Gling-Gló
Encyclopedia
Gling-Gló, released in 1990, is the only album by Björk Guðmundsdóttir & tríó Guðmundar Ingólfssonar
, consisting of Björk Guðmundsdóttir
on vocals, Guðmundur Ingólfsson on piano, Guðmundur Steingrímsson
on drums, and Þórður Högnason on bass. Gling-Gló is an Icelandic
onomatopoeia whose English
equivalent is "Ding Dong," or the sound that a bell
makes.
This album was recorded on September 1 and September 3, 1990 at Stúdio Sýrland. It was produced by Tómas Magnús Tómasson, the bassist of Stuðmenn, who also did the mix for this album.
Whereas, “Ruby Baby” and “I Can't Help Loving that Man” were recorded on August 23, 1990 on Ríkisútvarpið (National Icelandic Broadcasting Service). The recordings were made for Djasskaffi, a radio programme hosted by Ólafur Þórðarsson.
Gling-Gló contains Icelandic themes, and most of the songs are sung in Icelandic
. There are also five versions of English language
songs by other artists: “Ruby Baby
,” by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller
, and the jazz standard “I Can’t Help Loving That Man”, by Oscar Hammerstein II
and Jerome Kern
; and in Icelandic “Það sést ekki sætari mey”, which means in English “There Is No Sweeter Girl”, and is misattributed in the album notes and on the CD as having been written by "Rogers/Hammerstein", but is in reality a completely reworded cover of "You Can't Get a Man with a Gun
" by Irving Berlin
from the famous musical Annie Get Your Gun
. There is also the Icelandic version of Sway
, Í Dansi með Þér. Additionally, "Bílavísur" is a reworked rendition of "The Blacksmith Blues," first performed by Ella Mae Morse
. "Ég veit ei hvað skal segja" is also a reworked rendition of "Ricochet Romance
", performed by the likes of June Carter Cash
. The title "Pabbi minn" is an Icelandic version of "O Mein Papa
".
Personnel
Producer: Tómas Magnús Tómasson.
Technician: Georg Magnússon.
Graphic design: Óskar Jónasson
.
Note: This article features Icelandic characters. For more information see Icelandic language
.
Björk Guðmundsdóttir & Tríó Guðmundar Ingólfssonar
Björk Guðmundsdóttir & tríó Guðmundar Ingólfssonar was an Icelandic jazz and bebop music band.The band formed in 1990 when the singer-songwriter Björk Guðmundsdóttir, who at the time sang and wrote for The Sugarcubes, joined the tríó Guðmundar Ingólfssonar Björk Guðmundsdóttir & tríó Guðmundar...
, consisting of Björk Guðmundsdóttir
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...
on vocals, Guðmundur Ingólfsson on piano, Guðmundur Steingrímsson
Guðmundur Steingrímsson
Guðmundur Steingrímsson is an Icelandic politician and son and grandson of former Icelandic Prime Ministers Steingrímur Hermannsson and Hermann Jónasson.-Career:Steingrímsson was elected to the Althing from the constituency of Norðvesturkjördæmi in 2009...
on drums, and Þórður Högnason on bass. Gling-Gló is an Icelandic
Icelandic language
Icelandic is a North Germanic language, the main language of Iceland. Its closest relative is Faroese.Icelandic is an Indo-European language belonging to the North Germanic or Nordic branch of the Germanic languages. Historically, it was the westernmost of the Indo-European languages prior to the...
onomatopoeia whose English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
equivalent is "Ding Dong," or the sound that a bell
Bell (instrument)
A bell is a simple sound-making device. The bell is a percussion instrument and an idiophone. Its form is usually a hollow, cup-shaped object, which resonates upon being struck...
makes.
This album was recorded on September 1 and September 3, 1990 at Stúdio Sýrland. It was produced by Tómas Magnús Tómasson, the bassist of Stuðmenn, who also did the mix for this album.
Whereas, “Ruby Baby” and “I Can't Help Loving that Man” were recorded on August 23, 1990 on Ríkisútvarpið (National Icelandic Broadcasting Service). The recordings were made for Djasskaffi, a radio programme hosted by Ólafur Þórðarsson.
