Bjork Holds Three-Day Karaoke Marathon to Protest Energy Company

What's the best way to fight for your country's natural resources? For Bjork, it's karaoke.

On Saturday, the singer wrapped up a three-day karaoke marathon in Iceland intended to raise awareness of a Canadian company's planned takeover of the country's locally owned energy company.

The event's exposure allowed Bjork to gather nearly 45,000 signatures on a petition protesting Canadian Magma Energy, reportedly more than what she needs to ask the government to consider revoking the company's plans. Bjork's opinion -- which is said to mirror much of her country's -- is that energy companies shouldn't be owned by foreign investors.

"For 100 years, good people protected our natural resources and public interest," the petition reads. "The sale of natural resources and irresponsible access to them began. Now it is time to stop that unfortunate development."

The karaoke weekend, held specifically on the Icelandic holiday Threttándinn -- which folklore says allows elves and other magical creatures to party with humans -- drew a number of supporters, including longtime fans, journalists and environmentalists.

Bjork is going to need the support, given that Canadian Magma Energy has already put the singer on its hit list. In an interview last month for the Canadian weekly magazine Maclean's, Bjork ripped the company's business practices and the company responded by threatening a defamation lawsuit. The magazine has since retracted much of the piece.
In other, music-related news, Bjork is nearly finished with her follow-up to 2007's 'Volta,' and says the new record will be ready sometime this spring.