Great concert in Shanghai! Björk sang Tibet, Tibet… during Declare Your Independence. I was so happy I kissed her for it afterwards. I read somewhere that Björk’s inclusion of Tibet’s name in the song had gone more or less unnoticed by the audience, but I definitely felt hostility.
Maybe it was just me…
After the concert many of us went to a fabulously beautiful restaurant in Shanghai which used to be the British consulate. I didn’t stay long though, for those going to Iceland had to get up early in the morning.
I’m in Reykjavík now, which is wonderful. This will be my last entry for a while. See you all in April!
Entries (RSS)
March 4th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
On the BBC News on Radio 4 this morning they just announced about Björk singing Tibet Tibet during Declare… in Shanghai. What a great woman. What a great song. Brought a tear to my eye. Hope the Dalai Lama knows xxx
March 4th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Hahaha GREAT!!! She dared! I was right, i’m a genius
It’s great she did it. Respect
March 4th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
Jónas, there were people who did appreciate this “tibetian” version. At least this guy who recorded and post it at youtube and shouted during the song
http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZEUFCK1qBMI
March 4th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
Jónas, there surely were people who did appreciate this “tibetian” version. At least this guy who recorded and post it at youtube and shouted during the song
and we all know how important it is to support Tibet in every way.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZEUFCK1qBMI
March 4th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
i’m proud of her, proud of you, proud of everyone involved.
HAVE A GEAT REST!!!!
March 4th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
“Great”, not “geat”
March 4th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
Bjork, still bold and daring …
Anyway, viva Icelandair ! Have a break in the Blue Lagoon ?
Cheers,
Romain
March 4th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
Wow, I’m very proud of her, and all of you !
March 4th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
Well done,Björk!
March 4th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
Next time, as you will come back to Belgium for the greatest pleasure of us all, please suggest her to sing “Vlanderen, Raise your flag!”. I’m in the French part, and we all know that almost the entire Dutch political scene wants to get more and more independent… Which is the big problem here, a small country that has still no new governement, 8 MONTHS after the elections!
“Vlanderen, raise your flag”… I would find it funny, anyway. A bit of humour, that’s what we need.
Good rest!
March 4th, 2008 at 5:07 pm
I read today on the french news “the Bjork scandal in Shaghai”.
She went a step too far. Chinese people were shocked about the “Tibet, Tibet” as it’s a sensible topic ; some of them left the arena where the concert happened with a strange impression.
They musn’t appreciate to receive words like that especially from a foreign mouth ; but, eh, every local people in the world is like that : Would the Icelanders be happy if I say they’re still under the domination of the Danishes ?
I doubt !
Romain.
March 4th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
I really appreciated that Björk did that! It is good that someone like her steps out for Tibet. The chinese goverment has done really horrible things to Tibet and are still capturing the 11th Panchen Lama. Good Björk!
March 4th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
This whole thing is getting on a roll I hope things go smoothly for all of you Jónas. Let me speak from the heart as a Tibetan Buddhist and as having my teacher in the country from a town in Tibet about as trditionally Tibetan as you can get. I honestly believe with my heart that HH the Dalai Lama is right in finding a middle way with the Chinese and doing things peacefully. That being said a whole country dosen’t destory a culture undermind a vital religion and try and make up with that in a few short years and expect people not to be hurt. My Lama had to escape from his monstery that he saved from total destruction lived in the mountains on grass and occasionally got beaten half to death by soldiers who would of killed him if he knew who he was. I don’t believe that 90% of the Chinese habor any ill will toward Tibetans but that being said they shouldn’t be shocked when people speak out on behalf of Tibet in a really harmless manner. I’ll say that in present day Tibet as long as politics are’nt mentioned in the monasteries the Chinese leave them mostly alone, but things still fester from old wounds as in the 2008 the Monlam Chenmo or the Great Prayer Festival in Rebkong, in Amdo Province of Tibet. Any way all that aside we all want to be happy, loved, and respected and that again starts with ones self if anything Björk stress is that there are 90% of wonderful beautiful and touching things in life besides politics, religion, and the whole Us and Them view and that is what we should Declare Independece from. Hope the tour and upcoming cities are amazing!
