Bjork studied classical piano and flute. Then went into jazz, fusion, punk, alternative rock, trip hop, electronica, pop, avant garde, and, well, a mixture of everything. The word "unique" is overused, but in her case... she's so distinctive and unconventional that it suits her. And there's always this aura of a joyful semi-feral child about her. Not only regarding her singing but her whole persona and overall attitude. At times she's simultaneously endearing and somehow disconcerting -an acquired taste for sure. I'm glad you had a taste of her work, I hope you'll react to more from her!
@@lynby6231you know, normally I dislike electronic music. But Debut and Post are two of my favorite records. If you don’t like it, that’s okay but if you think it’s crap, you’re just wrong.
One of the most prolific and genius composer of our time. They way she layers her compositions and add some "batshit crazy" elements is mind-blowing!🤯 (Ah, let's not forget about the use of crazy visual elements in her videos).
@@vicenterairaagreed I don't see her being acclaimed for her composing skills I think she's immaculate at that I understand her not appealing to people but its just stupid to say that she doesn't know exactly what she's doing musically whether you like it or not it is a complex and well thought out piece of music
The live performance of it at Jools Holland is also worth watching. The only reason I know she isn't lip-synching is because the background music and violins are different. HER performance? It's absolutely perfect, start to finish. Sounds exactly like the studio recording.
Björk was the first contemporary pop artist to perform at the Royal Opera House in London. It was a significant event as it marked the first time a contemporary artist had performed at that prestigious venue. She's one of a kind.
Strange. To me, this song helped me to cry after my divorce, driving in my car to work on the highway, singing, crying, playing it loud. I hear someone thinking about jumping of a cliff and run back to a loved one to go on and find support in a unbalanced mood. She survived today but will be there again soon. I found the 12 inch at that time and also bought it. I got married again but i will treasure that record till the end.
This song fills my soul. It’s hurt and desperation and everything we do to preserve a bad relationship. It breaks my heart every time. It’s the end of my marriage song and always crying to hear it. See. I did have words.
Go straight to "All is full of love" Extraordinary video and song. Live she's a visual and aural force of nature. Very few artists deserve to be called unique and original. She's one of the very few.
Cold Sweat is another stand out. The way she goes into a growl and back out again. The whole Life’s too Good album features some amazing vocals by Björk.
"Almost but not quite" is a nice way to talk about Björk and her music. I like to think of her as "liminal." It's hard to compare one of her songs to the next, because she is experimental and uninterested in treading the paths of others. When I first heard her sing as a teen in the song "Regina" (as part of the band Sugarcubes), I thought that her voice was the purest sound I had ever heard. She can rasp, growl, or chime. At the beginning of your listen and reaction, when you laughed, I feared you weren't taking her seriously. She's easy to dismiss as a crackpot (google her swan dress). But you were laughing at the similarity of her story to your father's, which is lovely. Your analysis gave me new ways to think about her music but, more important, about music in general. Thank you.
Bjork has produced some of the most etherial and majestic music ever created. I was lucky enough to see her live in 1996 headlining the Phoenix Festival in the UK, sublime. On that same day was Cypress Hill & Massive Attack, it was the hottest day of the year, and you could not have asked for a better trio to welcome in the sunset. I will never forget Massive Attack's Unfinished Symphony, it was otherworldly.
I was also classically trained (so was Bjork, obviously), and I’m confident to say that Bjork is my favourite musician of all time, I admire her even more than Beethoven, Chopin or Debussy. The first time I listened to Bjork I was mesmerised, it’s like she’s reinventing music itself. I hadn’t listened to music like that, or I didn’t know music could be like that. Her music is so challenging, yet engaging and intriguing. Her unusual voice, use of syncopation, texture, volcanic/instrumental/micro beats (or natural sounds like thawing snow), odd rhythm (her vocal line is seemingly ‘off’-beat), dissonance, noise, using a bass line that is in a different key from the rest of the song, rare time signature (e.g. 5/4, 13/8, 17/8, or add an extra beat to a bar in a 4/4 song, or I even can’t tell what time signature she’s using, like in “Ovule”…) … all are so interesting to me. As a person who knows music theory, I like to deconstruct her songs, and pay attention to every layer. There’s so much to explore and analyse. Her albums are diverse and she becomes more experimental later in her discography, but I think those who are into classical music would particularly appreciate some of the following songs: “Joga”, “Bachelorette”, “Hidden Place”, “Unison”, “Stonemilker”, etc. Hope you would react to her discography chronologically. She’s a gem.
She is ridiculously good. There’s some of her stuff that causes my mental computer to hang. Not enough processing speed at a given moment😂. And my vocabulary reduces to “ wha…?
That's just a bizarre comment if you really think she will last or have changed music itself Beethoven did. There are several far more talented musicians today that can and have done all those things with dissonance, noise, key and time signature differentiations, syntheszied sounds and are better singers. Jazz players have been doing it for years. As for knowing and USING music theory, there a re people doing more serious innovations there as well as teaching it. You can probably figure out who.
@@saintsalieri Yeah, with a certain artsy crowd, anyway, which isn't always a plus. Sometimes it's just pretentious. Taylor Swift is MORE popular. That doesn't make her better. Best? If anything is subjective it is what is a good lyric. FTR, I don't have anything against her (or particularly for her, either) but it's absurdly presumptuous to assume most any modern artist to the immediate or long term influence of a Beethoven. It wouldn't surprise me if she become a minor footnote in 100 years as I personally think Taylor Swift should become.But her popularity could make her last. It wouldn't surprise me if Bjorks more generic lyrics last longer than her recordings or voice which I don't even find interesting.
Bjork - Unison is another worth checking out with beautiful orchestration and vocals, and as others have mentioned, getting into Bjork is like following Alice down the rabbit hole, wonders await.. and fear.. and hallucination!
I watched this episode last night. It immediately got me so excited for you to explore her compositions. Because, Bjork is a composer. She is one the most impressive composers I've come across the 20th century. I would suggest listening to Medulla's "Where is the Line With You." The album is created with mostly voice, including that deep base sound you heard in this song (actually deeper). She is very curious in all manner of speaking. Honestly, I hope you take a deep dive. Each album explores instrumentation and voice. Oh, and her videos are impressive. One last thing. She was even better live. Her voice is spectacular and her musicianship precise, exact, and mesmerizing. Thank you so much for taking the journey with all of us music lovers.
I went to Iceland about 3 years ago and randomly ended up in this small house that’s a cultural center and saw Bjork with about 40 people watching her spin records. The music was “abstract” and “funk” and true to form her outfit was on point complete with an upside down tutu and huge platform shoes.
Bjork is a study onto herself. I sometimes think her music is psychotropic. Bjork is a sound sculptor more than a songwriter. She creates soundscapes. I believe you are correct Amy, the percussion is dropping off the edge of that cliff, there is even a sense of echoing happening there, and that is typical of Bjork. I see many people asking for the song Army of me, which is one of my personal favourites for personal reasons, however, from a musical perspective I think Joga is the bigger gift to share with you Amy, even though Army of me is closer to my own heart, Joga is exceptional, as Bjork is exceptional. And these musical experiences you share with us are mutual experiences after all. And the song Joga might be a gift we also can offer you. My humble thanks to the joy your analysis bring me.
I would like to recommend Bjork singing "Play dead", a much more conventional song but her voice is amazing, the girl can skip octaves for fun, with an orchestral riff and a hypnotic bass line, it's a little known masterpiece
Awesome song! Jah Wobble did the bass on that, which is why it is so good (The bass not the whole song lol). He pops up on some of the best songs of the 90's. It was a 3 way way collaboration with some other bloke scoring it, can't remember his name.
@@dimegobt David Arnold certainly can create killer string arrangements. Love his Bond work. Especially co-writing "You Know My Name" with Chris Cornell. ;)
@@BassistInATutupossibly my favorite as well. Just looked it up, and Jah Wobble's name came up as the writer (co with B). Very interesting. His name has come up 'all over' in my 40-odd yrs long interrest in music. Has an insane long list of co-ups.
“Easy listening” that was always a rather derogatory term when I grew up listening to music. I rarely find Bjork’s music easy listening. Usually adventurous and challenging. Lyrically this is also fascinating, alluding to the parts of ourselves we had to hide or throw away to make a relationship work. I think it is a beautiful and challenging piece and not background music. But that is just my opinion, I really enjoyed hearing your take on it.
