album review — björk ⋮ debut (1993) 🪞🕯️
small introduction ◡̈
recently, my music feed has been filled with her music which has been both healing and expansive for me. björk,
you couldn’t have come at a better time in my life. let this be a love letter to your art & everything you’ve given me. this album made me want to see the sun.
track list + rating — avg. ≈ 9.2/10
themes — new beginnings, dawn, excitement, a boundless hunger for love and life.
ʚïɞ = favorites
1. human behaviour 7/10— this song felt like björk’s first month on earth. she’s incredibly intrigued by us, but we’re so damn confusing. no matter who she meets or how long she’s here she can’t seem to understand human behavior.
i love the way in which she structured the lyrics in this! “definitely, definitely no logic,” “yet so, yet so irresistible,” etc. the hard, steady drums makes this song easy to listen to beat-wise. which especially with more avant garde artist like björk, could turn a listen away, but i personally enjoy a simple beat.
2. crying 8.9/10— this song is feeling alone, almost lost without the one you love. lots of people only read this song as romantic, but i would like to push back on that. i think that this could be about loneliness as a whole. without friends, family, or anyone. “or just somebody came / and knocked on my door / or just, or just something.” crying out for connection. going out into the streets just to hear people in their separate, passing conversations. “there’s no one here / and people everywhere.” i imagine a busy street, squeezing past a thick crowd, never feeling more alone.
genuinely off of the first ping! sound, i knew i would love this one. this beat & backing vocals are so fun and danceable, despite the lyrics desperately begging for some form of connection. which is a juxtaposition i will always love!
3. ʚïɞ venus as a boy 10/10— whenever i see an analysis about this song, most gather that björk is talking about a lover, but i think she’s made a character for this song. she sings as though she’s an author who accidentally made me dream man while writing a poem about what love is. thus creating a curious man, focused on the woman he loves, one full of laughter, who “believes in beauty.” which is a powerful statement within itself. not just the beauty of women, but the beauty of life.
this song is super popular for good reason. the dreamy beat, how she switches to icelandic, her vocals in this left me speechless. i have zero notes besides wow, what the fuck, how did she do that?
4. there’s more to life than this (live version) 8/10—
this song feels like in the midst of a party, you look down at your drink. a dark mix of whatever was on that table, you didn’t ask just smiled and took it from the man on the opposite side of the table. even inside of such a crazy, lively scene you can feel that it isn’t enough for you. there has to be more out there than superficial connections built on liquor and techno beats.
i don’t hear a lot of songs with these kinds of beats, so i’m very curious about it as a whole but i enjoy what björk does with it. my absolute favorite part is when she steps outside of the party and continues singing proving that there is more out there, you just can’t be scared to sing alone. also the transition >
5. ʚïɞ like someone in love 10/10— this song feels like inexperience, but at an age where you’d least expect it. a new love breathes life into you, walking amongst the rest of us, but floating just slightly above the pavement.
i was overtly excited when i found that this is one of those songs that artists have been covering for years (another one of my favs, ella fitzgerald sang this as well). the harp is one of my most favored instruments, along with string accompaniment, this song is definitely on the top of my list. in fact, this is the song that made me want to review this song. i find björk rendition so inspiring, she took this and made it so different it feels like she originated it.
6. big time sensuality 9/10— this song definitely gives me “i know i’m a lot, but i won’t apologize for it.” again, i don’t want to limit this to just romantic feelings! to me, this could be just about life in general, having big feelings about everything. never being partial, or neutral. not possessing the ability to be either of those things. this song is intense and fun.
i love this on-the-nose lyricism & title of this piece. i devour women made music about their personal sexuality. unabashed, not ashamed but claiming it proudly. and not even in just a sexual context, but the way she loves people. another beat that gives me techno, but i’m not sure on the genre so i won’t clam it is that.
7. one day 9/10— with more hints of virginity & inexperience, this song feels like the waiting future, opening its mouth to swallow you whole. curious, pensive you are about to approach. budding, eager to bloom.
the repetition of “one day” may feel like björk is rushing us into a new era, but i see as a reassurance. the maw of the future is always there, waiting. “when you’re up to it.” the beat is light and warm, inciting the listener. again, loved the transition!
8. aeroplane 10/10— this song feels the most personable to björk, as it speaks on the struggles of being in a long distance relationship. at this point in the album it is well established that she has these big emotions. i love how empty the song felt, it was anticipating, ready to leap into the arms of love once again.
my favorite lyric, “across the world to follow my heart,” serves as a synopsis to the song; but lines like “one word, one word on the phone,” & “one touch, but one touch directly” speak to the sense of desperation. she is itching in her skin to be with her love.
9. ʚïɞ come to me 10/10— this song is alluring personified. you are not begging your lover, hardly even asking; you’re telling them. come to me, depend on me, let me solve your problems. lay into me and they will fade away. this song is a woman opening her arms, light spills out, and you can’t do anything but walk into it.
i absolutely adore this beat. the chime of the keyboard, the sturdy beat of the drum, the soft strum of bass. the lyrics are assuring, as they come from a place of understanding, “you’re exhausted / come lie down / you don’t have to explain.” björk is drawing out an alluring irresistible nature.
10. violently happy 9/10— this song feels like a more mature form cuteness aggression. being with someone who makes you so happy that you feel violent. it’s energetic, uncontrollable. you can’t fit inside your own body.
the beat is fun and what i am pretty sure is techno, which translates to the overt feeling of happiness. my favorite lines are “come get me before i get into trouble,” “overemotional / violently happy,” & “this small town hasn’t got room / for my big feelings.” something i’ve come to adore is how unashamed björk is. framing these emotions in such a neutral—almost positive—light is so healing to me personally & i’m a sucker for it.
11. the anchor song 10/10— this song feels like the afterlife of someone thrown overboard. the tired, betrayed sailor spends her nights going back to the night. is this comfort? is she stewing in her own hate? she never says. she is impossible to read.
it is incredibly rare that i hear such an instrumental. i wanna call it, heavy mysterious jazz. like the saxophone is trying to tell a story it doesn’t quite know the ending to. i am obsessed with how björk lets a song breathe. i can picture my betrayed sailor sighing with the instrumentals, before plunging into the deep abyss.