Much Love,
~jordan p. aka [b]incufish23[/b]
March 4th, 2008 at 8:16 pm
Yay for bravery! This could help….there must be a sizable portion of Chinese that want their government to free Tibet.
March 5th, 2008 at 4:58 pm
when she shouted out Declare Independence. who did she think should have declare it? the tibetan people? or dalai lama? she really think dalai lama is a victim,or a human rights fighter ? Maybe there are some other possibilities—like,,,,,,,,the west media and government sometimes just used dalai lama to demonize the Communist Party of China ?,,,,,,,,or ,,,,,someone like her haven’t really find it out what does dalai lama really stand for .behind what he advertised, will tibet really get freedom? or just autocracy under his hand?
hope the tibet freedom fighters research more before you claim it and express urself clearly with no misunderstanding or hurt to the innocent people…..
.maybe these people can read some articles written by Victoria Trimondi, which r kind of subjective, but maybe, these views can make the”fighter”‘ get a more objective way of thinking.and find a better wayand right way to help the tibetan people
March 5th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
when she shouted out Declare Independence. who did she think should have declare it? the tibetan people? or dalai lama? she really think dalai lama is a victim,or a human rights fighter ? Maybe there are some other possibilities—like,,,,,,,,the west media and government sometimes just used dalai lama to demonize the Communist Party of China ?,,,,,,,,or ,,,,,someone like her haven’t really find it out what does dalai lama really stand for .behind what he advertised, will tibet really get freedom? or just autocracy under his hand?
hope the tibet freedom fighters research more before you claim it and express urself clearly with no misunderstanding or hurt to the innocent people…..
.maybe these people can read some articles written by Victoria Trimondi, which r kind of subjective, but maybe, these views can make the”fighter”‘ get a more objective way of thinking.and find a better wayand right way to help the tibetan people,,,,
March 5th, 2008 at 6:22 pm
you know what, it’s good she brought it up. even if I’m sure most of the people in the audience didn’t even notice. and even if it gets some people mad or whispering “who does she think she is?” it’s funny to see people responding about it on the youtube commentary. people getting into it over who knows what about what who did to whom. if people are actually communicating, then that’s a good thing. better not to have skeletons in the closet. I think China is on its way towards a better way. I heard just the other day workers were rioting and protesting their bosses taking a vacation before dealing with their unions. …just the fact they’re starting to have unions is a complete breakthrough. It’s just a matter of time. People wake up to the whole picture. they can’t be kept in the dark forever. I just think it’s great to actually get people talking with eachother in China about stuff like this. start a dialogue, ask some questions, question authority, declare independence! right on!
March 5th, 2008 at 6:25 pm
otherwise it’s just 1984, big brother watching everything you do, censoring history, rewriting it to make it sound all smooth and grey. no hope for art or color or personality or individuals at all. people need to have these conversations.
March 5th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SB70mWXrzEE
you should really see the entire documentary though, it’s very eye-opening.
March 8th, 2008 at 8:59 pm
Thank you Björk for delivering this message. Married to a Tibetan, I understand most Chinese folks these days don’t even realise what Tibet means. They can’t help it since they were taught only about a Chinese provence called Xizang.
And the message is effective, as it is heard on the news everywhere in the world, keeping the word up there for everyone to hear: Yes, there is a country called Tibet, with Tibetan inhabitants, with a disinct and beloved Tibetan culture, tradition and religion that should never vanish.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
March 9th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
Hey… I did see the Dalai Lama in a McDonald’s once.
At the time I was listening to Nine Inch Nails’ “Meet Your Master”… Sure, Tibet should be free… but it’s going to take more than words… it will take time and patience and love and hope.
