I saw someone say somewhere on this website that if Björk were a religion, he would convert.
What kind of a religion would that be? And what kind of a church?
A Björch?
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30 Responses to “If Björk Were a Religion…”
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February 20th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
I don’t think Bjork could ever be a religion because religions are too focused on finding logic and order.
February 20th, 2008 at 4:10 pm
Anyway, Bjork isn’t a fan of religions (which doesn’t mean she does not respect religions).
I heard on the French TV she believes in instinct (Bedtime Story and so on) and in nature.
February 20th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
If björk were the Pope, I would so demand her to sing All Is Full Of Love on every Urbi et Orbi.
February 20th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
If she was? You mean she’s not?!
February 20th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
I would characterize Björk as amore of a philosphy than a religion one that would help an individual discover their full potential and true love and skills in life and celebrate that and all of lifes magic moments. Also the view of do no harm and instead help others I think would be a strong factor.
February 20th, 2008 at 8:03 pm
i’d say, just think of Björk as a verb rather than a noun!
February 20th, 2008 at 8:50 pm
I’m a Jesus-y kind of guy who finds Bjork’s music and approach to her craft incredibly energizing and inspiring. If there is a creator God then the work of every artist is SO important, as it reflects the work of God, and says something true about the underlying reality of the universe. I think it works the other way too - our experience of the power of art and creativity points to the deeper reality of a creator God. Bjork’s approach to creativity is so pure and her work so original, I consider it to be extremely spiritual.
My guess is that Bjork’s personal dislike of religion is probably more to do with disliking the way religious people behave - trying to exert control over others, and being so dogmatic about their point of view.
But I think that Jonas’ post was meant in fun. What kind of church? I imagine a beautiful cathedral/concert hall carved out of ice…
February 20th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
Punny as ever.
February 20th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
I would say bjork would be more of a philosophy than a religion…love nature, embrace it, everyone unite together, and enjoy! : )
February 21st, 2008 at 12:32 am
Yes, she IS a religion. I was converted in 1988. My mother is a late-in life born-again Christian. Her church believes that anything that comes between a person and God is an idol. I had pictures of B on my walls since the 80s. In my adult life, now it’s professionally framed posters of her, displays of her vinyl and boxed sets. If my mother could preach a sermon on idolotry, (which would never happen because women are to be silent in her church) she could bring in a truckload of my Björk paraphernalia and concert tickets and use it as a prime example of idolotry. When I was 20, I had to leave her home because I wasn’t allowed to listen to secular music. The Sugarcubes were the first band I listened to without the influence of my parents 70s tastes. To me (living in my generation), The Sugarcubes are The Beatles, Iceland looks like heaven, Einar is Elvis, Björk is God and Jónas, you’re an angel.
February 21st, 2008 at 12:34 am
Björk would definately be a cult….but a really healthy encompassing one….slightly mischievious, the occassionally borderline-illegal ritual…..involving plenty of Bjerking (Norn’s Bjork as a verb idea).
February 21st, 2008 at 2:27 am
Well said, Rimshot. Creativity, whether conscious or not, is incredibly spiritual.
February 21st, 2008 at 2:28 am
Well said, rimshot.
February 21st, 2008 at 11:16 am
JenGoesDigital says : “I had pictures of B on my walls since the 80s” like if you had a Christian shrine with a cross, images etc … a place where to pray in your room.
Do you remember in the Bjork Book (2001) the question : “Do you have a Bjork shrine ?”
February 21st, 2008 at 11:17 am
And I could say : I am totally Bjorked (from the verb “to bjork”).
I Bjork, you are bjorking, he was bjorking, she bjorked, they will bjork … and so on
Cheers,
Romain
February 21st, 2008 at 12:28 pm
i contemplate that whole music has aspects with religion so that not only bjork but every singers are.
yet actually some friends of mine said that her performance can be cultic but i think it depnds on individuals’ viewpoints.
i think bjorch would be her live.
im content with being a bjorkist.
February 21st, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Romain, you qouted me as if I were a prophet. lol. Yes, I have that book. I should retake the test in it to see how big of a fan I am and get my score. I remember it having random photos of Kurt Cobain with no captions. They must of been a symbol of memorial. And if there were a building for her religion, I would say, “Well, I’m off to ‘birch’ now!”
February 21st, 2008 at 1:48 pm
ah-ha… Jonas… you caught us. Seriously, does She know? (you have to capitalize “She”, because its normal with all deities) Ah-ha! She does, and so you post this… haven’t posted in the blog in a while, BUT, here I am. My lovely friend whom I was going to take to the Madison Square Garden and I spent some time in her home country of Serbia (right before the elections, and two weeks before this whole Kosovo thing), going to the Nikola Tesla museum, walking around an ancient castle… but definitely playing Bjork songs on the streets of Belgrade, singing along and dancing, kind of like how you see the Hare Krishna’s dancing around the City in the summer… But, yes, to some of us, She already is a religion. But don’t take it the wrong way… We follow the Path, not the High Priestess.
