"If there's no soul in the music, its because no one put it there, and it not the tool's fault." Imagine the odds of you being alive the same time as Björk. She's timeless.
I saw her at Kim's Video in the East Village right around this time. She was buying a big stack of CDs and I immediately had that sense of who she was: someone who kept up with everything, just devouring knowledge to feed her own art. It's hard to watch this without a sense of nostalgia now, but everything she's saying is a blueprint for how great music, great art gets made at any time. Just saw Rosalía here in Chicago and could definitely feel Björk's poetry alive within her, too-- one example among many giving us life right now.
Ah, I admire her as an artist so much. She knows herself, and her vision, but is open to collaboration and receiving ideas and input from around the world. She's a visionary looking towards the future and isn't afraid of change. She's experimental and anything mediocre in her eyes is boring to her.
I was in Iceland a month ago and it’s hard to describe but seeing the glaciers and all the crazy beautiful views made me appreciate Björk even more. Her music is like her home country - hard to understand at first but paying it thorough attention you’re rewarded.
What I love the most about björk is how she's not afraid of feeling her emotions, even if they're painful. I guess that's why her joyous songs sounds so genuine
I remember this documentary. I recall I was very underwhelmed by Post (which I totally love now) and had no interest in Homogenic until I saw this. The snippets of electronic beats meshed with the string orchestra intrigued me but it was the snippet of Pluto that did it. I went out and bought the album the next day. It's still my favorite release of hers. Simply a masterpiece.
Upon hearing Homogenic, I knew instantly that Bjork was something truly special in "pop" music. I still consider Post to be a somewhat disappointing follow up to Debut although it has great tracks like Enjoy, Army of me and Cover me on it. Actually, I might have to go back to Post and give it another chance.
@@MisAnnThorpe Post is so great! But after my late three months discovery of Björk and her music I love ALL her albums veeery much now! Everthing really grew on after every listening! It was/is one of my best jouneys I had in my life! She is now my favorite female artist! Love her personality very much!
It's wild to me that all some people know of Bjork is her swan dress, and from this, they proclaim, "She's crazy." Those people don't deserve the utter emotional ride you can experience listening and watching Bjork make and perform music. Like any artist who makes music with depth, authenticity and complexity, people will self select by choosing to take the time to experience what they at first don't understand, or, they don't take the time and walk away with fully formed, but false, judgements. If you're a fan of Bjork, welcome to the minority, where you have decided to embrace the beauty, artistry, creativity and complexity that exists in the world. My understanding of Bjork's is that she expresses her emotions & dreams musically, trying to transcribe her experiences of nature, color, and people. It's unique and is a pure endeavor, because she's not motivated by money, fame or status, the creation of music is her only goal.
I randomly caught this programme late night on Sunday 1997 itv in the uk. I was completely captivated and have been a lifelong fan ever since. Rip Mark Bell.
Career as a professional songwriter, owner & engineer of a Hollywood recording studio, and having worked with 100s of supremely talented A-list singers, musicians, and composers-for me, Bjork blows every one of them completely away. No one even comes close. Maybe Kate Bush gets honorable mention. There are at least a dozen Bjork songs that are so good it makes me think about taking up landscaping as a profession.
This is by far my favorite documentary on Bjork. I love how it's not just touching on her personal relationships. It's main focus is giving us insight into her artistry, and she is a TRUE artist. Hell, she's walking art. Just endlessly fascinating. She's my favorite vocalist of all time. So much emotion in comes through her songs to where it's impossible not to be moved to tears most of the time.
I first saw Bjork on MTV late one evening in the mid 80s. I believe it was Birthday. I was maybe 11. It blew me away. My siblings had no idea who I was talking about..I was frustrated. Then I saw this doc in 97...I was so happy. Bjork is an angel. An Icelandic national treasure.
Every thing you hear comes from her head. Whether it’s digitally programmed equipment or traditional analog instruments, it’s all her beautiful creative imagination and the soul she puts into everything she does.
"I've got no interest in people who do what I tell them to do" ...hehehe, it's funny how she can say that with such conviction, and you can see in the rehearsals that she's the general in charge of the troops. It makes absolutely no difference to me, she's a very special "pop musician" ...her words not mine. I love her music!
This documentary is essential to understand her first 20 years of songmaking. During this time (up to and including Vespertine) she produced the songs I can and like to listen to. At 48:58 Bjork said "I am the pop musician and I make music for everyone, not for VIP or educated people". I would greatly appreciate such documentary about her second 20+ years (Medúlla and later works) about her diverging from "the music for everyone". There must be something behind her shift from let's say melodic things to the strange soundscape "for educated people" she started to produce later.
I saw this decades ago, and the sentiment of electronic music not having soul because nobody embodied soul into the music had stuck with me for years. Björk was so far ahead of her time, while I am Icelandic and therefore obviously biased, it's still accurate.
This takes me back to a much better time in my life. I remember watching this on the A&E channel and being completely captivated. Bjork is so gifted and interesting, and has always had a special place in my musical heart.