March 14th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
i thought i’d post my thoughts on the WANDERLUST screening last night here…
OOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!
i got to figure out words for it, because i cant do it any justice!
it was in a warehouse on the docks of long island city.
just a few people were there, we got there early.
a line began to form & maybe 20-30 people were allowed in at a time.
the first thing you see is the giant yak sculpture, & it is gorgeous!
it has so much personality, the eyes are so deep & soulful…..& its HUGE, its bigger than a vw bug! & its just textures all over, all sculpted & grooved & carved & shaped…looking at those little carved curves, i saw that love went into them, this wasnt done as just some production job.
the next figure was a manniquin wearing Björk’s costume form the film, including the backpack sculpture bearing the pain (or at least, thats what i interpet that gray figure to be, an embodiement of pain & depression, or whatever it is that urges one on…i felt the whole film was about delivering your pain unto god, & that is what the journey of life is all about, & that the pain & sadness can be an asset, because it is what makes you stronger & keep trying…but im gettin ahead of myself)
the next display was the scuplture/puppet of the god, with manequin arms inside it to demonstrate how it was operated. i love the look on its face! & again, crazy textures all over.
then a wall of sketches, animation cels, concept paintings, storyboards…i coudl not beleive i was seeing this stuff!!! that i was right there in the same place at the same time!!! & seeing how the creative process went!
the next exhibit was a series of nine shelves, each with a kind f viewmaster thing on it. each viewmaster had a single image, of a different step of the process, from buidling the sculptures, to building the camera, to building the sets!
& then you come to a black tent inside the warehouse, where every fifteen minutes they let a new group of people in to see the video. you are given a pair of 3d glasses (actual glasses that you have to return, not paper ones)
& the lights go out & you watch the film.
which i am not gonna tell you any more about, except that every texture is alive & moving.
the video (in 2d form) will be released soon! (i know theres already a poor quality bootleg on youtube, but its worth waiting to watch for real)
March 15th, 2008 at 5:37 am
Well, I was kind of enlightened and amazed by the three dimensional version of the video and am completely and utterly grateful for the chance to have seen it. The 3d glasses didn’t even give me a headache… nice! However, I should not have drank coffee all morning long, and then a vanilla chai tea latte shortly before coming to the Kaufmann Theatre. :-/ Otherwise, it was amazing to see how they made the video, to hear people talk about the video, and to see Bjork there. Other than that, I was running around afterward to find either a (working) water fountain or a bathroom that was not full of people. I apologize for any awkward moments that may have ensued as a result of my delirium to locate a restroom facility, or my delirium to try to leave the museum… heh… And I totally lost track of someone I met before the show that I wanted to ask a question. So, if you read this, yes, THAT WAS ME in the black coat with all the buttons. It would have been nice to have talked to other people in the Stereoscopic Society, given my early forays into drawing 3-d pictures as a teenager… but I seriously was distracted by several things… I apologize for anything stupid I might have said! I’m sorry about that! Awkward moments… afterward… But, great video! I loved it! We got to see it twice! I think it should only ever be seen in 3D. But I guess I will have to settle for 2D… but thank you so much for the chance to see it in 3D! Made my day, and my evening, and my month. And my year, again. Renewed my sense of hope and “wander” - er, WONDER.
‘Till we meet again!
-Derrick
March 15th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
^
ha, i saw that guy with the buttons!
i love all the details, how every texture is alive & moving…the yaks have eye-boogers!!!!
March 16th, 2008 at 7:23 pm
oh, n69n, cool! i wanted to hear all about the video, and how they made it, but the people around me kept whispering about how they wanted to leave… so rude… (but those are the people who missed seeing it twice!) so i had to lean forward to hear the really quiet people, or hear their questions… but I did love that all the pictures about how they made it were in 3d, too. That was so neat! Makes me want to go out and get a camera like the guy had when he took a picture of us!
i tried hard not to make silly faces with those glasses on…
March 18th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
Hello Sjón!
I really can’t understand how stupid these chinese people are!! Can’t they see how Tibet suffer?! Björk is no politician but she knows that every human needs his independance.
And I am so excited to see you in germany soon!!
=)
My sister and I will be there.
I’m 13 years old and this is my first concert ever!!!
Have a nice time in Iceland, I hope I will be there in a few years, too.
Greetings from germany
Markus
April 1st, 2008 at 1:01 am
i would like to respond to “romain.” the difference in this situation is that iceland is no longer ruled by by an oppressive foreigh government and tibet still is. hearing bjork’s “tibet tibet” brought my to tears because the chinese government does everythng they can to silence the pro tibetan voice in their country. did you know that in china you cannot google or you tube anything about the tibetan resistance. it was very brave to say those few words and i commend her for it! Tibet raise your flag! they need all of our help.
April 11th, 2008 at 2:32 am
theres gonna be a burst of activity here soon, i just know it.