I’m glad someone said that this song is about a relationship. For me the lyrics were always about someone way beyond the edge of thrilled for falling/being in love. She’s waking up before him to throw things out of the cliff because she is so madly in love she can’t contain herself but doesn’t want him to notice.
I don't know if you follow this channel regularly, but when Amy says easy listening, she doesn't mean it in the old 1970s meaning of the term. I think she means more that it is pleasant to the ears, doesn't require listening to it 100 times to be able to make sense of it (that can be a good thing, but not necessarily). Isn't something that you necessarily shut off the entire world, shut of the lights, push everyone out of the house, lay down on the living room floor and listen to in with your eyes closed (like Pink Floyd) I don't think she meant it as any kind of judgement call at all. Although I would listen to this with the lights off and my eyes closed. I LOVE this song! But anyway, I am 99% sure Amy did not mean anything derogatory by calling it easy listening.
@@Marnee4191 fwiw, the Brodsky Quartet version of Hyperballad is VERY much the kind of song where you shut off the entire world, lay down, etc etc. if you haven't heard it - I honestly sometimes forget about the original Hyperballad that she listened to here because I'm so in love with the Brodsky Quartet version
I personally hear the lyrics as coming from a slightly darker place; maybe not darkness right now, but the person depicted feels she needs to - every morning before you wake - throw things (her dark thoughts?) off the cliff in order to function and be happy. Some among us cope in that way by constantly being on the lookout for darkness inside. It can work for a while, and it may be necessary, but it's hard and it can't go on forever; as you grow you need to get to a safer place.
In an interview with David Hemingway, she elaborated: "I guess that song is about when you're in a relationship and it's going really well and you're really happy and maybe you have given up parts of yourself. To fall in love and be in a relationship for a long time is like giving a lot of parts of you away because the relationship becomes more important than you as individuals.
I'm tired of the structural racism in the "dark metaphor"... Does dark mean bad in your language? That is racist! Tired of the dark metaphor! Dark does not equal bad. Stop the racist language!
I saw Sugarcubes in 1989 when I was 13. I instantly thought that a country that spits out a band like this must be paradise. I was right. Ísland is indescribably beautiful. I even saw her live in Reykjavík in 2011 in front of a small audience. Breathtaking. I still know the first solo albums by heart until Volta by heart. She released her first album when she was 12. She even has a jazz album from 1990, Gling-Gló. Crazy good. Björk is an artwork of its own. Björk is The Goddess of The Goddesses.
There´s enough Björk songs to dive into so you can listen to material an whole week. Army of me, Human behavor, It´s oh so quiet or Bachelorette. Björk is one of kind.
This is my first time hearing this. I haven't really paid much attention to Bjork, but whenever I do listen to her, I'm always struck by how original and different she is.
If you ever feel curious for more, this album Is a good starting point to get to know bjork, one of the More "accesible" ones. Post Is a beautiful album from start to finish.
I was arguing with a friend if Jimmy Page was one of the gods of rock, & then asked him who he thought they were, _____Bjőrk was his answer! Human Behavior is a lyrical, vocal Masterpiece & her intonement with this musical score is breathtaking!
Oh now this was a fun surprise, seeing you listen to Hyperballad! Even though I for once actually disagree with you on some aspects - we clearly interpret the lyrics very differently. I would not say this is easy background music, something light and suitable for little children, not at all. It's got this happy, light, curious, almost childish surface but underneath? It's dark, it's very dark. "I Imagine what my body would sound like slamming against those rocks. And when it lands, will my eyes be closed or open?" That right there is more than just idle curiosity of what it might be like falling off the edge, if you ask me. Especially when paired with "I go through all this before you wake up, so I can feel happier, to be safe up here with you" it speaks of a person who's struggling with life. The habit she's formed, seeming so meaningless and simplistic, is a ritual to keep her safe and sane, but in truth it might be herself she wants to fling off that edge. I think it likely is more of a metaphorical death that it refers to, about letting go of that which was, but it could just as well be about actual suicidal impulses. Personally, I can barely overstate how much this song meant to me during my teenage years. During particular period I would put it on repeat in my headphones and just listen, and listen, and listen, and submerge myself in the sounds and in the lyrics. And funnily... For the first whole year, when I had fallen into a destructive mindset, I only saw beauty in it. Only when I got up on the other side and started realizing how badly I'd fallen into that dark and self destructive pit, could I see how much pain and darkness there is in Hyperballad. But, that's a personal side note. But it just goes to show, the lyrics can seem very different depending on your perspective. As for Björk in general... She is very much an explorerer of sounds, who challenges the norm and breaks away from expectations of what music is supposed to sound like. It's art as much as it is music. I hope you'll do more of her songs! I'd reccommend most any song from Homogenic, especially. As always, a pleasure seeing your reactions!
I agree, I think this song has a sort of menacing message where this person has to get up early to “clean up her emotional mess” because the person she lives with can’t or won’t deal with any of the inner darkness.
Love your contribution AND I'm tired of the structural racism in the "dark metaphor"... Does dark mean bad in your language? That is racist! Tired of the dark metaphor! Dark does not equal bad. Stop the racist language!
Björk is one of few artists whose work I have purchased upon release without question for decades. Yes, some of it is pretty inaccessible / challenging.... but always worth the effort imho. She is absolutely her own thing, & can be quite a force of nature! She is truly #Unique, & thank the Lord for her having shared her uniqueness with us.... I know my life is richer for her presence in it. :)
How wonderful to see you get acquainted with Björk, and to do it with Hyper-ballad, which I wouldn't have thought of as one of her most accessible songs. Great reaction!
So many Bjork songs I can't wait for her to hear. As far as the more accessible and early ones, Human Behavior, Bachelorette and Isobel immediately come to mind.
"So Broken" would be another good one as it really showcases her vocal range (as the only accompaniment is acoustic guitar). Plus the back story of the song is just mental.
The song seems like she’s saying that she has to force herself into experiencing unnecessary danger in order to feel safe with the other person. You noticed the textures in the sound and I think thats where she excels all kinds of sounds in her broad musical palette. Thanks for doing Bjork, the concert film from London in 2000 is great film.
I've always felt a very dark undertone to this. Why doesn't she automatically feel safe with the other person? How bad can her life with this other person be (trapped with them on a mountain) if the only way to accept it is to constantly remind herself that *throwing herself down a mountain* is worse? I find the whole song disturbing.
@@davidmeadows3351 yeah it’s disturbing, but you know that’s why people go to horror movies. I guess that the Hyper part of the Ballad. It doesn’t mean her life is bad or that the other is a threat, it could just be that she doesn’t feel safe enough
Amy, I love how you analyze these pieces of music (I’m referring to this song and others that you have reacted to). You pull from your childhood memories, general likes and dislikes, and musical knowledge. I was a music major once upon a time, and one of my teachers dismissed Sinead O’Connor as a valid singer-that she was a fad. I could see that same teacher saying the same thing about Bjork. I like how you use “context” to describe how practical her singing style is. She is engaging, and I think that’s part of her Schick, but I really enjoy how you bring in how she sings and interacts with the rest of the music-particularly with the percussion. Amy, my biggest takeaway is that you don’t just react with emotional first impressions. Your reaction to that, along with your personal background, music education, and willingness to see the artistry of a piece, for better or worse. Thank you, Amy.
One of the ideas behind Homogenic was to create music that blurred electronic and organic together. Bjork’s vocal style to me comes from her punk music roots. It’s sounds nearly out of control but she’s in control. The verses and chorus in this song are a narrative that doesn’t rhyme but still sounds so musical. Unusual in pop music.
Thanks for a great reaction. Björk is a monumental, majestic artist. A true genius. Her later more experimental work has proved too difficult for many (myself included) but her earlier solo albums were unbelievably good. I saw her perform on the Biophilia tour and it was one of the best gigs I’ve ever been to. You should listen to Joga and Pagan Poetry next to hear more of her incredible music.
I'd been waiting for this one. Great start with Bjork! She uses actual string ensembles, and the drums are digital buy played, not loops. Loved your reaction/analysis, hope you do more Bjork. Also, this song is fascinating to compare multiple live versions on YT, they can be very different from each other.
