opo: bjork

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not been done i think

'Bachelorette'

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 9 December 2003 14:11 (twenty-one years ago)

Hyperballad

― j0e (j0e), Tuesday, 9 December 2003 14:14 (twenty-one years ago)

what stevem said, nothing else is even close for me (though "big time sensuality" is second)

― cinniblount (James Blount), Tuesday, 9 December 2003 14:14 (twenty-one years ago)

What j0e said, but make mine the Brodsky Quartet version.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 9 December 2003 14:15 (twenty-one years ago)

Although "Aurora" is close behind that.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 9 December 2003 14:15 (twenty-one years ago)

Joga

― cis (cis), Tuesday, 9 December 2003 14:15 (twenty-one years ago)

picking one sure is hard

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 9 December 2003 14:16 (twenty-one years ago)

Fucking A right. I just remembered "New World" from Selmasongs.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 9 December 2003 14:20 (twenty-one years ago)

The obvious ones I would have gone for have been taken, so I'll say "Enjoy".

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 9 December 2003 14:29 (twenty-one years ago)

(Although really the correct answer is "Bachelorette".)

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 9 December 2003 14:29 (twenty-one years ago)

god that song's like a hurricane

― cinniblount (James Blount), Tuesday, 9 December 2003 14:29 (twenty-one years ago)

it's lyke a keeler wayalll

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 9 December 2003 14:31 (twenty-one years ago)

Joga.

― jed (jed_e_3), Tuesday, 9 December 2003 14:36 (twenty-one years ago)

Hyperballad.

― southern lights (southern lights), Tuesday, 9 December 2003 14:51 (twenty-one years ago)

Another vote for "Bachelorette", though "Jóga" comes very close.

― The Lex (The Lex), Tuesday, 9 December 2003 14:51 (twenty-one years ago)

only THREE songs involved so far!

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 9 December 2003 14:53 (twenty-one years ago)

Isobel

― David Gates of Delirium, Tuesday, 9 December 2003 14:57 (twenty-one years ago)

The Best Bjork album ever:

Birthday
Deus
Water
Planet
Crying
Big Time Sensuality
Hyper-Ballad
Enjoy
Isobel
Joga
Bachelorette
It's Not Up To You
Pagan Poetry

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 9 December 2003 14:58 (twenty-one years ago)

replace Pagan Poetry with Nature Is Ancient then yes, otherwise noooooooooooooooooooooo

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 9 December 2003 15:00 (twenty-one years ago)

I'd rather replace it with "Alarm Call" or "You've Been Flirting Again".

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 9 December 2003 15:01 (twenty-one years ago)

"Alarm Call," no question about it.

― Matthew Perpetua (Matthew Perpetua), Tuesday, 9 December 2003 15:03 (twenty-one years ago)

i have already chosen Joga but if i had to go for one other thing it would be Visur Vatnesenda Rosa (sp?).

― jed (jed_e_3), Tuesday, 9 December 2003 15:04 (twenty-one years ago)

i like Alarm Call tho that 'I'm no facking Buddhist' line is a bit irritating

that great beatless remix of 'One Day' deserves mention too

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 9 December 2003 15:06 (twenty-one years ago)

"Unravel"

― s woods, Tuesday, 9 December 2003 15:13 (twenty-one years ago)

nice choice - i like that one too.

― jed (jed_e_3), Tuesday, 9 December 2003 15:15 (twenty-one years ago)

"Human Behavior" (but then I'm one of those people who only really likes Debut).

― Rockist Scientist (rockistscientist), Tuesday, 9 December 2003 15:15 (twenty-one years ago)

The only record of hers I really like is "Gling-Gló", where she sings standards with a jazz trio. The other ones I've always found a bit pretentious, though they have their moments.

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Tuesday, 9 December 2003 15:19 (twenty-one years ago)

Another vote for "Joga".

