445,153 plays (98,961 listeners)
SONG INFO
Performed by Björk with the London Choir
Beats: Shlomo
Piano: Nico Muhly
Vocal samples: Robert Wyatt
Programmed by: Björk, Mark Bell, Valgeir Sigurdsson
This song was premiered at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece.
“Basically, the Olympics people asked me to do a kind of ‘Ebony and Ivory’ or ‘We Are the World’ type song. Those are smashing tunes and all that, but I thought, ‘Maybe there’s another angle to this. ’ When I tried to write an Olympic lyric, though, it was full of sports socks and ribbons. I ended up pissing myself laughing.” Björk decided to call on Sjón Sigurdsson, Icelandic poet and previous lyrics-collaborator. Needing something epic, Sjón took a course in Greek mythology, and then wrote these lyrics for ‘Oceania’, a kind of aquatic sojourn and the last song recorded for Medúlla. “The Olympic version will be a little different. But it will fit the occasion, I think, because the song is all about how the ocean doesn’t see boundaries between countries and thinks everyone is the same. Sjón came up with this beautiful last line that touches on how we were all little jellyfish or whatever before we made it on to land. He has The Sea saying, ‘Your sweat is salty / And I am why / Your sweat is salty / And I am why.’” (Björk 13 Aug 2004)
Performed by Björk with the London Choir
Beats: Shlomo
Piano: Nico Muhly
Vocal samples: Robert Wyatt
Programmed by: Björk, Mark Bell, Valgeir Sigurdsson
This song was premiered at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece.
“Basically, the Olympics people asked me to do a kind of ‘Ebony and Ivory’ or ‘We Are the World’ type song. Those are smashing tunes and all that, but I thought, ‘Maybe there’s another angle to this. ’ When I tried to write an Olympic lyric, though, it was full of sports socks and ribbons. I ended up pissing myself laughing.” Björk decided to call on Sjón Sigurdsson, Icelandic poet and previous lyrics-collaborator. Needing something epic, Sjón took a course in Greek mythology, and then wrote these lyrics for ‘Oceania’, a kind of aquatic sojourn and the last song recorded for Medúlla. “The Olympic version will be a little different. But it will fit the occasion, I think, because the song is all about how the ocean doesn’t see boundaries between countries and thinks everyone is the same. Sjón came up with this beautiful last line that touches on how we were all little jellyfish or whatever before we made it on to land. He has The Sea saying, ‘Your sweat is salty / And I am why / Your sweat is salty / And I am why.’” (Björk 13 Aug 2004)
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Albums featuring this track
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Medulla
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Screaming Masterpiece
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Oceania
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Shouts
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SirAlecHendrix wrote:
6.5/10
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tina777 wrote:
~gorgeous~
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Ackibear wrote:
Beautiful.
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SoapMagic wrote:
This is truly amazing. The fact that it's a capella makes it even more magical.
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Fasstili wrote:
Awesome
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Indeciso wrote:
This is my 900th Björk play! Brilliant song.
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bondingo wrote:
Probably my favorite song of hers. Has been for years.
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staytooned wrote:
A+
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americanpageant wrote:
No one else could write a song like this... from the perspective of the ocean no less!
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starfloka wrote:
"stingrays are floating across the sky". Probably only Björk kan create music and sing like this, mhm.
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flashy007 wrote:
Ultimate vocals...is there anyone else like her?
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volcom_chick013 wrote:
this song gives me the tingles :) her voice is soo uniquely beautiful
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i_o_d wrote:
Wow. Haven't heard this in a few years, and it still leaves me speechless. This song is just brilliant.
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arkanusboy wrote:
the backing vocals are really fucking awesome, haunting and beautiful
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omgesteban wrote:
just .. amazing!
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Gaand wrote:
Yeah, sirens.... I love that choir... and this screams! and beat-boxing!
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MrHelium wrote:
Can you hear the sirens calling? Wow...
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rociotorre wrote:
Brillante tal y como nos tiene acostumbrados
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0mgz0rz wrote:
The backing vocals really create the impression that she's underwater, it's really amazing.
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mspaiige1 wrote:
nobody can scream so creatively like Bjork...
Björk
Oceania
30-second preview
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Recent Activity
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mechanicalmm added Oceania to mechanicalmm’s library. yesterday evening
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AqualungBats5th, Annabella18, FMprofessoreric and 1 other person loved Björk – Oceania. yesterday afternoon
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lillithfirefox added Oceania to lillithfirefox’s library. Tuesday evening
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evgeniy_surreal, bruno_arthur, we both shook and 11 other people loved Björk – Oceania. Monday evening
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Kaleidobox added Oceania to the playlist young love. 7 days ago
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danmason added Oceania to danmason’s library. 8 days ago
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danmason added Oceania to the playlist Post rock etc. 8 days ago
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tina777, DamnBoy, Christmas__Tree and 11 other people loved Björk – Oceania. 8 days ago
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Cirdrian added Oceania to Cirdrian’s library. 12 days ago
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Cirdrian added Oceania to the playlist Cirdrian's playlist. 12 days ago
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