Altough you missed the point with the lyrics, probably your father's tale skewed you. This song goes from dark to happy. It's about how each morning she ponders suicide by the cliff and then his love keeps her from it and makes her feel safe. There's a live version from Paris that ends up in a rave-like party with the crowd bounging up and down to "safe again with you", amazing.
Bjork is special. Very special. Very brilliant. I think Joga might be a better introduction to her though. But still immensely enjoyed this. Thanks Amy🌷
When it comes to pronouncing Björk: the way you said it in the beginning was actually very good. Avoid pronouncing the "ö" as an "o" (like in "over"), it's more like in the word "earn". So "B-jerk" rather than "B-york" . (btw, it means birch) And I hope you will come back to Björk. She has made so much fantastic music, she is unbelievable creative & talented. There are plenty of good songs in other comments below, so I'll add the beautiful Hidden Place.
No, not B-jerk or B-york... one syllable. Byerk. The Bj sounds just like the start of the word "beauty". So it's not something unpronounceable for the English speaking 🙂 @ Virgin Rock, your second try for her name at 0:10 was spot on 🙂 Including the rrr that they also have in Iceland 🙂
Björk is a musican genius, her Songs are still ahead of time, very special. You might be interested for her Song "Army of Me", which uses the hardest Dorian chord progression You can imagine. It hammers in Your brain, You'll NEVER forget it... ;)
I'd say that Bjork is one of the top 5 composers of art-pop music of all time, certainly one of the best of my generation. Her ability to compose soundscapes was highly underrated at the time because she's a small & pretty woman, but I think people are properly reevaluating her now. May I recommend another song of hers: Bachelorette
Thank you for reacting to one of my favorite artist. I believe you will like another her song - Pagan poetry - where the main melody line is played by harp
Björk...in my youth she was one of a few artists coming to my mind, if I've been asked for a real artist. She is still today...a real, pure artist. Good choice and a lot of good songs from her, still waiting! And I do listen to her music a lot in my car ;)
I loved to listen and watch Virgin Rocks way to speak about Björks Song. Its not only because of the song, but the appriciative way, not theoretically, but to listen with the heart, realy deep, realy lively, realy human - and in the same moment not avoiding the intellectual activity & theorie. This for me it is an wonderful example for what we human beings are here for: To listen with our hearts to what ever comes up or is appearing to our minds and feelings - and let it dance. Thank you Virgin, so beautiful, so open, so warm enlightend what to has shown us. Thats why ART is so so important for all of us: To practise to admire, appreciate, dive deeper. Very soothing. Greetings from Germany. Kai
You are really inspiring! Your grisp view to music you are listening to and spot on attention to details. You truely given me a rekindle to music I’ve listen to throughout time. She really is a playful singer. I love her from the moment I heard her singing. Eureka moments when you analyse her singing style. I love your perspective and how you put them together!
Island is a small country with a small population and a lot of great musicians! Björk is probably the most popular and yeah she is special. She has a wide variety, a great voice and she doesn't make one style to fit into a box but her style that is picking from different music elements that fits to her. I can also recommend Sigur Ros that have a very unique sound as well - beautiful! Olafur Arnalds that makes music from neo classic (studied classical composition - not finishing it), electronic music, played even punk.... Anyway, Björk has a lot to offer and Iceland has such a high concentration of great musicians - unbelievable
I second the recommendation of Sigur Ros. A post-Rock band of ethereal sounds. Maybe wouldn’t fit your format but I can certainly recommend Sigur Ros’ performance with the LA Symphony Orchestra.
Björk would be a good artist to explore for this channel since her work is so varied and diverse, with lots of musical depth, especially in her later and more experimental works. She has a unique sound and a unique approach to composing and recording music. It would be cool to see you analyze some of her more bizarre and out-there songs from the later albums.
An artist on her own terms who is fascinating from the very beginning of her career. Her first three or four albums and her live performances are captivating and awe inspiring in their variety of interpretations of her music.
This has been fun. I have loved Hyperballad for 29 years ever since the first time I heard it. I learned new things from your video still. So thank you. P.S. My interpretation of the lyrics is a bit sad. It tells a story of a woman who isn't aware yet that she's actually sad about "being up here alone with" her person. Hence the ritual of throwing things down the mountain.
Ooh, I always interpreted the drums on this to be a racing heartbeat. It echoes and races. But you can hear that heart pounding hard in her chest. Adrenaline. Danger. Anticipation. Excitement. And this is why it's a "hyper-ballad". It is a ballad. It is a love song. But she's not relaxed. She's hyped up on adrenaline and dark thoughts of danger and the anticipation of seeing her love, as the dawn breaks. It's a love ballad, but sung with a racing heart and a sense of danger and anticipation. That repeated idea that she's doing something dangerous and daring, with dark thoughts, now, to weirdly help settle herself for the day... and to feel safe again, once she's back in her love's arms. She's hyper. Hyped up. Heart pounding. Raging, racing, raring to go. She goes out to get that "buzz", all alone, from a dangerous world. To later feel safe and relaxed, back in her lover's arms. The drums to me sound like a racing and pounding heartbeat. And the song is about that juxtaposition of being hyped up - "hyper" - yet singing a ballad - a love song. To be filled with a sense of danger, craving to be safe again. As the name suggests, it's a hyperballad.
I'm pretty sure (though could be wrong) that the song is actually about the dream-state. The idea that, when you sleep, dreaming is the brain's way of organizing all of the experiences of the past and making sense of them, throwing out the stuff that doesn't matter. And it happens just before the beginning of the day. So the whole thing is a metaphor. The music video for the song seems to make that clear.🙂
When she (a musician in 2024) said she didn't know who Björk ist, I was immediately taken aback, but then it was a pure pleasure watching her listen with such openness and sensitivity. The following analysis is almost a masterclass. She even correctly noticed, that Björk takes inspiration in icelandic landscapes for creating the soundscapes of her songs. The interpretation of the song´s metaphor was also on point.
The balance between synthetic and organic elements in the album-generated through the combination of electronic and "real" instruments-is a recurring characteristic of Björk's output. Have a nice day & thank you
Bjork is in a universe of herself, she is out of this world. I love how she is just herself and doesn't care about what the mass thinks! Go Bjork, you be you, you are very good at it!!
It's my first time watching a video of yours. So sad that no one is talking about your comparison, telling your dad's story and then talking about these similarities in the sounds with the trash falling down the mountain and everything was very beautiful to listen. Love your way of analogize things and comprehension.
Björk is my all time favourite musical artist and singer, so I really enjoyed this. She features harp on many of her songs so I hope you'll check those out someday. I liked the story your father came up with! Her name is pronounced bee-yerk, by the way :)
Those were the days, alternative was the new normal, record companies were looking for the next big sound and there was a lot of good music. Not like the monotone that gets big airplay today. There I still good out there but you have to dig to find it.
Bjork has a fabulous and unusual portfolio, and I thoroughly enjoyed your first encounter. So interesting that your father’s story connected with a folktale narrative quality that so often flutters around Bjork’s work, even when electronic-focused. I look forward to further analysis of her work. Suggestion: 'Pagan Poetry'.
'Hyperballad', 'Joga', 'One Day', 'Big Time Sensuality', 'It's All Up to You'... Bjork brlliantly distilled the club sounds of very particular times and places through her own unique sensibility. Sui generis...
Mount Esja is the mountain that sits across the bay from Reykjavik and overlooks the city. Bjork has said that she has got inspiration from her (Esja is sometimes referred to as Mother because she looks over the city and protects it). In general, Bjork has been informed in her music by the awesome Icelandic nature.
Never clicked this fast. See, I studied Jazz singing at the Amsterdam Conservatory, in the late 90's until 2001. On paper, I am a vocal teacher, too. 😊 Haven't done any with it, life sent me down a different path. The last thing I had to submit to get my degree was an analysis of a pop song, and this song, Hyperballad, was the song I transcribed, note for note, all instruments. I made an Excel spreadsheet in colours to help me visualise the tracks. Considering how well I know every sound of the song, working from a CD with difficult skipping, I still LOVE the song with all my heart. I had the privilege seeing Björk live in the Carree theatre, with a symphony orchestra and Inuit Women's Choir. It is, to this day, the best concert I have ever witnessed. Björk is special in so many ways. Her amazing belting in "Play Dead" can make my soul weep with joy.
