Björk: Genius or Crazy?
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As much as I enjoy listening to her music, watching her videos, and attending her concerts, I'm of the opinion that Icelandic techno-sprite Björk is certifiably nuts. Brilliant, but loony.
I might feel this way because of her bizarre whisper-to-a-shriek vocal delivery; or her strange repertoire choices, such as her almost straight-from-the-shoulder cover of the vintage big-band number "It's Oh So Quiet" that reaches its crescendo with a blood-curdling scream from the elfin woman herself. Perhaps it's her otherworldly vibe; her childlike pronouncements in interviews; her wacky videography (the clips shot and released for her album Vespertine are particularly graphic and sexual, others are just goofy); her willingness to physically attack paparazzi; or general weirdness like the time at the 2001 Academy Awards when she showed up in a dress that looked like a giant stuffed swan wrapped around her petite body.
She definitely pushed the inanity envelope with her participation in the obtuse, self-indulgent movie "Drawing Restraint 9." This half-tedious/half-ludicrous opus made by her companion - the über-pretentious performance artist/film-maker Matthew Barney - features the twosome donning costumes and make-up that recall feudal Japanese fashion and having a tea ceremony in the flooded cargo hold of a whaler transporting giant slabs of blubber. No joke. At least, I don't think they were joking.
So, yeah, I say she's on the bonkers side. But her recordings have floored me since she sang with the art-rock band the Sugarcubes. In fact, she became more amazing and distinctive after leaving the group. I realized how truly special she was the moment I heard "Human Behaviour," the opening track off her first solo album Debut. For "Human Behaviour," she somehow merged the grandiose Celtic romance of Enya's "Orinoco Flow" and the electro-dance grind of the Manchester, England acid-house unit 808 State, and, with that breathy, eerie voice of hers on top, came up with something as unique as its component parts. That was 1993, and she went on from there, album after album, bending synthesizers and sequencers, conventional rock instrumentation, string quartets, and vocal choirs to her will.
Her work as a solo artist has spanned avant garde, pop, alt-rock, jazz, electronica, folk and classical music through six original studio albums. She's received Grammy, Oscar and Golden Globe nominations. Apparently, this "crazy" thing is working for her.
Art history is chockablock with insane geniuses, and I think pop music has more than its fair share as well. Björk is benignly in that tradition.
I mean, just look at this Michel Gondry-directed video for the number "Declare Independence" from Björk's most recent album Volta.
Or this more daring, R-rated clip, directed by Japanese artist Eiko Ishioka, for "Cocoon" from Vespertine. For better or worse (probably better), Björk's not like you or me.
Comments (25)
Barney and Bjork are a match made in a vaseline covered cocoon. My answer would be "Crazy Genius."
My feelings on Barney are well documented (in my head) as I've been to his retrospective at The Guggenheim, he is the posterboy of contemporary art, part blockbuster art show, part celebrity (he's an ex model/football player who attended Yale), sado-masochist. I really like some of his work, visually and conceptually, I just don't like the whole package. He kind of represents everything that's wrong with the art world, and yet smoke is blown up his ass for everything he does.
Bjork is the poster child of the edge of pop music. I have long thought Madonna is over praised for her contributions, when artists like Bjork actually write their own music.
I have a theory that popular Rock n' Roll is always about 10 years behind the Art world (of course this has shrunk with the internet). Bowie was introducing kids to Pop Art and The New York stylings of groups like Fluxus (and building off what the VU had started) in the 70's. Bjork is the closest thing we have to a Bowie.
She's made a few blunders - Medulla fell flat when she decided to alter the recorded voices through computer filters and manipulation. I think it would have been so much more daring for her to use no computer manipulation (other than recording the tracks and mixing the album). A straight vocal performance would have been amazing, instead it just uses the same ol' same ol' sampling techniques we've heard for 20+ years.
I think it's tough for an artists to be obtuse or vague in their intention - vague in the sense that they don't want to explain themselves. The rock world, and certainly rock journalism is full of "jow come you did this?" and "Why'd you do that", and frankly, you don't get much of that in the Art World. People are more apt to live with their own interpretations. I think Bjork stradles that fine line of mysticism and techno fetish that is interesting in today's world. What's the line "I want to be on a mountain top, with a radio and good batteries"? Straddle nature, but have a good playlist.
