"Big Time Sensuality" is a song by Björk

Björk

Björk Guðmundsdóttir , known as Björk , is an Icelandic singer-songwriter. Her eclectic musical style has achieved popular acknowledgement and popularity within many musical genres, such as rock, jazz, electronic dance music, classical and folk...

, released as the fourth single from her 1993 album Debut. The song helped boost Björk's popularity worldwide, particularly the U.S., where she charted for the first time.

Background

The track is upbeat, bubbly house

House music

House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago circa 1984, then in other...

-rock

Rock music

Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...

, about enjoying life to its fullest. Björk explained

The single also contained "Glóra" {"Gloria"} and "Síðasta Ég" {"The Last Me"} as B-sides, two songs that were recorded by The Elgar Sisters

The Elgar Sisters

The Elgar Sisters was an Icelandic duo formed by singer Björk Guðmundsdóttir and guitarist Guðlaugur Kristinn Óttarsson in 1984. The Elgar Sisters coexisted with KUKL, another group they were part of....

, a group formed in the early eighties by guitarist Guðlaugur Kristinn Óttarsson

Guðlaugur Kristinn Óttarsson

Guðlaugur Kristinn Óttarsson , guitar player and engineer. He is a mathematician, an inventor, a practising polytechnic engineer, lecturer and the author of several scientific papers....

 and Björk.

An extended version of the Fluke Minimix was used as the "single version" of the song, and is also the version used in the video. However, this version was not available until the release of Björk's Greatest Hits

Greatest Hits (Björk album)

Greatest Hits is a compilation album released in November 2002 featuring the songs of Icelandic singer Björk. Although not all of Björk's singles are included on this collection, all of the songs on Greatest Hits were released as singles. The tracks were selected by fans through a survey on...

, as the version featured on the single was shorter.

Music video

In the somewhat iconic music video

Music video

A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...

 for "Big Time Sensuality", directed by Stéphane Sednaoui

Stéphane Sednaoui

Stéphane Sednaoui is a French-American photographer, director and producer whose work includes music videos, art projects, photographic essays, portrait photography, fashion photography and photojournalism....

, Björk dances on the back of a moving truck slowly driving through New York City

New York City

New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...

 in the middle of the day. The version in the video was remixed by Fluke

Fluke (band)

Fluke are an English electronic music group formed in the late 1980s by Mike Bryant, Jon Fugler and Mike Tournier with Julian Nugent as the band's manager...

, with the exact video edit not being available until the later release of Greatest Hits

Greatest Hits (Björk album)

Greatest Hits is a compilation album released in November 2002 featuring the songs of Icelandic singer Björk. Although not all of Björk's singles are included on this collection, all of the songs on Greatest Hits were released as singles. The tracks were selected by fans through a survey on...

. The inspiration for the video came from Stéphane; "When I went to L.A. the first time, I heard her music and I was like, 'Wow, who is that person...'. And I remember I had been contacted by someone to do a portrait of an artist called Björk."

The video was later spoofed by British comediennes French & Saunders

French & Saunders

French and Saunders is a British sketch comedy television show written by and starring comic duo Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders. It is also the name by which the performers are known on the occasions when they appear elsewhere as a double act....

, in a low budget fashion (i.e. on a greenscreen), and also plays on the name of Iceland

Iceland

Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...

, Björk's home country, which is often confused for the store of the same name

Iceland (supermarket)

Iceland is a supermarket chain in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Iceland's primary product lines include frozen foods, such as frozen prepared meals and frozen vegetables - hence the name of the company...

.

There is also a rare nighttime version which was released only on the Director's Label The Work of Stephane Sednaoui DVD as well as an uncut alternative daytime version.

Track listing

UK CD1

(132 TP 7 CD; Released: 1993)

1. "Big Time Sensuality" – 3:56
2. "Síðasta Ég" – 2:57
3. "Glóra" – 1:43
4. "Come to Me" (Black Dog Productions Mix) – 5:02

UK CD2

(132 TP 7 CDL; Released: November, 1993); Limited Edition)

1. "Big Time Sensuality" (The Fluke Minimix) – 4:09
2. "Big Time Sensuality" (Dom. T Big Time Club Mix) – 6:09
3. "Big Time Sensuality" (Justin Robertson - Lionrock Wigout Vox) – 7:21
4. "Big Time Sensuality" (Morales Def Radio Mix) – 3:34
5. "Big Time Sensuality" (The Fluke Magimix) – 5:51
6. "Big Time Sensuality" (Justin Robertson's Prankster's Joyride) – 7:03
7. "Big Time Sensuality" (The Fluke Moulimix) – 5:43

UK 12" vinyl

(132TP 12; Released: 1993)

Side A

1. "Big Time Sensuality" (Morales Def Klub Mix)
2. "Big Time Sensuality" (Justin Robertson Pranksters Joyride)

Side B

1. "Big Time Sensuality" (The Fluke Minimix)
2. "Big Time Sensuality" (Dom. T Big Time Club Mix)

UK 12" vinyl promo

(BJDJ 124/BJDJ 125; Released: 1993; Limited Edition)

(BJDJ 124)

Side A

1. "Big Time Sensuality" (Morales Radio Mix) – 3:43
2. "Big Time Sensuality" (Morales Def Klub Mix) – 8:00
3. "Big Time Sensuality" (Morales U.S.A. Mix) – 6:28

Side B

1. "Big Time Sensuality" (Lionrock Wigout Mix) – 7:38
2. "Big Time Sensuality" (Pranksters Joyride) – 6:55

(BJDJ 125)

