Childhood and youth
The star's real name is Bjork Gudmundsdottir, which means "daughter of Gudmund." In Iceland, surnames are not used. She was born in Reykjavik in November 1965 under the zodiac sign of Scorpio. The artist is Icelandic by nationality. Björk has repeatedly proven that she is a true descendant of the Vikings: everyone knows about the woman’s cool disposition, complete absence of complexes, and creative essence. The internal “filling” is completed by the corresponding appearance: the height of an elf (163 cm) and the slightly slanted eyes of an Eskimo.
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Björk as a child (right)
The girl’s mother is an aikido teacher, and her father is an electrician. They divorced when the baby was 3 years old. Her mother married a second time to a man who greatly influenced the formation of Björk as a person.
According to the singer’s stories, her stepfather, a prominent representative of the hippie culture, hated work, denied discipline, and from morning to night “fed” her stepdaughter with fairy tales and entertained her with games.
Music and films
At the age of 14, Björk dyed her hair poisonous orange and formed a punk band called Drool and Snot. She was not interested in studying, so the girl dropped out of school. She had long ago learned how to earn money, combining her studies with delivering books to homes, cleaning fish in a factory, and working in coffee shops and hotels.
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Björk in her youth
Björk found her main reference point a long time ago - music. Like-minded people gathered around her, with whom the group “Exodus” was formed. After 2 years, she changed her name to the completely indecent “Tappi tikarrass”. The team quickly gained incredible popularity, but at home the singer’s work was perceived ambiguously.
In addition to her musical career, Björk is trying herself as an actress. With her participation the films “Broken Glass” and “Juniper Tree” were released. In 1993, the single “Human Behavior” was released in London. This turned out to be the first sign of Björk's solo biography. At the same time, the singer recorded the disc “Debut”.
In 1994, Bjork moved to Spain. The new album “Post” was released here. The singer turns into a world-famous star. The “Homogenic” disc, which the artist pleased her fans with in 1997, is called a turning point in her work.
Embed from Getty Images Björk and Lars Von Trier
Björk's world fame doubled after the release of Lars von Trier's "Dancer in the Dark" in the same year. The film became a landmark work in the performer’s filmography. The main role in the film and the soundtrack written for it, in the creation of which Thom Yorke participated, bring the star to the top of popularity.
Björk entered the Guinness Book of Records as the winner of three British Awards. And for her work in the film “Dancer in the Dark” she received an award for Best Actress. And she gave it to her friend. Björk's videos and musical works are recognized as iconic.
In music, the artist did not intend to slow down - the records “Vespertine”, “Medulla”, “Volta” and others appeared. Björk delighted fans with her latest studio work, “Utopia,” in 2017.
Biography
Born 11/21/1965, Reykjavik, Iceland.
Icelandic singer, actress, musician, composer, songwriter
Winner of the BRIT Awards (1993) Prize-winner at the Cannes Film Festival (2000)
Childhood
Björk, full name Björk Guðmundsdóttir, was born on November 21, 1965 in the most beautiful corner of Iceland in the city of Reykjavik and grew up in the free atmosphere of a hippie commune. Björk was raised by people who didn't know what discipline was, who could paint the house purple and do nothing but eat bananas for two days. Until the age of six, Björk even liked it, but then she began to simply hate this way of life. As a child, Björk enjoyed studying flute, piano and vocals, thus acquiring a decent background in musical education.
Music
In 1977 in Iceland, when Björk was only 11 years old, her real debut album was released, which was called simply and unpretentiously - “Björk”, recorded at the Hljoudrít studio in the city of Hafnafjörður. The girl’s enterprising mother, Hildur Hauksdóttir, invited her musician acquaintances: bassist Paulmi Gunnarsson and drummer Sigurdur Karlsson, to take part in the recording, who approached the matter with complete seriousness and attracted the best musicians of Iceland to participate in this event.
The album included 10 tracks, including several Icelandic folk songs and cover versions of hits such as Melanie's "Christopher Robin", Stevie Wonder's "Your Kiss Is Sweet" and The Beatles' "Fool On The Hill". The album also includes the instrumental composition “Johannes Kjarval”, written by Björk herself. Young Björk took part in the recording of the album as a vocalist and performed musical parts on the flute and keyboards in several songs. After the release of this album, Björk gained great fame, but so far, however, only in her native country. However, the beginning of a creative journey had been made.
