The Björk Rate: Complete.
- Thread starter Animalia
- Start date
Well poop you all.
I'm not happy about that one.
they&she
I get how Medúlla can seem cold, it's relatively sparse and it does seem like a ~songs from the cold seas~ effort. However I'd say it's the bareness that gives it a deeply human warmth, chaleur humaine (on iTunes now). It's nearly all voice, the original musical instrument and one that's human to the core (so medúlla?). Ancient, traditional and modern vocal techniques meet on the album to create something wonderful. Pleasure Is All Mine is so rich and smooth like lotion. I think only Desired Constellation seems somewhat cold to me, and that's because of the twinkly electronic background.
Vökuró is a gorgeous thing. It makes me think of my grandma on my dad's side who'd sing traditional songs in Ukrainian, songs that I'd have little idea as to what they were about but the old woman's voice was so powerful and captivating, and when her daughters joined in to harmonise it would just stop me in my tracks.
It makes me think back to when I was a kid in church, confused by the archaic lyrics of the songs sung there but being moved by the crowd singing, echoing in the cold interior, and finding great pleasure in joining in.
It takes me back to the brief periods I had in a church choir (a year after I stopped going to church, I'd joined just because I loved singing) and a few years later in an amateur choir, though my voice isn't pretty and has quite a limited range but I could hit the right notes most of the time. Reminds me of the utter delight I felt when I realised how gorgeous all our voices singing in harmony could sound, and that my thoroughly unremarkable on its own voice was a part of it.
I do get how one could find it unexciting. But I can't understand completely dismissing it. Especially with the "no melodies!!!!" comments – this one's melody is so lush, it's like a forgotten traditional folk song. And the vocals aren't obscured by anything so I don't think you can miss that, really. Is it really the lack of melody you're complaining about or is it just an excuse for it not being wrapped up in a glossy production and sung in English?
Medúlla's full of melodies, wonderful ones. Who Is It is one of Björk's most purely pop songs, it's just not produced like a conventional one. No, it's not all easy to digest and I can't guarantee everyone will be raving about it as much has me. But if you decide to get stuck in your box and not even try to get into it then it's your loss I guess.
Exactly, and I don't think it would have felt right otherwise. It's still an intricate piece of work but it just resonates deeply with me on a different level. It feels like the polar opposite of Biophilia in a way (human vs science, feeling vs thinking, imperfect vs perfectionist).
Sorry for the word vomit, that's what happens when I post when I can't fall asleep. To sum up:
Vökuró is a gorgeous thing. It makes me think of my grandma on my dad's side who'd sing traditional songs in Ukrainian, songs that I'd have little idea as to what they were about but the old woman's voice was so powerful and captivating, and when her daughters joined in to harmonise it would just stop me in my tracks.
It makes me think back to when I was a kid in church, confused by the archaic lyrics of the songs sung there but being moved by the crowd singing, echoing in the cold interior, and finding great pleasure in joining in.
It takes me back to the brief periods I had in a church choir (a year after I stopped going to church, I'd joined just because I loved singing) and a few years later in an amateur choir, though my voice isn't pretty and has quite a limited range but I could hit the right notes most of the time. Reminds me of the utter delight I felt when I realised how gorgeous all our voices singing in harmony could sound, and that my thoroughly unremarkable on its own voice was a part of it.
I do get how one could find it unexciting. But I can't understand completely dismissing it. Especially with the "no melodies!!!!" comments – this one's melody is so lush, it's like a forgotten traditional folk song. And the vocals aren't obscured by anything so I don't think you can miss that, really. Is it really the lack of melody you're complaining about or is it just an excuse for it not being wrapped up in a glossy production and sung in English?
Medúlla's full of melodies, wonderful ones. Who Is It is one of Björk's most purely pop songs, it's just not produced like a conventional one. No, it's not all easy to digest and I can't guarantee everyone will be raving about it as much has me. But if you decide to get stuck in your box and not even try to get into it then it's your loss I guess.
Exactly, and I don't think it would have felt right otherwise. It's still an intricate piece of work but it just resonates deeply with me on a different level. It feels like the polar opposite of Biophilia in a way (human vs science, feeling vs thinking, imperfect vs perfectionist).
Sorry for the word vomit, that's what happens when I post when I can't fall asleep. To sum up:
(Sorry I feel asleep last night.)
= #70 – Family (6.87)
Highest – 10 x7 (@AllGagaLike, @Karvel, @ManilaChinchila, @Kuhleezi, @Psycho, @P'NutButter, @vikeyeol)
Lowest: 1 x1 (@Booers)
Björk’s latest offering sees its second cut, in the form of one of its sprawling 8-minute long epics. With a record (so far) seven tens, Vulnicura may have won this battle against Medúlla, but will it win the war? Hmmmmm.
