Wanderlust video

YOU MUST SEE THIS!

They arrived...

Yay!

If you want to order these posters, visit bluedogposters.com.au

The Einstein Factor filming...

The filming for my episode of The Einstein Factor took place last night! It was a great experience and I had so much fun...

It airs :


JUNE 15TH

Wanderlust single

The fourth single from Volta, 'Wanderlust', will be released on the 14th of April. It will be the same box-set format as the three previous singles, except this will contain 3D glasses which are included in order to view the (apparently "amazing") new video.

You can order it from One Little Indian UK or Red Eye Records in Sydney.

Vinyl
A1. Wanderlust – Matthew Herbert Remix
B1. Wanderlust – Mark Mix
C1. Wanderlust – Ratatat Remix
D1. Wanderlust – Mark Stent Instrumental

CD
01. Wanderlust - Radio Edit
02. Wanderlust – Matthew Herbert Remix
03. Wanderlust – Mark Mix
04. Wanderlust – Ratatat Remix
05. Wanderlust – Mark Stent Instrumental

DVD
01. Wanderlust Video + 3D Glasses

24 hours...

Tomorrow evening, I get filmed for The Einstein Factor...

EXCITING!

New posters...

I've ordered two new posters:



and...



YAY!

Union Chapel link

Here's B's December '99 concert with the Brodsky Quartet...

Part one:

Part two:

It's B-yerk! Not "B-york"!

Björk - is pronounced "B-yerk", not "B-york". The ö is voiced as "ur" and not "or". Think of it as the same way as pronouncing the o in "work" or "word".

Björk says to pronounce it like "Jerk":
http://b-faq.bjorkish.net/about/files/bjorkname.mp3

Guðmundsdóttir, her surname, sounds like 'Gvooth-moonds-daugh-terr':
http://b-faq.bjorkish.net/about/files/help%20with%20her%20last%20name.avi

Thanks to bjorkish.net for the clips!

A picture of me at Big Day Out...

If you look to the right, in front of the plasma, you can see the microphone stand which I was in front of. I have pointed out my very distinctive angle... the back of my head. HA HA HA!

I'm so trilled that B and I are in the same photo!


LOVE YA B!

xoxo

SOME pictures I took of Björk at Big Day Out...

Video of the day...

'Hyper-ballad' live at Big Day Out, Melbourne!

Icelandic lesson of the day

Athuga

• • When talking to or about someone, gender is an important part of Icelandic conversation and speech. For example, when greeting a man, you must say Komdu sæll, blessaður or sæll. To a woman, you would say Komdu sæl, blessuð, or sæl
  • If the situation is informal, you can just say Hæ or Bæ regardless of gender
  • When there is a group of people of mixed gender, you could say Komið þið sæl og blessuð
  • When you want to welcome someone, you also must take into account the gender of the listener. If you are welcoming a man, you say Velkominn, if a woman, you say Velkomin. If you are welcoming a group of people, you also would say Velkomin
  • Although Allt í lagi means okay (Ok!), you will of course also hear ókei, said the same as the English okay
  • As you may have noticed, Góðan daginn (or Góðan dag) means both good morning and good afternoon. Icelanders use this greeting from the early morning hours (after midnight) until slightly before dinner time. In Iceland, since there is sunlight almost 24 hours in the summer months and about 4 hours in the winter months, using these greetings based on how it looks outside is not a good reference
  • Remember that the letter Æ is pronounced like the English i in mine. Refer back to the Alphabet and Pronunciation page if you are struggling with reading words in Icelandic. The phonetic pronunciation will go away after this lesson, since Icelandic words are pronounced as they are read. Therefore, it is essential that by the end of this lesson, you are comfortable with the Icelandic alphabet and how it is pronounced

Fornöfn (Pronouns)

Pronouns are nouns which substitute other nouns in a certain phrase or sentence. For example, in English pronouns are I, you, he, she, it. In Icelandic they are:

English	Icelandic		English	Icelandic
I	Ég		We	Við
You	Þú		You (plural)	Þið
He	Hann		They (masculine)	Þeir
She	Hún		They (feminine)	Þær
It	Það		They (neuter)	Þau

B-sides and rarities...

