It’s a joke among Björk stans that Vespertine is her “getting dicked-down good” album 💀 but in all honesty, the themes of intimacy, sex, love, privacy, safety make the vibes exquisite and homey
She sings about it in such an interesting way. Definitely impressive to make such a universal and common message unique and specific to your sound and brand.
I laughed so hard with your comment ❤️🤣❤️…I remember being in denial that adorable Bjerknes is a sexual being. I was forced to come to terms with it after watching the “Pagan Poetry” video. 😮
Album sales disagree. This is her last great album....after this it's all just common drama, vocals and no real original song writing. I could see it coming on this album. I was sad to see her go honestly. She came in so powerful and left on a squeek. :/
I wanted to give context for the next Bjork album medulla in case you wanted to react to it next, because I feel as though the album's themes would be lost on you without the proper context. So Medulla is a fully acapella album, with some tiny exceptions here and there. The reason why she went in that direction was motivated after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. She lived in NYC around that time and she witnessed the rampant racism and nationalism that has risen as a consequence of these events. Because of that, she decided to make an album that represented the core of humanity and it's instict of collectivism through the voice. This is also the reasoning behind the name, medulla, which translates roughly to internal organs or bone marrow, a name for an album to represent the very core of us. Also more context on a specific song that people seem to ignorantly dismiss, which is ancestors. This song features the singing of a native Canadian (Inuk) throat singer, and she is doing the very traditional practice of throat singing, which is a practice that has existed long before colonization, and it's also a reason why people call that song weird or "funny sounding." I personally think it is a beautiful song that represents a pre-civilization aesthetic that fits the narrative of the album and is emotional. But that is all, just thought I'd give context cause most of the reactions I see of that album can sometimes be confused or dismissive and having given context can make the album much more enjoyable. Anyway, loved this reaction of vespertine, keep it up! :)
The Inuk singer is Tanya Tagaq, she is amazingggg. A shero of mine as a fellow indignenous woman. I recommend listening to Retribution, sivunittinni, Teeth Agape, snowblind, so many songs..💛💫
I really appreciate her perspective on sex and sensuality. In a musical market that is absolutely saturated with music about sex, her music still stands out in representing a soft, feminine, almost overwhelming portrayal of intimacy. I like going on this journey with you! Her music ages and changes with her, keep going.
The lyrics to An Echo A Stain are taken directly from a very dark and disturbing Sarah Kane play called "Crave", you nailed the themes of trauma that are present in the play! (TW for anyone who wants to look it up; it deals with very heavy themes of violence, sex and death)
Mm didn’t know that, I knew Björk was a theater kid it just makes so much sense. So that’s really cool that song came from an actual play. I’ll look it up thank you🙏🏽
I’m excited for you to listen to Vulnicura! Vespertine is the album she made about meeting the love of her life Matthew Barney, so it’s sexual and soft.. but Vulnicura is the album she made as a response to fracture of her marriage and family with Barney.. it’s so raw and unapologetic, the album is like the disappointment and love she has crawling the earth like a heavy black smoke.. it’s harrowing and a perfect mirror of Vespertine
Vespertine feeds the soul. The microbeats with the huge sweaping choirs and instruments. Intimate and etheral. I still think its her best album even though i love her music when its heavier and more electro. I feel like Medulla is a sister album to this. It's the dark to the light.
"who would have known that a boy like him after sharing my core would stay going nowhere." I am SO HAPPY you reacted to this album! Cocoon is one of my favorite songs, whenever I listen to it, I daydream about someday being loved in that way ❤️ You’re the best ☺️
This was the first Bjork album I listened to when it came out (I was 14 at the time), and I was completely obsessed. I remember being amazed that anything could sound so massive and so intimate at the same time. Even though Homogenic is personally my favorite Bjork album, I recognize that Vespertine is the work of a complete genius, and you're right to point out just how great she is at putting sounds together. Great reaction, I'm glad you're loving her work, she's truly such a unique artist. After this one, her discography gets a bit stranger and more uneven - Medulla, Vulnicura, and Fossora are great, but I don't particularly care for Volta, Biophilia, or Utopia.
It brings tears to my eyes to witness the emotions and awe bjork brings to you! For the last 26 years of my life, Ive met so few people out in the wild who like her let alone love her or have even heard of her, so it’s refreshing especially to see younger people appreciate her brilliance ❤️
i knew you'd love this album w how good ur taste is. it's easily my fav by bjork. there's just something so transcendental, mysterious, yet fulfilling about it.
Bjork is my favorite artist and vespertine is probably my favorite of hers! the creativity and authenticity is sky high and the music is so intimate. I'm glad to see you enjoy it. and so glad you got "an echo, a stain". "Unison" always gets me along with the other heavy hitters in the album.