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 9 December 2003 15:27 (twenty-one years ago)

Undo

― Kevin Erickson, Tuesday, 9 December 2003 15:38 (twenty-one years ago)

Pagan Poetry is pish, that two minutes of wittering on about fuck-all at the end makes me go spare

― j0e (j0e), Tuesday, 9 December 2003 15:48 (twenty-one years ago)

scott woods OTM - "unravel" is a lost classik

alternate pick: "it's not up to you"

― mark p (Mark P), Tuesday, 9 December 2003 15:49 (twenty-one years ago)

The two minutes of wittering on about fuck-all at the end of "Pagan Poetry" is the highpoint of _Vespertine_!

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 9 December 2003 15:52 (twenty-one years ago)

b-b-but she loves him!

― mark p (Mark P), Tuesday, 9 December 2003 16:00 (twenty-one years ago)

well he wants her to shut it. trust me

― j0e (j0e), Tuesday, 9 December 2003 16:02 (twenty-one years ago)

Dan otm, the bit where the backing vocals come in with "she loves him! she loves him!" is the high point of her CAREER. Apart from "Jóga" and "Bachelorette", obviously.

― The Lex (The Lex), Tuesday, 9 December 2003 16:03 (twenty-one years ago)

Blimey. I think it's the worst. Apart from possibly that cover of "I'd Rather Jack", which sadly doesn't exist.

― j0e (j0e), Tuesday, 9 December 2003 16:06 (twenty-one years ago)

On second thoughts, that would probably be the best.

― j0e (j0e), Tuesday, 9 December 2003 16:07 (twenty-one years ago)

i'm with joe, i find that bit in Pagan Poetry unbearable, and not in a good way - if that's possible.

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 9 December 2003 16:16 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah, that part is awful - give her some background! My answer to the thread is "Joga".

― Vinnie (vprabhu), Tuesday, 9 December 2003 16:40 (twenty-one years ago)

I gotta go with Hunter. And I'm not usually an "album opener" kind of guy.

― Hammy (hammy), Tuesday, 9 December 2003 17:16 (twenty-one years ago)

So as not to say "Bachelorette" again, I'll say "I've Seen it All" -- best fake Rodgers and Hammerstein song ever.

― spittle (spittle), Tuesday, 9 December 2003 18:12 (twenty-one years ago)

Hyperballad

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Tuesday, 9 December 2003 18:31 (twenty-one years ago)

Isn't "It's Oh So Quiet" a real Rodgers and Hammerstein?

Anyway, this is too hard. I might be able to OPO for each album though. I really want to randomly interject "In the Musicals" in this thread, cuz it deserves it.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 9 December 2003 18:37 (twenty-one years ago)

Personally, I'm just happy no one's said "Army Of Me" (aka "The Most Overrated Bjork Song Ever Recorded").

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 9 December 2003 19:56 (twenty-one years ago)

i'm standing up for "joga" here, too. but i'd like to hear some love for "5 years" please. she sort of overdoes it on that track but marky mark's production may be even more stunning than on "joga", if that's possible.

― vahid (vahid), Tuesday, 9 December 2003 20:01 (twenty-one years ago)

all is full of love (the version from the video)

― anthony kyle monday (akmonday), Tuesday, 9 December 2003 20:02 (twenty-one years ago)

Personally, I'm just happy no one's said "Army Of Me" (aka "The Most Overrated Bjork Song Ever Recorded").

I seriously beg to differ! The "most overrated Bjork song ever recorded" is that tuneless, joyless drivel known as "Bachelorette." (This thread is proof!)

― s woods, Tuesday, 9 December 2003 20:10 (twenty-one years ago)

I love Pagan Poetry and Aurora... but um. I don't think I can just pick one. Well, if you held a gun to my head my impulse would be to say Pagan Poetry, but later I'd probably have second thoughts.

― Blood and sparkles (bloodandsparkles), Tuesday, 9 December 2003 20:13 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm about to ruin Dan Perry's fun - Army of Me.

― miloauckerman (miloauckerman), Tuesday, 9 December 2003 20:14 (twenty-one years ago)

most overrated bjork song ever = violently happy

― mark p (Mark P), Tuesday, 9 December 2003 20:19 (twenty-one years ago)

Skipping 38 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

So doesn't "Gling-Gló" count as a real Björk LP? Have any of you heard it? I think Björk's vocals are perfect for jazz singing, it's a shame she didn't do any more of that stuff...