The only song on Vulnicura for which British producer The Haxan Cloak is credited as co-produced alongside Björk and Arca, Family is an exploration of the torment and guilt felt after the breakup of a relationship; Björk wails mournfully over a soundtrack of sporadic, shattering beats and manic strings, likening the end of her relationship with Matthew Barney to the literal death of their family. The first six tracks of Vulnicura tell the story of their heartbreak, with the album booklet listing how long before or after the break-up each song was written. Family is the penultimate track in the story, written six months after the break-up - after the instant, intense pain and anguish of Black Lake, Family sees Björk struggling to come to terms with the situation and trying to understand the inevitable consequences. Nearing the end of the story, the song ends on with a hint of hope, with Björk looking for a way to heal herself and make things work for the sake of her family. A music video was released for the song, despite there being no official singles from Vulnicura – the video is a moving, “living” version of the deluxe album artwork designed by Andrew Thomas Huang.
I’m surprised to see this one quite so low, honestly. I love how the changes in the production mirror the lyrical shift – the chaotic, unpredictable strings at the start mimic the torment and anguish, as if it were the soundtrack to someone descending into madness, but then it mellows out into the calm, sorrowful strings near the end as the focus moves on to seeking resolution and healing.
Quite a few of you noticed a similarity that I hadn’t heard before and definitely enhanced my appreciation of the song, so thank you! “It’s a bit all over the place, but it has some pretty passages. That part around 5:30 is very All Is Full Of Love-ish.” One Stop Candy Shop points out, and P’NutButter hears it too: “this is the track that hits me the hardest, it is the violent part of mourning - reflected in the music and also the subject matter. When a marriage breaks down, the family unit is gone. I feel The 'All Is Full Of Love' likeness was definitely intentional.” And Ray clocked it, too, while managing to maintain his trademark Biophilia love. “This is what Biophilia would sound like if it was any good. It does meander a lot into nowhere, but then at 3:07 it changes rapidly into a very different song and I love that. It is too long though, even with the indirect quotes from All Is Full Of Love.” Hearing that definitely adds that extra element of sadness to the song, making it that little bit more affecting and special. Up Down Suite echoes the praise for the more hopeful second half of the song. “Don’t know if this is as strong as the previous songs on the record, but I love the ’I raise a monument of love’ bit. A well deserved change of positivity after the sorrow in the first half”, as does Can’t Speak French: “It’s fascinating how things shift at the three-minute mark with the erratic jumpy (violin?), but the third ‘section’ is where it’s at, especially in the final minute or so of strings and electronics when it’s how I imagine the Aurora Borealis to sound.”
“I thought this was going to be a complete dud,” admits constantino, “but the the haunting string-led interlude managed to salvage my attention from the abyss. It’s still far too long, mind.” I agree, teebs. The first and last sections could be a minute or so shorter each and the whole thing would be so much more digestible, but I doubt that was the point. Zdarlight isn’t a fan, m’fraid. “I know Family gets praised a lot but I can't really get into it.” Poor you. Push? “I wouldn't mind experiencing this in an IMAX theater, the production is out of this world. It lyrically appears overdramatic to me, but to each their own.” Overdramatic!? Vulnicura!? The audacity.
We’ll finish with AllGagaLike, who gave the song full marks. Take it away, girl.
“Few Björk songs make me cry but this is one exception. Maybe it's because it's so raw, maybe it's because I can sorta relate to the lyrics, maybe it's that outro or maybe it's a bit of everything. What I do know is it's Björk's best song in years. The way it transitions from dark and foreboding to light and hopeful makes perfect sense too – we have to hit rock bottom before we can heal. It's basically all of Vulnicura rolled in one, perfect song.”
= #70 – Family (6.87)
Highest – 10 x7 (@AllGagaLike, @Karvel, @ManilaChinchila, @Kuhleezi, @Psycho, @P'NutButter, @vikeyeol)
Lowest: 1 x1 (@Booers)
Björk’s latest offering sees its second cut, in the form of one of its sprawling 8-minute long epics. With a record (so far) seven tens, Vulnicura may have won this battle against Medúlla, but will it win the war? Hmmmmm.
The only song on Vulnicura for which British producer The Haxan Cloak is credited as co-produced alongside Björk and Arca, Family is an exploration of the torment and guilt felt after the breakup of a relationship; Björk wails mournfully over a soundtrack of sporadic, shattering beats and manic strings, likening the end of her relationship with Matthew Barney to the literal death of their family. The first six tracks of Vulnicura tell the story of their heartbreak, with the album booklet listing how long before or after the break-up each song was written. Family is the penultimate track in the story, written six months after the break-up - after the instant, intense pain and anguish of Black Lake, Family sees Björk struggling to come to terms with the situation and trying to understand the inevitable consequences. Nearing the end of the story, the song ends on with a hint of hope, with Björk looking for a way to heal herself and make things work for the sake of her family. A music video was released for the song, despite there being no official singles from Vulnicura – the video is a moving, “living” version of the deluxe album artwork designed by Andrew Thomas Huang.
I’m surprised to see this one quite so low, honestly. I love how the changes in the production mirror the lyrical shift – the chaotic, unpredictable strings at the start mimic the torment and anguish, as if it were the soundtrack to someone descending into madness, but then it mellows out into the calm, sorrowful strings near the end as the focus moves on to seeking resolution and healing.
