a wild Peter Gabriel video! Bjork's approach is always unique and interesting. I like her yodel flips. How about some more Aurora reactions? Thanks Beth☺
She's unique. Weird and wonderful.
Bjork is a true artist and I especially like her early work. Her videos were always phenomenal and were works of art in their own right. You should listen to Gling Glo. Her second album but her first adult album sung in Icelandic and English. Her ability to be so soft and so loud, many times in the same song, always amazes me. Her performance on MTV Unplugged is especially good. So creative.
I really like your channel especially the fact you are taking the time to explain technical terms as I don't know anything about singing! I l love Bjork and it's great that you are disecting her technique. Great job, subscribed!
I appreciate that!
Yeah… that era of Björk is really amasing!
Still in my play lists,,,
without diminishing a bit of Bjork's originality... this theme is so Peter Gabriel-ish. Love it (and the reaction)!
Debut is a great album with lots of killer tracks including Big Time Sensuality and Venus As A Boy
The drum sample I recognized from my childhood as the music they would play during promos or cut to commercial on Action Theater every Saturday afternoon, UHF channel 29 Philadelphia, back when it was known as WTAF. We're going back a bit here, I have no idea how I remember this let alone a music sample from commercial break 40 years ago. No way I would have figured out it was Quincy Jones, cause you know we didn't have the internet back then and what not, but thanks for filling in that hole in my childhood.
Bjork is on a different level to the rest of us. Her recent release (Oral) shows that she can still make pop songs but like Kate Bush, she puts out what she likes herself. The more recent stuff needs a few repeated and concentrated listens, then it gets under your skin.
Fun fact: "Oral" is not a recent release.The production is new,but the song and her voice recording is...old ;)
"At some point between 1997’s Homogenic and 2001’s Vespertine, Björk wrote and recorded “Oral,” a sweeping pop song about the fantastical possibilities of meeting someone new. Deciding it didn’t fit with what she was working on at the time, she shelved it and promptly lost it among her archives. Newly rescued, this updated version features co-production from Sega Bodega and vocals from Rosalía." (Pitchfork)
You need to see the early Bjork explaining her TV set as she dismantles it, she’s in Bjork World
I still remember the first time I heard this, I was like WTF is this? This is strangely amazing.
I also have had a hard time with her recent works, but I’m glad she does what she wants. I find eccentric artists can produce a number of albums that are hard to appreciate or connect with. What I really like Björk’s earlier works is that the eccentricity still is woven around a framework of melody and hooks that ground the “weirdness”.
Thank you for reacting to this, Beth.
'Debut' was such an amazing album when it was released, I liked 'The Sugarcubes' and bought 'Birthday', 'Cold Sweat', 'Planet', 'Hit', 'Vitamin', and 'Leash Called Love'. I liked all of her up to the time of 'Vespertine' after that her work became a bit too avant-garde for me.
To answer your question whether we are losing something in this era of music… yes! We have lost so much. But Björk is amazing!
This song is so much better when she sings it live. She’s much more expressive in her facial expressions and vocals.
Was watching a behind the scenes video of the making of the Mutual Core video which is fantastic. I found it interesting she was not lip syncing while filming. She was actually singing live to the song. Of course the video is the album recording though.
Glad you appreciate her! From when that video dropped to now I have maintained that Bjork is among the most erotic beings that will ever exist. The video for Pagan Poetry still blows my mind!
Love Bjork! the album, 'Debut' is a master piece! ♥
My older sister brought home Björks CDs when I was a kid, and still to this day, her music captures me each time, bringing out such strong and beautiful emotions. Absolute genius! ❤
Thank you Beth for helping me to like this song by your explanations. I just didn´t get it when it was released but that indicates how unique artist and singer Björk is. I´ve always loved Björk from her first LP when she was 12 years old until today.
Bjork is such a brilliant artist, who definitely follows her heart in the music she creates. I'm with you, the newer stuff can be a bit avant garde, but I still check it out. "Homogenic" is one of my favorite albums of all time, wonderful stuff.
In a tangent, there is a Swedish hard rock/metal/prog band named Gaupa, whose lead singer Emma Näslund has a similar voice to Bjork. Just imagine if Bjork joined a metal band, threw in a little Janis Joplin, and you would have Emma. Check out the live performance of "Sömnen & Febersvan" from Monkey Moon Studios.
