It's Bjork's Birthday! Party Time!
Over the course of my life, there’s been only a few artists that really have affected me personally with their powerful and timeless music. I generally enjoy diverse music, including the likes of
Radiohead,
Queens of the Stone Age,
Muse,
Klaxons,
Goldfrapp,
Coldplay,
Metallica,
Arcade Fire,
múm,
Kings of Leon and even a few of
The Beatles songs. But of all the music I’ve listened to,
Björk has been the most influential on my life.
Before I had ever listened to
Björk’s music, I thought she was just another strange female artist you occasionally hear in the media with her wacky outfits. But then one day I heard
Hyperballad and that amazing music video that went with it, and I was hooked ever since. I then took the plunge, taking a risk on an unfamiliar artist, listening to more and more of her music and getting more and more hooked with each song. I then discovered that not only is she an ageless beauty, and so unique in personality (I'm not talking unique because she wears different clothes), her entire life is consumed by music and melody's. And I’ve been consumed by her music ever since!
As Bjork celebrates her birthday today, I thought it’d be appropriate to list her top 100 songs of her glorious career thus far. Happy Birthday Bjork! and here's hoping to another 20 years of musical excellence. I made comments on the top 35. Of course this list is just my personal opinion, and some people rank songs more than others, but nonetheless:
100.
Catacea
99.
Öll Birtan
98.
Show Me Forgiveness
97.
Nattura
96.
Ruby Baby
95.
Violently Happy
94.
Sweet Intuition
93.
Karvel
92.
My Juvenile
91.
Submarine
90.
Where Is The Line
89.
My Spine
88.
Frosti
87.
Pleasure Is All Mine
86.
Verandi
85.
Sidasta Eg
84.
Vertebrae By Vertebrae
83.
Aeroplane
82.
Cover Me
81.
Vokuro
80.
In the Musicals
79.
Nature Is Ancient
78.
Oxygen
77.
Ambergris March
76.
Foot Soldier
75.
Ancestors
74.
Pneumonia
73.
Komid
72.
Hope
71.
Mouths Cradle
70.
The Boho Dance
69.
Headphones
68.
The Anchor Song
67.
There's More To Life Than This
66.
Gloomy Sunday
65.
It's Oh So Quiet
64.
Cvalda
63.
Sweet Sweet Intuition
62.
An Echo, a Stain
61.
I See Who You Are
60.
Sod Off
59.
Declare Independence
58.
Sun in My Mouth
57.
Scatterheart
56.
I Go Humble
55.
Like Someone In Love
54.
Dull Flame of Desire
53.
You've Been Flirting Again
52.
Come To Me
51.
Scary
50.
Charlene
49.
Amphibian
48.
Cocoon
47.
Enjoy
46.
One Day
45.
Immature
44.
Pluto
43.
Triumph Of A Heart
42.
So Broken
41.
I've Seen It All
40.
Alarm Call
39.
Oceania
38.
Innocence
37.
5 Years
36.
Heirloom
And now the top 35:
35.
Mother Heroic
This is a track that hides on Bjork's back-cupboard. It's not her most well known song but it features beautiful xelophone type sounds with a heartfelt Bjork song.
34.
Human Behaviour
I prefer the music video version myself, but this song, one of he earliest, is a strange song about human behavior. It draws you in.
33.
Army Of Me
"If you complain once more...you'll meet an army of me!"
32.
Earth Intruders
A pounding and up-beat song that was the highest chart topper of her most recent album. Sort of a fun jungle type atmosphere as Bjork sings about Earth intruders.
31.
Undo
A very soft but enchanting song .."It's not meant to be a struggle uphill". Indeed it's not.
30.
Isobel
This song is a story in itself. A very good song.
29.
Hidden Place
Not my personal fave, but everywhere you go, Bjork fans will say they love it. Her entire Vespertine album is truly a treat to the ears (Vespertine was voted in the best albums of the decade.) This song features a rich tapestry of sounds making you believe that there truly is a hidden place that no one else knows of.
28.
New World
From her Dancer in the Dark soundtrack, it's slightly similar to Play Dead. Bjork uses her voice very well in this one.
27.
Crying
An unlikely choice for some. It's from her first album Debut but it's so sweet and sad this one. "Crying cause I...need you"
26.
It's Not Up to You
A great song that many other artists would be proud to have, but it's sits in the backshelf due to the brilliance of some of her other music.
25.
The Modern Things
A sweet song, similar to Domestica in that she sings about something other than love, sex etc.. In this song, she sings about cars living in mountains waiting to come out and "take over" in a very tongue in cheek song. She then uses her beautiful voice for the chorus along with some icelandic that makes it a wonder of a song.
24.
All Neon Like
A pounding repetitive beat is the main driving force in this song. It's very addictive and stays with you.
23.
Possibly Maybe
This song is slightly similar to All Neon Like in that a beat type thing drives the song. Bjork says this was the first song she sang that was "without hope". The lyrics ring so true with a lot of people.
22.
Domestica
This is an relatively unknown b-side, but easily one of her best efforts. What makes this one stick out is the care free manner lyric-wise and the fun nature like music, that goes with it. She sings about losing her keys and getting a key that whistles to her when he grows up. It's all rather dreamy and fun.
21.
Big Time Sensuality
Putting aside that god awful music video version, this is a quirky and fun song that although scares a few people off, is a fun and great pop song. If you can call it pop?
