Welcome back to a new appointment with Musical Disclosure. This week is dedicated to Björk, one of the most eclectic artists in the international music scene.

 

Originally from Reykjavík, Björk approached music from a young age by taking piano lessons. At eleven, she recorded an album of Icelandic children's songs and famous covers, which became a success in Iceland. However, it was only after various musical experiences, including punk bands, rock, jazz, and electronic music, that Björk decided to start her solo career. In 1993, "Debut," the artist's first international debut album, was released. Moving away from the rock style of the Sugarcubes, a band she was part of, Björk ventured into various musical styles, from electro-pop to house music, jazz, and trip hop. Her collaboration with Nellee Hooper gave birth to a project that defied genre definitions, combining pop and avant-garde in an entirely innovative way, especially for the '90s in England, dominated by grunge and britpop. The first single from the album is "Human Behavior," in which the singer takes on the perspective of the animal world towards humans. "If you ever get close to a human, and human behaviour, be ready, be ready to get confused": Björk expresses the sense of discomfort she felt as a child observing the chaotic and senseless behavior of adults. In the song, the singer's voice moves through different registers and sounds, while the bassline and percussion create a dance rhythm that sounds almost military. The second single, "Venus as a Boy," is an ambient track where a blend of strings and traditional Indian instruments accompanies Björk's sweet lyrics, probably addressed to her then-boyfriend Dominic Thrupp. The album traverses fluctuating emotional states: from the intense cover of the jazz standard "Like Someone In Love" to the dance beat of "Big Time Sensuality" and "Violently Happy," to the dark "Play Dead," inspired by the emotional turmoil of the protagonist in the film Young Americans. Besides receiving overwhelmingly positive reviews from critics, the album far exceeded sales expectations, reaching a total of over 4.7 million copies sold today. Considered one of the most influential albums of the '90s, "Debut" is one of the first projects that connects pop and electronic music.

Today, we recommend listening to "Venus As A Boy," in whose video Björk is depicted cooking eggs with an unusual and extravagant sensuality.