Amazing! I think you're one of the few to react to Björk! She's a dynamo! I got to see her at an amphitheatre about this point at time. So very good
Bjork does an very cool vocal distortion "growl" type sound at times. Check out Alarm Call
I love Bjork’s voice! I totally get that it’s not for everyone. But, for me, it’s so interesting and stirring. My favorite is her little growls. I appreciate your analysis. She absolutely does break musical rules but, does it well. I do agree with you on her newer work it’s a bit too out of my range to really connect with. My favorite album of her’s is “Vespertine”. Check it out sometime, it’s just beautiful.
She does her own thing, her way, love it.
The video was by Michel Gondry. The first of many together. A match made in heaven.
I recall a magazine cover feat. Bjork many years ago. She was done up in a very outlandish costume with makeup, and the headline “Bjork: Animal? Vegetable? Mineral?” But she’s ultimately Bjork. And I think subtracting depth from art reduces valuable substance.
Last scene looks like picture from some weird version of Saint-Exupery's Little Prince
The scene of the car running over, I remember something like that from the tv series Land of the Giants, love it!
Such a good song. More early bjork!
1993 in general was an impressive year in regards to pop music. So much variation in styles, all highly polished productions. Examples: Lenny Kravitz - Are You Gonna Go My Way, Naughty By Nature - Hip Hop Hooray, Stakka Bo - Here We Go, M People - One Night In Heaven, R.E.M. - Man On The Moon, Janet Jackson - That's The Way Love Goes, Duran Duran - Ordinary World, The Beloved - Sweet Harmony, Paul McCartney - Hope Of Deliverance, Spin Doctors - Two Princes, Soul Asylum - Runaway Train, Meat Loaf - I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That), Pet Shop Boys - Go West, Haddaway - What Is Love ...
Add Tool's "Sober" to the list - another song Beth's been impressed by
I love her madly from the 80's ❤
I love Bjork, nothing tops her live performance of All is Full of Love.
I 100% agree about the TikTok-ification of music. We've lost so much complexity.
Björk, the Dancer in the Dark!!! Love her since my childhood
From what I have read, her vocal style is more common in Iceland, just seemingly nowhere else.
Bjorks first 3 albums + Selmasongs and telegram are fantastic. Track number 5 on Telegram, the remix of Isobel, is one of my favorite Bjork songs.
Geez I love bjork!! She’s an amazing artist that always satiates my need for off beat music separate from my taste for avant garde jazz. You educate me so much on voice, so much I didn’t know! Spot on vocal analysis Beth!
How could I have gone so long without hearing this! i felt the energy like a child having a visceral dream in the car coming back from an overnight hike, while a homemade tape keeps playing Joni Mitchell's 'The Jungle Line' & Tom Wait's Mule Variations, and Jefferson AIrplane's 'White Rabbit'. love Björk
Yeah!! 🎉 Bjork!! Would love a reciew of her live Vespertine concert especially with Generous Palmstroke and a full symphony of sorts at the Royal Albert Hall!! 🎉
The part of this song that really gets me is when she sings human behaviour on repeat with the atmosphere, dept and something like a hall effect. I can listen to that part constantly
Yes, we are losing something these days. In the 70s and 80s, you would just sit down and listen to a whole record. And even the radio would play songs way longer than the usual 4 min. pop song.
Theses days pop songs sometimes even don't hit the 3 min. mark, and even that's too long for some people. So the whole song must be "told" in the first 30 sec. more or less. The attention span of the consumers just goes down and down. Even in clubs you got DJs that give you like 20 sec. of a song just to than mash it up into another song.
On the other hand, the opportunity to discover all kinds of music theses days is better than ever with all the streaming and stuff. I would have loved to check out new band with a click of a button instead of driving to a record store, hoping the record is in stock, and take a listen, than spend your money and buy it.
And there is still a lot good music out there. It's just not that easy to not get lost in the sheer amount of option you get, and pass along all the stuff that get's thrown at you over and over again.
One of my fave Bjork tunes!!!! She is so freakin' unique and beautiful!
For me bjork is art , from the music her voice and the performances 😊
Bjork is one of those once a generation geniuses that is never fully understood because they are so out there with their vision of music. Her first album was mind blowing, very influenced by what was going on at the time at clubs in the UK with her own unique spin on it. She'd outgrown the band she was in that were very much a straight pop rock band and wanted to explore the sounds she heard while living in London, she does so many things musically that doesn't make sense and it shouldn't work but it does.
Are we losing something going for the short TikTok soundbite?
My answer is Bach's "Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 in G Major", Ravell's "Bolero", Mike Oldfield's "Tubular Bells", and Procol Harum's "A Salty Dog".
As a start.
That bit about Bjork meaning 'birch tree' is VERY interesting.
The birch tree has many spiritual meanings.
