How Björk & Post Infused Heart into Electronic Music
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- čas přidán 1. 06. 2024
- Björk never wanted the spotlight. Fame was never the goal, she just wanted to be able to defy the boundaries of pop on her own terms. Debut was where she would burst her way onto MTV and Radio, but with her 1995 album Post she became the innovative and unflinchingly adventurous musician we know today.
Here she would paint from an unrivalled palette of sound: Jazz, Ambient, IDM, Trip Hop, Acid House, Techno and even showtunes. Peppered with dial-tone atmospherics, crushing beats and playful orchestration, it was musically promiscuous, bursting with the full spectrum of emotion, and like nothing the mainstream had encountered before. This is the story of Post: How Björk Reinvigorated Electronic Music.
#bjork #90s #MusicDocumentary
Fact-checking by Serenity Autumn.
Soundtrack
Luar - Citrine ( / luarbeats )
Jesse Gallagher - The Golden Present
Luar - Anchor ( / luarbeats )
00:00 Introduction
01:15 Björk - An Introduction
07:26 The Writing of "Army of Me"
10:02 The Multiple Genres and Collaborators of Post
16:48 The Lyrical Themes of Post
22:01 The Aftermath of Post
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So what's your favourite era of Björk? Do you sway more Debut or Utopia? Comment down below!
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Since I can't really choose just one...my Bjork trifecta is Post/Homogenic/Vespertine. Although "Medulla" is pretty up there.
Its definitely Post for me BUT the bookends of Debut and Homogenic anddd Vespertine!! All four are just so incredible!
Bjork is one of the few artists that I always recommended people listen to her discography in chronological order. Now to answer your question, I lean more towards Utopia. I say this because Utopia was released (unbeknownst to me) during a time when I was going to some really difficult personal issues. Also I've been a fan of ARCA for many years so Utopia (which ARCA produced) was like Medicine for my soul.
The 1st 5 albums are one of the best albums that I ever heard, especially Medulla
Homogenic because it’s cohesive and Post because it’s not cohesive.
bjork is a true original. nobody can take her creativity and authenticity away from her and i'll respect her for that forever. thanks for covering her!
She's an extremely talented genius and pretty easy on the eyes as well.
Idk the smurfs are up there too
does this mean bjork is gonna have an old single blow up in a few weeks now?
honestly I hope so
New album coming sometime this year, or so we're told
That would be amazing!
Justice for Hyperballad!
Hyperballad, I vote Hyperballad!
3:46: "The Sugarcubes would dissolve." You didn't emphasize that pun, but it was excellent, and beautiful.
Post is my favorite of her albums, though her work on Dancer in the Dark is equally amazing to me. Though it's hard to watch now, considering how upsetting the process of making the movie was for her.
Not to mention the movie itself!
came here to say the same thing lol
Yeah that was pretty smart! :)
I noticed that too. He is so careful with his word choice, and then lets them flow past you, either you get it, or you don't, it's all the same to him.
Dancer in the Dark was hard for me... I cried for a couple days afterwards, I mean how could they kill her???
Bjork is on another level. There's people who are very good at making music and there are true artists. I feel like Bjork's mind is a channel for whatever weird, alien reception she picks up and filters through her body and I love going in my headphones and become fascinated with the way she weaves her melodies together over the cool beats and music.
#MyHeadphones They changed my life
magical autism
I love how she sings as well. It gets under my skin.
She is an overrated bore, who run out of musical ideas eons ago.
she is just more in touch with her own humanity and other aspects of being human. she is fiercely honest with herself in a way that most people are not. as she has said many times, all she wants is her "music to be is the same on the outside, as it is on the inside. same passion." there is nothing alien or extraterrestrial about it. to call it "alien" is to dehumanise her efforts.
As a Gen-Xer & grunge fan I have a lot of respect for Bjork & her unparalleled avant-garde electronic music.. she's one of those artists who has constantly been able to update her sound while remaining true to her artistic vision.
I too fit this description. Bjork came at a time I was starting to branch out of media and radio norms. It was a breath of fresh air at the time when there was a lot of good music hitting but just a different feel.
Exactly. Also Gen X love Grunge and Trip Hop.
Check out Ladyhawke. Very reminiscent.
Same here! I grew up to love her music alot in recent years. I think if he lived to hear it, Kurt Cobain would loved "Post", he always was a sucker for non conventional music and female acts... if only
I'm a zoomer, and I love grunge & Trip-Hop.