Quite a few of you noticed a similarity that I hadn’t heard before and definitely enhanced my appreciation of the song, so thank you! “It’s a bit all over the place, but it has some pretty passages. That part around 5:30 is very All Is Full Of Love-ish.” One Stop Candy Shop points out, and P’NutButter hears it too: “this is the track that hits me the hardest, it is the violent part of mourning - reflected in the music and also the subject matter. When a marriage breaks down, the family unit is gone. I feel The 'All Is Full Of Love' likeness was definitely intentional.” And Ray clocked it, too, while managing to maintain his trademark Biophilia love. “This is what Biophilia would sound like if it was any good. It does meander a lot into nowhere, but then at 3:07 it changes rapidly into a very different song and I love that. It is too long though, even with the indirect quotes from All Is Full Of Love.” Hearing that definitely adds that extra element of sadness to the song, making it that little bit more affecting and special. Up Down Suite echoes the praise for the more hopeful second half of the song. “Don’t know if this is as strong as the previous songs on the record, but I love the ’I raise a monument of love’ bit. A well deserved change of positivity after the sorrow in the first half”, as does Can’t Speak French: “It’s fascinating how things shift at the three-minute mark with the erratic jumpy (violin?), but the third ‘section’ is where it’s at, especially in the final minute or so of strings and electronics when it’s how I imagine the Aurora Borealis to sound.”
“I thought this was going to be a complete dud,” admits constantino, “but the the haunting string-led interlude managed to salvage my attention from the abyss. It’s still far too long, mind.” I agree, teebs. The first and last sections could be a minute or so shorter each and the whole thing would be so much more digestible, but I doubt that was the point. Zdarlight isn’t a fan, m’fraid. “I know Family gets praised a lot but I can't really get into it.” Poor you. Push? “I wouldn't mind experiencing this in an IMAX theater, the production is out of this world. It lyrically appears overdramatic to me, but to each their own.” Overdramatic!? Vulnicura!? The audacity.
We’ll finish with AllGagaLike, who gave the song full marks. Take it away, girl.
“Few Björk songs make me cry but this is one exception. Maybe it's because it's so raw, maybe it's because I can sorta relate to the lyrics, maybe it's that outro or maybe it's a bit of everything. What I do know is it's Björk's best song in years. The way it transitions from dark and foreboding to light and hopeful makes perfect sense too – we have to hit rock bottom before we can heal. It's basically all of Vulnicura rolled in one, perfect song.”
It would be if you removed "Stonemilker", "History Of Touches" and "Quicksand". And possibly others.
It would be if you removed "Lionsong", "Black Lake" and "Notget". And possibly others.
Aw Family is great, should've held on a little longer. It was a great turning point in the album.
Gutted about both of these recent losses, especially 'Family'. So beautiful yet so sad.
D
Deleted member 16293
I just noticed that In The Musicals and Cvalda are still here and I'd say it's high time they hop on the train to Elminationville. They're fine in the movie, but on their own... not so much.
And also: poor Vökuró and Family.
And also: poor Vökuró and Family.
'Family' bowing out this early is mad. You're mad. You're all MAD!
He/Him
Vökuró is quite the fantastic lullaby, if a bit haunting for what it sets out to be. But it's a great moodpiece and can really fit your mood if it's played at the right time.
And Family is fantastic when you've lived with it for a bit. At first I thought it was way too long and it didn't quite fit, but now I couldn't live without it, really.
Relistening to these songs is a true testament to how much imagination you need to really get into Björk's more "out there" stuff.
And Family is fantastic when you've lived with it for a bit. At first I thought it was way too long and it didn't quite fit, but now I couldn't live without it, really.
Relistening to these songs is a true testament to how much imagination you need to really get into Björk's more "out there" stuff.
Truth be told my family only looks good on pictures. But I'm glad you enjoy living with yours!
Next to go should be 'Cosmogony', 'It's Oh So Quiet' or 'Cvalda'
I have been waiting for somebody to point this out! Medúlla is pop at heart. The best description Björk has ever given of it is "a little Justin Timberlake, a little Karlheinz Stockhausen".
Also, it's kind of funny we all think Vökuró sounds mournful and gloomy. It's actually a sweet song, charming, very lyrical and almost sentimental. It was just composed in the minor key like most folk songs.
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The most surprising thing about Medùlla for me is how much it's bass-heavy, I first listened to it with shitty headphones (which didn't save my life), and when I upgraded I was so surprised to hear all its subtleties.
Travesty!!! @ Family (AKA Vulnicura's turning point and one of its most essential songs) being out so early. This also means at this point no song from that album is really safe (bar that one everybody and their mother know will make it far).
Travesty!!! @ Family (AKA Vulnicura's turning point and one of its most essential songs) being out so early. This also means at this point no song from that album is really safe (bar that one everybody and their mother know will make it far).