Selmasongs: Dancer In The Dark (2000 Film)
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Free Music Notes for Selmasongs: Dancer In The Dark (2000 Film)
Free Music Review: The Burden of Soundtracks
Hit: 5 Stars
For an artist like Bjork to make a soundtrack to a film in which she stars seems a little off-putting. All told, I actually saw the movie after listening to the soundtrack. I've been a Bjork fan for a while, and when this CD came out in 2000, I was shocked by how real it was, even as a soundtrack. Not all of the songs immediately made perfect sense, due to their dependence on the actual film; however, Bjork seems to always find a way to make each track uniquely hers. "Cvalda" and "In the Musicals" are musically full-bodied expressions of the musical, which for Bjork seems to always divide the real world from the one in which we always live.
"I've Seen It All" is beautiful, in its own quiet way. Bjork sings here with Peter Stormare, who also stars in the film. This song is important, in that it embodies the duality of the film, with its many contrasts in characters and especially camera-work, which changes whenever one of the "musical" numbers starts.
All in all, Bjork used "Selmasongs" as an album and a project to further her avant-garde intentions while not getting wholly lost in them. Each track captures some of her original verve, which only continues to strengthen with such new projects as "Drawing Restraint 9."
Free Music Review: An overwhelmingly beautiful soundtrack
Hit: 5 Stars
I remember sitting in the theater watching this movie called Dancer in the Dark. I didn't know what to expect, but I new the journey the movie was taking me on was full of raw emotion. Polarizing, yes, but to me, it was heartbreaking. Yet within all this sadness lies a terrific musical. But this is in the context of Selma's mind, when the reality is too much, she dances and sings in her own darkness. This is her joy, this is the musical she has dreamed of. Continuously drifting from reality to deal with the tragedies of life, her music sweeps from the big musical numbers Cvalda and In the Musicals to the gentle sweetness of I've Seen it All. But since I saw the movie numerous times, the song that stays in my mind is New World. I admit to being the biggest baby, but it almost brings me to tears everytime I listen to it. Why, because of the ending? In musicals there are usually fantasy endings, like in 42nd Street, but in the reality of the cruel world, when you have been cast as the tragic heroine, one could only imagine her demise. The songs appear here differently than in the movie. But that does hinder that fact that it is wonderful peice of work.Free Music Review: She's a true mastermind at everything!
Hit: 5 Stars
While I haven't seen DANCER IN THE DARK(yet), I love this EP.Bjork is just a genius at everything she does- whether it be singing, her videos or her acting. Even though this is an EP with just seven song, everyone is good(with CVALDA being my favorite)
OVERTUE is a nice introduction to this EP with nice, soft music setting the tone for what's to come
CVALDA, as I said before, is my favorite. It just has such a catchy beat to it, that you'll find yourself tapping away at it straight away
I'VE SEEN IT ALL is another beautiful song. A lovely duet performed by Bjork and Thom Yorke(Lead singer of Radiohead)
SCATTERHEART in my opinion, this is a typical Bjork song- film or no film. A good one at that, though.
THE MUSICALS is a good, lively song on this EP
107 STEPS- I just love the tone and idea of this song
NEW WORLD- As OVERTUE was a pleasant song to enter within, this is the same to depart with. Voice is just at the right volume: not too high, soothing. The sort of song that you'd like to hear while trying to go to sleep.
My only quarrel with this EP, is that, with only seven songs, it's too short. But any Bjork is good enough for me!
Free Music Review: "Why do I love it so much?...."
Hit: 5 Stars
....That line from the fun and bouncy "In The Musicals" describes my feelings about this exquisite soudtrack exactly.I can't imagine why so many consider this a career low-point, when it goes along with a wonderful movie, enhancing the telling of the story of a woman in desperation, denial, and courageousness, so eloquently.
There are so many words I could use to express how much I love this music...some say it's only enjoyable with the movie to go along with it, but, even though I think it's better to see "dancer in the dark" first as an explanation, I often listen to this and am swept away by the magical, lush emotional involvement with the character which brought abotu the magical lush pieces...
It may be short, but to me it is yet another musical landmark from another musical genius...
Songs like Cvalda, I've Seen It All...Scatterheart...In The Musicals...New World and the other introductions and interludes will be forever unforgettable to you.
I know I sound all trite in what I'm saying, but I couldn't be more sincere!
Buy this one, Definitely!! Or miss out...<¦^]
Free Music Review: Dancer in the Dark
Hit: 5 Stars
Renowned director Lars Von Trier's stroke of genius in making his 2000 film DANCER IN THE DARK was to cast Iceland-born avant-pop siren Bjork in the central role and then enlist her aid in composing and performing a series of musical numbers for the movie. In the film, Bjork's character Selma lives an unrelentingly hard life as a single mother and factory worker who is quickly going blind. The film's songs come from Selma's inner world, where she (and the audience) find respite from all the harshness of reality.Bjork's compositions, with orchestral arrangements from Vince Mendoza, hang together on their own quite nicely. Catherine Deneuve (Bjork's co-star) and Radiohead's Thom Yorke make effective vocal cameos, but Bjork's voice and music are the central focus. As we hear the industrial sounds of the factory turn into the rhythm of a song, or follow Bjork's oddly intuitive melodic leaps through a dreamlike haze of strings, it becomes clear that her idiosyncratic writing style adapts quite well to the cinematic milieu. As usual, her uniquely entrancing singing style stands out above almost all else.