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| Info | Setlist | ||||||||||
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01. Hunter 02. Pagan poetry 03. Sídasta Ég 04. Jóga 05. Aurora 06. All is full of love 07. Desired constellation 08. Heirloom 09. Nature is ancient 10. 5 Years 11. You've Been Flirting Again (Icelandic) 12. Isobel 13. Bachelorette 14. Hyper-ballad 15. It's In Our Hands (SPT mix) 16. Pluto encore 17. Scary 18. Human behaviour |
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| Pictures (email) Observe that there usually is a NO camera policy at these concerts. | |||||||||||
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| Reviews |
| Send in your own review here! |
| I felt great, it was one of the best nights of my life. Bjork was on fire! (not to mention the stage...) That performance was nothing short of amazing, and I am dreaming of the day she comes back to toronto. /dreaded - 1748 |
| This was the best concert I've ever seen in my life.The fireworks during "joga" just gave me gossebumps and her childish and beautiful gesturing just hypnotized the crowd... The Island is a place every band should play..although I don't think many bands could do the same as Bjork.... bjork is th one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! /sergiorebolledo - 1747 |
| holas. soy de chile y quiero decir q bjork. ella y su musica producen una sensacion en mi cuerpo dificil de describir y es mas q una cantante es eso y mucho mas , es algo que no se puede palpar ni ver , es un algo q me produce una sensacion de tranquilidad y bienestar. es como mi halusinogeno perosonal en el cual la cura a mi cuerpo es inmediata y el mundo de la fantasia llega a mi como obra de magia. quien siente a bjork como algo mas q su musica podra sentir lo mismo que yo y ver lo especial de esta. /kriz-kroz - 1742 |
| http://www.gloriousnoise.com/arch/000992_bjork_toronto.php The Island at the End of Summer ... summer had turned to autumn with the twilight but the season still echoed within me, like her music. A review I wrote for glorous noise... /modindigo - 1739 |
| mircea eliade,in his book [shamanism and the archaic technique's of ecstasy] describes a northwestern tribe of inuit natives who during the early saturday evening would all enter a large ceremonial structure,when all members were inside....children includid , the door was nailed shut ,and the shaman with his/her crew began the show including a major display of primitive pyrotechnique's.....indoors?....with the show ending the following morning the entrance/exit was opened and all returned.what björk accomplished on this island near toronto was this. /ten decibals - 1727 |
| that dress that girl in the picture is wearing is AWESOME! /bergsklyfta - 1725 |
| I just love Bjork /jurkemik - 1709 |
| I don't know if anyone has already pointed this out, but the version of "It's In Our Hands" that was played WAS NOT the SPT remix as labelled above. It was the Arcade Mix for anyone interested. I know that I searched and found the SPT mix and was disappointed that it wasn't what I had heard. Hope that helps anyone else. Lizzie /moths - 1708 |
| It was a wonderful, magical night... blah blah blah! Where are the PICTURES?!?! I know there were LOTS of naughty people who smuggled cameras in! Please share with the rest of us straight-laced stick-in-the-muds who left ours at home!! /superfille - 1699 |
| The most amazing night!!! Thank you Bjork for gathering so fantastic people. We met a lot of friendly and interesting guys there. And the concert was definetly the greatest we have been at. Bjork looked so beautiful, and she is so down to earth! She even asked us to sing happy birthday to one of her musicians, I'm sure that felt great. We went all the way from Mexico, and the people we found there made us felt at home. Bjork has the gift to gather so many different people and make them contact in a such deep level, it's inspiring. /clyma - 1693 |
| Her energy... Her Voice... Her movements... Made me fall in love all over again. Thank You Bjork, for a night that I will forever remember. /Euphoricgenic - 1692 |
| Where the heck are all the photos ???? I take my camera to the last three shows and get some ok pictues, then I go on the web after and find some that are so much better This time I decide to leave my camera at home and now i cant find pictures anywhere,,,,,,,, PLEASE POST PHOTOS if you have them cheers /jmz - 1690 |
| Increiblemente y sorprendente el concierto de Bjork, bien valio la pena viajar hasta Toronto para apreciar el potencial musical de cada uno de los integrantes que colaboran con Bjork y de ella ni se diga, tiene una precencia en el ecenario increible, en el momento que salio al ecenario se me hizo contrajo el cuerpo. Saludos desde México Vicente /etneciv_lv - 1688 |
