Björk

Björk Guðmundsdóttir {{IPA2|'pj?r?k 'kv?ðm?nstoʊhtɪr}}, (born November 21, 1965 in Reykjavík, Iceland) is an Icelandic singer/songwriter with a great expressive range and an interest in many kinds of music including popular, trip-hop, alternative rock, jazz, electronica, folk, and classical music.

Popularity

The Sugarcubes' first single, "Ammæli" (or "Birthday" in English), became a huge hit in England. They gained a significant cult following in the US and UK, and calls from record companies began coming in. Eventually the band signed with One Little Indian in the UK and with Elektra Records in the United States, and recorded their first album, Life's Too Good, in 1988. The album propelled them into international stardom--the first Icelandic rock band to achieve such popularity. While with the Sugarcubes, Björk participated in a number of side projects. She recorded Gling-Gló, a collection of popular jazz and original work, with the bebop group Trio Guðmundar Ingólfssonar, released in Iceland. Björk also contributed vocals to 808 State's album Ex:El, a collaboration which cultivated her interest in house music.

Related Topics:
English - England - Cult following - US - UK - One Little Indian - Elektra Records - Life's Too Good - 1988 - Gling-Gló - Bebop - Trio Guðmundar Ingólfssonar - 808 State - House music

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Tensions steadily mounted between Björk and Einar Örn, however, and by 1992 the Sugarcubes dissolved. Björk moved to London and began thinking about a solo career; to this end, she began working with producer Nellee Hooper, who had produced for Massive Attack, among others. Their partnership produced Björk's first international solo hit, "Human Behaviour". Her solo debut album, simply entitled Debut, was released in June of 1993 to positive reviews; it was named album of the year by New Musical Express, and eventually went platinum in the United States. Debut was a mix of songs Björk had written since she was a teenager as well as newer lyrical collaborations with Hooper.

Related Topics:
Einar Örn - 1992 - Nellee Hooper - Massive Attack - Debut - 1993 - New Musical Express - Platinum

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The success of Debut led her to collaborate with other artists on one-off tracks; she worked with David Arnold on "Play Dead", the theme to the 1993 film The Young Americans (which appeared as an extra track on a re-release of Debut) and also appeared on a track on the 1997 album Not For Threes by Plaid, which was released on the cult Warp Records label.

Related Topics:
David Arnold - 1993 - The Young Americans - 1997 - Plaid - Warp Records

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Björk returned to the studio during 1994 to work on her next solo album with Nellee Hooper, Tricky, Graham Massey of 808 State, and electronic music producer Howie B. The album, Post, contained songs based on Björk's relationships and songs about love (one of her favorite subjects), as well as some angry and confrontational material. Like "Debut," it was a collection partly made up of songs she had written in past years.

Related Topics:
1994 - Tricky - Graham Massey - 808 State - Howie B

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~