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 10:30 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah, I've got it, but don't really think of it as a proper Björk LP as I think it's just all covers and none of her own material. Still good, but just a bit of fun, innit?

― j0e (j0e), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 11:01 (twenty-one years ago)

If the definition of a proper LP is that it should feature the artist's own material, I know a lot of musicians who never released a proper LP. Jazz singing is about interpretation, not about who wrote the song originally.

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 11:06 (twenty-one years ago)

Fair enough.

Who's heard Björk's 1977 LP?

― j0e (j0e), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 11:10 (twenty-one years ago)

All Is Full Of Love (the video version)

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 11:11 (twenty-one years ago)

Who's heard Björk's 1977 LP?

The first one to say "Björk was great in 1977, but after that it's been a downward slope", wins the Rockist of the Year Award.

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 11:40 (twenty-one years ago)

missed the 'Bachelorette' argument up there but agree with Dan all the way (obviously) - the song veers from euphoria to melancholy and remorse - not much joy to speak of but since when has that been a fucking problem??? what really gets me though is the ending when the playful accordion comes in fleetingly - i love that to bits.

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 12:11 (twenty-one years ago)

'Isobel', runner up 'Pluto'

― Adrian (Adrian Langston), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 12:18 (twenty-one years ago)

"Personally, I'm just happy no one's said "Army Of Me" (aka "The Most Overrated Bjork Song Ever Recorded")."

Actually although it's not my favourite by any stretch of the imagination, I've noticed that this record always gets unfairly slated! Also the Skunk Anansie version was excellent! Anyway, can't say just one but my favourites would be:

1. The Modern Things
2. Pagan Poetry
3. Come To Me
4. Joga
5. All Is Full Of Love (Video Remix)
6. Hyperballad

"Batchelorette" is great but kind of overwhelming, very *self-consciously* epic in a way that its forebear ("Isobel") avoided.

"The first one to say "Björk was great in 1977, but after that it's been a downward slope", wins the Rockist of the Year Award."

That's a big mis-interpretation of "rockist", methinks (the rockist answer if any is Vespertine I would think).

How about best Bjork remixes? I'd be torn between Fluke and Plaid on "Big Time Sensuality" I think; the Underworld remix of "Human Behaviour" is awesome but more as an Underworld track. At the time I loved Howie B's version of "Hyperballad" but I'm not sure if I'd like it so much now.

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 12:41 (twenty-one years ago)

I found the Howie B version of Hyperballad a bit cloying. At the time I loved the digital hardcore mixes of Joga and Bachelorette, but I think other than the Plaid mix of BTS I'll have to say the live mix of Enjoy that she she did with Leila. And the disco sync, over the edge and subtle abuse remixes of Hyperballad are well worth a listen - all LFO I think.

Oh, and there's a cracking Dom T mix of Alarm Call (at least, I think it was Dom T)

― j0e (j0e), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 12:54 (twenty-one years ago)

worst mix - dobie's I Miss You. Why the hell was this an A side?

― j0e (j0e), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 12:55 (twenty-one years ago)

FLuke's BTS, Alan Braxe mix of 'Alarm Call' or Alec Empire mix of 'Bachelorette' for fave remix i think. i LIKE the single mix of 'I Miss You' tho

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 13:01 (twenty-one years ago)

Lots of "Hyperballad" remixes are way better than the original - I like the Towa Tei and Brodsky Quartet versions, myself. Also the RZA mix of "Bachelorette" is discordant and awkward in a really compelling way; Alec Empire mixes all seconded. For someone whose mixes are normally so superb, Telegram was and is a disappointment.

― The Lex (The Lex), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 17:40 (twenty-one years ago)

Nichole, I'm totally with you. The album version of "All is Full of Love" makes all the remixes sound stodgy and retarded. I used to watch the video with the album song synched up to it. When the lights flicker out towards the end is when she breathes right into the microphone in ecstacy. Why the fuck they put that teutonic remix to it instead is a mystery.

That's my OPO, but I put in shouts for the underrated non-singles like "Undo," "Smith & Wesson," "5 Years," "Sweet Intuition" (whichever version is the old church organ one), "Enjoy," "Sod Off," "All Neon Like," "Unravel," "An Echo, A Stain," and "Amphibian" (the beatless Mark Bell mix).