A woman who looks 9 and 90 at the same time. A woman who looks like a strong gust of wind would blow her over but who once went full mama bear and kicked the living shit out of a journalist who was hassling her kid. A woman who could make a show-tune one minute and basically gabber the next. A women who has a singing voice you could weaponise and a speaking voice that is the concept of ASMR made tangible.
Bjork best girl :)
How does she look like she is 90? lol
in what way she looks like 90?? lmao
@@v-trigger6137 That's what I asked him lol why did he think she looked 90? hahaha
Some CZcams Big brains right here lmao lol hahaha
The first sentence 😭
Björk is arguably the most creative artist we'll ever have. She's truly one of a kind in music and her contributions to the world of music are just too grand and yet too unsaid about.
I discovered her music last year. Post and Homogenic in particular messed me up. In a good way, of course. It changed me forever. She's the greatest. And that's it. 💯
don't forget Kate Bush also
@@michaelhawkins7389 And Thom Yorke. He collaborated woth Bjork a few times and she is one of his primary inspirations!
I used to be a big fan and consume everything from her in the 80s and 90s. She made beautiful and strange pop songs, absolutely brilliant. She has changed a lot since then. The last Bjork album I liked was Vespertine, after that her work became hermetic and too much strange, and a little tiring.
@@acjazz01 I actually agree with you. She put a lot of zest, youthfulness and creativity in her 80s and 90s work, plus it was way more accessible to us humans. Lately, she's verged on the extraterrestrial which isn't bad at all, but not all of her fans can connect to her new music as per her 90s stuff.
For instance, I have one or two tracks from her new albums here and there that I like, but I like every song from Debut, Post, Homogenic, and multiple tracks from Vespertine and her time with The Sugarcubes. Either way, we'll always have 80s and 90s Björk, so everybody wins! 😁🤠
What? Did you think this out before you spewed it?
The most creative artist we will ever have?
Seriously, the fuck?
Bjork, Portishead, Tricky and Massive Attack in the 90s were creating some of the greatest music of any genre that we will ever hear..
Thank you, nobody talks enough about Tricky. Cheers.
Can’t forget Aphex twin and Squarepusher.
Sneaker Pimps too. :)
Goldie should be mentioned too
They were all the commercial side of 90s electronic music. If you think that is the way to judge, then yes they were significant
At 16:45 when she's asked if it was a joke or if it was serious and she said "both," I loved that so much. Just because something is humorous doesn't mean it can't be absolutely serious as well.
Ok I need you to do the history of all her albums and also her entire life. She's so damn cool and unparalleled in musical talent
Especially that everything after Post is when Bjork started to produce every detail in her body of work which meant that she really had to pour her entire genius in her albums. To this day Homogenic and Vespertine are the closer examples to a flawless record
@@inaworldfulloftrashbagsbet2023 Vespertine is my favorite album oh hers
Biophilia is a pretty special album for me. I was a huge fan when I was a teen and I even ended up learning Icelandic. For my 15th birthday I got to go to Iceland and as a surprise I got to see Bjork live on her Biophilia tour.
Awesome
For a U.S. kid just the trip by itself would've been a HUGE thing in life at that age. Not inexpensive and easy like it is for Europeans to visit other places.
Alltaf gaman þegar fólk lærir íslensku!
Im super jelly
After Bowie died I believed there would never be another artist that could rival his legacy of creative output, image reinvention, influence and longevity. After seeing this video, let's just say I had a lightbulb moment.
Bjork and Bowie are twin gods of epic creative careers that entwine music and character and film and art all together.. they are the guiding lights
I love her entire catalogue of amazing music, but Vespertine is the most special chapter to me.
Surprisingly no one has mentioned Michael Gondry. The guy has directed quite a few music videos for Bjork including Human Behaviour, Army of Me and Joga some of her biggest hits. Later went on to direct Fell in Love with a Girl for the White Stripes. Most notably directed the movie Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, probably my favourite romance movie ever
Daft Punk’s Around the World
@@DerekPower and all the best Chemical Brothers videos.
Gondry asked Björk to participate on the movie Eternal Sunshine, but she declined.
Michel, not Michael. A cool earlier work of his is "The Science of Sleep."
@@treetopjones737 sorry to be pedantic but The Science of Sleep was after Eternal Sunshine and all the music videos mentioned
best musical influence Ive personally ever had.
Post is one of the greatest albums of all time and Björk is one of the five greatest artists in music history
Who are your top five? Curious now!