Visit http://www.shinybattery.sugarcube.net/ for info and downloads...

KISSES!

My room...

As you might have guessed, my room is Björk-smeared!

Video of the day

Icelandic lesson of the day

Kveðjur og orðasambönd (Greetings and phrases)

• Halló - Hello (ha-loh)
• Hæ - Hi (hai)
• Blessaður - Hello (to a male) (blehs-sah-thur)
• Blessuð - Hello (to a female) (blehs-suth)
• Komdu sæll - Hello (to a male) (kohm-du saill)
• Komdu sæl - Hello (to a female) (kohm-du sail)
• Komið þið sæl og blessuð - Hello (to a group of people) (kohm-ee thee sail oh blehs-suth)
• Góðan daginn - Good morning/afternoon (goh-than dai-yin)
• Gott kvöld - Good evening (goht-kvohld)
• Góða nótt - Good night (goh-tha noht)
• Bless - Goodbye (blehss)
• Bæ - Bye (bai)
• Sjáumst - See you later (syaumst)

• Velkomin/n - Welcome (to a male/to a female) (vehl-kohm-in)
• Takk - Thanks (tahk)
• Takk fyrir - Thank you very much (tahk fe-reer)
• Þakka þér kærlega fyrir - Thank you kindly (thah-kah thyer kair-lay-ga fe-reer)
• Það var ekkert - You're welcome (thah vahr ehk-kert)
• Já - Yes (yau)
• Nei - No (nay)
• Kannski - Maybe (kahn-skee)
• Allt í lagi - Okay (allt ee lai-yi)
• Og - And (oh)
• Er það? - Really? (aer thah)

The Einstein Factor

On the 27th of March, I'll be recorded for the TV program 'The Einstein Factor! My special subject naturally will be "the life and music of Björk". I am the first to be competing with this subject.

http://www.abc.net.au/einsteinfactor/

I'll be quizzed on her life from her childhood, first record, her 80's punk bands, the Sugarcubes era, and all the way through her studio albums and film roles.

VERY EXCITING!

Skins

Björk's song 'I See Who You Are' from Volta was used in an episode of the cult UK teen drama 'Skins'!

They have great taste!

from island to island...

Patience is a virtue...

I've been waiting for my Björk 'Singles Collection' for over three months!!!!

A record shop promised me that they would be delivered "shortly", but they obviously measure time in Jupiter years!
Last week they sent me an e-mail saying that it arrived, which filled me with great excitement. However my mirth was cruelly quashed when they told me that they received the wrong packaging from their distributor!

The waiting game stars again...

AAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGH!

NEW POSTER!

Pressuring people pays off!

I have been pestering JB HI-FI Bourke st for ages for their Björk display, and today I was victorious!

I called this bitch at JB today who LIED TO ME in saying that they return the displays to the distributors! I know this is false because I called her bluff and called Universal Music to inquire whether this was indeed true... IT AINT! The stores get to keep them!

Let's just say, I gave that person at JB a talking to!

Here 'tis:



IT'S HUUUUUUGE!!!!!!!!

"Tibet! Tibet!"

http://my.earthlink.net/article/ent?guid=20080303/47cb85d0_536_133420080303-1273210044

"Shanghai (dpa) - Icelandic pop singer Bjork backed independence for Tibet during her concert on Sunday in Shanghai, eyewitnesses said on Monday.

She shouted "Tibet, Tibet!" followed by "Raise your flag!" towards the end of her final song, "Declare independence."

Her protest apparently went unnoticed by the majority of an estimated 3,000 people at the Shanghai International Gymnastics Centre.

But it is likely to anger China's communist government, which has previously expelled foreigners for making public protests in favour of Tibetan independence.