| The Concert was amazing. I was there after seeing radiohead's concert in Vancouver. Actually I'm In MEXICO, my tripping has over. Thank's bjork! Mexican Fans loves you! /OmarLopez - 1686 |
| Now I'm in Mexico. I was in Canada last week just because I went to radiohead's concert in Vancouver and in Toronto city to seeing Bjork's concert. The show was just amazing... And it will live eternally in my life. I dont have words to describe it. She is beautiful, she has an amazing voice. So i just hope some day Bjork comes to MExico, And all her fans we'll be waiting for her... /OmarLopez - 1685 |
| me and kat travled from ohio to tronto to enjoy our first time seeing bjork live. it wuz the most enjoyable experience the both of us ever had. between the mixture of the city and the polite ways of the canadian people, the 1990 vibe, and the psychotic richard that almost landed us in jail wen we took it upon ourselves to assist him out of our hotel room we had a blast. this only happens wen chris kat and bjork get together. ;-) /lakeexperience2 - 1683 |
| I don't know what else can be said about this show except that it may go down as the best live show in Toronto for 2003. The setting was perfect... An island with near perfect weather with a world renowned artist known for innovative and exhilerating live performances. The opening acts were formidable. My hat went off to Kid Koala who blew me away with his turntable tactics (I was the person in the front row who received his book at the end of his performance). As for Bonnie Prince Billy, his performance would have been at home at a Tori Amos concert. I unfortunately found him to be the wrong act at the wrong time, but at another time, might have felt a little different. Overall I found the show to be one the best I've been to in my entire life. I am inspired my artists who have the same enthusiasm and energy as they did when they began there careers. Bjork is legit and is an artist in every sense of the word. /ataoz - 1681 |
| nice. /ataoz - 1680 |
| The last time I saw Bjork live, was in 1998 at the Tibetan Freedom Festival in New York. This show was memorable in so many ways. First of all, I was able to hear the entire sound check, since I got there early with my friends. Secondly I was in the front row, against the railing, for the entire show! I also received a book by Kid Koalo which was totally cool. The sound was not too loud, but also not too quiet, it was juuust right! I was with cool people, which always makes for a good time. I also got to hear my favourite song, "It's In Our Hands (Soft Pink Truth Mix)" which was exhilerating in every way. For a person whose been to well over a hundred concerts in his 27 years of life, this concert has to rank near the top. It's inspiring to see an artist, whose been around the block a few times, have the same enthusiasm and energy as she did day 1 of her career. /ataoz - 1679 |
| i just recently became a bjork fan, and have, over the past year acquired each of her cds. being a 17 year old,one of the youngest at the concert with limited (but not non-existent) concert-going experience, i haven't got many live artists to compare bjork to. all i have to say is that watching her onstage was like being part of some bizzarre religious ritual. people around me were smiling with their hands clasped and their eyes closed. besides that she played all my favourite songs and she totally rocked. i am in awe. /amywood - 1678 |
| I had tickets, but my boss backed out on the plane ticket he promised me, a rain check he is amking, probably not his fault, but I am so verklempt at missing Bjork, it is a poet's dishonor! It is dishonorable not to see Bjork! I shall attend every performance the next tour, FOR REAL!!! -Bunny /Swallowtailkiss - 1677 |
| Eeek I finally got to see Bjork live! I am still not over the shock of being so close. I was in the center of the crowd and there were only 3 (tall) people in front of me, so I had an awesome view for most of the time (alas I could not see the fireworks). My favorite numbers were "Aurora", "Bachelorette" (I once did a piano and vocal arrangement of it for a high school music recital), and "It's in our hands". Surprizingly I had never heard the soft pink truth remix before and it was AWESOME. All I can describe the show as pure bliss, singing along to every word (except the icelandic of course), seemingly singing WITH Bjork! Seven years of waiting has been well worth it! Also Kid Koala was a great surprize with his fly DJ Stylez to open, and bonnie prince billy was interesting, but not exactly my kind of thing. Now after the concert waiting for the ferry line to dissapear was almost as entertaining as the concert itself. The weird spontanious "open mike" type situation, lit by the light of a golf cart and enjoyed by all. We were treated to some comedy, poetry, dance, group rhythm making, jazz, showtunes, soul, Frank Sinatra, Camp songs and male nudity (which never ceases to be funny) I feel bad for all those people standing in line who missed the party on the hill. /margaretsukitty - 1675 |