@@SerenityAutumn lol I was hoping no one would ask but here I go (in no particular order)
1. The Beach Boys
2. Björk
3. The Flaming Lips
4. Kanye West
5. U2
Honorable mention: Daft Punk
They’re just my favorites, but I really would consider The Beach Boys, Björk and Kanye to be at or near the top in terms of importance and influence
@@aledandrian Pretty interrupt list! Can't say I disagree.
interesting*
Bjork is definitely one of a kind. She's on a whole other level. Nobody sounds like her. Hey, since you brought up Tricky in this video, would you guys mind doing an episode over Tricky & trip hop??
This ^ Tricky and Bjork also collaborate more on another special Trip Hop album produced by Tricky called Nearly God.
I’d pay real money to hear how Tricky constructed Overcome in the studio. That joint left us all like 🤯🤯 when that video dropped
I didn’t grow up listening to Bjork. But I’ve heard some of her songs. She’s pretty good!!
I second this request to the fullest 🙌
Björk is one of my favorite artists! Excellent video.
Fancy seeing you here, Umbasa🙏
@@cloudbloom ❤️
I can’t realy say anything clever that hasn’t already been said but I love her and her music tremendously.
The best description I've heard of Björk is: "Björk isn't a rock star who happens to be a genius-level musician; she's a genius-level musician who happens to be a rock star"
I feel like Bjork's most important contribution to music is that you can immediately tell if someone has any taste at all based on what they think of her. Even if you don't love what she does, if you don't appreciate that it's incredibly original, innovative, and thoughtful, well... you have no taste. Having good taste means being able to appreciate a wide variety of things, even if they're not what you personally like. Even if Bjork isn't to your taste, you have to admit that she's a genius musically.
Too true. Apart from the odd song (eg. Song for guy), I'm no fan of Elton John's music, but he has spoken of his high admiration for her work.
No I don't. I have taste, she's just not it. There's nothing that every single person likes. Haven't her profound concepts taught you that?
@@MK-hh1vo I didn't say one has to like her music. I just said one has to appreciate that what she does is super interesting. I *despise* The Beatles, but I do understand that they made genuinely good, important music.
taste is a relative concept...so no. acknowledging her cultural impact had nothing to do with taste one way or the other. unfortunately her cultural impact also includes racism and doubling down on racism..so there's that.
That's not really taste that you're describing, that's the ability to be objective.
The best thing about Bjork is that her music never gets old..... You can listen to it one day, over and over, shelve it for a while, and come back to it months later, and still have that same love for it...... Thank you Bjork 🎶🥰👍
Bjork is timeless, all encompassing and full of life, it is a privilege to go on a journey with music through her genius.
This one was emotional: looking back at young me, encountering the Post album without any musical context, and understanding why it felt like "I'm home."
Bjork has definitely been an influence for me in genre-mixing and playfulness, even when my environment felt so very serious, sorted and boxed. This influence is for both music I create (noodling around) and how I live my life. I feel like her music reconnects me to my humanity - gently, lovingly - in a way little else I've encountered does.
Yes f yes! People HAVE to talk about Bjork more. You have no idea how much this artist from Europe has changed and helped the life of this Brazilian guy from the countryside here. I picked post to listen to while I was facing a 24 hour car travel without internet to a new home and My mind was blown away. Army of me didn’t do much by the time but the modern things got me. I was pretty much a metal head and grunge fan by that time but it changed that day. I just wanted to get home fast so I could search for more. It was the soundtrack for this new and strange chapter on my life.
9:32 wow just by the time I was writing “metal head/grunge fan” this popped out in the video haha
Your docs are the best.. Anything you cover is going to be the truest artist and it will be delivered with both barrels. .. thank you🖤.
I was recently listening to this album in my truck. It was one of my favorites back in the late 90s. Post is one of those rare albums with nothing but perfection in every track.
I love it when people actually give strobe warnings in their videos
Honestly it would be cool to see a full story about DJ Shadow since alot of artists are classified as Trip-Hop too I don't think no one has covered his career or genius when it came to Hip-Hop and electronic music
@@MrMarketingGuy MrMarketingguy that would be cool but that's alot of history lol but if Trash Theory would ever do a story about Shadow it would be mostly about him James Levelle and Mo' Wax Records
Oh, that would be leg'. 'Down with this
@@richteffekt Richtereffekt I guess that's a yes to the DJ Shadow story lol
check this channel's doc on Portishead's debut LP, it discusses the artists and sounds that were considered trip-hop at the time
eyes....like jolly ranchers, beautiful girl!
Love her forever and always. Whatever she does musically, I will stand by. If the whole world hates it, then the world is wrong.