I love your commentary and thoughtful way you listen , so many don't appreciate Bjork's artistry , the details. I listened to her albums as a teen when they came out, it's so nice to see others of all ages appreciate her too
Unison is my all-time favourite (Björk) song and was my most streamed song last year... It, along with Pagan Poetry and Jóga, make up my Björk top 3 :,)
Great reaction!! As usual. Cant wait for you to jump into Medulla, my fav album of all time! Perfectly pop and silly while totally scary and avantguard.
I'm recently also going on a journey through Bjork albums too (most recent one was Medulla) and Debut went from being my unquestioned favourite to it being Vespertine very quickly
Man, you would love to react to a norwegian singer Aurora Aksnes. Her music and performing is absolute delight. She composes and produces beautiful songs dealing with meaningful, often sad/dark topics. And the harmonies! :) She is a brilliant person.
You have listened to one of my favorite albums of all time. Your analysis was very good. An Echo, A Stain…the first time I ever heard that song, I thought sexual assault. I only listen to that song when I’m alone, because it still hits me hard. Bjork is an angel on earth✨
Your insight and ability to decipher music is incredible! Love the sincere takes. Reviewing this album brought me back to being 13 again and being amazed by this album's beauty. Keep doing what you're doing!! Would love to hear your take on iamamiwhoami/ionnalee !
Best album ever for me xd and literally after decades listening to it i just discovered by a comment somewhere that heirloom is sampled enterely from "Crabcraft" by Console 🤯 Edit: please don't miss the Vespertine Live at the Royal Opera House, it's life-changing 😭
finally！！！！！！！luv it❤definitely her best album🥺❤btw can we get some yeule album reaction someday, a beautiful glitchy electric&alt rock dream pop music artist🥺
Oh Snap, Look Who's Back 🙃👊. Yo, so glad we're here at Vespertine. The album that Went down a Road that no1 was aware existed and led to a Wondrous✨❄️✨ Winter✨ Paradise full of Warmness. Her journey of self discovery after being divorced and being a mom (son). Her continuing self discovery (spiritual, sexual, Psychological) however the dilemma enters in the form of her friend, Musical collaborator, colleague, Matthew Barney. They started "dating" 😉 and it started growing in2 something more Serious. She was Hesitant to hand herself over to another person wholeheartedly again (rightfully so imho , she was hurt from her divorce). However Love wins (She Loves Him ,She Loves Him) and Eventually it leads to Marriage and the conception and birth of their Daughter. I actually didn't hear this album until months after its release probably well into 2002. Unfortunately this was released like 2 weeks before 9/11 so my attention was elsewhere for a while. However listening to this was like experiencing different levels of emotional release (I much needed) . Def one of her most Commercially Successful and Critically Acclaimed album by pretty much Every1. Another blueprint for future(present day) artists to Follow. She also created Micro-Beats , which is the incorporation of all those sounds & noises of everyday items. If you see live performances of tracks from this Album you'll see and hear things like Shuffling a deck of cards , Like who t.f. thinks of things like that 💡🤯? Oh yeah, Bjork. The Swan is a Famous Dress she wore to the Oscar's or Grammy's (if not mistaken back in 2002) . Again so glad you finally listened to this. if (you def will) you relisten to it. Try it late cold ❄️ ❄️ night . It'll take you right there . Next album, Medulla is the Acapella /Vocal album(she incorporates all types of vocal pros , throat singers, Beat boxers, Scatters etc) in lieu of extremely minimal instrumentation (if at all)
Yo I love that you Björk so much - I feel like another artist you’ll love is Kate Bush - you’ll notice these two women care soooooOooo much about their music and how it’s produced Kate Bush changed my life just like Bjork has I recommend the Hounds of Love album - listen from start to finish please broooo
it could be about that in the context of the album but the lyrics are taken from a e.e cummings poem called i will wade out, so we don’t even really know what the original meaning of these metaphors is
this is the second time i've heard someone say this pagan poetry should be sampled for a rap song. also, death grips sampled bjork on i think it was their third album and she was sampled on every song and I think bjork also composed the songs in some part too
idk if you take requests from the comments (love this vid btw vespertine is an amazing album) but you should definitely review hollow the numbers by Mojave Phone Booth!! Its an industrial rock/ electronica hybrid project by old members of snake river conspiracy (2000’s band) and their latest album came out a couple months ago and it’s definitely worth the listen :)
i'm just obsessed with your reactions, thanks for that!!! as a björk fan it feels so magical seein other people having their first experience listening to her amazing albums. i'm so excited for your vulnicura reaction!