The words "Raise your flag" are part of the standard lyrics of the song.

A representative of the Chinese concert organizer, Shanghai-based Emma Entertainment, said by telephone that she had been backstage and was unaware of Bjork shouting "Tibet, Tibet!" The company declined further comment on the incident.

At a similar concert in Tokyo last week, Bjork dedicated her performance of "Declare independence" to supporting Kosovo's declaration of independence.

That statement led organizers of a Serbian music festival planned for July to drop her from the lineup, citing security fears.

Her Shanghai protest came as several Tibetan independence groups are running high-profile campaigns to promote their cause ahead of the Olympic Games in Beijing in August.

Most Tibetans support calls by the exiled Dalai Lama, Tibetan Buddhism's highest leader, for greater autonomy for Tibet within China, although many still favour independence.

The Dalai Lama fled to India in 1959 after an abortive uprising against the occupation of Tibet by Chinese troops since 1951. He remains as popular as ever among ordinary Tibetans."

I don't she meant to offend or provoke anyone. I think that Declare Independence is a song dedicated for the oppressed everywhere, for example: when she came here she dedicated it to the Indigenous Australians.

"i have been asked by many for a statement after dedicating my song "declare independence" to both kosovo and tibet ( amongst others ) on different occasions.

i would like to put importance on that i am not a politician, i am first and last a musician and as such i feel my duty to try to express the whole range of human emotions. the urge for declaring independence is just one of them but an important one that we all feel at some times in our lives. this song was written more with the personal in mind but the fact that it has translated to its broadest meaning, the struggle of a suppressed nation, gives me much pleasure .

i would like to wish all individuals and nations good luck in their battle for independence.

justice !


warmth , björk."

RAISE YOUR FLAG!

Live links...

Best live (non-commercial!!!!!!) links:

Glastonbury 2007

http://rapidshare.com/files/74173371/_2007__Volta_-_Glastonbury_CD1.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/74176113/_2007__Volta_-_Glastonbury_CD2.rar

United Palace, NY 2007

http://rapidshare.com/files/73345847/_2007__Volta_-_New_York__United_Palace__CD1.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/73356201/_2007__Volta_-_New_York__United_Palace__CD2.rar

Björk pic of the day

BIG DAY OUT

January 28^th, 2008

I had very high expectations for this concert, and I can now say with absolute confidence and with complete absence of exaggeration: this was by far the best hour and a half of my life!

My friends and I waited almost eight hours to see Björk. We braved the crowd surfing and fist fighting hellions who call themselves Hill Top Hoods fans, the inferno of 46,000 people's collective body heat, a dozen hose spayings and of course the concern that our idol may not have performed because of her recent throat problems. However, all these negativities rapidly faded when our patience was rewarded with second row-centre spots, right in front of B's microphone stand.

Björk was herald by her all female brass section, all dressed in multi-coloured full-length smocks. Then the crowd erupted when Björk danced onto the stage wearing a golden gown and fluro crochet wrist bands while 'Earth Intruders' thumped joyously and a volcanic spew of red clouds was produced from either end of the stage. This is when I burst into tears for the first time. I couldn't believe my idol was only two meters in front of me. Her voice was amazing from the get go, she sounds incredible on her albums, but she is truly heavenly live! After the breathtaking, she addressed her adoring audience with her chirpy, adorable voice, "Good afternoon!"

The second song was 'Hunter', who's stunning arrangement resembled an exotic interpretation of a 1950's Sci-Fi flick. Björk danced excitedly from one side of the stage to the other, exhibiting her signature hand gestures and skipping feet.

Next was the spellbinding 'Pagan Poetry', which Björk performed with raw intensity and emotional stamina. Following this was a rare and delightful surprise, 'Unravel'. This was a mesmeric and powerful song which moved the tens-of-thousands of spectators into reverent awe of Björk's emotional-suspension.

