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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Words aren't enough, 23 Feb 2004
I really ought to give up now and save my breath.This was the first Bjork track I took notice of. Human Behaviour went by me for some reason. I fell in love at first listen. In this song you can hear melodic ideas that will be explored through the album this tune is taken from (Debut) and the next (Post). I can't really think of any way to describe it except "Delicate Kitchen Utensil Enchanted Kitsch Gorgeousness". The lyrics are fantastic on their own. The idea of Venus being a god of love instead of a goddess, and the way that deity would affect a woman if she met him. Simple and honest.
The music, co produced with the underrated Nellee Hooper still sounds fresh and new 11 years after release. I am still hearing new things in it regularly.
The melody Bjork sings, that of the instruments, and the overall mix is something that would be a hit today because it was so radical at the time. Bjork was releasing original material that sounded heavily remixed by quality producers.
I think with this song the music itself is as important as the words or melody sung. It would be nigh on impossible to cover it well while changing the arrangement. And I can't imagine anyone else singing it anyway.
Testament to how good the music is, try checking out the Ice Strings Tribute to Bjork album. Here you get string arrangements of her material. This allows Bjork's musical ability to shine without any singing, showing how good Venus As A Boy, etc really are.
On the single, you also get an exclusive little gem sung in Icelanic, a very capable Underworld mix of Human Behaviour, a studio version of There's More To Life Than This, a very laid back trip hop-esque version of Venus As A Boy long before that genre became popular, and a fantastic vocal and harp version of I Remember You, which I have a feeling is an old Musical number.
I have bought a fair few singles in my time. But for sheer quality, regardless of the price, this has been one of my best possible purchases. The amount of exclusive new material is amazing. Normally B sides are rubbish, but at least half of these could be hits on their own. If you want to know what all the fuss over Bjork is about, start here.
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