-The birch tree is a pioneer species; they are often the first trees to colonize areas that have been damaged by fires, floods, landslides, or clear cuts, so is a symbol of rebirth, new beginnings, and growth.
-Birch trees are symbolic of the one who never stops wondering.
-It can symbolize the ability to create new beginnings, even after catastrophic events.
-In Celtic mythology, birch symbolizes renewal and purification.
-The birch tree can remind us of our childlike innocence and our inner resolve to adventure beyond the ordinary world.
Thank you for doing this, I loved the Sugarcubes growing up, I actually got to see them in 1992. I didn't gravitate to her solo stuff as much. I still laugh about the clip of her on MTV where she was asked if she laughed at farts, it was on English MTV
She is amazing…
You should check out MTV’s “Bjork Unplugged” concert here on RUclips from her early days - simply phenomenal - right up there with the very best of the Unplugged series .
Her version of “like someone in love” accompanied by only a harp is breathtaking !❤
You know Irish keening I'm sure .. like Birthday from Sugar cubes.. I call that happy keening. She is keening for life in a lot of ways
I heard Björk first in 1994, at 14. Always loved her music, from the first moment.
You got to listen to sugar cubes birthday, Bjork vocal gymnastics is really something. Good song too.
I'm with you, Beth. Vulnicura was the last one I bought, and didn't like it. Medulla was the last one that I enjoyed thoroughly. Have you reacted to her "Triumph of a Heart?"
She is the best ❤ love u Björk!
Totally get what you were saying about Björks more recent music, I feel pretty much the same. The first couple of records are in their own way incredibly catchy, specially, Debut and Post.
baby bjork... would be nice to see you do more.
Hi Beth, I heard this piece from Björk as it was released in Britain. It was a game-changer for "popular music" as we knew it back then. Aye, I found that it avoided popular scales of the time. This piece, for me, showed how far out of the curve of normality one can go, but still have a positive reaction from people who listen to mainstream music. Groove is a big factor too , I find. Thanks for your reaction. Wild video too, for the time...
20 years ago I saw her live right after Massive attack. One of the greatest concerts I've been to and I've been to a whole lot. She is so talented and she just erupts with sound like a volcano!
I've never listened to much Bjork. A skosh on the weird side, but just enough to be catchy and fun. The timpani felt like it was the footsteps of that bear to me.
And to answer you question... "Yes!" I do feel like we keep losing more and more (and not just in music) as life keeps getting faster and faster. We've forgotten how to slow down and relax and wait. To the point where I'm sure that out addiction to modern conveniences (he says while participating in social media...) has contributed to the uptick in mental health issues.
The band is 808:State. They were a thing in and of themselves.
It's been a while since I've left a comment, but since you're doing one of my favourite Bjork songs, well, I gotta! The video is so fun, too. Bjork is such a delightful weirdo, and I'm really into the more recent stuff she's put out as well. I have always liked experimental music, though, things that demand your attention (by that I mean things are not a good mix with other mentally demanding tasks like studying). I think what happening to pop music is a bit sad, but since I'm mainly a metal guy I'm pretty removed from that scene. Still, going from disliking 90% of mainstream music to disliking 99% of mainstream music is significant in its own way.
I used to LOVE this song (and Bjork, to be honest). She's such a strange and unique singer with just an awesome voice. She made a whole movie with a lot of original songs called Dancer in the Dark (2000). Kind of a depressing watch but still worth it, I think.
I love this album. It was on constant rotation for me back in the day, when I wasn't listening to Little Earthquakes. She's not as special to me as Tori is, but Debut and Post especially were fantastic albums.
Thank you Richard
Thank you for reacting to her 😊
I've been a fan since 1993 when Debut was released. Venus as a boy, One day, Come to me & Anchor song are my top songs on the album, but all songs are special. Her second album Homogenic 1997 was produced mostly by her and Mark Bell from the 90's legendary electronic band LFO. The build up of the drums or percussion and strings in Hunter was inspired by Maurice Ravel - Bolero which is a masterpiece. Bachelorette, All Neon Like, Immature & All Is Full All Love produced by Howie B Another giant in the 90's electronic scene are amazing songs. But I really love the entire album. Mark Bell's Love Is The Message is a Classic. 🙂
One of very few popular songs written using the locrian mode :D At least at the start of the song.
Love this album. …it is from my mid 20s… good times.., she was fantastic… U2 were very supportive of her
This song satisfy the hell out of me.
Actually she explained this one very explicitly:
"There was once a little bird. It wanted to sing, but it could not sing. It wanted to fly, but it could not fly. It was very sad, but it was very happy about that. It laughed and laughed and laughed, but then it cried and cried and cried."