This has been one of my favorite songs for decades. I never thought of it the way your father's story goes. My mind is blown. It's almost like analogies are ubiquitous to a fault of accuracy
Btw, those first bass notes are a perfect speaker-tester 🙂 I will never forget being at the Pinkpop festival (NL) in 1996... before the first live band, this was the first track they played over the PA at full volume. I was blown away as a Björk fan 🙂
According to Björk herself, her name rhymes with "jerk" (translates to 'Birch', as in the tree). Her last name, which I cannot write correctly with an English keyboard, is pronounced Gud-mundr's-dottir (or Gudmundr's daughter). So she is Birch, the daughter of Gudmundr ("protected by God"), in English. Addendum/correction: The name Gudmund (Icelandic: Gudmundr) has its roots in Old Norse, where “gud” means “god” and “mund” means “protection.” Therefore, the name Gudmund can be interpreted as “God’s protection” or “protected by God.” It is a strong and meaningful name that can inspire confidence and a sense of security in the person who bears it. The name has evolved over time and has been adapted to different languages and cultures, but its basic meaning and cultural significance have remained relatively consistent.
That’s the beauty of bjork’s music. You’ll find it difficult to understand that you’ll have a hard time thinking about how creative and genius she is. Her music has no genres. It’s just pure talent and artistry. The song started with a slow-medium tempo that builds up towards the middle then fades with a whimsical sound of strings that’s why it was called HYPERBALLAD. No any artist can match bjork’s brilliance on making music and personally creating sounds for each of her songs.
Hyperballad has been one of my very favorite songs since childhood. The day I picked my daughter up from school and saw her wearing a Post shirt was when I knew she had received the gift of music. Björk's music is a blessing for ones who are open and receptive to receiving something outside of the atypical limited box.
Björk is unique from any angle you look at and listen to her compositions. She has a gift to take you on a roller-coaster lyrically speaking, but when you listen to the music arrangement, it is just blissful to the ears and to the soul and get into you deeply. Pagan Poetry review, please!
Hyperballad is one of my favorite Bjork songs. Absolutely stunning. The Twilight Singers did an amazing cover of Hyperballad some years back. Super cool.
My brother, an art dealer in San Francisco, once gave Björk a ride from the airport and she gave him an acapella concert on the trip. He wasn't sure he liked her marketing strategies.
I LOVE THIS. They way you explain not only the advantages, but joy, in "playing the game" is perfect! And you played it well! superb (and fun!) analysis
Love you reaction! Thanks for sharing it with us ❤ I think bjork is one the most amazing composers of our time. Incredible songs list: oceania, moon, mouth mantra, sue me, fossora, undo, joga, mouth's cradle.
She is an artist -- musical, visual and performance artist. For most, she is an acquired taste. But the work to acquire an appreciation for her is worth it. This is not the song I would have started with as an introduction, but it is a bit more accessible on first listen than many of her best works. Enjoy the journey.
i’m so grateful to have been able to hear your opinion on one of my all time favourite artists, your point of view as a musician really helps me see her song in a different way, by putting into words things that, I reckon, people that are not trained in music have a much harder time seeing. so thank you!
7 місяців тому+8
13:31 she certainly seeks inspiration from Icelandic landscape. If only you knew :)
I think you might enjoy Michel Gondry's video for the song. He likes representing each element of music with a specific visual motif and Hyperballad is a brilliant example of him filling the canvas bit by bit just as Bjork does.
I just stumbled upon this video. The algorithm knows I like a lot people reacting to Björk. I’d love to get your opinion on “All is full of love”. The instrumentals of this song are fantastic.
Bjork is one of the all time greatest voices, ever since she was a child star at 11yrs old. Her unique voice cannot be imitated & her wide catalog never duplicated. The sooner you get familiar with this one of a kind artist the better.❤🎉😊
Maybe I missed it, but if not, please Vlad, check out Joanna Newsome and the song Good Intentions Paving Company. That song is part of her expressive musical exploration and doesn't feature it, but the harp is her main instrument. If this is interesting to you then you can go back and listen to some very harp-centric recordings.
Even if i listened 100 times this song since 25 years, i’ve been hanged up to your so precise and colourful words. Your analysis made me discover certain new aspects of this song i thought i knew so well… Just in 1 listening, you catched every meanings of each sound and note. Congratulation and Thank you
Ive loved this song since i first listen to it at 15 years old. I grew up thinking it was about a person that struggles to find satisfaction, like a neurotic that Is used to feel miserable and dont know how to accept and strive in happiness. There Is always people struggling, self sabotaging that cannot cope with things being alright and accepting, and there were a Lot of songs about angst and neurosis in the 90s music. As i get older i started to wonder if it maybe there a was a simple and darker explanation, and maybe she was coping with an abusive partner,.making the damage happen to feel in control before he starts the day and doing the damage himself... Dont know..i Guess in the end, art Is what you make of it and what it means to yourself. Ps: dont worry about bjork's last name, she doesnt use it as a artist, she Is just the name like Madonna, Prince or cher
Bjork is a stunningly unique artist. I take the idea that she doesn't sleep as well as her partner, and has to throw away a lot every day to be calm and safe as a very unique and disturbing song idea, and the soothing vibe mixed with the jangly snares, synths, etc., create the perfect musical bed for that uneasy idea. I always feel like the story could turn tragic, but hey... let's get that stuff out early in the morning so we can be calm, happy, and dance. Its a dangerous song. BTW, my favorite album by Bjork is Vespertine, although the first 4 albums are all great.
Bjork studied classical piano and flute. Then went into jazz, fusion, punk, alternative rock, trip hop, electronica, pop, avant garde, and, well, a mixture of everything. The word "unique" is overused, but in her case... she's so distinctive and unconventional that it suits her. And there's always this aura of a joyful semi-feral child about her. Not only regarding her singing but her whole persona and overall attitude. At times she's simultaneously endearing and somehow disconcerting -an acquired taste for sure. I'm glad you had a taste of her work, I hope you'll react to more from her!
Then went and forgot all about music and churned out this crap
She’s just a poor man’s Kate Bush
@@lynby6231?
@@darknight2354 He's talking about his own comment. He forgot the "I" after "Then".
@@lynby6231you know, normally I dislike electronic music. But Debut and Post are two of my favorite records. If you don’t like it, that’s okay but if you think it’s crap, you’re just wrong.
Bjork is a rabbit hole unto herself.
Love this comment ❤
One of the most prolific and genius composer of our time. They way she layers her compositions and add some "batshit crazy" elements is mind-blowing!🤯 (Ah, let's not forget about the use of crazy visual elements in her videos).
@@vicenterairaagreed I don't see her being acclaimed for her composing skills
I think she's immaculate at that I understand her not appealing to people but its just stupid to say that she doesn't know exactly what she's doing musically whether you like it or not it is a complex and well thought out piece of music
@@syntheticsilkwood2206 Some think composing is done by producers ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
@@LuDux If this was somehow true, the producers would replicate it for more artists and create more revenue. Pure BS.
Bjork - Joga
Those strings and that voice...
yaaaa buddy, I second that
I know, right? complete and absolute cringe 😰🥶🤢🤢
The live performance of it at Jools Holland is also worth watching. The only reason I know she isn't lip-synching is because the background music and violins are different. HER performance? It's absolutely perfect, start to finish. Sounds exactly like the studio recording.
@@Longknife That bad 💩💩
@@JulioLeonFandinho attention seeker detected
Bjork is Bjork.......she is better than all the rest. I am a heavy metal/ hard rock fan but still, She has been my number 1 for more than 30 years.
Crikey calm down😂
Yup, I was raised a metalhead but my tattoo is of Bjork.
also a metalhead, also a huge Björk (and Kate Bush and Liz Fraser) fan
Agree, I am a guitar player and I love rock, acid jazz but Bjork is my favorite artist.
For me it was love at first sight. The song was "Hit" back in the 80's
I adore Bjork. Pagan Poetry is a beautiful, dark song featuring a choir and giant music box.
Everyone should go watch Bjork’s Riverside Church performance. Absolute masterpiece and opens with Pagan Poetry.
So many beautiful songs on Vespertine. It's one of my favourite albums.
Björk was the first contemporary pop artist to perform at the Royal Opera House in London.
It was a significant event as it marked the first time a contemporary artist had performed at that prestigious venue.