'All Is Full Of Love' was delivered with great beauty and authenticity. It's bold and muscular arrangement along with Björk's glorious and jaw-dropping vocals definitely made this one of the highlights of the concert for me.

'Pleasure Is All Mine' was delivered in a radically different manner then it originally appeared on Medúlla. Instead of an A Capella arrangement, Björk incorporated Jónas Sen, her pianist, to breathe new life into this ghostly song. Following this was the nostalgic Debut favourite ’The Anchor Song', which Björk invited her brass section to share the front of the stage. She sang this lovely tune in both English and her native tongue Icelandic.

'Army Of Me' set the crowd into overdrive. The audience gleefully chanted along to this fan-favourite like a national anthem! Next came '5 Years', which encouraged the audience to clap along as Björk asserted "I dare you to take me on!"

It was after this song that a monumental event happened: actual eye contact was made between the Icelandic chanteuse and I. In desperation to grab Björk’s attention, I vigorously waved my swan-dress-doting home made doll in the air and screamed with all the strength in my body “BBBBBJJÖÖÖÖÖÖRRRRRRRKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!! I LOOOOOOOOOOOVVVVVEEEEEEEEE YOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” She then glanced down in my direction, first looking at my arm and the miniature version of herself which I was shaking, then she looked me in the eyes. I nearly fainted. It seemed so unreal, yet there she was. Dreams come true. Dreams really do come true!

A robust version of 'Bachelorette' was another highlight of the setlist. The brass section seemed to amplify the drama and melancholy of the Homogenic hit. After this sensational rendition, Björk surprised me when she addressed the crowd with "I'm sorry, my voice is a bit rubbish tonight. But I'll try my best." She then proved herself wrong by performing with a pitch-perfect 'I Miss You'. "I can't sing but I can jump" she joked with incorrect self-deprecation. Björk's voice was awe-striking, there was absolutely nothing "rubbish" about it- au contraire, Björk!

An eerie rendition of 'Cover Me' followed. Björk was beguiling when she wondered the stage innocently; she seemed like a young child. This is when her emotional and performative versatility was on full display. Björk is capable of Operatic grandeur, raw animalistic passion, coy shyness, comical chops and sleek crooner-esque elegance: all of which can manifest from one to the next with nary a warning. I am confident that I have never come across another artist with this talent.

'Wanderlust' followed. I felt as though this song was performed just for me. Tears of joy swept my face as Björk belted "Did I imagine it would be like this/ was this something like this I wished for?"

"Do you feel like like dancing?" Björk asked the crowd as though she had a big surprise in store: it was 'Hyper-ballad', my favourite song. The laser spectacular blazed behind Björk while she sang with fervour and scathing emotion until the final part of the song when the familiar tune sharply turned into a wild techno beat. The crowd bounced and Björk skipped merrily across the stage, taunting the audience to rock with her. Gorgeous!

The decade old concert favourite 'Pluto' exploded with pure musical ecstasy and the audience responded with behavioural abandon. Björk performed vigorously, attacking the song like a banshee summoning spirits. The spectators were with Björk all the way, we danced with mad freedom as she threw her raven hair and punched savagely into the air.

Then the final song. "This song is dedicated to the indigenous people of Australia", it was of course the Volta hit 'Declare Independence'. "Raise your flag! HIGHER! HIGHER!" Björk commanded in this absolutely astounding finale. What seems like tonnes of white confetti was blasted from either end of the stage from huge canons, the lasers and lights when into over-drive and the audience lost control as Björk again commanded "DECLARE INDEPENDENCE!!!!! DON'T LET THEM DO THAT TO YOU!!!!!" The heavens opened up and paradise shone on earth. This was pure brilliance, such a powerful experience.

"That's all we have for tonight, thank you!"

After the show, I was walking on air. I noticed that the streamers Björk threw were lying on the ground behind the barrier. I yelled out to one of the security guards "Can I please have those streamers?"- I have something she actually touched.

RAISE YOUR FLAG!