I've Seen It All
Encyclopedia
"I've Seen It All" is a song by Icelandic singer Björk
, with lyrics by Sjón
and Lars von Trier
. It was released as the first promotional single from the Dancer in the Dark
soundtrack, Selmasongs
. The song features vocals from Radiohead
frontman Thom Yorke
. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song.
Additionally, when the song was performed on the 73rd Academy Awards presentation, it was heavily edited and ran just over three minutes. The song is covered by Bonnie 'Prince' Billy
on Ask Forgiveness
.
The main version of the video is an excerpt from the film Dancer in the Dark
in which Björk, Peter Stormare
and others sing the song on a train.
The second version was directed by Floria Sigismondi
and was an interactive "webeo" (a web animation) for an MTV
promotion. Björk appeared with her face painted and the viewer could change the scenes and special effects by clicking on the video.
A third version was going to be directed by M/M Paris
, but there were several problems with the distribution of the song, and finally the video was cancelled. Later, the idea for this video was used for the "Hidden Place
" video.
for the very first time on December 1999 at Union Chapel, Islington
, almost one year before Selmasongs
was released.
Björk performed "I've Seen It All" on her 2001 and 2003 tours. She also performed live at the 73rd Academy Awards
, where "I've Seen It All" was nominated for Best Original Song
. It lost to Bob Dylan
's "Things Have Changed
".
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...
, with lyrics by Sjón
Sjón
Sigurjón Birgir Sigurðsson , known as Sjón , is an internationally known Icelandic author and poet. His pen name is formed from his given name , and means 'Sight'....
and Lars von Trier
Lars von Trier
Lars von Trier is a Danish film director and screenwriter. He is closely associated with the Dogme 95 collective, although his own films have taken a variety of different approaches, and have frequently received strongly divided critical opinion....
. It was released as the first promotional single from the Dancer in the Dark
Dancer in the Dark
Dancer in the Dark is a 2000 Danish musical drama film directed by Lars von Trier and starring Icelandic singer Björk, Catherine Deneuve, David Morse, Cara Seymour, Peter Stormare, Siobhan Fallon Hogan, and Joel Grey...
soundtrack, Selmasongs
Selmasongs: Music from the Motion Picture Soundtrack Dancer in the Dark
Selmasongs was released in September 2000 by Icelandic singer, musician and actress Björk as a soundtrack to the film Dancer in the Dark, in which she also starred as the main character, Selma....
. The song features vocals from Radiohead
Radiohead
Radiohead are an English rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke , Jonny Greenwood , Ed O'Brien , Colin Greenwood and Phil Selway .Radiohead released their debut single "Creep" in 1992...
frontman Thom Yorke
Thom Yorke
Thomas "Thom" Edward Yorke is an English musician who is the lead vocalist and principal songwriter for Radiohead. He mainly plays guitar and piano, but he has also played drums and bass guitar...
. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song.
Versions
There are several variations of this track:- The album version from the soundtrack album Selmasongs is a duet with Thom YorkeThom YorkeThomas "Thom" Edward Yorke is an English musician who is the lead vocalist and principal songwriter for Radiohead. He mainly plays guitar and piano, but he has also played drums and bass guitar...
and BjörkBjörkBjörk 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...
. - The film version performed in the film Dancer in the DarkDancer in the DarkDancer in the Dark is a 2000 Danish musical drama film directed by Lars von Trier and starring Icelandic singer Björk, Catherine Deneuve, David Morse, Cara Seymour, Peter Stormare, Siobhan Fallon Hogan, and Joel Grey...
is a duet with actor Peter StormarePeter Stormareis a Swedish film, stage, voice and television actor as well as a theatrical director, playwright and musician.- Early life :...
and Björk. - Bjork's solo live version, heard throughout various tours, features Bjork singing the song in its entirety by herself.
Additionally, when the song was performed on the 73rd Academy Awards presentation, it was heavily edited and ran just over three minutes. The song is covered by Bonnie 'Prince' Billy
Will Oldham
Will Oldham , better known by the stage name Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, is an American singer-songwriter and actor. From 1993 to 1997, he performed and recorded under variations of the Palace name, including the Palace Brothers, Palace Songs, and Palace Music...
on Ask Forgiveness
Ask Forgiveness
Ask Forgiveness is the name of the 2007 EP by Bonnie 'Prince' Billy. It is a collection of covers, and includes one original song by Oldham.-Track listing:# "I Came to Hear the Music" # "I've Seen It All"...
.
Music videos
There are three music videos for this single.The main version of the video is an excerpt from the film Dancer in the Dark
Dancer in the Dark
Dancer in the Dark is a 2000 Danish musical drama film directed by Lars von Trier and starring Icelandic singer Björk, Catherine Deneuve, David Morse, Cara Seymour, Peter Stormare, Siobhan Fallon Hogan, and Joel Grey...
in which Björk, Peter Stormare
Peter Stormare
is a Swedish film, stage, voice and television actor as well as a theatrical director, playwright and musician.- Early life :...
and others sing the song on a train.
The second version was directed by Floria Sigismondi
Floria Sigismondi
Floria Sigismondi is an Italian, naturalised Canadian, photographer and director.Apart from her art exhibitions, she is best known for writing and directing The Runaways, starring Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning...
and was an interactive "webeo" (a web animation) for an MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
promotion. Björk appeared with her face painted and the viewer could change the scenes and special effects by clicking on the video.
A third version was going to be directed by M/M Paris
M/M Paris
M/M is an art and design partnership consisting of Mathias Augustyniak and Michael Amzalag , established in Paris in 1992....
, but there were several problems with the distribution of the song, and finally the video was cancelled. Later, the idea for this video was used for the "Hidden Place
Hidden Place
"Hidden Place" is a song by Icelandic recording artist Björk, taken from her fourth English language , Vespertine . It was written by Björk, Guy Sigsworth and Mark Bell and produced by Björk...
" video.
Live
"I've Seen It All" was performed by Björk and Brodsky QuartetBrodsky Quartet
The Brodsky Quartet is a British string quartet, in existence since 1972, though only Ian Belton and Jacqueline Thomas are original members.In addition to performing classical music, and in particular the classic string quartet repertoire of Haydn, Beethoven, Schubert, Bartók and Shostakovich,...
for the very first time on December 1999 at Union Chapel, Islington
Union Chapel, Islington
The Union Chapel is a Grade II* listed church and music venue in Islington, North London, England, located on Compton Terrace.An example of Victorian gothic architecture, it was designed by James Cubitt, and constructed between 1874 and 1877, with further additions 1877-90, providing an ambitious...
, almost one year before Selmasongs
Selmasongs: Music from the Motion Picture Soundtrack Dancer in the Dark
Selmasongs was released in September 2000 by Icelandic singer, musician and actress Björk as a soundtrack to the film Dancer in the Dark, in which she also starred as the main character, Selma....
was released.
Björk performed "I've Seen It All" on her 2001 and 2003 tours. She also performed live at the 73rd Academy Awards
73rd Academy Awards
The 73rd Academy Awards honored the best films of 2000 and was held on March 25, 2001. It was the last Academy Awards to take place at the Los Angeles Shrine Auditorium...
, where "I've Seen It All" was nominated for Best Original Song
Academy Award for Best Original Song
The Academy Award for Best Original Song is one of the awards given annually to people working in the motion picture industry by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences . It is presented to the songwriters who have composed the best original song written specifically for a film...
. It lost to Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
's "Things Have Changed
Things Have Changed
"Things Have Changed" is a song from the film Wonder Boys, written and performed by Bob Dylan. The song was released as a single on May 1, 2000...
".