― Eric H. (Eric H.), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 19:59 (twenty-one years ago)

one month passes...

What are some good rarities/b-sides/mixes that a boy with slsk could "borrow"?

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Saturday, 7 February 2004 02:15 (twenty-one years ago)

a beautiful icelandic song she made with hector zazou called "visur vatnesenda rosa"

― jed_ (jed), Saturday, 7 February 2004 03:01 (twenty-one years ago)

spelling

Visur Vatnsenda-Rosu

my favourite recording of hers pre Homogenic.

― jed_ (jed), Saturday, 7 February 2004 03:03 (twenty-one years ago)

that is one amazing song, for sure.

― (Jon L), Saturday, 7 February 2004 03:10 (twenty-one years ago)

five years pass...

What's the consensus on "Gling Glo"? I kind of have "Ruby Baby" stuck on repeat.

― 26 Mixes Focaccia (Stevie D), Saturday, 6 February 2010 21:46 (fifteen years ago)

My answer here is Isobel.

― Salvador Dali Parton (Turangalila), Saturday, 6 February 2010 22:12 (fifteen years ago)

too tricky. could be any one of hyperballad, enjoy, submarine, bachelorette or play dead.

― m the g, Saturday, 6 February 2010 22:25 (fifteen years ago)

on my birthday last year, the DJ at the club I was at played "Hyper-ballad" and I absolutely lost my shit. unfortunately, I don't remember much after that.

in conclusion, I think I'll go with "Hyper-ballad"

― Ivan, Saturday, 6 February 2010 22:40 (fifteen years ago)

hyperballad's the only one I listen to on a nigh-daily basis, tbh.

― m the g, Saturday, 6 February 2010 23:36 (fifteen years ago)

I'm in with the consensus on this thread. 'Jóga' for me, ahead of 'Bachelorette'. I don't remember 'Hyperballad' so I'll check it out. 'Visur Vatnsenda-Rosu' is lovely.

― Ismael Klata, Saturday, 6 February 2010 23:42 (fifteen years ago)

Who's heard Björk's 1977 LP?

I bought two copies of it years ago. Still have them! It's actually not that bad a record - maybe one of the best records by a pre-pubescent singer ever, Michael Jackson aside - with at least two songs that hold up against her "adult" stuff, in a fun kind of way. But her later stuff is generally much better, so I don't get that Rockist Of The Year award. Bummer.

― deedeedeextrovert, Saturday, 6 February 2010 23:52 (fifteen years ago)

"Headphones" is a dud.

Headphones really was a dud

reading back through the thread and only just encountered these statements. I must protest - it's such a beautiful, enveloping, subtly mesmerising track.

i have to say that i think "headphones" is the highlight of the second album.

wouldn't quite go that far, but thank you for sticking up for this unfairly maligned piece.

― m the g, Saturday, 6 February 2010 23:59 (fifteen years ago)

i now think Bachelorette is better than Joga. something about the phrasing in Joga makes it sound rushed.

― jed_, Sunday, 7 February 2010 00:33 (fifteen years ago)

headphones was lost on me when i was little and first got this album, but of course now it's mega classic, and i've even compared other songs to it on the reg

― you have to forgive me (surm), Sunday, 7 February 2010 00:35 (fifteen years ago)

two years pass...

Any b-side recommendations?

― Sick Mouthy (Scik Mouthy), Friday, 25 May 2012 15:17 (thirteen years ago)

Never heard a Bjork B-side, but let me answer the question here - "Isobel" by a country mile. Why the hell didn't she do more songs like this!?

― frogbs, Friday, 25 May 2012 15:18 (thirteen years ago)

"amphibian"

― me so fat (strongo hulkington's ghost dad), Friday, 25 May 2012 15:22 (thirteen years ago)

i had a half-corrupted mp3 version from the napster days that sounded like best accidental remix ever

― me so fat (strongo hulkington's ghost dad), Friday, 25 May 2012 15:23 (thirteen years ago)

POIV bjork b-sides

1. sod off
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNmPOncVlGA

2. charlene
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kA_Ggfv7XcI

3. my snare
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSxW3CEZnKs

4. my spine
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rch1jlykCq0

― kanye kardashian (lex pretend), Friday, 25 May 2012 15:30 (thirteen years ago)

She has a b-side called Sod Off! Amazing!