At the age of fifteen, strongly influenced by the work of the famous Siouxsie and Banshees, the hardworking Björk formed her first post-punk musical group, Tappi Tikarass, in 1979.
And already in 1982, two of the group’s songs were included in the New Icelandic Wave radio collection “Rock in Reykjavik”, and Björk was recognized as the most promising young talent. In 1983, she and other Wave stars were invited to perform as a single group on a special radio program. Björk and Einar Orp and Sigtruggur Baldursson worked well together, and together by the autumn of the same year they created a new group - “Kukl”, which became the main place of Björk’s creativity during this period of her life. Over the next two years, the group released two albums, toured Europe and began to develop music in the style of jazz and political post-punk. By mid-1986, the Kukl group, unfortunately, had exhausted itself.
Movie
Björk's film career began in 1982 with a cameo role in director Fridrik Thor Fridriksson's acclaimed documentary Rock in Reykjavik. The creators dedicated part of the film to the legendary group Tappi Tíkarrass, from which came the most notable Icelandic singer of her time, Björk. The tape also included interesting interviews with musicians on disturbing topics about drugs, sex and politics.
The celebrity appeared in the frame for the second time many years later. In 1994, a film with the original title “Prêt-à-Porter” was released, which translated from French meant “Ready Dress”. This is an ironic comedy by Robert Altman, dedicated to the world of high fashion. Bjork then worked on the same set in a supporting role along with famous actors in the leading roles: Marcello Mastroianni, Sophia Loren, Jean-Pierre Cassel, Julia Roberts, Tim Robbins, Kim Basinger and the charming Chiara Mastroianni. In essence, the hackneyed movie plot once again showed the behind-the-scenes life of bohemian fashion representatives. Famous couturiers, models, and publishers of famous glossy magazines came to Paris for the week of the show. A series of fashion shows and fashion shows took place in front of enthusiastic spectators. What made the film stand out from a series of similar films was the final scene, in which completely “naked” models paraded on the catwalk.
In 1997, Bjork’s last, no less striking album, “Homogenic,” was released, which was made in a single emotional key, as reflected in the title. “Homogenic” is a really non-existent word that meant nothing, but marked the integrity and homogeneity of existence. Compared to Björk's previous albums, it presented a kaleidoscope of interesting styles and bold musical decisions.
"Dancing in the Dark"
After the release of the album “Homogenic”, Björk decided to take up filming in earnest. She postponed all her musical projects for three years for the sake of interesting work on the musical film “Dancer in the Dark” directed by Lars von Trier, which was released in 2000. And it was worth it. Björk played the lead role and wrote the music. French film star Catherine Deneuve starred in one of the central roles. True, according to the original plan, the role of Katie was intended for an African-American actress, but for the sake of Catherine Deneuve, who really wanted to take part in von Trier’s new project, he immediately rewrote the script.
The film took place in 1964 in America. Eccentric, original, extravagant, Björk brilliantly played the role of the main character, an emigrant from Czechoslovakia, Selma, who lives in the American outback and devoted herself entirely to saving her son. She played this role so sincerely and poignantly that she managed to excite and bring to tears even those viewers who did not consider themselves fans of director Lars von Trier.
It is interesting that the heroine Selma’s path to the scaffold was exactly 107 steps, but initially it was somewhat longer. At first, the film’s soundtrack included the song “141 Steps,” and that’s exactly how much Björk’s heroine had to go through. But then Lars von Trier considered this fragment too long, and shortened both the song and the path by exactly 34 steps. Initially, the role of Jeff was supposed to be played by the famous Stellan Skarsgård, but due to being busy with the Aberdeen project, the actor appeared in only two short scenes as Doctor Selma.
The success of the film was ensured. The gorgeous musical drama was nominated for an Oscar for best song - "I've Seen It All". By the time Dancer in the Dark was released, Björk had won prizes at three festivals. At the Cannes Film Festival, the film won the Palme d'Or, and Björk received the prize for best actress. The founders of the European Movie Award recognized this film as the best film of the year, and Bjork as the best actress of the year. Björk also received the title of best actress from the Icelandic Film and Television Academy.