To which I have to ask… are you guys playing the EXIT festival there? And if so, will you still play “Declare Independence”?
February 21st, 2008 at 2:39 pm
Um. Nevermind that last comment. Reading Bjork’s uninformed comment about Kosovo… I suppose not.
February 21st, 2008 at 4:58 pm
And don’t get me wrong. I don’t love Bjork or her music any less. But I don’t think that it is good to declare independence if you can’t do it on your own. You wouldn’t say to an unformed fetus: “Okay, you’re on your own!” But that is Kosovo in a nutshell (a walnut shell?). Unformed, unready, too soon, too close to the whole NATO thing. So, basically, Kosovo is like a big abortion, sanctioned by the UN and the US. Two organizations that have proven they aren’t really capable of policing the world, and making very bright decisions. And since when did Bjork ever agree with anything that George W. Bush ever said? [Kosovo] isn’t the same thing as Greenland or Iceland, where the native people have every right to declare themselves independent because it is their land. You have these other people, living in a place where most of Serbian history lies (it’s where they drove back the Turks), where a lot of important Orthodox churches and temples are. I mean, it’s okay for them to live there, and people should live in harmony and resonance all over the world, but for the UN and the US to be like, hurry up, declare independence, it’s a slap in the face to Serbia really. For no reason other than to cause more unrest in that area. Because unrest is profitable. To some people… and some things in the world… So, you can make it right, a healing is what that place needs, not more fracturing and division and borders in the world… if Bjork dedicates “Unison” to the situation, that would be more appropriate I think.
I mean, I was just in Serbia. I want to go back some day, because there is a lot of potential there, and I really think Belgrade is very nice, and in some ways very magickal. But I don’t want people to hate me just because I am American. (Because of George Bush, I think I have wanted to move away and lose my origins more and more) Because of things other people said or did. I want to be able to run around Belgrade, listening to Bjork blasting out of my Nokia n800, and wearing my Bjork t-shirt that I got at MSG. I have nothing against Albanians. I love them as much as I love I anyone! But I think they would be better off not going with the US and the UN’s pushing them into independence. The economy in Kosovo is not stable enough at the moment. The whole of Serbia (+ Kosovo) needs the support of the EU. It would be good for them. They need stability, not unrest. And they certainly voted for that, like the day after I left when I visited. You kind of have to look deeper… there are sinister political forces at work behind this “independence”. I don’t recognize it anymore than I recognize GWB as President of the US. Maybe I should declare myself independent…
Please, Jonas… tell me She’s aware of all of this? Please, send my love to Her. I would like to know what she might really think considering this comment… and, sorry to make this 3rd comment so political… I can forgive Her (and I do anyway) if the statement was uninformed, really. I will listen to Her and Her music. Always will. That will never change. But I just had to say all of this. Having been there. Hearing the ‘other side’ of the story. Not just listening to whatever CNN has to say about it. But seriously, hugs and everything to everyone on the Tour.
February 22nd, 2008 at 1:21 am
Someone at work asked me if I’m a groupie.
February 22nd, 2008 at 2:39 am
And what did you respond Jen?
I am not so sure about what kind of religion she would be but I definitely see the church! It would be outdoors whether it was raining or not. And people would be encouraged to stand in the rain…..smell it….taste it and really take it in. The music would be unpretentious and pure….and sometimes at 3:00 a child would sing. Home made instruments would occasionally be heard and laughter would often provide the background beat.
Shoes would be optional and the Reverend would be a rabbi who makes the best pork in town. But on Thursdays, she would allow her best friend, Father Mike, to assist along with his five kids and his husband.
At the end of every gathering, someone’s grandmother or grandfather would tell a story of their youth and remind us again that we really are simple creatures in nature’s perfect plan and then Icelandic pancakes would be served.
That’s my naive take on it.
K
February 22nd, 2008 at 12:59 pm
I said yes.
February 22nd, 2008 at 3:41 pm
“Religion is the opium of the masses”.
- Karl Marx.
February 22nd, 2008 at 9:31 pm
This way to the Birch church…. http://www.xxiii.ca/iceland/gallery/albums/day8/day8_138.sized.jpg
February 23rd, 2008 at 12:48 am
Congregation, please be seated and open your tourguides to the book of Homogenic, Psalm 323.
February 23rd, 2008 at 4:27 am
Religion and politics! Remember Bjork is a UN goodwill ambassador.
February 23rd, 2008 at 9:41 pm
travlr1,
let kosovo be free and let everyone move on
how about that as end to politics?
February 25th, 2008 at 5:00 am
If Bjork were a religion I would be a believer and a devout practicist.
February 28th, 2008 at 12:06 am
traveler,
what happens when you abuse your child? authorities take him or her away from you and eventually that child grows up to live freely. think about it for a minute.