Thank you so much for making this! Loved Björk already, but her words truly resonated within me. 5:02, especially. As someone who does a lot of the songwriting for a band, I’ve always wanted to write my own solo material, but have thus ignored my conscience. Not anymore. “I’m going to be really selfish … because everybody’s got to express their vision, and no two people are the same.”
i was recently kicked out of my shitty band for not pulling my weight, showing up to practice and coming up with material, cause i wasn't at all passionate about our creative direction and i don't see a point to faking passion in art when the entire purpose is authentic expression. they said they couldn't wait for me any longer and i don't blame them, it's entirely my fault for staying with a band i don't like, but i'm grief-stricken over the fact that i wasted two years with them and didn't get anything out of it. we never released anything or played a gig or even finished a single demo so i didn't get any performance experience, knowledge about gear and equipment, nothing. just a tremendous waste of time, effort and energy on everyone's part, but especially my own, cause they're continuing as a band with the songs they've worked on and i was given the boot so everything i contributed is thrown away. but this video and this comment is really helping me. i'm very inspired to use this emotional energy and channel it into a solo project instead of sitting around feeling sad about it. good luck with your project, i hope we both achieve our ideal creative visions.
side note: i'm a massive björk fan and she's my favorite musical artist of all time, more than anyone else, and i listen to a lot of music. i was always trying to infuse some similar styles into my band's songs, but none of them liked björk, they just wanted to play their boring macho classic guitar cock-rock and recycle the same old tired rocknroll tropes. they didn't want to try anything new. i'm honestly relieved, i dodged a bullet. i only didn't leave out of sympathy and a sense of obligation to them, but i'm glad i won't waste any more creative energy with these guys.
@@punkbjork First of all, thank you so much for taking the time to compose this comment. It genuinely made my day.
I, too, find art to be synonymous with authentic expression, so I totally respect what you said about not seeing a point in faking passion for the project. I’m not even sure why that’s a problem, anyway. There are plenty of bands who get along just fine with just a couple members doing most of the songwriting, while still maintaining a strong bond with one another, so I’m sorry you were kicked out.
When I was in high school, I was in a band with some classmates, and we eventually had an older student join us. He was a spoiled, rich kid who got everything he asked for, so by now, he had multiple guitars, mics, a large keyboard, an iMac, an interface, etc. Essentially, everything you would need to record yourself. We recorded an EP and even got an interview and one of our songs to play at a local radio station. (Again, thanks to the spoiled rich kid.) I mention this because that whole time, I almost got nothing out of it, too.
Originally, our band had 3 guitarists (myself included) and because this new member played guitar, he eventually coerced us into kicking one of our own friends out of the band. I still clearly remember how he called him on the phone to do it, not even having the decency to do it in person. I still feel awful about it. Not only that, but even after he’d record me playing my contributions to our music, I would never hear them in the final cut of the songs. Dude would literally just write something different, so we could never technically claim credit. He essentially turned our band into his solo project. Ultimately, I took that whole experience as a lesson, one that I didn’t quite learn fully until just recently, really.
Channel your grief into your creativity. That’s what I did. A short time after that band had dissolved, I slowly began acquiring everything I need to record myself-an interact, mic, & a DAW-and started my own band. We all worked on the song together. I would actually encourage everyone to contribute their own voice. Even though I am one of two lead vocalists, that didn’t stop us from letting the other members record some vocals here and there. In fact, I’m not even the leading lyricist in my own band.
There irony of it all is, because I am now the one member who owns all of the gear that we record on, I cannot stop writing. I learned to not be like that rich kid, fooling my bandmates into thinking that they’re contributing to our music. But there are some musical ideas that I don’t want to share, even though they’re my best friends. I’ve enjoyed collaborating with them, and will continue to do so. But sometimes, I just to work on something by myself for myself. I’ve always been introverted, independent, self-sufficient. And I’m ready to express that musically & lyrically. It’s like drawing. I don’t need someone telling me to erase part of the drawing, or track, for instance. I don’t want someone’s input on the composition of the piece or the mediums that I am using to create it. I want unbridled freedom.
Best of luck with your project, too, my friend. You definitely dodged a bullet. Learning you have your own vision to share with the world is infinitely more valuable than playing a gig, recording a demo, or even being on the radio.
P.S. Björk is certainly one of the greatest artists of all time, whether they like her or not. You should get a subscription to Splice if you want to get into electronic music. It’s an endless library of royalty-free samples you can use in your music or movies. I’ve had it for 5 years already. They literally have everything, kicks & snares, monster sound effects, footsteps, you name it. Even hard techno, trip hop, experimental sounds more akin to Björk. Look up videos of the best free plugins (like ValhallaDelay) and turn them into new sounds. Focus all of your creative energy on yourself.