A gentleman and a scholar is our Melvyn. No one in the UK has been a more enthusiastic proponent for the arts, and making the arts accessible to a wider range of people over the last 50 years or so than our Melvyn, and he has done so without diluting the content of his work, or talking down to the audience. As well as making arts and history programmes for TV and radio, he's also written some quite successful novels. All round, one helluva good egg.
I think that if bjork or the sugercubes were trying to break into the music business today they would not be able too get a record contract. Because there sound is so different from anybody else. The state of music today is in a sad place. Bjork is truly one of a kind. Totally unique and special. Thanks for posting this video I really appreciate and enjoyed it. Greetings from Atlantic City New Jersey USA
So true! Major labels have more power than ever, and they do not want to risk investing in something that does not bring back money. Songs today are made to sell, creativity and originality as Björk disappears. By exposing their "safe cards" everywhere, nobody loses the risk of missing their product. And many people automatically think they like the music, but they've just really have been brainwashed with it through a very systematic product placement. Now is a very depressing time for music indeed.
I can't tell you how many times I've watched this special she is the most amazing being and so beyond most anyone's understanding !!!! LOVE YOU GIRL !!!
poor girl... her body language always screams somebody who is stressed out by people giving her attention. but her art is so striking, it's hard not to attract attention. what a hard life, but what courage to keep doing what you believe in, and what comes out is so amazing
my Muse. I feel wrapped in love, warmth and playfulness when I watch or listen to her...what a beautiful state to live in :') her uniqueness is a gift to this world 💜
That girl has no clue How gorgeous she is. I think. Her personality denotes pure curiosity. That’s what makes a poet a poet. It’s an ingredient not many humans get blessed with. The musical inclusion is the cooking butter; Infusing flavor.
After listening to _Sonic Symbolism_ I notice how her accent speaking English at the time was more UK inflected coming off her London years than it is now
When I first heard a sugar cubes song on the radio loved it and then discovered her amazing solo music she very special no one like her completely unique one off artist with timeless music love her as a person she’s very beautiful and best artist of that strong generation
Loved this. Bjork/ Sugarcubes Put " Iceland on the map" now I want to know more about the country. Am posting Birthday on my FB tomorrow as it's both my birthday and a very special song for me. She is a Beethoven equivalent. Thank fuck for absolute artists.
Just discovered this on RU-vid. Thank you so much for uploading this fantastic documentary. I've been a huge fan and just a bit in love with her since the Sugar Cubes. A huge creative talent.
37:16 meanwhile I'm sitting here with my midi controller and laptop with logic, and Bjork is back in 96 with this whole set up in the palm of her hand, by the sea! Where can I get one, its more advanced and compact than what I have in 2021.
I need help finding this song at 30:19, I know it's alarm call, I just can't find the specific mix or version, I've been searching the internet like CRAZY:((((
(32:10) Bjork and the next speaker apparently alluding to the work of Jón Leifs (1899-1968). This documentary was broadcast at a time when just a couple of albums of his music had been recorded by Bis Records. Now there are 13!
I HAVE TO SHOUT OUT *_BJORK, PRINCE, MICHAEL & KRS-1_* ARE MY UTMOSTEDLY _(is that even a word in English?)_ FAVORITE GODS OF MUSIC. I KNOW I AM BLESSED TO BE BORN & RAISED ON THEIR GLORY OF MUSIC. THANKS MOMMY & DADDY, Y'ALL KNEW THE RIGHT TIME TO CONCEIVE ME SO I CAN KNOW WHAT REAL MUSIC IS SUPPOSED TO SOUND LIKE.
ahh man, i totally forgot that bjork got attacked, thats so crazy! like, why would you want to hurt her, shes soooooo awesome! Post is my favorite of hers even today, shes had great music since but man.... i hate to say, hyperballad still brings me to tears... i fucking love her I hope i get to hang out and drink whiskey with her some day bjork! lol im an award winning composer come hang out and lets jam
We had mainly Michael Jackon and Björk who developed pomusic further and gave it deep soul and strong magic (which can help, cure and save people) and visualisation! Then after the new millienium startet were we lost MJ and Björk disapeared mainly from the radio into the alternative music szene. So great soulful developing magical popmusic mainly died and depressions, terror and other psychological deseases took over!
Bjork is what humanity will eventually evolve to. She's the prototype and she's here to show us what we're capable of. Btw, WTF happened to Bono. He looked and sound so coherent here compare to now.
49:16 pop music. is there any pop musician as genuine, original, pure, wild, and expressive as Bjork ? no. and dont ask me how is the pop music nowadays. you know the answer yourself.
... at min 50.16 i was "oh there she goes filming the joga scene!"..... at min 50.50 "ohwow!...." ... at 51.10 ..... "speechless, wow - literally open mouth-........."
![BJORK - THE SOUTH BANK SHOW DOCUMENTARY 1997 [HQ]](/img/logo.svg){kind=logo}