She's one of a kind.
Strange. To me, this song helped me to cry after my divorce, driving in my car to work on the highway, singing, crying, playing it loud. I hear someone thinking about jumping of a cliff and run back to a loved one to go on and find support in a unbalanced mood. She survived today but will be there again soon. I found the 12 inch at that time and also bought it. I got married again but i will treasure that record till the end.
I could say so many words but just- me too. Much love. X
The beautiful thing about music is that we all bring our own truth to it which is why it speaks so powerfully to us. It connects us to ourselves.
This song played on the radio after I broke up with my partner. Played it for months afterwards
Björk is a genre onto herself
Bachelorette and Joga are my two favourite Bjork songs. They are both worthy of a listen and breakdown.
Agree !
Joga. That is utterly sublime and builds souls.
This song fills my soul. It’s hurt and desperation and everything we do to preserve a bad relationship. It breaks my heart every time. It’s the end of my marriage song and always crying to hear it. See. I did have words.
Go straight to "All is full of love" Extraordinary video and song. Live she's a visual and aural force of nature. Very few artists deserve to be called unique and original. She's one of the very few.
Joga should be next if you choose to follow more of her music!
And watch the video too.
For Bjork doing pure vocal gymnastics, I recommend "Birthday" by her earlier group The Sugarcubes.
Preferably the Icelandic version 🙂
2nded
Cold Sweat is another stand out. The way she goes into a growl and back out again. The whole Life’s too Good album features some amazing vocals by Björk.
♥️
I really love birthday, Stiller sending the video to all my friends in their birth Day. Da da da da da da da da da
"Almost but not quite" is a nice way to talk about Björk and her music. I like to think of her as "liminal." It's hard to compare one of her songs to the next, because she is experimental and uninterested in treading the paths of others.
When I first heard her sing as a teen in the song "Regina" (as part of the band Sugarcubes), I thought that her voice was the purest sound I had ever heard. She can rasp, growl, or chime.
At the beginning of your listen and reaction, when you laughed, I feared you weren't taking her seriously. She's easy to dismiss as a crackpot (google her swan dress). But you were laughing at the similarity of her story to your father's, which is lovely. Your analysis gave me new ways to think about her music but, more important, about music in general. Thank you.
Bjork has produced some of the most etherial and majestic music ever created. I was lucky enough to see her live in 1996 headlining the Phoenix Festival in the UK, sublime. On that same day was Cypress Hill & Massive Attack, it was the hottest day of the year, and you could not have asked for a better trio to welcome in the sunset. I will never forget Massive Attack's Unfinished Symphony, it was otherworldly.
I was also classically trained (so was Bjork, obviously), and I’m confident to say that Bjork is my favourite musician of all time, I admire her even more than Beethoven, Chopin or Debussy.
The first time I listened to Bjork I was mesmerised, it’s like she’s reinventing music itself. I hadn’t listened to music like that, or I didn’t know music could be like that. Her music is so challenging, yet engaging and intriguing. Her unusual voice, use of syncopation, texture, volcanic/instrumental/micro beats (or natural sounds like thawing snow), odd rhythm (her vocal line is seemingly ‘off’-beat), dissonance, noise, using a bass line that is in a different key from the rest of the song, rare time signature (e.g. 5/4, 13/8, 17/8, or add an extra beat to a bar in a 4/4 song, or I even can’t tell what time signature she’s using, like in “Ovule”…) … all are so interesting to me.
As a person who knows music theory, I like to deconstruct her songs, and pay attention to every layer. There’s so much to explore and analyse. Her albums are diverse and she becomes more experimental later in her discography, but I think those who are into classical music would particularly appreciate some of the following songs: “Joga”, “Bachelorette”, “Hidden Place”, “Unison”, “Stonemilker”, etc.
Hope you would react to her discography chronologically. She’s a gem.
She is ridiculously good. There’s some of her stuff that causes my mental computer to hang. Not enough processing speed at a given moment😂. And my vocabulary reduces to “ wha…?
That's just a bizarre comment if you really think she will last or have changed music itself Beethoven did. There are several far more talented musicians today that can and have done all those things with dissonance, noise, key and time signature differentiations, syntheszied sounds and are better singers. Jazz players have been doing it for years. As for knowing and USING music theory, there a
re people doing more serious innovations there as well as teaching it. You can probably figure out who.
Not Rock....
@@bryanleggo3489 But Bjork is popular. That's kinda crazy. She's also one of the best lyricists in pop music, which helps.
@@saintsalieri Yeah, with a certain artsy crowd, anyway, which isn't always a plus. Sometimes it's just pretentious. Taylor Swift is MORE popular. That doesn't make her better.
Best? If anything is subjective it is what is a good lyric.
FTR, I don't have anything against her (or particularly for her, either) but it's absurdly presumptuous to assume most any modern artist to the immediate or long term influence of a Beethoven. It wouldn't surprise me if she become a minor footnote in 100 years as I personally think Taylor Swift should become.But her popularity could make her last. It wouldn't surprise me if Bjorks more generic lyrics last longer than her recordings or voice which I don't even find interesting.
Bjork - Unison is another worth checking out with beautiful orchestration and vocals, and as others have mentioned, getting into Bjork is like following Alice down the rabbit hole, wonders await.. and fear.. and hallucination!
Yes vespertine is so beautiful the choirs,orchestra and the micro beats, harps, glass music box
So innovative
I watched this episode last night. It immediately got me so excited for you to explore her compositions. Because, Bjork is a composer. She is one the most impressive composers I've come across the 20th century. I would suggest listening to Medulla's "Where is the Line With You." The album is created with mostly voice, including that deep base sound you heard in this song (actually deeper). She is very curious in all manner of speaking. Honestly, I hope you take a deep dive. Each album explores instrumentation and voice. Oh, and her videos are impressive. One last thing. She was even better live. Her voice is spectacular and her musicianship precise, exact, and mesmerizing. Thank you so much for taking the journey with all of us music lovers.
From Medulla I also really dig “Who Is It”
The whole album Medulla is worth looking into. It’s so interesting and experimental. ❤
Yes, I saw her live once and she was spectacular
I went to Iceland about 3 years ago and randomly ended up in this small house that’s a cultural center and saw Bjork with about 40 people watching her spin records. The music was “abstract” and “funk” and true to form her outfit was on point complete with an upside down tutu and huge platform shoes.
That's a great story. Thank you!
Very happy to see more people discovering Bjork. She’s such a unique and uncompromising artist.
Bjork is a study onto herself. I sometimes think her music is psychotropic. Bjork is a sound sculptor more than a songwriter. She creates soundscapes. I believe you are correct Amy, the percussion is dropping off the edge of that cliff, there is even a sense of echoing happening there, and that is typical of Bjork. I see many people asking for the song Army of me, which is one of my personal favourites for personal reasons, however, from a musical perspective I think Joga is the bigger gift to share with you Amy, even though Army of me is closer to my own heart, Joga is exceptional, as Bjork is exceptional. And these musical experiences you share with us are mutual experiences after all. And the song Joga might be a gift we also can offer you. My humble thanks to the joy your analysis bring me.
Oh bloody hell, but there is also Hunter, lest we forget. Indeed the multiverse of Bjork is wide. Wonderfully strange little pixie.
If you've seen any of her visual/soundscape pieces in person, then yes.
Very apparent in some of the Selma Songs too, Björk's work is all tied together, vocals and sounds, to tell a complete story
I would like to recommend Bjork singing "Play dead", a much more conventional song but her voice is amazing, the girl can skip octaves for fun, with an orchestral riff and a hypnotic bass line, it's a little known masterpiece
Awesome song! Jah Wobble did the bass on that, which is why it is so good (The bass not the whole song lol). He pops up on some of the best songs of the 90's. It was a 3 way way collaboration with some other bloke scoring it, can't remember his name.
@@BassistInATutu "some other bloke" was David Arnold. ;)
The bass is amazing. Just 🤌 but what's wrong with the song. Bjork kills the vocals there, plus those strings....
@@dimegobt David Arnold certainly can create killer string arrangements. Love his Bond work. Especially co-writing "You Know My Name" with Chris Cornell. ;)
@@BassistInATutupossibly my favorite as well. Just looked it up, and Jah Wobble's name came up as the writer (co with B). Very interesting. His name has come up 'all over' in my 40-odd yrs long interrest in music. Has an insane long list of co-ups.
