January 28th, 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.
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