I really don't know much about her - but think she has an incredibly powerful voice.

It was a while ago but I seem to remember different people here really liking her music. The first time I saw that video clip with her singing in the open street with lots of people - I thought, 'this girl's voice has a sound about it that reminds me of Judy Garland.'

I did watch one concert of hers on Tv, the singing was good, her behaviour, eccentric?

So who knows a bit about her?

She is one of a kind, that's for sure! I have all Björk's solo albums, liked some early Sucarcubes stuff, too.

She's from Iceland, she was a child star, sang in several Icelandic bands before The Sucarcubes made a big break and she moved to London. She went solo on 1993 and has published six albums since. Now she lives in New York.

For more, check out http://www.bjork.com/

My first exposure to Bjork other than the press from that horrific swan "dress" was as an actress. I can't remember the name of the movie, but she played a mother who was blind or going blind. She moved - somewhere - to get proper medical treatment for her son, who I think would have ended up blind, but I don't think he or any others knew she was already blind. Hard life, not much money. She worked in a factory but built a very rich fantasy life around and sought solace in musicals, which made for a very interesting movie.

When I told my DH about it, he rolled his eyes and said "One of those ARTSY movies, huh?" LOL!

I thought she was quite good in the movie, actually and that caused me to listen to some of her music. I found her music intriguing but somehow never got around to fully investigating her. Maybe I'll do that now.....

Tambri that's Dancer In The Dark by Lars von Trier. Selmasongs is the soundtrack album for the film. I love the way the machine noises are used with "old-fashioned musical music" kind of sounds! Very innovative stuff.

Thanks, I wasn't aware she was in a movie as well. Amazing voice.

Yes, that was it, Dancer in the Dark, thanks Tigs.
Perfect name, in retrospect.....

I loved that movie, although I will say it was quite bizarre and hard to watch. I'd see it again. Her character was so noble - it was uplifting in its sad little way.

And Bjork's ADORABLE! Who knew.

I do not know her work at all...but I do remember pictures of the swan dress.

er yes, EJ, no-one seems to be able to forget that, or know what to say about it.

After reading a good review I bought Bjork's latest album Medulla without having heard her before and find it just a little weird. I put it on in itunes while I'm typing just to double check - and yes - it's still weird. 2-3 good songs for me, but I don't listen to it often. Strange collection on this album, disjointed and all over the place. It's like spacey electronica done with her voice and chanting monks and chirping animals in the background. I have electonica I like and listen to often, like Mogwai's album Happy Songs For Happy People. The Bjorks not for me though.

There was a skit on Saturday Night Live, or one of the Comedy Central shows [I'm not sure] a couple of weeks ago that in a quiz show format asked the contestants if a particular sound was:

Choice A: Bjork singing
Choice B: An animal being skinned alive

The contestant picked choice B, but of course it was Bjork.

J.

Despite having all Björk's solo albums I find Medulla a bit too much. It's not the best album to start with when introducing oneself to Björk's music. Debut or Vespertine, well any other album would be a better bet.

Bjork is a strange one but I've always liked her. I used to listen to the Sugarcubes back in the day. I think she has real talent and is definitely not in the typical mold of a lot of the ho-hum, blah, cookie cutter female singers out there. Eccentric yes, but I like that about her.

Yes, very strange indeed...

For those of you who have ever caught the late-nite animated talk show, "Space Ghost Coast To Coast", there is an episode where Bjork is Space Ghost's wife and she talks/sings about unrinating on the couch...I kid you not.

Poor Bjork, Space Ghost ends up leaving her!

The first piece of journalism I wrote was a review of the first Sugarcubes album for my high school paper. Bjork was the lead singer for that band, the first Icelandic rock group that made it big, and I did see them when they came to Vancouver in the late 80s.

I don't follow her very much now, because she's too close to Lars Von Trier, a director I despise, but back in the early days, I thought she was neat. The Sugarcubes sounded so different from everybody else.

I'm a big fan of Bjork and agree Medulla is just weird. Try Post.

I've not heard any of Björk's recent material but I do love her voice. I first heard her voice years ago when she was in the group The Sugarcubes. I saw her video "Birthday" and was mesmerized by this creature's strange but beautiful voice. Thanks for reminding me of her talent -I'm going to update myself on her more recent albums!

I like her because she's soulful. She appears never to compromise her own unique vision, no matter whether it appeals or not - she does her art the way she feels it. Even if I end up not liking the art, I love the unabashed lack of pandering to public opinion. And she's still sweet - there's no edge to her, not like she has an ax to grind. She just does what she does, swan dress and all.

I'd like to get one of her Cds. So the best would be Debut, Vespertine and Post? Of those three, which? I like Adult Alternative and Indi Rock, my most recent buys have been The Killers, Keane, Fiona Apple, Cold Play, Green Day. Which would I like best? I am willing to buy it unheard.

I've never understood her. I have had many chances to get to know her better, because my daughter is a great fan of hers. But, no, I simply don't like the way she uses her voice.

BTW, I can assure Chenas that Björk is NOT close to Lars von Trier. LOL!

Perfume Me, try Vespertine or Debut. Enjoy!
:-)

Bjork is most definitely not close to von Trier. She took the Selma role in DITD after seeing the amazing Breaking The Waves, thinking that his sympathies lay with victimised women. Wrong. I believe von T is responsible for tasteless lyrics like I've Seen It All. He's more sadistic than Hitchcock.

Sounds quite true. Trier is a crazy genius : innovative and ground breaking like no other working today , but deep down a misanthropist I always thought.
(even "Breaking the waves" with its religious message is somehow sadistic and misanthropistic in its depictment of the heroine's "sacrifice". Not to mention "Dogville" : "dog eats dog" seems to be the message.....)


I remember Bjork was in Sugarcubes back in the day : challenging vocals , to say the least.
She was also one of the opening acts of the Athens 2004 Olympics , invited especially.

I haven't seen Dogville but guess Nicole Kidman was Trier's Grace Kelly surrogate.

I've been listening to Bjork for a while; she's my sister-in-law's favorite singer. I especially like the album Homogeneous. If I were going to be a superhero, it is what I would want for my background music.

I do quite like Medulla-- my feelings toward it started out as admiration (this is all voice? how did she do that?) but turned into real affection.