Side C

1. "Big Time Sensuality" (Moulimix) – 5:46
2. "Big Time Sensuality" (Magimix) – 5:54

Side D

1. "Big Time Sensuality" (Big Time Club Mix) – 6:31
2. "Big Time Sensuality" (Growly Dub Mix) – 6:57

UK 12" vinyl promo

(BJDJ 124/BJDJ 125; Released: 1993)

Side A (BJDJ 124)

1. "Big Time Sensuality" (Moulimix) – 5:46
2. "Big Time Sensuality" (Magimix) – 5:54

Side B (BJDJ 125)

1. "Big Time Sensuality" (Lionrock Wigout Mix) – 7:38
2. "Big Time Sensuality" (Prankster's Joyride) – 6:55

NLD CD

(853 091-2; Released: 1993)

1. "Big Time Sensuality" – 3:54
2. "Big Time Sensuality" (The Fluke Magimix) – 5:50
3. "Big Time Sensuality" (Justin Robertson Lionrock Wigout Vox) – 7:21
4. "Big Time Sensuality" (Morales Def Radio Mix) – 3:33

NLD CD

(855 665-2; Released: 1993)

1. "Big Time Sensuality" – 3:54
2. "Síðasta Ég" – 2:57
3. "Glóra" – 1:43
4. "Big Time Sensuality" (Black Dog Productions) – 5:02

ESP CD promo

(855 516-2; Released: 1994)

1. "Big Time Sensuality" – 3:56
2. "The Anchor Song" – 3:32

US CD

(66242-2; Released: 1993)

1. "Big Time Sensuality" (LP version)
2. "Síðasta Ég"
3. "Glóra"
4. "Come to Me" (Black Dog Productions Remix)
5. "Big Time Sensuality" (The Fluke Minimix)

US CD promo

(PRCD 8875-2; Released: 1993)

1. "Big Time Sensuality" – 3:56

US CD promo

(PRCD 8900-2; Released: 1993; Limited Edition)

1. "Big Time Sensuality" (The Fluke Minimix) – 4:09
2. "Big Time Sensuality" (LP version) – 3:56

US 12" vinyl

(0-66244; Released: 1993)

Side A

1. "Big Time Sensuality" (The Fluke Magimix) – 5:56
2. "Big Time Sensuality" (Dom. T Growly Dub Mix) – 6:50

Side B

1. "Big Time Sensuality" (Morales Def Klub Mix) – 8:00
2. "Big Time Sensuality" (Justin Robertson Lionrock Wigout Mix) – 7:48

Side C

1. "Big Time Sensuality" (Morales USA Mix) – 6:27
2. "Big Time Sensuality" (The Fluke Minimix) – 4:09

Side D

1. "Big Time Sensuality" (Nelle Hooper Extended Mix) – 5:32
2. "Big Time Sensuality" (LP version) – 3:51
3. "Violently Happy" (Masters at Work Dub) – 5:06

AUS 12" vinyl promo

(Released: 1993)

Side A

1. "Big Time Sensuality" (J.R. Lionrock Wigout Mix)
2. "Big Time Sensuality" (David Morales Def Klub Mix)

Side B

1. "Big Time Sensuality" (Fluke Vocal Mix)
2. "Big Time Sensuality" (Dom. T Club Mix)

JPN CD

(POCP-1438; Released: 1994)

1. "Big Time Sensuality" – 3:54
2. "Síðasta Ég" – 2:57
3. "Glóra" – 1:43
4. "Come to Me" (Black Dog Productions) – 5:02

Charts

Chart	Peak position
Dutch Top 40 Dutch Top 40 The Dutch Top 40 is a weekly music chart, which started as the "Veronica Top 40", because the offshore radio station Radio Veronica was the first to introduce it. It remained "The Veronica Top 40" until 1974, when the station was forced to stop broadcasting...	22
UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...	17
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...	88
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play	1
U.S. Billboard Modern Rock Tracks	5
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales Hot Dance Singles Sales Hot Dance Singles Sales is a chart released weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States, established in 1985. It measures the sale of commercially released singles that deal with dance music and remixes...	17

Remixes

• Dom T Big Time club mix/club mix
• Dom T Growly dub mix
• Fluke
  Fluke (band)
  Fluke are an English electronic music group formed in the late 1980s by Mike Bryant, Jon Fugler and Mike Tournier with Julian Nugent as the band's manager...
  
   magimix
• Fluke minimix
• Fluke moulimix/vocal mix
• Fluke video mix
• Justin Robertson Pranksters Joyride
• Justin Robertson Lionrock Wigout vox
• Morales
  David Morales
  David Morales is an internationally acclaimed Grammy-winning house music DJ and producer. In addition to his production and DJ work, Morales is one of the most prolific remixers of all time, transforming many pop music songs into club-friendly dance tracks...
  
   Def Klub mix
• Morales radio mix
• Morales USA mix
• Nellee Hooper
  Nellee Hooper
  Nellee Hooper is a British producer/remixer/composer best known for his work with Björk, No Doubt/Gwen Stefani, Madonna, Sinéad O'Connor, Garbage, Andrea Corr, U2, Sneaker Pimps, Soul II Soul and Massive Attack...
  
  extended mix

External links

• Official website of Björk
• Page about "Big Time Sensuality" at Björk.com
• Björk's Purple Lodge Discography
• Official site of Guðlaugur Kristinn Óttarsson
• Page about G. K. Óttarsson at Isound.com
• Page of G. K. Óttarsson at MySpace.com
• Allmusic.com - About Nelle Hooper.
• stephanesednaoui.com - official Stéphane Sednaoui website.