@@badfaithnomination i've been trying to think of a way to respond to this and i can't think of anything that conveys what i feel about it, but i'm not just going to leave this unanswered. thank you for sharing your story, for helping me feel a little less alone and a little more supported, even if you're a stranger. i'm so sorry about your experience with that asshole but also so happy for you that you've managed to find good people, friends, that you can work with. i find it really inspiring. i'm pretty similar to what you described; an introvert, i prefer to work alone and not share certain ideas, or have anyone tell me what to do and how to go about things. even while i was in the band i was thinking "i wasn't made for collaboration. i'm not good at collaborating." i stayed with them partly in order to build the skill, because it's important to be able to work with others, but i wasn't enjoying myself at all. i felt drained and limited by them. i hope someday i can find people i'm creatively and musically compatible with, like you did. in the meantime, i'm going to do what i've always done best, and make something that is entirely my own, by myself. thanks so much for sharing those resources, i'll definitely use them! this is genuinely the most helpful reply i've ever gotten in a comments section :) i wish you the best
So excited to see that you did a Bjork episode. I would love to see what you have to say about Aphex Twin. Her music has gotten me thourgh some of the darkest times in my life. I had a dvd music video collection that I would always put on when I was sick or going through some hard emotions and it would always make me feel better. Like wrapping up in a childhood blanket. Aphex Twin always had a similar feeling. My love for her entire body of work is boundless.
I really wish they would collab, it would be so perfect. I still have hope!
@@RetroPlus Yeah especially since they are long time friends and email each other a lot and sending each other tracks 🙂
He just released an Aphex Twin one.
It's cool to hear that all of bjorks stated goals when she was younger are the things that people say are her biggest accomplishments when they talk about her. She basically accomplished everything she set out to
I remember when I was in high school I slowly started exploring more electronic music and drifted away from my usual go to of rock. I remember I got into Crystal Castles and found Portishead in my CZcams recommendations, and from Portishead I remember seeing a lot of Bjork songs recommended as well. I remember thinking her name looked so unique so I clicked out of curiosity and was instantly hooked with the first song I heard, it just clicked so well with what I was into at the time. Long story short, don't trash the internet age of music! I've found so many gems thanks to the algorithms and can basically owe my musical taste to it. 😄
I've always loved Bjork. She was in the avant-garde Matthew Barney film, Drawing Restraint 9, which is beautiful and haunting. Bjork and Yoko Ono together at a tea party would be a meeting of the minds I can't begin to fathom. Both are towering artists. Bjork's music has always been and who knows what the future holds, powerful, magnetic and fiercely unique.
If I hadn't accidentally learned about her when I was 11, I don't think I would have had the openness to explore as many genres as I have today
She's a true individual, artistic genius and legend. Debut and Post in particular still sound as fresh, exciting and eclectic after almost 30 years. One of your best videos too.
This video was so well done! I've been listening to Bjork's music since.... 1993. Have seen her live 3 times and can't help but cry tears of happiness whenever I hear and see her. I know I shouldn't put that sort of emotional weight on to her, but there's something about her music, and possibly her too, that makes me feel like we (people) could be so much better if we were like Bjork!
That's too much I know, but I'm sure other Bjork fans get where I'm coming from. 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
Debut is a masterpiece. I have listened to it on a regular basis, ever since it was released. I love listening to it when I drive. Songs like, Violently Happy, or Big Time Sensuality, go perfectly with the motion of the car, almost as if the tune is steering the car for me.
I must admit, it always pissed me off how the media focused on her, far more than her exceptional musical talent, which can not and should not be ignored. Yet, the media assholes continued to label her, like she was a visitor from another planet, or part of a freakshow.
"OOO look, it's Bjork! She is so quirky!" Idiots.
OK. Granted. Kristen Wiig was fucking hilarious when she imitated Bjork a few times on SNL. But, ONLY her. Any other Bjork imitations, by any other comedian, pale in comparison to Kristen Wiig. I also loved it when she would do Katherine Hepburn, Liza Minelli, or Ann Margaret. 🤣
Point is, BJORK ROCKS! My all time favourite video by her is, All Is Full of Love. Only Bjork could make androids convincingly erotic. Favourite song. Tough choice. I'd have to say, Big Time Sensuality, for the sheer love of the tune, plus the countless memories I have associated with it. It's stood the test of time, as well and sounds as fresh today as it did when released. A bit like, DeeeLite's Groove is in the Heart. Everyone loves that song. Rightly so.
Kristen Wiig saying “in my dreams my fingers are made of butter.” will be ingrained in my brain until my grave lmao
@@oops6876 LMAO! Yes, I liked that one, too! 🤣
I bet you are old.