| Bjeautiful Bjork Icelandic goddess clowns around with her fiery act By JANE STEVENSON -- Toronto Sun -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BJORK Olympic Island, Toronto Wednesday, September 3, 2003 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TORONTO -- Icelandic wonder Bjork sure knows how to up the musical ante. The awe-inspiring singer basically combined the best of her last two tours to come up with yet another unique and breathtaking performance Wednesday night on Olympic Island. Bjork brought back the Icelandic String Octet -- who accompanied her on a 1998 visit to the Warehouse here -- along with San Francisco electronic duo Matmos and electric harpist Zeena Parkins, who were at her more recent 2001 stop at the Hummingbird. Those musical elements, highlighted by Bjork's soaring vocals, and firebursts on the outdoor stage, fireworks, the gorgeous island setting, a glowing half-moon high up in the purple sky, and the glorious summer night, all helped to make the show one of the year's best. At one point in the show I looked up and there was a woman sitting in a tree above me. I can't remember that ever happening at a Toronto concert that I've attended. About 9,000 concertgoers took the ferry to Centre Island and then walked over a bridge to get to Olympic Island's open field, where Bjork opened her 90-minute set with Hunter from 1997's Homogenic before moving into Pagan Poetry from 2001's Vespertine. Attired in a black mini-dress offset by black beads and accented by lime green ruffles around her arms -- recalling a cross between a figure skater, a clown and a saloon girl -- Bjork was in typical fashion statement-making mode. Adding to the illusion that she was visiting from another planet was her striking makeup -- white on her forehead along with green sparkles on the sides of her face -- and her lopsided modern mullet haircut. Her otherworldy voice was in usual top form, on display during such hair-raising highlights as the ending to Pagan Poetry, the always stirring and strings-heavy Joga (the first song to feature firebursts and fireworks), and Bachelorette, and the heartbreakingly beautiful All Is Full Of Love and Isobel. For the dancers in the crowd, some of whom got decked out in ballerina skirts and boas for the occasion, there were meaty, beaty, big and bouncy versions of Hyperballad and Human Behavior. Bjork seldom addressed the audience, other than to say the occasional "Sank-you," in her Icelandic trill or unexpectedly request that we all sing Happy Birthday to one of her bandmates ("Can you help me?" she asked adorably). But she communicated well enough through her music. And then some. She also displayed wildly uninhibited dance moves as she skipped around the stage or stood theatrically with her hands up to her face like claws to accentuate a lyric. The accompanying firebursts and fireworks were perhaps a shoutout to Bjork's homeland, which has been called The Land of Ice and Fire, due to its juxtaposed landscape of glaciers and volcanoes. Whatever the reason, they were a brilliant addition to the evening's overall incredible vibe. I'm giving the concert "furve" -- meaning it was better than five. -- Source: http://www.canoe.ca/JamConcertsA2D/bjork_090303-sun.html /muljie - 1673 |
| it was really something else. i've always had a weak spot for hyperballad and almost broke into tears when the crowd and the sky erupted at the same time. i feel lucky to have seen her twice, both times with special friends around and even the strangers surrounding us....all smiles. it was also strengthening to see some younger fans proving that mainstream pop hasn't quite taken everyone over. there are few shows you can go to where the artist and the show itself are fueled even more by the fans who are so happy to see someone they love so much. thank you bjork! canada loves you. /billy@techno.ca - 1671 |
| i couldn't go because the show was moved from aug 26th to the sept.3. Since is was impossible for me to get to toronto and back in one evening. Hope everyone had the best time though, it sounded like the BEST show ever to be in toronto. Come back soon Bjork!!!! :) /kindkid - 1670 |
