Björk
Overview
Björk Guðmundsdóttir ˈpjœr̥k ˈkvʏðmʏntsˌtoʊhtɪr (born 21 November 1965), known as Björk ( in English), is an Icelandic
Icelanders
Icelanders are a Scandinavian ethnic group and a nation, native to Iceland.On 17 June 1944, when an Icelandic republic was founded the Icelanders became independent from the Danish monarchy. The language spoken is Icelandic, a North Germanic language, and Lutheranism is the predominant religion...

 singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...

. Her eclectic
Eclecticism in music
Eclecticism is used to describe a composer's conscious use of styles alien to his nature, or from one or more historical styles. The term is also used pejoratively to describe music whose composer, thought to be lacking originality, appears to have freely drawn on other models .-Sources:* Kennedy,...

 musical style has achieved popular acknowledgement and popularity within many musical genres, such as 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...

, jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...

, electronic dance music
Electronic dance music
Electronic dance music is electronic music produced primarily for the purposes of use within a nightclub setting, or in an environment that is centered upon dance-based entertainment...

, classical
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...

 and folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....

. Her voice has been acclaimed for its distinctive qualities.

Björk's 1990s singles "It's Oh So Quiet
It's Oh So Quiet
"It's Oh, So Quiet" is a song by American singer Betty Hutton, released in 1951 as the B-side to the single "Murder, He Says". It is a cover of the German song "Und Jetzt ist es Still", performed by Horst Winter in 1948, written by Austrian composer Hans Lang and Erich Meder...

", "Army of Me
Army of Me
"Army of Me" is a song by Björk, released in 1995 as the first, and leading, single from her second solo album Post. The song also appeared, later in the same year on the soundtrack of Tank Girl as well as in the soundtrack of Sucker Punch in 2011...

" and "Hyperballad" charted in the UK Top 10
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 ...

. Her record label, One Little Indian, reported that by 2003 she had sold more than 15 million albums worldwide.
Quotations

There's definitely, definitely, definitely, no logic to human behaviour . . . There's no map And a compass Wouldn't help at all

"Human Behaviour|Human Behaviour" (single; 1993)

I'm a fountain of blood in the shape of a girl . . . leave me now return tonight tide will show you the way if u forget my name you will go astray like a killer whale trapped in a bay

"Bachelorette|Bachelorette" (single; 1996)

His wicked sense of humour suggests exciting sex His fingers focus on her Her touches He's Venus as a Boy!

"Venus as a Boy", from the CD single Venus as a Boy|Venus as a Boy (1993)

I'm back at my cliffstill throwing things offI listen to the sounds they makeon their way downI follow with my eyes 'til they crashimagine what my body would sound like slamming against those rocksand when it landswill my eyesbe closed or open?

"Hyper-Ballad|Hyper-Ballad", from Post|Post (1995)

I thought I could organize freedom How Scandinavian of me

"Hunter|Hunter" (Homogenic; 1997)

I want to go, on a mountain top! With a radio and good batteries And play a joyous tune And free the human race from suffering (saccharine)

"Alarm Call|Alarm Call", from Homogenic|Homogenic (1997)

Emotional landscapes They puzzle me The riddle gets solved and you push me up to this state of emergency How beautiful to be! State of emergency Is where I want to be

"Jóga", from Homogenic (1997)

I dare you to take me on I dare you to show me your palms I'm so bored of cowards who say they want (love) Then they can't handle love

"5 Years", from Homogenic (1997)

He offers a handshake, crooked five fingers They form a pattern yet to be matched On the surface simplicity But the darkest pit in me is pagan poetry

"Pagan Poetry|Pagan Poetry", from Vespertine|Vespertine (2001)

You have done Good for yourselves Since you left my wet embrace And crawled ashore . . . My sons and my daughters Ho-oh! Your sweat is salty I am why

"Oceania (single)|Oceania", from Medúlla (album)|Medúlla (2004)

 
x
OK