@@nickydelrey2192 I bet you need to grow up. 🤣
@@bullzdawguk Up yours~
Homogenic. That was, is... THE Electronic album. That sht fkt me up. I was 17 when it came out. I remember listening to it over and over and over and over again. There are a few people whose music defined me and mine and Björk's Homogenic... that album... changed everything for me and the genre forever.
i am 17 currently and that album has me in a chokehold. it's easily one of the most incredible pieces of art to ever exist.
I love her. I have loved her since I was 16. I’m 42.
One of the greatest artists to ever touch the planet and so ahead of her time. So many people still fail to catch up and understand her unpretentious raw creativity and soul.
Love her stuff through Vespertine...after that she got too avant-garde for my pedestrian tastes and I had to let her fly away to places I couldn't follow.
agreed. Vespertine was a masterpiece. After that, it got harder and harder for me to appreciate, as the aspect of experimentation become more of a priority than actual music with 4 by 4 beats.
thats understandable ! im a huge fan of avant-garde and weird ambient music so i personally think her music gets better with each album, and debut was already fantastic. a lot of her modern stuff (after vespertine) is the kind of music you have to actively listen to, its not rlly background music, and its not enjoyable to everyone but thats why i like it lol. i dont know if experimentation became a priority for her, imo as technology in the music world developed and she got more access to it, she started utilizing it more and more. shes always been a few decades ahead of our time
I feel as if a large part of Bjork's success, at least here in the States, is that she hit at exactly the right time. We were right in the middle of our Alternative revolution. We had (musically) rejected everything that was on the radio just before and were totally open to exploring all sorts of new sounds and genres. There were all kinds of minor hits from all over the place during that era.
Younger people don't comprehend (how could they) that Alternative wasn't just Grunge. It was Grunge, and Indie, and Big Band/Swing, and Classical, and Punk, and Trip-Hop, and classic Rock. On Alternative radio at the time, you could hear David Bowie, Bjork, Stone Temple Pilots, Tori Amos, Squirrel Nut Zippers, and Portishead, all in the course of an hour. It was a very unique and eclectic era that couldn't possible last.
Even today, when we have access to virtually anything we could wish to listen to, it's difficult to achieve true eclecticity because "the algorithm" wants to pigeon-hole you. Like, 'oh, you like this song? Let me play you 18 other songs that sound exactly like it." So boring.
I am 57yo and STILL Love this album as much as the day I first heard it. I adore Bjork .. love her music, and admire her genius. My now 25yo Daughter also loves her music. I feel proud to share her music cross generations.
She is one of the most influential artists in my life. Growing up in the 90s, I gravitated to her music for its weirdness and beauty. As I grew older, Bjork's music planted a seed in me to appreciate electronic in a time when I was already rebelling against my siblings love for manufactured pop like Take That, Boyzone, Backstreet Boys and Britney.
Hyperballad and Army of Me stuck out to me as favourites. Hyperballad helped me cope through a terrible bout of depression in my recent years, as grim as it is even when the song has lyrics mentioning being near cliffs.
Post era and then later Homogenic, those were the days of my left field childhood. Even though I didn't know many swear words as a 7 year old, me listening to Homogenic was a big f-you to my family and friends for liking manufactured pop of the time. That music video for All is Full of Love is one of the most astonishing videos I ever saw, and still is today.
We are fortunate to have witnessed Bjork over the years and her incredible musical innovation and artistic development. Absolutely unique and fascinating. We will never see an artist like her ever again.
I feel I have a very personal connection with Bjork: grew up gay in a very repressive traditionalist family and then she kind of showed me that emotions and connecting to your inner self can be empowering, I still don't know how to put it into words accurately enough, but I am forever thankful.
Thanks for this review, even given the richness of the subject topic, this thoughtful and caring approach is music journalism at its best.
I put this video on to be background noise while I did chores around the house, I just sat on the couch and watched the whole video instead.
I really liked that you focused mainly on her musical story rather than the magazine BS. I never knew that she even wrote a song for madonna, so, thank you for that!
Björk is just the best ever and so ahead of the curve, the music she's making now is so beautiful and already shaping contemporary artists, I can only imagine in two hundred years people will still be playing it and still trying to fully grasp it's complexities
I found bjork’s debut on CZcams during a turbulent time of my life. I was frightened for my future in every aspect, but debut and post opened a new world of sound and possibility I never imagined before. The beautiful crafted songs and lyrics really helped me conceive a better future for myself and my art. Nothing but true ageless genius!