― Sick Mouthy (Scik Mouthy), Friday, 25 May 2012 15:33 (thirteen years ago)

also amazing: it's all string-swept and epic rather than the spiky aggro beat workout you might expect from the title

― kanye kardashian (lex pretend), Friday, 25 May 2012 15:36 (thirteen years ago)

She was once regularly one of the few "their b-sides are better than 99.9% of anybody else's A-sides" musicians. . .

I've always really loved her version of Vísur Vatnsenda-Rósu (not that I know any others).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zl5_gO6plM&feature=related

Don't know if it's technically a b-side, but the live version of "The Anchor Song" with the Brodsky Quartet is just so, so incredible. Stands my hair on end (literally) every time, years and hundreds of listens on--the best music-related feeling I know, because it proves music cuts right past even the brain of a geek, and goes straight to our bodies.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgpaepaEqzc

That'd probably be my "pick only one" if I really had to.

― Soundslike, Saturday, 26 May 2012 01:55 (thirteen years ago)

Listen to ~2:40 on that last one and tell me if you don't feel something crazy. . .

It's also fascinating in demonstrating what a master of her "instrument" (her voice) she'd become since the 'Debut' and earlier eras. On the 'Debut' version she hops short of that note and quickly runs away from it. By this point, she carries you to the heights and then dances there, freezing time.

― Soundslike, Saturday, 26 May 2012 01:57 (thirteen years ago)

Homogenic and Vespertine have the best b-sides asides from the ones mentioned:

Scary (Bachelorette b-side, the closest reference to Kate Bush I've heard of her).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwpeS-FujLc

Domestica (Pagan Poetry b-side. Vespertine was going to be called Domestika initially).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F90ndpHUkFY

Amphibian (Cocoon b-side. Oddly enough, this was my first conscious Bjork mp3 download.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQRauX8r6n0

― Moka, Saturday, 26 May 2012 02:54 (thirteen years ago)

"karvel" (bside of "I miss you") is a big favorite of mine. Produced by Graham Massey

― windjammer voyage (blank), Saturday, 26 May 2012 02:59 (thirteen years ago)

three years pass...

our björk turns 50 today <3

― mookieproof, Saturday, 21 November 2015 00:19 (nine years ago)

"i see who you are"

― brimstead, Saturday, 21 November 2015 00:26 (nine years ago)

man, me and friend used to lol at "short term affair" on this bside comp he has not knowing wtf it came from, let alone who steve coogan was

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tg_YXMcGiWs

― brimstead, Saturday, 21 November 2015 00:29 (nine years ago)

one year passes...

5 Years (closely followed by "Unravel")

― Ross, Monday, 21 November 2016 15:23 (eight years ago)

four years pass...

I know this is more than a few of you at home.

No she’s right pic.twitter.com/0GVbkzx0Cx
— Ben (@bennbuchanan) December 23, 2020

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 24 December 2020 14:46 (four years ago)

i feel so seen

― maf you one two (maffew12), Thursday, 24 December 2020 14:57 (four years ago)

I wish I looked that good

― lukas, Thursday, 24 December 2020 15:12 (four years ago)

four years pass...

Did we ever have a proper centralized Björk thread? Anyway: the Cornucopia concert film was a blast and a half.

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 8 May 2025 15:01 (five months ago)

Aww man, it was showing near me last night and I didn’t go. Will have to look for future screenings

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 8 May 2025 17:41 (five months ago)

You should! Some quick thoughts:

https://www.patreon.com/posts/some-weekly-147-128484172

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 9 May 2025 18:28 (five months ago)

enjoyed that post, thanks for sharing! i thought i'd missed seeing this but somehow there was another showing today and yeah, it's really great. that Losss/Sue Me/Tabula Rasa section esp. incredible. feel like i discovered a lot about the last two albums, and also the human condition

― moral ziosk (geoffreyess), Monday, 12 May 2025 03:11 (five months ago)

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