“Easy listening” that was always a rather derogatory term when I grew up listening to music. I rarely find Bjork’s music easy listening. Usually adventurous and challenging. Lyrically this is also fascinating, alluding to the parts of ourselves we had to hide or throw away to make a relationship work. I think it is a beautiful and challenging piece and not background music. But that is just my opinion, I really enjoyed hearing your take on it.
I’m glad someone said that this song is about a relationship. For me the lyrics were always about someone way beyond the edge of thrilled for falling/being in love. She’s waking up before him to throw things out of the cliff because she is so madly in love she can’t contain herself but doesn’t want him to notice.
I don't know if you follow this channel regularly, but when Amy says easy listening, she doesn't mean it in the old 1970s meaning of the term. I think she means more that it is pleasant to the ears, doesn't require listening to it 100 times to be able to make sense of it (that can be a good thing, but not necessarily). Isn't something that you necessarily shut off the entire world, shut of the lights, push everyone out of the house, lay down on the living room floor and listen to in with your eyes closed (like Pink Floyd) I don't think she meant it as any kind of judgement call at all. Although I would listen to this with the lights off and my eyes closed. I LOVE this song! But anyway, I am 99% sure Amy did not mean anything derogatory by calling it easy listening.
@@Marnee4191 fwiw, the Brodsky Quartet version of Hyperballad is VERY much the kind of song where you shut off the entire world, lay down, etc etc. if you haven't heard it - I honestly sometimes forget about the original Hyperballad that she listened to here because I'm so in love with the Brodsky Quartet version
@@demolitionwoman_OFMD I will check that out!
I personally hear the lyrics as coming from a slightly darker place; maybe not darkness right now, but the person depicted feels she needs to - every morning before you wake - throw things (her dark thoughts?) off the cliff in order to function and be happy. Some among us cope in that way by constantly being on the lookout for darkness inside. It can work for a while, and it may be necessary, but it's hard and it can't go on forever; as you grow you need to get to a safer place.
This is more how I always took this song, also.
In an interview with David Hemingway, she elaborated: "I guess that song is about when you're in a relationship and it's going really well and you're really happy and maybe you have given up parts of yourself. To fall in love and be in a relationship for a long time is like giving a lot of parts of you away because the relationship becomes more important than you as individuals.
I'm tired of the structural racism in the "dark metaphor"... Does dark mean bad in your language? That is racist! Tired of the dark metaphor! Dark does not equal bad. Stop the racist language!
I saw Sugarcubes in 1989 when I was 13. I instantly thought that a country that spits out a band like this must be paradise.
I was right. Ísland is indescribably beautiful. I even saw her live in Reykjavík in 2011 in front of a small audience. Breathtaking. I still know the first solo albums by heart until Volta by heart.
She released her first album when she was 12. She even has a jazz album from 1990, Gling-Gló. Crazy good.
Björk is an artwork of its own.
Björk is The Goddess of The Goddesses.
There´s enough Björk songs to dive into so you can listen to material an whole week. Army of me, Human behavor, It´s oh so quiet or Bachelorette. Björk is one of kind.
It's Oh So Quiet is a great cover and it would be very cool to hear a comparison between hers and Betty Hutton's.
This is my first time hearing this. I haven't really paid much attention to Bjork, but whenever I do listen to her, I'm always struck by how original and different she is.
If you ever feel curious for more, this album Is a good starting point to get to know bjork, one of the More "accesible" ones. Post Is a beautiful album from start to finish.
12:37
The abstract description you have given of Björk’s music is perfect.
There is no easy way to describe the sound and purpose of her music.
I was arguing with a friend if Jimmy Page was one of the gods of rock, & then asked him who he thought they were, _____Bjőrk was his answer! Human Behavior is a lyrical, vocal Masterpiece & her intonement with this musical score is breathtaking!
Oh now this was a fun surprise, seeing you listen to Hyperballad! Even though I for once actually disagree with you on some aspects - we clearly interpret the lyrics very differently. I would not say this is easy background music, something light and suitable for little children, not at all. It's got this happy, light, curious, almost childish surface but underneath? It's dark, it's very dark.
"I Imagine what my body would sound like slamming against those rocks. And when it lands, will my eyes be closed or open?" That right there is more than just idle curiosity of what it might be like falling off the edge, if you ask me. Especially when paired with "I go through all this before you wake up, so I can feel happier, to be safe up here with you" it speaks of a person who's struggling with life. The habit she's formed, seeming so meaningless and simplistic, is a ritual to keep her safe and sane, but in truth it might be herself she wants to fling off that edge. I think it likely is more of a metaphorical death that it refers to, about letting go of that which was, but it could just as well be about actual suicidal impulses.
Personally, I can barely overstate how much this song meant to me during my teenage years. During particular period I would put it on repeat in my headphones and just listen, and listen, and listen, and submerge myself in the sounds and in the lyrics. And funnily... For the first whole year, when I had fallen into a destructive mindset, I only saw beauty in it. Only when I got up on the other side and started realizing how badly I'd fallen into that dark and self destructive pit, could I see how much pain and darkness there is in Hyperballad. But, that's a personal side note. But it just goes to show, the lyrics can seem very different depending on your perspective.
As for Björk in general... She is very much an explorerer of sounds, who challenges the norm and breaks away from expectations of what music is supposed to sound like. It's art as much as it is music. I hope you'll do more of her songs! I'd reccommend most any song from Homogenic, especially.
As always, a pleasure seeing your reactions!
I agree, I think this song has a sort of menacing message where this person has to get up early to “clean up her emotional mess” because the person she lives with can’t or won’t deal with any of the inner darkness.
Exactly. I don't think people who have not experienced this would get it.
Thank you for sharing , this song and that album was the sound of a generation in the 90s for sure 😊
Love your contribution AND
I'm tired of the structural racism in the "dark metaphor"... Does dark mean bad in your language? That is racist! Tired of the dark metaphor! Dark does not equal bad. Stop the racist language!
Ah, one of my favorites. What a composer, singer, and personality. She's a whole thing.
Björk is one of few artists whose work I have purchased upon release without question for decades. Yes, some of it is pretty inaccessible / challenging.... but always worth the effort imho. She is absolutely her own thing, & can be quite a force of nature! She is truly #Unique, & thank the Lord for her having shared her uniqueness with us.... I know my life is richer for her presence in it. :)
How wonderful to see you get acquainted with Björk, and to do it with Hyper-ballad, which I wouldn't have thought of as one of her most accessible songs. Great reaction!
So many Bjork songs I can't wait for her to hear. As far as the more accessible and early ones, Human Behavior, Bachelorette and Isobel immediately come to mind.
Oh yes, joga as well. And anything from Medulla
"Human Behavior" is so weird and so groovy. No one else in the world like Bjork.
"So Broken" would be another good one as it really showcases her vocal range (as the only accompaniment is acoustic guitar). Plus the back story of the song is just mental.
Pagan poetry is godlike. Isobel.
Unravel AND the dull flame of desire are great options too
Time to explore Sigur Ros now!
The song seems like she’s saying that she has to force herself into experiencing unnecessary danger in order to feel safe with the other person. You noticed the textures in the sound and I think thats where she excels all kinds of sounds in her broad musical palette. Thanks for doing Bjork, the concert film from London in 2000 is great film.
I've always felt a very dark undertone to this. Why doesn't she automatically feel safe with the other person? How bad can her life with this other person be (trapped with them on a mountain) if the only way to accept it is to constantly remind herself that *throwing herself down a mountain* is worse? I find the whole song disturbing.
@@davidmeadows3351 yeah it’s disturbing, but you know that’s why people go to horror movies. I guess that the Hyper part of the Ballad. It doesn’t mean her life is bad or that the other is a threat, it could just be that she doesn’t feel safe enough
Amy, I love how you analyze these pieces of music (I’m referring to this song and others that you have reacted to). You pull from your childhood memories, general likes and dislikes, and musical knowledge. I was a music major once upon a time, and one of my teachers dismissed Sinead O’Connor as a valid singer-that she was a fad. I could see that same teacher saying the same thing about Bjork. I like how you use “context” to describe how practical her singing style is. She is engaging, and I think that’s part of her Schick, but I really enjoy how you bring in how she sings and interacts with the rest of the music-particularly with the percussion. Amy, my biggest takeaway is that you don’t just react with emotional first impressions. Your reaction to that, along with your personal background, music education, and willingness to see the artistry of a piece, for better or worse. Thank you, Amy.