| LIVE: Bjork Thursday September 04, 2003 @ 05:00 PM By: ChartAttack.com Staff Olympic Island Toronto, Ontario September 3, 2003 by Mike Doherty If Björk had a króna for every time she's been called "elfin," she could probably buy her own fjord. It's not as if she does much to discourage it: she appears on stage in a black dress with green ruffles and green make-up, against a backdrop of green light and facing a park surrounded by trees. This isn't "elf" as in Santa Claus; it's "elf" as in Legolas: "I'm the hunter/I'll bring back the goods," she sings, and her prey — thousands of fans standing doe-eyed at the spectacle – are easily ensnared. Björk's show, the last on her summer tour, is both soothing and dangerous. She's brought the Icelandic String Octet (veterans of her 1997/98 Homogenic Tour) with her, as well as Vespertine vets Zeena Parkins (harp, keys) and Matmos (laptops, glitch-rhythms, amplified foot-crunching noises), not to mention a well-stocked arsenal of old-school pyrotechnics. Of course, another adjective that's followed Björk around for years is "alien," and she projects wispy planetarium-on-acid visuals behind her as a backdrop for tracks like "Desired Constellation" (a gentle new song) and "Nature Is Ancient," which finds the space fetus from 2001: A Space Odyssey returning — two years later — to show us everything's groovy. Then when she wants to make a bigger statement, she blazes it on the night sky, with fireworks. We may not be able to see the stars in Toronto except during blackouts, but tonight, Björk's shimmering pink and gold galaxies make up for it. Björk spends the show between these two extremes, whether flitting around playfully or doing a robot-macarena; the yearning strings are balanced by blips and bloops, and lyrics about "car parts, bottles and cutlery" are lifted into the stratosphere by her voice. And just when you're being lulled into a blissful trance by the drifting strains of "You've Been Flirting Again" (sung in Icelandic), she lets out the heavy artillery: the sweeping "Isobel," the intense and stately "Bachelorette" and the pumping "Hyperballad," complete with bursts of golden light and Björk's pogoing up and down, drawing the large crowd into doing the same. From then on, things go over the top, but in the best possible way. Her latest single, "It's In Our Hands," is given a harsh prog-house makeover and accompanied by a surreal, bawdy collage video of Inuit footage that suggests Terry Gilliam was let loose in the National Film Board Archives. Then "Pluto" bursts out with salvos of abrasive noise; a film of a bald, naked man jittering around violently at 10 times normal speed, rows of torch-like flashpots, exploding sparklers on stage and a cannonade of fireworks: we have lift-off. Unsuspecting residents across the pond must be wondering what in hell is going on, but here in our hidden place, we can't even see the CN Tower. It's the end of the set proper, but Björk returns to her magical setting, and we catch our breath with the lilting b-side "Scary," before "Human Behaviour" bashes out and the concert ends in a blast of brilliant light. "Zank you ferry much for coming!" shouts Björk, venturing off either to her woodland abode or her home star system. Thousands of fans, meanwhile, wander home with afterimages in their eyes and grins on their faces. /tamii - 1666 |
| Bjork rivets crowd with rock 'n' roll spectacle BEN RAYNER POP MUSIC CRITIC That Bjork has chosen to mount the most rock 'n' roll touring spectacle of her strange career at a time when her music has departed all but entirely from its pop roots is an impish artistic coup. Still, the most amazing thing about the restless Icelandic singer's exceptional performance under faint stars and an intermittent rain of fireworks on Olympic Island on Wednesday night wasn't the heavy pyro, the hallucinogenic video accompaniment or the inspired location, it was Bjork's songs and their ability to lure a large and appreciative audience down some of the most abstract, alien musical pathways ever to graze the mainstream. There is, quite simply, no one else doing what Bjork is these days. And the fact that she could reduce a crowd of 8,000 or 9,000 hipsters ranging in age from 15 to 55 to reverent silence during an installation-like outdoor show that drew almost completely upon the peculiar collision of avant-garde electronica, jazz, modern classical and — although it's increasingly deep in the mix — pop she's mined on recordings such as 1997's Homogenic and 2001's Vespertine speaks to how successfully she's realized her improbable visions. She's also the rare artist who's not immediate kin to Metallica, KISS or Deep Purple — and maybe Tchaikovsky, who discharged cannons at the climax of his "1812 Overture" — who can get away with combining strings and serious pyrotechnics during a performance. The special effects might seem gratuitous, but when the first jets of flame suddenly flared up along the length of the stage during "Joga" and champagne-coloured supernovas erupted in the sky for the booming dance climax of "Hyper-Ballad" while metallic bushes flared on either side of the stage, it all made complete sense. The diminutive sister from another planet — clad in a glittery green half-mask, a neon-green