Bjork’s cover art: a history
Icelandic wonder Bjork’s recently released the album artwork for her upcoming full-length Volta, and, in traditional Bjork style, the cover features her wearing a ridiculous outfit. With the Volta art disclosure out, One-Click Wonders feels it would be appropriate to take a trip down memory-lane and review Bjork’s clothing catalog of the past.
Debut
Bjork at her most innocent. On her first solo album ever, the Icelandic harpy ignored all flairs of pretentiousness and just looked her most simple. Debut shows a Bjork at her most curious, an innocent girl in a sweater introducing herself to the world, a singer at her most accessible.
Post
For her second album, Bjork embraced an Asian-aesthetic, exposing herself to the world. She still hadn’t lost her mind, as she would relatively soon, so the album artwork for Post isn’t that crazy, even though she added a much-needed burst of color to her art. But her second album cover (along with the various videos accompanying the LP) shows Bjork at her most sexy, a diva ready to take the world by storm.
Homogenic
The only cover not to feature the singer herself. Also her best album ever. Coincidence?
Vespertine
And here is where Bjork loses her mind. Most common people who will never listen to an actual Bjork CD will always remember her as the crazy person who wore a swan to the 2001 Academy Awards. What many don’t realize is that she wore the dress to help promote her soon-to-be released album Vespertine, which features the artist wearing the same avian-themed dress on the cover. Now, this doesn’t make the decision any less bizarre, but it’s Bjork’s most infamous get-up. Though, to be fair, the swan-dress wasn’t nearly as weird as her next to clothing decisions.
Medulla
Less commented on than her Vespertine bird-wear, Bjork’s fashion-direction for her 2004 effort Medulla is actually a lot creepier. Her hair becomes the main point of observation, as it resembles a bizarre helmet both alien and Catwoman. Medulla out-weirds the swan dress by miles, but thankfully Bjork decided not to dawn the actual outfit in public or when she performed at the 2004 Olympic Opening Ceremonies. There she just wore an ocean.
Volta
Bjork’s latest costume is her most bizarre yet. For the soon-to-be-released Volta, Iceland’s most famous artist encases herself in a suit reminiscent of the Apple logo being turned into a living creature in the world of Yellow Submarine. Plus, those blue feet are immense. Bjorks has said her latest album explores the dynamics of human dance and feminism, so it’s completely possible her Disneyland-rejected costume may have some symbolic message going on. Lets just hope she doesn’t wear that thing in public.
Funny little write-up but, umm, how come the cover images are only linked to? And there’s no link for the “Volta” cover.
Paul Schrodt
April 4, 2007 at 2:33 pm
Uh, I’m not very smart with the technology, still learning that one.
As for Volta, it is linked to under “her most bizarre yet.” That is what it looks like.
Patrick St. Michel
April 4, 2007 at 2:51 pm
what are you talking about? the cover for homogenic is a picture of bjork. she’s wearing a steve mcqueen dress.
she-ra
April 9, 2007 at 12:49 pm
Even though I haven’t found anything definite, several sites on the internet do seem to say that is Bjork on the cover. I apologize for the error, and am in even more awe of how incredible the cover art is now.
Patrick St. Michel
April 9, 2007 at 2:32 pm
steve mcqueen came up with the whole concept… the fingernails, the dress, the neck rings and the CONTACT LENSES. This is Bjork. It is a photo by Nick Knight.
jimmy
April 17, 2007 at 7:02 am
sorry… alexander mcqueen.
she explains the whole process in the first 2 and a half minutes of this clip.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmZp5r6LYSI
jimmy
April 17, 2007 at 7:09 am
you’re an ignorant twit. the Homogenic album cover is processed image of Bjork
don felipe
April 27, 2007 at 5:30 pm
if you actually paid attention, you will see the author already apologized for that mistake. congrats on being a jerk.
sara
April 28, 2007 at 1:18 am
I find Bjork’s imagery all the way through to be heartfelt and inspiring and I am glad she does what she thinks is cool. Not many “artists” do that - they’re too worried about silly things that have nothing to do with inspiring people.
Davis
May 4, 2007 at 8:03 pm
I bumped into bjork in a club in reykjavik and guaranteed she was wearing something that you would not find someplace else. She doesn’t dress like your sister you mother or even you.americans are so generic with clothes.
rommil
August 5, 2007 at 1:02 pm