The budget of the film “Dancer in the Dark” was about $12 million, and the film itself was accompanied by numerous scandals, and after it became known that the filming of the documentary “Hundreds of Eyes” about the creation of “Dancer in the Dark” was completed, Björk even was going to sue Lars von Trier. She got too used to the image of her heroine Selma and therefore perceived this documentary as an invasion of her personal life.
Career continuation
Critics enthusiastically noted the originality and depth of Bjork's talent and at the same time struggled with defining the style of her music. After all, her bewitching, infantile and at the same time expressive voice, breaking from the most tender cantabile to a squeal, from a whisper to a roar, Björk’s voice, once heard, was impossible to forget.
The world and European premiere of the film “The Dissolution of the World,” directed by Matthew Barney, took place in 2005. Written and produced by Matthew Barney and Barbara Gladstone. The music for the film was written by Björk along with Kira Rabelais and Vilgeir Sigurdsson. In a duet with Matthew Barney, Björk brilliantly and professionally performed her next leading role. The film was set aboard the flagship of the Japanese whaling fleet, where construction and transformation of a huge liquid Vaseline sculpture called "The Domain" began. Throughout the film, "The Area" was formed, merged, divided and transformed on the deck of the ship. Björk’s bewitching, melodic music, a strange set of shots: sometimes disgusting, sometimes mysterious, sometimes simply incomprehensible, really looked intriguing. And in the end it turned out to be one of the most desired films for viewing by viewers.
Björk in the frame delighted both directors and fans. In 2005, viewers saw two parts of the legendary film “Masters of Scream” directed by Aria Alexander Ergis Magnusson with the participation of the famous Björk. The first part of the documentary explored modern Icelandic musical culture, from Björk, Organ Quartet, Quarashi, Nilfisk and mum to Sigur Ros and ending with the rest of the country's 300 thousand inhabitants, most of whom played or sang in some kind of musical group.
In the second part of the film “Patti Smith: A Dream of Life,” one could immerse themselves in the philosophy and study of the cult of the “godmother of punk rock” Patti Smith. The second project was recognized as Best Documentary at the Dubran International Film Festival and won Best Cinematography at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival.
The project of the documentary film-concert “Glastonbury” directed by Julian Temple with the participation of the most famous and great British musicians: Björk, David Bowie, Nick Cave, Jarvis Cocker and many others, appeared in 2002, was released, however, only in 2006. This film showed viewers the famous Glastonbury festival in all its glory: a flurry of emotions, magical music and a lot of completely different people. While watching the film, you didn’t get bored for a minute: the drive, funny situations and interesting facts about the festival were perfectly combined with excerpts from musical performances. Immediately after watching this film, viewers had a great desire to visit the site of the great event and personally experience the unforgettable atmosphere of Glastonbury.
Besides
The music of the fragile and charming singer Björk, whose name means birch in Icelandic, has already conquered half the world. Not falling under any standards, the singer with her eccentric and original talent upended the usual foundations of show business. Björk is one of popular music's most free-spirited vocalists, having spent much of her life creating music of art and experimentation that defies attempts at classification. The amazing color of Björk's music cannot be conveyed by any spatial descriptions.
The gifted singer and actress has special tastes. Bjork preferred to work with those noises that are in today's world, Bjork simply knew how to listen to birdsong, the sound of the sea, a thunderstorm. Previously, Björk somehow didn’t really trust words and at first she didn’t even sing, but simply made sounds and noises. There was even a moment when her friend was making sounds from a popcorn machine, and the future singer was banging on the drums. For Björk, even the snoring of a familiar grandfather became the rhythmic basis for their next song. Nerves during joy or crying, love or grief, vibrated, as it seemed to Björk, like the strings of a violin.
The famous singer and actress Björk acted as a composer in such films as: “Young Americans”, “Tank Girl”, “Anton”, “Stigmata”, “Being John Malkovich”, “Dancer in the Dark”, “The Dissolution of the World”.
Björk's charming voice could be heard dubbing cartoons. It is not necessary to create an hour and a half animated film to show the whole meaning, humor, idea. Half an hour is enough for this. It was this principle that guided the creators of the short animated film “Anna the Monster” in 2007, in which the main roles, along with Björk, were voiced by Damon Albarn and Terry Jones. This Icelandic classic fairy tale was successfully created for modern children and adults about a wonderful girl, Anna, to whom strange things began to happen. The alarmed parents absolutely did not understand what was happening to their beloved daughter, and soon took her to Dr. Artmann, who specializes in troubled teenagers.