boa and an asymmetrical dark dress that sort of complemented a hairdo shorn away on one side — was riveting for most of the night just singing in that curious, feral-child yowl of hers, over a soft bed of tip-toeing strings provided by the Icelandic String Octet, alternating harp and accordion parts by bubble-wrapped accompanist Zeena Parkins and fractured abstract-techno beats built on the fly by Matmos' Drew Daniel and M.C. Schmidt. The remarkable interplay between Bjork's deceptively disciplined voice and the complementary organic and electronic instrumentation yielded moments of delicate, frosty beauty ("Bachelorette," the aching "Pagan Poetry") and full-on cinematic grandeur (a cascading opening rendition of "Hunter," "Isobel"), while Matmos' ability to conjure unlikely subliminal grooves from the sampled sounds of shuffled cards and liposuction surgery gave the eerie "Heirloom" an unexpected dose of crickety funk. After more than an hour of stylized intimacy, though, catharsis came when the big beats propelled "Hyper-Ballad" to its soaring conclusion. A late-show mini-dance party ensued through a dazzling "It's In Our Hands," a savagely loud and crusty 4/4 attack on "Pluto" and more fireworks and burning bushes for the enormous big-hit finale, "Human Behaviour," plucked way back from Bjork's 1993 solo coming out, Debut. It was an extraordinary feat of pacing, and exactly what such a thoughtful and nuanced show demanded. A bravura night out and, if not the best show of 2003, certainly the finest of the summer. +++ read this article on thestar.com /Toronto Star - 1665 |
| Live Bjork. An island unto herself. Even the blackout pales in comparison. And when Bjork comes to town for the blazing finale of her world tour, the universe itself stops to watch and listen. Far more than just a concert, the two outdoor spectaculars held on island parks this past week in Montreal and Toronto respectively, served to demolish and reinvent the very nature of live performance. (Yes, really). The visionary fusion of art magic, spirit, emotion, and technology irradiated by an exquisitely divine intelligence. All this distilled and flowing from the collective army of talent we know as Bjork. Wrapped in astral haute-couture (a different creation each night) with eyes aglow under a mask of emerald sequins, Bjork announced right from the start that she was going hunting. The spell was quickly cast with harpist, Zeena Parkins, the Icelandic String Octet, and electronic duo, Matmos all doing their bit to stir the potent musical cauldron. And the black cube-like stage would fast become a Pandora’s box of surprises. Sweeping through a gemstone palette lit with sapphire blue and magenta, the initial mood in Toronto was haunted elegance as Bjork mined the tragic arc of a post-rave Billie Holiday. In the track ‘Pagan poetry’ from her masterpiece, Vespertine, every note is forged with daring and wraithlike subtlety. When all-at-once, she breaks into full voice for the chorus, one can sense as the audience surrenders to her volcanic presence and force. It only gets better. Set up by a hushed reading of ‘Sídasta Ég’ whispered and sung in Icelandic with the string octet, the needles dance right off the dial to the hammer beats of ‘Joga’. As Bjork keys the words “state of emergency”, vertical flames shoot up across the stage and the sky above explodes into a storm of fireworks – deliciously timed to the beat. Kicking up her heels like a little girl shocked with delight, from this point onwards Bjork takes complete command. The wilder the pyrotechnics, the stronger her presence grows, shifting from gamine to sorceress in the elongated space of a breath. Insanely imaginative film/collages flicker Inuit-cartoon scrimshaw, body-bursting men, and microbial universes expanding. And like a swirling jewel box, the lighting shifts to near blinding intensities in exquisite prisms of colour. All the while, the energy level is perpetually heightened by a lush soundscape that encircles the audience like a quixotic jungle orchestra plucked from the fourth dimension. From the shimmering bells of yet-to-be-recorded ‘Desired constellation’ to romantic epics like ‘Isabelle’, each moment presents yet another unforgettable aural and visual tableau. Amazingly, the concert reaches yet another fever pitch with the experimental roar of ‘Pluto’, more fireworks now completely igniting the crowd, shrieked with pleasure. And for the final encore, Bjork tumbles into the kettle-drum roll of ‘Human behaviour’, her first-ever single as a solo artist, skittering like a deranged puppet across the stage with even more pyrotechnics that unbelievably eclipse everything before. Yikes! The evening ends and with the lights up, it’s apparent that the audience is in a state of collective trance-euphoria. From Bjork devotees and never-heard-her-before types alike, the consensus is clear. The best show I have ever seen. And will likely ever see again in this lifetime. Unless of course, Bjork, now unquestionably the most advanced voice and mind in celestial pop, decides once again to show the world the unending delight of her genius. Wild at play in love and everything that lies beyond. mongoose1759 /mongoose1759 - 1663 |