Straight from the horse's mouth and clear as a bell...
But, seriously, after laughing and crying, a really accessible and truly epic tune of hers is "All Is Full of Love":
ruclips.net/video/9JE6rUwfckI/видео.html
I do love her 90’s and early 2000s music the most.
Look Beavis, it's one of those porcu-pine-cone things!
JoniMitchell, Björk, and DoloresO'Riordan are my personal top 3... Thanx for reacting to each&every one of them Beth!
Björk is a genius!
OK now I get it : you're not into Björk's recent work but you do connect a lot with her first (more "pop") songs. In her own words, she never tried to make pop or commercial music. She sees herself more like a folk musician. She always wanted to make music for herself first and never wanted to please anybody else. Even with that icredibly unique voice, she wasn't inititially a singer but more of a composer.
She learned the piano, the flute and some guitar at en early age and she's classicaly trained.
She's been borught up into the wild icelandic nature so she's in love with (environmental) sounds.
She's actually a music geek just like you, Beth! 🙂
As I discovered that song when she released it (I was 13 at the time) it striked something unusual, unknown, mysterious in me and I just couldn't resist that!
She was already portrainting herself as the musical adventurer she has been since then.
I know that you are a busy woman and you won't probably read my comment but because I see you enjoyed that song, please listen to the whole album ("Debut", 1993) and if you enjoy it as much (and I'm sure you will) let yourself dive into her discography chronogically... so then you will fully understand and appreciate the value of what she's doing today. I wish you a good trip. It is worthy! ;-)
Listen to her mtv unplugged concert this track is particularly brilliant. Imo
It would make my day for you to check out a band that covered Bjork's "Army Of Me" - The Great Discord! Singer Fia Kempe has a wonderful, rich voice that more people need to hear!
What a week, first Body Armour, followed by reviews of two of my heroes, Iggy and Borg.
you are really quick on banning those telegram scam bots.
shout out for that!
I think bjork's version "You only live twice" is the most unusual for her. When i listned it though "hmmm. It's not like Bjork. Definitely".
Check out the cover of her song "Army of Me" by a band called Beanbag. One of the coolest covers of a cool song I've ever heard
Debut was a genius album.
Have a listen to Black Lake, from Vulnicura.
I'd love to see your comments on the all-vocal/ non-instrumental Medülla (which has collabs with Mike Patton, another fave from your channel)
Shortly after "Debut" came out I bought it as my first CD, a CD-ROM drive for my Macintosh Performa 475, and the game "Monkey Island", and so I sat many afternoons and played the game while drinking grog and looping "Debut". Good times, good times!
P.S. "Human Behaviour" IS a good song, but I like "Play Dead" better on that album.
FYI, and no snottiness intended, Shs says her name is pronounced "Byerk, like Jerk." And I love her stuff so much
Absolutely her best song 🥳🤏👍!
In Iceland many residents believe in the myth of the “little folk “, including Bjork. She comes across as a mythical elf herself.
Bjork was introduced to the western world with The Sugarcubes and then went solo as Bjork. I think she did it to bring her music to a wider audience, but she definitely did it for the music and not the money, (although the success did come with more money, surely). Record labels, however, wanted to squeeze as much money as possible out of her music and offered her deal after deal while she explained to them she wasn't interested in an excess of money. The record label execs didn't, (or couldn't), understand and they didn't leave her alone. She therefore took her leave of the western scene and went back to Iceland to sing in her native tongue. She took her band and her music with her to escape the pushy corporate executives.
What do I think of modern music?
Basically, I agree with Bjork.
Modern art, in all its forms, has been ruined by big business. Corporations have a responsibility to their shareholders to make more and more money every fiscal quarter. This requires cutting out the expensive creativity step by streamlining the creation of art through an assembly line process.
Music, movies, and television, (including the news), are all negatively affected. We're not out of ideas, we're cut out of the process as artists. I wonder if it will affect painting, sculpting, architecture, etcetera, or if these mediums aren't profitable enough to be noticed by the greedy behemoth.
Also...
I loved when Beth mentioned sound bites when discussing modern lyrics.
Spot on, fair maiden! Spot on!
TLDR: NVM
Hi Beth, I recommend you react to Richie Kotzen. He's a virtuoso guitarist and a great vocalist. As a fan, I would recommend the song 'Doin' What the Devil Says to Do', I love your reactions, greetings
Other than this song I can't think of one song by her. If you have all the vocal range in the world it means little if the songwriting isn't there. The bear is her Id. Her Id overcomes her superego (the hunter) and consumes her. She is consumed by her Id/desire.