20.
Play Dead
A riveting song that captures heartbreak and sorrow but at the same time is strangely up-lifting as Bjork draws you in.
19.
Generous Palmstroke
A more heartfelt song. You feel like you're intruding into her thoughts with this one so it feels slightly uncomfortable. Great use of strings and all manner of instruments.
18.
Storm
Off her Drawing Restraint 9 soundtrack, this is probably one of the most terrifying and haunting songs you’ll hear. I think this sums it up: "Björk's lone vocal soars in the chorus like the booming siren of a blue whale who suddenly realized she was the last of her species." Easily the best off her Drawing Restraint 9 soundtrack but at the same time not a song you'd have on repeat. An amazing listening experience.
17.
I Remember You
An unlikely choice, seeming as it is a Bjork cover. But this is a slow moving, touching love song that hits a nerve and could almost bring a tear to your eye. “When my life is through, and the angels ask me to recall, the thrill of them all, I shall tell them… I remember you.”
16.
Wanderlust
Off her most recent album, which people wither loved or hated depending on who you asked, this is definitely one of her best efforts off it by far. Heavy Beats with some electronic sounds combined with Bjork’s great vocals works well . This whole song sounds uniquely Bjork.
15.
I Miss You
A slightly more hip-hop type song, which you'd never think Bjork would do, but Bjork pulls it off again, such is her brilliant talent, with a catchy tune, catchy beat, and odd lyrics. “I miss you, but I haven’t met you yet.” A song that I could listen to for hours.
14.
It's in Our Hands
“It’s in our hands, it always was”. Great track. Not sure what else to say?
13.
Hunter
A brilliant use of hard drumming beats makes this song completely, and is a slight change from her other music in tempo. “I thought that I could organise freedom, how Scandinavian of me.” Most people would know this song from her music video (which is great), but this song is one of her best.
12.
Venus As A Boy
With a quirky xylophone beat and lush strings, mixed with Bjork’s playful lyrics this song is one of her most catchiest and upbeat songs which was off her Debut album.
11.
Harm of Will
A soft and touching song, which straight away pulls you in and never lets go as the song is so powerful. It relies on Bjork’s magnificent vocals and a nice choir in the background adding to the whole atmosphere. First 30 seconds of this song is out of this world.
10.
Pagan Poetry
A sort of Japanese sounding song with it’s intro and parts throughout the song, but mixes with some great electronic beats to make a elegant and beautiful song. “On the surface, simplicity. But the darkest part of me is Pagan Poetry."
9.
Desired Constellation
A song that you usually listen to alone, at night, or star-gazing. A moving melody background sound that was apparently made from voice loops making a bell type sound which suits the mood perfectly. It can’t be repeated, which makes this a great song along with fantastic lyrics. One of the best songs from her
Medulla album. “With a palm full of stars - I throw them like dice, repeatedly…until the desired constellation appears...”
8.
Bachelorette
A raw, powerful song featuring violins and pounding beats mixed with Bjork’s soaring vocals is a true treat to the ears.
7.
Who Is It
A song that is beat-boxed (I didn’t even know the beats in this song were non-computer until I re-listened to it) entirely with no instruments sounds bad right? Wrong. A great song, and great lyrics. Possibly one of the strangest and cute music videos ever made which accompanies this song, which shows Bjork in a bell suit (yes you heard right) dancing with bell kids.
6.
Aurora
“Goddess sparkle.” A heartfelt song that showcases Bjork’s sweet vocals but also has great help from a fantastic choir which elevates this song to a new level, and combined with Bjork is match made in heaven.
5.
Unison
Such a powerful song. An AMAZING use of Bjork’s vocals, as the song builds to it’s amazing climax along with the help of a beautiful choir (which Bjork used a lot on Vespertine).
4.
All Is Full of Love
The top 5 are very, very hard. This song is purely amazing and touching at the same time, with it’s electronic melody and use of instruments combined with great lyrics makes it an elegant yet beautiful song as it simply stands above all other music. Music video should be checked out also.
3.
Unravel
A song that has to be heard to be believed. “My heart comes undone, slowly unravels, in a ball of yarn”.Thom Yorke says it’s the most beautiful song he’s ever heard, and I’m not one to disagree! Strange sounding organs works brilliantly, the song is just another Bjork classic that is about as close top art as music will get.
2.
Hyperballad
A strong but twisted song about love that’s not easily explained. It’s about waking up early in the morning, being destructive, throwing small things off a mountain, and imagining what her body would feel like slamming against rocks at the bottom of the cliff, asking “And when I land will my eyes be closed or open?”, and then finally returning to her lover's arms in the morning as if nothing’s happened.
1. Jóga
Perhaps the most beautiful song I’ve ever heard. It’s a gorgeous song which not only showcases Bjork’s vocals but just how good music can be in Bjork’s hands. Putting it simply: A masterpiece. A song that will stay with me forever.
Note: I didn't use any The Sugarcubes songs. I highly recommend Birthday if you want to hear Bjork's vocals soar to unimaginable heights.
-Bjork performing Oceania at the 2004 Olympics.
So there you have it. My opinion on her best 100 songs from an amazing artist. Feel free to agree or disagree with me, or even add your own list of your favourite Bjork songs or which songs you like or dislike. I also await the Comet Song with great interest, but we'll have to wait until August next year for that.
Björk Guðmundsdóttir