| i have followed Bjork since day one and just did the last three shows with her, Brooklyn Montreal and Toronto, and although Coney Island had magical people and setting, it could not compare to the show she put on in Toronto , everything was awesome and MAGNIFICENT Thank you Soooooooooooooooooo Much till that day /jmz - 1662 |
| Wow ... 24 hours later and I'm still mesmerised by what I experienced last night! I have been to many, many concerts in my time (my friend and I being in our 30's/40's were probably a little older than most on the Islands yesterday!) but this just blew me away! The wait was certainly painful (we started our day around 11, by lining up for some ever elusive Film Festival tickets, before joining about 20 or so others at the gates on the Island at about 2!) but it was so worth it. It was one of those rare concerts where almost every song sounded even better live than on cd (the exceptions perhaps being those from Vespertine ... they're just so exquisite, especially through earphones late at night, that an open-air gig of that size just can't possibly reproduce that quality ... why did I miss Ms. G. at The Hummingbird Centre?!) We were fortunate enough to be centre stage with only about 2 rows in front of us, so were able to witness Bjork's amazing beauty and energy up close. I normally try to take in every aspect of a concert, enjoying all the faces up on stage, not just that of the "frontman/woman", but I have to admit that I was almost hypnotised watching Bjork herself, and didn't want to miss any gesture, any smile ... and there were lots! I had read mixed reviews of the tour so far, and so hoped that Bjork and her entourage would not appear tired and blah about everything (it's gotta be tough acting as though it's your first time out there every night, especially on the final evening of a long tour!) but they did not disappoint ... and I so hope that they were not disappointed either. Canadian audiences on the whole are normally a little reserved, and I always feel so bad for any artist who gets a "polite" reaction from their fans. Having said that, I think it is safe to say, that Bjork et al knew that we all loved every minute of last night ... their faces were smiling as widely as mine ... I even screamed at all the right moments (I never scream ... too reserved ... normally just clap really, really loudly!!) I would love to see any photos taken (there were a few photographers up front) especially since I did not really get to experience the fireworks too well (needed to be further back I guess) ... but I think seeing Bjork's face up close was worth it! A quick thanks also to the guy and girl behind me (you had the same chairs as were up on stage!) ... you guys were so cute and funny, and were having tons of fun, that, although everyone around us was quietly going mad with discomfort while waiting for the show to start, you never complained once ... sorry if I elbowed you repeatedly while madly dancing and clapping! Thanks Bjork ... please come back soon. /Fee2 - 1660 |
| First of all, I can't believe I have had the chance to see Björk live twice in Toronto, not just once. Secondly I thought the Vespertine show was the ultimate performance from Ms. G. Was I mistaken! Last night's gig in Toronto has to have been the greatest show I have ever seen in my life. And I've seen my fair share of concerts in my thirty-something years on this planet. Just when you think she can't do better on her last creation - she pulls it off! Again and again! Who can top that performance? No one. Well except of course Ms. G. I can't wait to see what she brings to Toronto on the next tour. Thank you Björk for doing what you do and doing so beautifully. E /eNergetiKa - 1659 |
| amazing how someone of such small stature would not appear diminished by all that was going on. i left my spot at the show and took a walk around the perimeter,it was then that i realized that there were advantages and disadvantages no matter where you were participating in the show and that perhaps björk had the best vantage point of all. she could see to her left mars [which is now closer than it has been in 60,000 years] to her right a perfect half moon and in front the brightly lit 10,000 expressions of awe and ecstasy bestowed upon her by her fans. /ten decibals - 1658 |