Personal life
Bjork is quite intelligent, she is tolerant of the people around her in everyday life, even if they tried to destroy all the norms and boundaries of her own existence. Björk, like everyone else, was born for love, but for her it is more important to love, and not to be loved. Björk is sure that if a person is stubborn, then he gives love and expects it back with interest, it’s like “depositing in a bank.”
On June 8, 1986, Björk and her husband, guitarist Tera Eldan, had a son, Sindri. And on the same day, happy parents and several members of the Kukl team founded a new group. Bjork has two children - son Sindri and daughter Isadora, who was born in 2002 with Matthew Barney. The actress is against the traditional upbringing of children, when at the age of 5 they play songs about gnomes, and at the age of 10 they are already listening to the Spice Girls group. Björk herself, at the age of five, loved Rimsky-Korsakov, and her adored grandmother adored the music of the legendary Spice Girls group.
For Bjork, one of the most interesting people who met in the life of the famous actress is her son Sindri. With him, Björk is more like brother and sister than mother and son. The boy always understood perfectly well, as did his mother at the same age, that everyone must build their own life only by themselves.
Björk is convinced that this cruel world can still be changed, and if you don’t believe in it, then you will simply be used up and thrown away.
Interesting Facts
The songs of the talented singer and actress Björk belong to many genres and styles, including electronics, indie pop, trip-hop, modern classic, alternative rock, IDM.
Björk is a real name and is not a stage name or surname. Residents of Iceland do not have surnames at all; there a person is called by his own name, given at birth, with the addition of the name of the father, and sometimes the mother, which corresponded to the Russian patronymic. Translated from Icelandic, the word Gudmundsdohtir, coming after the name Björk, literally means “daughter of Gudmund.” The name Björk means “birch” in Icelandic.
At the end of 1993, NME magazine named Bjork's "Debut" album of the year, it went gold in America and platinum in Britain.
The most famous and experienced house musicians, from Fluke to Underworld, created remixes of Björk's songs, which occupied the highest positions in dance chats.
The young artist Björk received recognition of her unconditional talent after Madonna herself approached her with an offer to act as a co-author of the title song for her new album “Bedtime Stories.”
In 1996, a mentally unstable American fan of Latin American origin, Ricardo Lopez, filmed the process of making a bomb intended for Björk, which he sent to the actress by mail. At the end of the 20-hour video, Lopez shot himself on camera. The actress's life was saved thanks to the immediate response of the police, who managed to find the package before it was delivered to the singer.
The brilliant singer and actress Björk is a convinced pacifist: she is sure that only love can save us as humanity.
Author – GRETA STAR
Sources of information: Björk, article, Wikipedia website. “Björk”, article, website “Encyclopedia “Round the World”. “Biography of Björk”, article, website “Hollywood Actors”. “Brief biography of Björk”, article, website “KinoX.ru - Encyclopedia of Cinema”. “Björk (biography)”, article, Polina Chelpanova, “People’s History” website.
Björk now
Now the singer’s creative life is in full swing. In 2020, she released a video for the song Tabula Rasa, created by German artist Tobias Gremmler. The essence of the video is to demonstrate the constant fantastic transformations of the performer herself. In the frame, Björk turns either into fancy flowers or into amazing fairy-tale animals.
The star was inspired to create such a video by collaborating with Balmain, which is working on creating costumes for the singer’s new concert show Cornucopia. The artist’s creativity has already been appreciated by her fans living in New York, where 6 concerts took place in a row.
Björk's personal life
In 1986, Björk married composer Thor Eldon, and on June 8 of the same year, the couple had a son, Sindri Eldon Thorsson.
Thor played with Björk in The Sugarcubes. After the release of the movie “Dancer in the Dark,” their family broke up. The singer, infatuated with one of the most extraordinary artists of our time, Matthew Barney, left her husband and son and moved to New York with him. On October 3, 2002, their daughter Isadora Bjakardottir Barney was born.
Bjork never plans anything in advance; she is sure that any decisions should be made spontaneously. Notes that, in her opinion, there is nothing worse than girls dressed in all pink.