One of the ideas behind Homogenic was to create music that blurred electronic and organic together. Bjork’s vocal style to me comes from her punk music roots. It’s sounds nearly out of control but she’s in control. The verses and chorus in this song are a narrative that doesn’t rhyme but still sounds so musical. Unusual in pop music.
Thanks for a great reaction. Björk is a monumental, majestic artist. A true genius. Her later more experimental work has proved too difficult for many (myself included) but her earlier solo albums were unbelievably good. I saw her perform on the Biophilia tour and it was one of the best gigs I’ve ever been to. You should listen to Joga and Pagan Poetry next to hear more of her incredible music.
I'd been waiting for this one. Great start with Bjork! She uses actual string ensembles, and the drums are digital buy played, not loops. Loved your reaction/analysis, hope you do more Bjork. Also, this song is fascinating to compare multiple live versions on YT, they can be very different from each other.
Altough you missed the point with the lyrics, probably your father's tale skewed you. This song goes from dark to happy. It's about how each morning she ponders suicide by the cliff and then his love keeps her from it and makes her feel safe. There's a live version from Paris that ends up in a rave-like party with the crowd bounging up and down to "safe again with you", amazing.
Bjork is special. Very special. Very brilliant. I think Joga might be a better introduction to her though. But still immensely enjoyed this. Thanks Amy🌷
When it comes to pronouncing Björk: the way you said it in the beginning was actually very good. Avoid pronouncing the "ö" as an "o" (like in "over"), it's more like in the word "earn". So "B-jerk" rather than "B-york" . (btw, it means birch)
And I hope you will come back to Björk. She has made so much fantastic music, she is unbelievable creative & talented. There are plenty of good songs in other comments below, so I'll add the beautiful Hidden Place.
No, not B-jerk or B-york... one syllable. Byerk. The Bj sounds just like the start of the word "beauty". So it's not something unpronounceable for the English speaking 🙂
@ Virgin Rock, your second try for her name at 0:10 was spot on 🙂 Including the rrr that they also have in Iceland 🙂
Bjork is a truly great artist, IMO. She's completely unique and she would make the music she makes whether or not anyone else got it.
Björk is a musican genius, her Songs are still ahead of time, very special.
You might be interested for her Song "Army of Me", which uses the hardest Dorian chord progression You can imagine.
It hammers in Your brain, You'll NEVER forget it... ;)
I'd say that Bjork is one of the top 5 composers of art-pop music of all time, certainly one of the best of my generation. Her ability to compose soundscapes was highly underrated at the time because she's a small & pretty woman, but I think people are properly reevaluating her now. May I recommend another song of hers: Bachelorette
Thank you for reacting to one of my favorite artist. I believe you will like another her song - Pagan poetry - where the main melody line is played by harp
I think "Bachelorette" would have been an even better suggestion for you.
Björk...in my youth she was one of a few artists coming to my mind, if I've been asked for a real artist. She is still today...a real, pure artist. Good choice and a lot of good songs from her, still waiting! And I do listen to her music a lot in my car ;)
I loved to listen and watch Virgin Rocks way to speak about Björks Song. Its not only because of the song, but the appriciative way, not theoretically, but to listen with the heart, realy deep, realy lively, realy human - and in the same moment not avoiding the intellectual activity & theorie.
This for me it is an wonderful example for what we human beings are here for: To listen with our hearts to what ever comes up or is appearing to our minds and feelings - and let it dance. Thank you Virgin, so beautiful, so open, so warm enlightend what to has shown us. Thats why ART is so so important for all of us: To practise to admire, appreciate, dive deeper. Very soothing.
Greetings from Germany. Kai
She should watch the live versions of these ballads. ❤
You are really inspiring! Your grisp view to music you are listening to and spot on attention to details. You truely given me a rekindle to music I’ve listen to throughout time. She really is a playful singer. I love her from the moment I heard her singing. Eureka moments when you analyse her singing style. I love your perspective and how you put them together!
Luckily I've seen bjork live. Her voice is unbelievably good. It's a force of nature
Island is a small country with a small population and a lot of great musicians! Björk is probably the most popular and yeah she is special. She has a wide variety, a great voice and she doesn't make one style to fit into a box but her style that is picking from different music elements that fits to her.
I can also recommend Sigur Ros that have a very unique sound as well - beautiful! Olafur Arnalds that makes music from neo classic (studied classical composition - not finishing it), electronic music, played even punk.... Anyway, Björk has a lot to offer and Iceland has such a high concentration of great musicians - unbelievable
I second the recommendation of Sigur Ros. A post-Rock band of ethereal sounds. Maybe wouldn’t fit your format but I can certainly recommend Sigur Ros’ performance with the LA Symphony Orchestra.
It's crazy to me that Bjork's music is 30+ years old
I loved the sugar cubes, vitamins and this wasn't supposed to happen..... fantastic songs
Björk would be a good artist to explore for this channel since her work is so varied and diverse, with lots of musical depth, especially in her later and more experimental works. She has a unique sound and a unique approach to composing and recording music. It would be cool to see you analyze some of her more bizarre and out-there songs from the later albums.
An artist on her own terms who is fascinating from the very beginning of her career. Her first three or four albums and her live performances are captivating and awe inspiring in their variety of interpretations of her music.
This has been fun.
I have loved Hyperballad for 29 years ever since the first time I heard it.
I learned new things from your video still.
So thank you.
P.S. My interpretation of the lyrics is a bit sad. It tells a story of a woman who isn't aware yet that she's actually sad about "being up here alone with" her person. Hence the ritual of throwing things down the mountain.
Ooh, I always interpreted the drums on this to be a racing heartbeat.
It echoes and races. But you can hear that heart pounding hard in her chest.
Adrenaline. Danger. Anticipation. Excitement.
And this is why it's a "hyper-ballad". It is a ballad. It is a love song.
But she's not relaxed. She's hyped up on adrenaline and dark thoughts of danger and the anticipation of seeing her love, as the dawn breaks.
It's a love ballad, but sung with a racing heart and a sense of danger and anticipation.
That repeated idea that she's doing something dangerous and daring, with dark thoughts, now, to weirdly help settle herself for the day... and to feel safe again, once she's back in her love's arms.
She's hyper. Hyped up. Heart pounding. Raging, racing, raring to go.
She goes out to get that "buzz", all alone, from a dangerous world. To later feel safe and relaxed, back in her lover's arms.
The drums to me sound like a racing and pounding heartbeat. And the song is about that juxtaposition of being hyped up - "hyper" - yet singing a ballad - a love song. To be filled with a sense of danger, craving to be safe again.
As the name suggests, it's a hyperballad.
I'm pretty sure (though could be wrong) that the song is actually about the dream-state. The idea that, when you sleep, dreaming is the brain's way of organizing all of the experiences of the past and making sense of them, throwing out the stuff that doesn't matter. And it happens just before the beginning of the day. So the whole thing is a metaphor. The music video for the song seems to make that clear.🙂
When she (a musician in 2024) said she didn't know who Björk ist, I was immediately taken aback, but then it was a pure pleasure watching her listen with such openness and sensitivity. The following analysis is almost a masterclass. She even correctly noticed, that Björk takes inspiration in icelandic landscapes for creating the soundscapes of her songs. The interpretation of the song´s metaphor was also on point.
Wow, this channel is amazing! Please, do more Björk.
The balance between synthetic and organic elements in the album-generated through the combination of electronic and "real" instruments-is a recurring characteristic of Björk's output.
Have a nice day & thank you
Bjork is in a universe of herself, she is out of this world. I love how she is just herself and doesn't care about what the mass thinks! Go Bjork, you be you, you are very good at it!!
It's my first time watching a video of yours. So sad that no one is talking about your comparison, telling your dad's story and then talking about these similarities in the sounds with the trash falling down the mountain and everything was very beautiful to listen. Love your way of analogize things and comprehension.
What a musical delight. Virgin Rock's analysis is always fun
Möre Björk!!!
Bjork also did a version of this song with the Brodsky Quartet. It's available to listen to on UA-cam.
THIS!!!!!!!!!!