Björk has become one of my favorite artists of all time this year. I’ve never seen a artist that’s versatile, amazing voice, some of the deepest lyrics, amazing production and has been able to constantly experiment and make music across 3 decades 🤦🏾♂️
It doesn’t matter what artist this man covers. After every video, I’m always inspired to pick up my instrument again.
I love bjork so much, I remember listening to the post album years ago when I was just starting to really get into music and it remains one of my favourite albums of all time, she’s truly innovative
Had the privilege of seeing her live in NYC and it was the greatest experience of my life.
One of my biggest hopes is that I could ever have a candid casual conversation with Björk. She is a Soul. 💙
sometimes i’d wish she’d go back to the simplistic stuff she made in the 90s and early 2000s, her new albums are just so overwhelming
She's become more and more serious and can't climb down now. The fun is gone.
I have, an immense crush on Björk both on an emotional and intellectual level. She is adorable in her speech and appearance, but her artist's mind is what is truly magnificent. A trailblazing soul, a gem of humanity. Iceland keeps proving the world's assumptions wrong and I love them for it.
What assumptions?
Bjork was inspired by all the British underground electronic listening music of the 90s, basically.
hyperballad ist probably my favorite song from björk. its sooo powerfull in its lyrics and buildup to the climax
I feel blessed to have accidently followed Bjork's journey from Sugarcubes to present day - not always easy, always requiring work to grown with her but always being rewarded by some of the most unearthly music I have heard. I think she is unique and I am filled with joy and awe to have shared some time on this planet with her.
This video is mesmerizing to this 67 yr young retired prof... I used many of her amazing video tunes to start off various classes that I once taught.
Yet this video taught me a lot more interesting things about Björk, and the 29 minutes flew!!!
This just brought back SO MANY teenage memories of my love of Bjork during the debut and post period!! I was in high school and in love with everything she did and had huge promotional posters on my wall imported from the UK! THANK YOU so much for doing this video. I absolutely love your dissections of genres and artists and as soon as I saw you did one on Bjork(and one of my favorite periods of hers) I ran to press play! Sooo well done! I just wish bjork would bring back more of the noises and beats utilized during these periods that she loved so much and pull back on the last albums flute obsessions lol 🤞🏾 I will always have love in my musical heart for her though as one of the permanent goddesses of music in my world!
Thanks for this documentary. It simply revived in details my love and endless inspiration for Björk as an old teenager that I was. Discovering Post and then Homogenic was such revelation to me. I used to cry listening to her cds. You just made me cry again bringing me back to the revolutionary area she unveiled.
Huge respect to her creative mind and don’t give a fuck attitude. I love her ❤
"Musically promiscuous" - love it! I saw her in the audience at a NY Philharmonic performance of Bach & Messiaen. She was totally kind to everyone who circled her on the break. So she injected true musical genius into punk which was previously anti-musicianship? -- I've always wondered about the cross influences between her and Matthew Barney, who I also love, beyond Drawing Restraint. ---- Thanks for this!!!!
LOVE HER!!! Her influence in music is unparalleled and incredible, mainly because of her single-mindedness in self expression based on her originality and eccentric individuality. Ever since Debut and on to Vespertine were my favorites. There isn't much of an influence as she did decades ago but she's never forgotten and the music industry owes so much to her.
one of the most amazing and unique Humans to have ever existed and one of the greatest artists. I'm blessed to have grown up listening to her music.
I'm so happy Bjørk saw Aurora at KEXP and probably said to herself "she'll carry the torch on, we're in good hands". Bjørk is amazing, I listen to her regularly. No one like her.
bjork is prob my fav artist of all time. great video!!
This album blew my mind at the time it released, and is one of my favorites to this day. Thank you for highlighting this amazing artist and her genius.
One of my most favourite artistss
Please cover the rest of her career! Fantastic video
I saw The Sugar Cubes twice. In 89 and in 92. I’ve seen every tour of Bjorks. Post was one of the most punk rock shows ever. She performed in bare feet and was on 100% the entire time. Such a treat to live in her time. My favorite album is Vespertine and prolly my favorite tour was Volta at Coachella. I saw the same tour in SF but the Coachella set was fire. Just saw her at Chase in February 2022. Her latest record is the first time in her career I’ve been not obsessed with but it’s definitely a “doing whatever the fuck i want” Lp and i can’t fault her for that. Great look back on an extraordinary career,
I saw her live in Paris on the Post tour, she’s still a personal favorite of mine and possibly the most uniquely amazing and innovative musical artists on the planet. Love her.
she did a brilliant version of dancing queen when she was 11
electronic music has a lot of soul
some of the early rave music is revolutionary
Börk went from child prodigy, to pop star, to multifaceted artist... She's already beyond good and evil!!!