Gling-Gló contains Icelandic themes, and most of the songs are sung in Icelandic
Icelandic language
Icelandic is a North Germanic language, the main language of Iceland. Its closest relative is Faroese.Icelandic is an Indo-European language belonging to the North Germanic or Nordic branch of the Germanic languages. Historically, it was the westernmost of the Indo-European languages prior to the...
. There are also five versions of English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
songs by other artists: “Ruby Baby
Ruby Baby
"Ruby Baby" is a song written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. It was originally recorded by The Drifters and was a major R&B hit for them in 1956...
,” by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller
Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller
Jerome "Jerry" Leiber and Mike Stoller were American songwriting and record producing partners. Stoller was the composer and Leiber the lyricist. Their most famous songs include "Hound Dog", "Jailhouse Rock", "Kansas City", "Stand By Me" Jerome "Jerry" Leiber (April 25, 1933 – August 22, 2011)...
, and the jazz standard “I Can’t Help Loving That Man”, by Oscar Hammerstein II
Oscar Hammerstein II
Oscar Greeley Clendenning Hammerstein II was an American librettist, theatrical producer, and theatre director of musicals for almost forty years. Hammerstein won eight Tony Awards and was twice awarded an Academy Award for "Best Original Song". Many of his songs are standard repertoire for...
and Jerome Kern
Jerome Kern
Jerome David Kern was an American composer of musical theatre and popular music. One of the most important American theatre composers of the early 20th century, he wrote more than 700 songs, used in over 100 stage works, including such classics as "Ol' Man River", "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man", "A...
; and in Icelandic “Það sést ekki sætari mey”, which means in English “There Is No Sweeter Girl”, and is misattributed in the album notes and on the CD as having been written by "Rogers/Hammerstein", but is in reality a completely reworded cover of "You Can't Get a Man with a Gun
You Can't Get a Man with a Gun
"You Can't Get a Man with a Gun" is a song from the 1946 musical Annie Get Your Gun, by Irving Berlin. It was originally performed by Ethel Merman.Other singers to have recorded the song include Betty Hutton, Bernadette Peters and Judy Garland....
" by Irving Berlin
Irving Berlin
Irving Berlin was an American composer and lyricist of Jewish heritage, widely considered one of the greatest songwriters in American history.His first hit song, "Alexander's Ragtime Band", became world famous...
from the famous musical Annie Get Your Gun
Annie Get Your Gun (musical)
Annie Get Your Gun is a musical with lyrics and music written by Irving Berlin and a book by Herbert Fields and his sister Dorothy Fields. The story is a fictionalized version of the life of Annie Oakley , who was a sharpshooter from Ohio, and her husband, Frank Butler.The 1946 Broadway production...
. There is also the Icelandic version of Sway
Sway (song)
"Sway" is the English version of "¿Quién será?", a 1953 mambo song by Mexican composer and bandleader Pablo Beltrán Ruiz. The most famous version is that of Dean Martin recorded in 1954. English lyrics are by Norman Gimbel...
, Í Dansi með Þér. Additionally, "Bílavísur" is a reworked rendition of "The Blacksmith Blues," first performed by Ella Mae Morse
Ella Mae Morse
Ella Mae Morse , was an American popular singer. Morse blended jazz, country, pop, and R&B.-Career:Morse was born in Mansfield, Texas, United States. She was hired by Jimmy Dorsey when she was 14 years old. Dorsey believed she was 19, and when he was informed by the school board that he was now...
. "Ég veit ei hvað skal segja" is also a reworked rendition of "Ricochet Romance
Ricochet (song)
"Ricochet" is a popular song. The credits show it to be written by Larry Coleman, Joe Darion, and Norman Gimbel, without apportioning the work on the lyrics and music, in 1953...
", performed by the likes of June Carter Cash
June Carter Cash
Valerie June Carter Cash was an American singer, dancer, songwriter, actress, comedienne and author who was a member of the Carter Family and the second wife of singer Johnny Cash...