| I thought this show was my favorite concert yet!! And I have seen the Cure, Depeche Mode, Tool, and many others. Bjork is the best female I have ever seen. The Setlist was perfect. I almost made a sign so that she would play the song "Scary" from the Bachelorette Single Pt. 1, and she played it in the encore. Soft pink truth mix was awesome and "Pluto" was the best song to end the first set with. Desired Constellation was increadible. Bjork is really fine tunning her electronic music making skills, and she is very inspiring to electronic artists including myself. I thought she could never top Vespertine but after hearing Desired Constellation I think she will suprise us all again. Can't wait for the new album Bjork, you are truly a beatiful artist. /jlk@dialos.net - 1656 |
| Loved it so much... especially the trio of Hyper-ballad, It's in our hands & Pluto... Nice to see Bjork dancing again... The beats were amazing... Loved her new song... can't wait to hear more... and more... and more... /butterflyboy - 1655 |
| This was my first time seeing Björk and what an amazing first impression. This will sound cheesy....but words honestly cannot describe the feeling I got standing there front row, centre....or anyone, anywhere for that matter. She looked gorgeous and was so nice and had a GREAT sense of humour.....VERY SEXY LEGS i might add! Björk...ég elska þig!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (worth standing in line since 10am!) /reykjavik222 - 1654 |
| Just an observation....A curious chap in daper dress circulating about the park cane/umbrella(?) Comments other sightings? H.G. perhaps? /spottingwells - 1653 |
| Simply, totally, amazing. This was my first concert ever, and as a second, wonderful treat, it was my sixteenth birthday the next day!!! The audience, (except for the frequent clouds of cigarette and pot smoke, and the few people who decided to shove rudely as they past us) was really great...I met some really nice people (including someone in the line to get roasted corn!) But I'll try and start from the beginning. Me and a friend arrived at about 5pm, and my stomach was in knots. I was worrying and wondering about everything, especially where we would be able to sit. My nervousness disapeared, though, as soon as we crossed onto the island, because the venue turned out to be fantastic...lots of sitting room for everyone, great views...and beauitful, perfect weather that lasted all night!!! We sat down near the sound tent, dead centre and about 50ft from the stage. When Kid Koala came on, though, we moved forwards with the standing crowd and stayed about 30ft from the centre of the stage for the rest of the night, a wonderful spot where we were able to see the action both on and high above the stage. Kid Koala was great...I'd love to hear more of him, and was really surprised when he packed up so soon. Then they started setting up the stage for Bjork, the Octet, Zeena and Matmos to come on, and I thought for a moment that she was coming on super early... but alas, still awhile to go :) Bonnie Prince Billy came on soon after, at about 7:30pm. His music was wonderful, though I was so nervous waiting for 9pm to come that I can't remember much from his set. He packed up at about 8:30...and here's where the tantalizing, (but fun), wait started. As we listened to various snatches of cool music, we watched the stage being set up, and I could feel myself and the crowd getting more and more tense and excited as we got closer to nine'o'clock. I'm pretty tall, but I kept standing on my tip toes to catch glimpses of the various people just off stage, hoping one of them would soon be Bjork. And then, suddenly, the crowd roared, out came the String Octet, Matmos, and Zeena, and then at approximately 9:04pm out came Bjork from the left...and I felt myself burst in happy tears, cheering along with the rest of the crowd. I was finally getting to see one of the most wonderful, hope inspiring muscians in the world ^_^ She launched right into Hunter, dancing in perfect sync with the infectious beats, lights flashing and my mouth agape. She was wearing a black, sequeny dress...all poofy at the bottom...green poofy flowers around her neck and shoulders, lovely green makeup on her face...it all looked amazingly cool and funky. Her voice, already fantastic and unique on recordings, was even better live...passionate, emotional and totally kickin'. I was hypnotized, and when the first round of onstage flames burst up during Joga, I felt myself crying in joy again...because I was witnessing the most beautiful and spectacular thing I had ever seen in my short life :) Hearing her sing in Icelandic, first for Sídasta Ég and then for You've Been Flirting Again, was really wonderful, and I felt myself really listening to the words. The crowd went nuts during Hyper-ballad, and EVERYONE was dancing during the beat-happy climax. Then came my favourite preformance of the night...It's In Our Hands