Great video as usual!! Thanx!!!
Post is an absolute pure work of genius. hasn't aged a day in over 25 years.
Post was a huge influence to me making music. And still is
I really like The Sugarcubes and was gutted when she left. But I played the album Debut so much. Had a few Sugarcube and Bjork singles back in the day.
I've been a bjork fan since post.listening to it high on headphones in 1995 was another worldly experience.still dig her to this day.i like her cause she is herself
This had to be made. Thank you!
I still can’t believe she was knocked off of top billing at Coachella last year. After headlining multiple times, it’s just insulting.
Björk is a truly great artist (even if you don't like her music). Her "I don't give a shit." attitude is beautiful and inspiring. Keep making great, informative videos.
Bjork gets my most 'unexpectedly brilliant live show' award. I think it was Phoenix 96. I’d been a big fan of the Sugarcubes, being a John Peel kid (I’d argue that Peel's patronage of the Sugarcubes was more important than Melody Maker giving them a single of the week), but her solo work had never really gelled with me. I was a huge dance and electronic music fan, but never had more than a passing interest in the 'Debut' album. The show she put on at that festival was just amazing. Transcendental. Of course, it was the 90s, so the enjoyment was chemically enhanced and I’d have probably danced to someone knocking nails into plywood, but it sticks in my head as one of the best festival sets I ever saw.
You are my long lost sibling!!! I am 100% with you on that!
Musical Genius. Debut and Post
Björk was unquestionably one of the defining artists of the 1990s. Her first handful of albums remain some of my favourites of all time.
Also, since Betty Hutton got mentioned here for "It's Oh So Quiet", she really deserves some attention. I recommend watching her performing "Murder, He Says" - incidentally the single that featured "It's Oh So Quiet" as the B-side. She's a great singer and even more charismatic performer. Just an absolute bundle of joy.
Fun fact: Betty Hutton also happens to be linked to yet another singular vocalist - Throwing Muses' Kristin Hersh, who befriended her while at college in the 1980s. I nearly fell off my chair when I realized that it had to be the same Betty appearing in Kristin's book _Rat Girl._ It does make you wonder what she thought of Björk assuming she knew of the cover.
Bjork has always had a special place in my heart. My top 3 favorite Bjork albums are Homogenic, Post & Vespertine. In that order. Great video! 👍💙
best musician ever, no one could ever top her mind for sounds and production
Homogenic is a masterpiece...I see how the experimentation of Post helped perhaps focus and combine the beautiful strings/Iceland sound with her voice and modern rhythms perfectly.
post was my first Bjork listen and WOW the first thing i noticed and appreciated was this woman’s powerful display of emotion, both through her voice inflections & layered production. My favs on Post are definitely Its Oh So Quiet and Enjoy!
Ambient country? What a mind she has. Imagine a collab with her and Orville Peck.
Quite good, and you've managed to not mention your recent entry Kate Bush once. Björk was and will forever be special because she wields her musical genius like a mace, doing whatever she wants. I have a serious love for artists who make both stuff I love and loathe. It means they're free. She's the reason I made electronic music as a teen. My favourite work of hers is probably Vespertine and it's annex Medula. It's dark and divine, with occasional rays of light bursting through. Mind you, her greatest work thus far is Homogenic. It's nearly perfect, and is still groundbreaking even today.
One of her greatest talents is as a visual artist. She’s absolutely masterful in that respect.
I don't like myself for it, but "Debut" is my absolute favorite. I remember taking it in every day for multiple times a day, like medicine, laughing and crying with it.
That record is alive with everything that makes life worth living.
My first album purchases were How Big How Blue How Beautiful from Florence + The Machine and Post from Björk.
I think Bjork represents, at least for me, everything I love about music. As someone who just loves making noise with a pitch, I find it hard to find something of hers that I cannot just vibe to. Puts me in another world and just lets the emotions flow over you like waves of feelings... Like mushrooms or LSD in music form. You are going on a journey when put her album on.
I've loved Björk's music ever since I saw the videos for Bachelorette and Hyperballad on a Michel Gondry compilation DVD that my brother owned. I was in my very very early teens at the time and was so captivated I looked up as many music videos of hers that I could find, and this was pre CZcams so a lot of it was me downloading realplayer vids that looked like they were recorded using a tin can, lol. Post was always my favorite, there's just something about the art direction of it all, so eclectic. Thanks for this deep dive 👍
This was incredible - thanks