Bjork is one of my favorites. I am pleasantly surprised to see her featured on this channel.
Bjork is so unique musically,that you will find her totally fascinating to analyse!
Very true.
Björk is my all time favourite musical artist and singer, so I really enjoyed this. She features harp on many of her songs so I hope you'll check those out someday.
I liked the story your father came up with!
Her name is pronounced bee-yerk, by the way :)
Yep, Corky Hale on Debut, Zeena Parkins....
Yay!!!!!!
I love Björk. Pushes the envelope of music. Is as important to alternative music as Radiohead is.
And Björk don’t put up with sh*t!!!!!
Those were the days, alternative was the new normal, record companies were looking for the next big sound and there was a lot of good music. Not like the monotone that gets big airplay today. There I still good out there but you have to dig to find it.
And she knows how a Trinitron TV worked! 😂
All her music videos are the best ever made.
Bjork has a fabulous and unusual portfolio, and I thoroughly enjoyed your first encounter. So interesting that your father’s story connected with a folktale narrative quality that so often flutters around Bjork’s work, even when electronic-focused. I look forward to further analysis of her work. Suggestion: 'Pagan Poetry'.
'Hyperballad', 'Joga', 'One Day', 'Big Time Sensuality', 'It's All Up to You'... Bjork brlliantly distilled the club sounds of very particular times and places through her own unique sensibility. Sui generis...
Mount Esja is the mountain that sits across the bay from Reykjavik and overlooks the city. Bjork has said that she has got inspiration from her (Esja is sometimes referred to as Mother because she looks over the city and protects it). In general, Bjork has been informed in her music by the awesome Icelandic nature.
Never clicked this fast.
See, I studied Jazz singing at the Amsterdam Conservatory, in the late 90's until 2001. On paper, I am a vocal teacher, too. 😊 Haven't done any with it, life sent me down a different path.
The last thing I had to submit to get my degree was an analysis of a pop song, and this song, Hyperballad, was the song I transcribed, note for note, all instruments.
I made an Excel spreadsheet in colours to help me visualise the tracks. Considering how well I know every sound of the song, working from a CD with difficult skipping, I still LOVE the song with all my heart.
I had the privilege seeing Björk live in the Carree theatre, with a symphony orchestra and Inuit Women's Choir. It is, to this day, the best concert I have ever witnessed.
Björk is special in so many ways.
Her amazing belting in "Play Dead" can make my soul weep with joy.
This has been one of my favorite songs for decades. I never thought of it the way your father's story goes. My mind is blown. It's almost like analogies are ubiquitous to a fault of accuracy
Btw, those first bass notes are a perfect speaker-tester 🙂 I will never forget being at the Pinkpop festival (NL) in 1996... before the first live band, this was the first track they played over the PA at full volume. I was blown away as a Björk fan 🙂
According to Björk herself, her name rhymes with "jerk" (translates to 'Birch', as in the tree).
Her last name, which I cannot write correctly with an English keyboard, is pronounced Gud-mundr's-dottir (or Gudmundr's daughter). So she is Birch, the daughter of Gudmundr ("protected by God"), in English.
Addendum/correction:
The name Gudmund (Icelandic: Gudmundr) has its roots in Old Norse, where “gud” means “god” and “mund” means “protection.”
Therefore, the name Gudmund can be interpreted as “God’s protection” or “protected by God.”
It is a strong and meaningful name that can inspire confidence and a sense of security in the person who bears it.
The name has evolved over time and has been adapted to different languages and cultures, but its basic meaning and cultural significance have remained relatively consistent.
More of Bjork teacher! congrats from Buenos Aires, Argentina
She is unique and a fantastic live performer.
That’s the beauty of bjork’s music. You’ll find it difficult to understand that you’ll have a hard time thinking about how creative and genius she is.
Her music has no genres. It’s just pure talent and artistry.
The song started with a slow-medium tempo that builds up towards the middle then fades with a whimsical sound of strings that’s why it was called HYPERBALLAD.
No any artist can match bjork’s brilliance on making music and personally creating sounds for each of her songs.
Hyperballad has been one of my very favorite songs since childhood. The day I picked my daughter up from school
and saw her wearing a Post shirt was when I knew she had received the gift of music. Björk's music is a blessing for ones who are open and receptive to receiving something outside of the atypical limited box.
Björk is unique from any angle you look at and listen to her compositions. She has a gift to take you on a roller-coaster lyrically speaking, but when you listen to the music arrangement, it is just blissful to the ears and to the soul and get into you deeply. Pagan Poetry review, please!
Hyperballad is one of my favorite Bjork songs. Absolutely stunning. The Twilight Singers did an amazing cover of Hyperballad some years back. Super cool.
My brother, an art dealer in San Francisco, once gave Björk a ride from the airport and she gave him an acapella concert on the trip. He wasn't sure he liked her marketing strategies.
Björk can sing to me anytime and anywhere she wants to.
I LOVE THIS. They way you explain not only the advantages, but joy, in "playing the game" is perfect! And you played it well! superb (and fun!) analysis
Love you reaction! Thanks for sharing it with us ❤ I think bjork is one the most amazing composers of our time. Incredible songs list: oceania, moon, mouth mantra, sue me, fossora, undo, joga, mouth's cradle.
She is an artist -- musical, visual and performance artist. For most, she is an acquired taste. But the work to acquire an appreciation for her is worth it.
This is not the song I would have started with as an introduction, but it is a bit more accessible on first listen than many of her best works. Enjoy the journey.
i’m so grateful to have been able to hear your opinion on one of my all time favourite artists, your point of view as a musician really helps me see her song in a different way, by putting into words things that, I reckon, people that are not trained in music have a much harder time seeing. so thank you!
13:31 she certainly seeks inspiration from Icelandic landscape. If only you knew :)
it IS very engaging... so glad you used that word. Loved your reaction to Bjork.... please do more Bjork.... you'll love the journey.
What a great interpretation of the music, and lovely explanation of the notes, instruments and voice accompanying the lyrics!
You should hear how voice can fill a hall. Very amazing.
I think you might enjoy Michel Gondry's video for the song. He likes representing each element of music with a specific visual motif and Hyperballad is a brilliant example of him filling the canvas bit by bit just as Bjork does.
I just stumbled upon this video. The algorithm knows I like a lot people reacting to Björk. I’d love to get your opinion on “All is full of love”. The instrumentals of this song are fantastic.
Bjork is one of the all time greatest voices, ever since she was a child star at 11yrs old. Her unique voice cannot be imitated & her wide catalog never duplicated. The sooner you get familiar with this one of a kind artist the better.❤🎉😊
Maybe I missed it, but if not, please Vlad, check out Joanna Newsome and the song Good Intentions Paving Company. That song is part of her expressive musical exploration and doesn't feature it, but the harp is her main instrument. If this is interesting to you then you can go back and listen to some very harp-centric recordings.
Even if i listened 100 times this song since 25 years, i’ve been hanged up to your so precise and colourful words.
Your analysis made me discover certain new aspects of this song i thought i knew so well…
Just in 1 listening, you catched every meanings of each sound and note.
Congratulation and Thank you
Ive loved this song since i first listen to it at 15 years old. I grew up thinking it was about a person that struggles to find satisfaction, like a neurotic that Is used to feel miserable and dont know how to accept and strive in happiness. There Is always people struggling, self sabotaging that cannot cope with things being alright and accepting, and there were a Lot of songs about angst and neurosis in the 90s music. As i get older i started to wonder if it maybe there a was a simple and darker explanation, and maybe she was coping with an abusive partner,.making the damage happen to feel in control before he starts the day and doing the damage himself... Dont know..i Guess in the end, art Is what you make of it and what it means to yourself.
Ps: dont worry about bjork's last name, she doesnt use it as a artist, she Is just the name like Madonna, Prince or cher
Bjork is a stunningly unique artist. I take the idea that she doesn't sleep as well as her partner, and has to throw away a lot every day to be calm and safe as a very unique and disturbing song idea, and the soothing vibe mixed with the jangly snares, synths, etc., create the perfect musical bed for that uneasy idea. I always feel like the story could turn tragic, but hey... let's get that stuff out early in the morning so we can be calm, happy, and dance. Its a dangerous song. BTW, my favorite album by Bjork is Vespertine, although the first 4 albums are all great.
I was delighted your next video was about this particular piece of music