MusicBox - Bjork- Icelandic Little Pixie

MusicBox - Bjork- Icelandic Little Pixie

Dec, 7 2024


In the cold climate of Reykjavik, Iceland comes this eccentric little singer whose first foray into music came as lead vocalist with alternative rock band The Sugarcubes at the age of 21.

After they broke up in 1992, Bjork then began a successful career as a solo artist. Her first record was released in 1993 under the simple aptly titled ‘Debut’.

As she was developing as a solo artist she ventured into creating a song for the 1993 film ‘Young Americans’. ‘Play Dead’ didn’t originally feature on her debut album but was later included as a bonus track and the album was re-issued in November 1993.

The music video is directed by Danny Cannon and contains images from the film. ‘Play Dead’ was included in Bjork’s 2002 ‘Greatest Hits’ collection. Let’s remind ourselves of that classic track –

Bjork’s music is very much alive and her follow – up album 1995’s ‘Post’ – demonstrated a further testament to her strength in creating both avant and experimental pop.

Most notably was the cover of the Betty Hutton classic ‘It’s oh so quiet’. Bjork gave it an Icelandic makeover with shouts and screams on one of her more unlikely hit records.

The following 20 years since 1995 saw her do the following –

  • Release eight more unique pop albums.
  • Collaborate with a series of artists from a range of disciplines and genres.
  • Explore a variety of multimedia projects.
  • Film role in which she won an award
  • An advocate for environmental causes in Iceland
  • Have her work exhibited at New York’s Museum of Modern Art.

This year alone she appeared in the April/May cover of Vogue Scandinavia, her first ever Vogue cover, photographed by Vioar Logi wearing Maison Margiela. In October, a newly discovered large butterfly species was named Pterourus bjorkae in honor of Björk.

For more information on the artist and musician Bjork simply visit the following website link – https://www.bjork.com/

Bjork remains a unique pop enigma in the music world. She is best described as a ‘restlessly experimental creative force’. A force that is able to shape shift different sounds and genres into her repertoire. From full on electronic to house, jazz and even trip hop she is able to perfect it all.

Her split from The Sugarcubes gave her the opportunity and creative freedom to develop herself as a solo artist and she has proved time and again that she was able to fulfil those expectations.

Bjork’s influences have seriously impacted the strength of her music. She notes avant-garde composers such as Karlheinz Stockhausen, Meredith Monk, Sun Ra and Philip Glass as the early inspirations for her original music.

There is simply no-one quite like her. Her vocal range is out of this world and it sometimes feels like she is also from another planet. But as a nation we eternally blessed that this pop icon from Iceland continues to make amazing music.

^Alex Ashworth CCG UK Blogger