Bjork, 'Declare Independence' - Video of the Day
Artist: Björk
Video: 'Declare Independence'
Highlight: Director Michel Gondry's visual genius, a mid-air suspended bassist, Mark Bell, and Björk's infinite vocals getting the color treatment courtesy of a magic, puppeteering megaphone. We can't pick just one.
Posted by Jessica Robertson on Dec 5th 2007 5:00PM
Filed under: Video, Video of the Day
Reader Comments(1 of 1)
theevildead23at 12-05-2007
Something of a step-down from the usual scale of Björk-Gondry collaborations, but nicely understated all the same. Do I detect a hint of synaesthesia there with the coloured strings?
Chrystian Riveroat 12-06-2007
The Return of two creative minds Björk+Gondry. Great Video!
Ean McNamaraat 12-06-2007
Wild and Rowdy. This is kinda like the time Bjork shot lasers into space at the Sasquatch Festival. We were jumping up and down then, and we're all jumping for her now. Good luck at the Grammys!
galdrat 12-06-2007
looks like a wicked artsy happening set to tape... that machine is fabulous!, kind of like the paint-splashing piano they've played with once (check youtube).
in my opinion, though, the way the moment was filmed and edited just doesn't fit this song. it feels like a "making of" documentary rather than the music video itself.
Verticoat 12-07-2007
extremely disappointing.
apart of that, i find it highly ironic to make the concept of the video for a song called "declare independence" based on a machine holding human beings attached to strings and making them move simultaneous without any climax containing a release.
the machine is not presented as the enemy, it is just another element of control sold as "independence".
i really expected something more conceptually and visually elaborated..but oh well. that's just my opinion.
adapt or dieat 12-07-2007
Yeah i agree with vertico
this could have been the most amazing video bjork ever made, cause it'ss packed with energy,
I see declare independence as a follower of pluto, wich bjork did not make a video for.
Finally bjork releases a more up beat song and then gives it a face like this..
Still love her though
endiat 12-07-2007
THIS IS AWESOME... BUT I THAUGH THAT IT WILL BE A LITTLE MORE SURPRISING IN THE END...
ANYWAYS , BJORK AND GONDRY IS LIKE BATMAN AND ROBI :p
joefhaddadat 12-08-2007
Soooooo disappointed...
Disappointed by Michel Gondry who directed an uncreative video that withdraws all the sense and the energy of the song.
Disappointed by Bjork who didn't bother cut a more TV-friendly version of this magnificent song.
Bjork has to remember that her latest single, "Innocence", didn't chart at all, and "Declare Independence" could be such a hit, but with this kind of work, it's not going to be one.
Omar García Alcalá ((México))at 12-08-2007
Takk Björk.
i think that this is a Great video, why stupid people say: ohhh the machine and the... and things like these? the machine string is Volta, colors are VOLTA and Volta is energy, volta is voltage, votla is björk's dreams and Volta is today's world destroyed by humans only, colors say to you: be free, declare independence, machine don´t holding humans. Guitar, Colors and music run through human's minds by strings in they're heads and björk's voice scream DECLARE INDEPENDENCE, you aren't attached to nothing that you created, you are naturally free, you are yourself,Volta run through your head screaming raise your flag humans, raise your volta flag.
kakilinoat 12-09-2007
i totally agree with vertico and adapt or die.
first time i heard that song i was thinking of pluto. i love both songs. and yes, it could have been a great video, but it doesn't work for me. this machine is the opposite of independence. and all the guys are dressed and behave like soldiers.
maybe another ending would have made it better. i'm very dissapointed
but still, bjork is amazing. end of story
Cristianat 12-09-2007
No me gusto, es muy plano, falta creatividad , la canción es muy buena para un video tan mediocre....
raymonsterat 12-09-2007
the idea is cool... lightning is a bit poor if you ask me... looks like it's shot at my local hardware store with my moms video camera...
maybe another story line... mixed up with this one... would have bring more variation to the video...
but... in the end.... it's all about the music... and that's great, with or without a video... ;-)
internet killed the videostar.
takk Björk!
Wedgeat 12-12-2007
besides the fact that Bjork looks amazing in the video and great in a jumpsuite I dont really like the video that much; mostly for the reasons already stated... I was thinking the same thing while I watched it before i read the comments ...
the paint idea is cool.. alot of ideas in the video are cool but doesnt' come anything close to expressing the power of the song or even bjork doing it live ...
anyways I can't say i'm disapointed, anything with bjork in it is bonus at this point.
Love & Respect!
LeSpaceat 12-13-2007
Uhuhuhuhuh! Declare Independence!! Love Michel Gondry! Love Björk! Love Mark Bell!
JPat 12-14-2007
This is more an art proposal/statement rather than a video itself. it's nice... very -Independent- from all other bjork videos that are charged with special effects and such. I can see a bit of "1984" video too.
personat 12-29-2007
I think this might be Gondry's paint-piano idea:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OY16NouwLOo
jjj224at 1-08-2008
That's was awesome!!! Wow. Bjork and Michel Gondry are quite a team.
Dandabassat 3-01-2008
Well, I thought the song was kind of boring... It does have some high points.. but just loops and loops... maybe I was in the mood for something more melodic..
About the video.. well.. I wouldn't say disappointing.. but.. I don't know.. I kind of missed a surprise factor..
Still, love to see such a powerful woman and voice...