. The title "Pabbi minn" is an Icelandic version of "O Mein Papa
Oh My Pa-Pa (O Mein Papa)
"O mein Papa" is a German song, as related by a young woman remembering her beloved, once-famous clown father. It was written by Swiss composer Paul Burkhard in 1939 for the musical Der Schwarze Hecht , reproduced in 1950 as Feuerwerk to a libretto by Erik Charell, Jürg Amstein, and Robert Gilbert...
".
Track listing
- "Gling gló" – 2:44
- "Luktar-Gvendur" – 4:05
- "Kata rokkar" – 2:56
- "Pabbi minn" – 2:44
- "Brestir og brak" – 3:23
- "Ástartöfrar" – 2:43
- "Bella símamær" – 2:40
- "Litli tónlistarmaðurinn" – 3:23
- "Það sést ekki sætari mey" – 4:00
- "Bílavísur" – 2:38
- "Tondeleyo" – 3:29
- "Ég veit ei hvað skal segja" – 3:03
- "Í dansi með þér" – 2:26
- "Börnin við tjörnina" – 2:46
- "Ruby smábarn" – 4:00
- "Ég get ekki hjálpað elska þessi maður" – 3:40
Credits
- Vocals and harmonica: Björk GuðmundsdóttirBjörkBjörk 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...
. - Piano and tambourine: Guðmundur Ingólfsson.
- Drums, maracas, and Christmas bells: Guðmundur SteingrímssonGuðmundur SteingrímssonGuðmundur Steingrímsson is an Icelandic politician and son and grandson of former Icelandic Prime Ministers Steingrímur Hermannsson and Hermann Jónasson.-Career:Steingrímsson was elected to the Althing from the constituency of Norðvesturkjördæmi in 2009...
. - Bass: Þórður Högnason.
- Composition: Alfreð Clausen. Lyrics: Kristín Engilbertsdóttir.
- Composition: Nat Simon. Lyrics: Eiríkur K. Eiríksson.
- Composition and lyrics: Theodór Einarsson.
- Composition: Paul Burkhard. Lyrics: Þorsteinn Sveinsson.
- Composition: Jón Múli Árnason. Lyrics: Jónas Árnason.
- Composition and lyrics: Valdimar Auðunsson.
- Composition: Mark Fontenoy. Lyrics: Loftur Guðmundsson.
- Composition and lyrics: 12. September.
- Composition:
Richard Rodgers and HammersteinMistaken attribution on the album itself. In reality: Irving Berlin. Lyrics: Loftur Guðmundsson. - Composition: Jack Holmes. Lyrics: Jón Sigurðsson.
- Composition: Sigfús Halldórsson. Lyrics: Tómas Guðmundsson.
- Composition: Larry Coleman, Joe Darion, and Norman Gimbel. Lyrics: Loftur Guðmundsson.
- Composition: Pablo Beltran Ruiz. Lyrics: Þorsteinn Sveinsson.
- Composition and lyrics: Jenni Jónsson.
- Composition and lyrics: Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller.
- Composition and lyrics: Oscar Hammerstein II and Jerome Kern.
Personnel
Producer: Tómas Magnús Tómasson.
Technician: Georg Magnússon.
Graphic design: Óskar Jónasson
Óskar Jónasson
Óskar Jónasson is an Icelandic film director and screenwriter. His film Remote Control was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 1993 Cannes Film Festival...
.
External links
- Björk official website – including lyrics to Gling-Gló album songs
- Gling-Gló at Björkish.net
- Page of Tómas Magnús Tómasson – Producer.
- Official site of Jón Sigurðsson – Icelandic text of “Bílavísur”.
- Björk's Purple Lodge Discography – Complete discography listing, it includes DVDs, VHS, books and her collaborations with other artists.
Note: This article features Icelandic characters. For more information see Icelandic language
Icelandic language
Icelandic is a North Germanic language, the main language of Iceland. Its closest relative is Faroese.Icelandic is an Indo-European language belonging to the North Germanic or Nordic branch of the Germanic languages. Historically, it was the westernmost of the Indo-European languages prior to the...
.