I'm not sure what my point was, but thoughts started coming together when I was typing this. BTW, Gondry and Bjork always make some fascinating vids!
c.b.w.: You may have been rambling, but I got it. And I'd say I agree with the bulk of what you wrote, especially as regards Barney the privileged pretty boy - although I believe that he's even more overrated than you do.
RGM: So are you saying that Björk look like a man - or Miss Swan look like Björk?
Mike I am going to be brief because of time constraints.
I really dig Bjork right up to Homogenic. After which she had lost me in the weirdness department.
I think starting with Tappi Tikarrass in the early 80's Bjork has carved a niche with her style and delivery. Plus she has been surrounded by musicians that enabled her to explore her own creative limits.
Genius, maybe. She certainly pushes the envelope.
Crazy, maybe. She certainly pushes the envelope.
I applaud her effort in her exploration into new territory even when that new territory seems very alien to myself.
This is Tappi circa 1982. At this point I think her musical career was written, and now we are desperately trying to catch up with her. I give her nothing but props and can't wait until I am able to understand her again.
Terse can be good, I am. Valuable deets, and hella cool audio stream. Thanks.
Ah,ha,ha, Miss Swan, the other thing didn't even cross my mind!
she's crazy - but she's my kinda crazy - I give her the genius card over loonytunes regardless of her dress style ;)
I think she is both and that is why people like her so much. It doesnt hurt that she is as cute as a button to boot. To quote the great Crashpryor, "I would not kick her out of bed for eating crackers".............now where is my oat soda!
RGM: Right! Björk's dress look like a SWAN!
Lizzie: I'll second that, and I actually sat through the entire brutal torture of "Drawing Restraint 9." Talk about restraint...
Rawk: Ah, the Mighty Crash! He was right so often. I raise the bottle of oat soda that I'm drinking right now and take a sip in his honor. Still miss you, buddy.
Knowing Bjork is in the world doing her thing means all is right with the world. If she wasn't around someone would have to invent her.
..and then there is her boyfriends;
Husband: Thor Eldon (m. 1986, div. 1987))
Boyfriend: Tricky (musician)
Boyfriend: Goldie (musician)
Boyfriend: Stephane Sednaoui (director)
Boyfriend: Matthew Barney (actor/director)
I was thinking more along the line of the grape drink Kev... but oat soda would do in a pinch !!! & as a very much attracted to men kinda girl - I probably wouldn't kick her outta bed either - cute as a button is a perfect description
Jonh: Granted. We are richer for her contributions - even the WTF? ones.
Neill: Now, that's a police line-up I'd pay to see.
Lizzie: Are you drinking the Kool-Aid? (Grape, of course.) I'll just add that, as cute as she is, Björk is one button who would push back.
I was a Bjork fiend up till she did 'Vespertine' which I liked ok but I started to sour on the slow, whimsical side of her sound. Medulla I took my time acquiring since I wasn't all that keen on what I heard initially. I think I've listened to it maybe 2-3 times. I still don't have her latest though I have a few songs off it that I haven't listened to much. I just haven't been able to get back on the Bjork train again.
August: The beauty is that we can pick and choose. I also prefer her early solo albums to the later stuff. Whatever floats your Björk.
True but it irks me when an artist sidetracks me like that. Oh well, artistic license can be a mutha(although most times I LIKE artistic license).
I always worry about getting my artistic license revoked.
You? No way! You're such great wordsmith. Btw, I'm about to listen to 'Medulla' for the first time in years on my stereo no less, heh. I'll let ya know how it goes. Thanks for the inspiration through your artistic license!
Can I go with C: bad for the ears? ;)
August: I await your insights.
Anna: Coincidentally, when it comes to music, I'll either give a plug or use the plugs.
Personally, I can take it or leave it. I think her albums have been mixed and however much her kookie persona endears, I still judge her on the quality of the music she's released.
Ben: As Motown maven Berry Gordy said, it's in the grooves.
No, she is definately a genius, first class.
Genius or crazy? Definitely a little of both and it works.
lakposhti: There is certainly no one else out there quite like her. If there was a mold, they broke it.
Samantha: My sentiments exactly!