SPT mix. It was absolutely brilliant...loud, pulsing lights, intoxicating beat and happy...and the video on the big screen was absolutely hilarious and wonderful, really added to the song. Great idea!!! Pluto came right after, and it was just as amazing, especially with the onstage pyrotechnics. I was totally elated afterwards, grinning wildly (and temporarily deaf!) as eveyone clapped and cheered for an encore...and then Bjork and everyone came back out and she preformed Scary, the first of two songs in the encore. Thank you!!! It's such a cute song. The second and final song in the encore was Human Behaviour, and it was the best way to end the night...it's a great classic. Everyone went nuts during it, and her guestures were so cute and made the song even better. I didn't see her knock over the microphone stand during the song but it was hilarious and made it even more fun as Bjork then decided to suddenly race up and down the stage instead, shaking her head wildly to the beats and dancing madly as everyone went crazy to the music. Fantastic!!! She introduced everyone, ended with the last of many thank-you's, and she disapeared off to the left again...and I was left feeling deaf, stunned...but the happiest I've ever been. A warm thank you to Bjork, Kid Koala, Bonnie Prince Billy, Matmos, Zeena, the Octet...and EVERYONE who helped make this concert possibe. For one night I was able to forget any worries, thoughts, and burdens, and simply enjoy some BRILLIANT music that reminded me there's still some good in this often dark world. Thank you!!! <3<3<3 PS>>The small part of the crowd around me that I spent along time standing and dancing beside were great, but me and my friend were especially delighted as we were to a girl with short black hair, and a young black guy who was an absolute treat to be next to. He was very funny and kept shouting out hilarious things, and we never got to thank him for making the night that tiny bit better...so if you're reading this, thank you! I was dressed in jean capris, a white hooded sweatshirt over a dark t-shirt, sandals, and my brown hair was up in a pony-tail. :D And to the two people was standing at the front in the horse masks during Kid Koala...we only saw your heads bobbing up and down but it was a big hoot!! thank you everyone!!! /tegan - 1652 |
| It was a bit harder to see this time compared to the Paris, Bercy concert in June since North American guys are so much damn taller than the Parisians! But still a brilliant experience and performance! Kudos /muljie - 1650 |
| never have i seen a wilder concert. everything was worth it, even the pain i endured to get on the damn ferry afterwards. bjork was beautiful and spectacular. seeing her for the first time was like nothing eles, and on stage she totally was into the crowd and the music.....i was at the paris concert and this was by far more exiting and bjork was more pumped this time i think. kid koala was great and he kept saying how nervous he was, and he shouldent have been, he was great. bonnie prince billy was....long. that too was worth it. bjork gave this electrifying performance, the pyro was amazing, i couldent even see the sky at one point, it was just alight with fireworks. she played hunter, just as i hoped and (!) joga, which has to be the most beautiful song. the clouds of cigarette and pot smoke was kind of annoying, and when i was dancing like a maniac to pluto and started seeing dots in front of my eyes, i started to wonder if it was because of how fast i was breathing or all the drugs in the air. fuck, she's amazing, and her songs are so damn sexy! i cannot even begin to tell you all how much that woman moves me. oscar nominations, movies and producing aside, what a voice, and she do it so well! she would just blow up the place and the crowd would be hysterical, and she'd just go up to the mic and "sank you". gah! i WILL be there next time she comes to toronto! /dreaded - 1649 |
| All end all an awesome performace.... but the fans were too "cool for school" as one of the other people said. What ruined it for me were all the weed smokers blowing smoke in my face and the losers who shoved in front of me and blocked my view for most of the concert.... But enough venting, Bjork was amazing, fireworks added that extra umph to already gorgeous songs... loved the show minus the retarded fans... you know who u are... /johnjohn2000 - 1648 |
| I am so glad I went!!!!! I finally got to see her live after 10 years of being a fan and wanting to see her. It was at the Toronto Olympic Island and we got to take a 10 minute Ferry ride there. It was so magical! The whole experience. When I got to the Island Kid Koala was on! HE's so kyute and funny. He's a really good DJ from Montreal. I saw him open up for Radiohead 2 years ago. Then right after him was Bonnie Prince Billy. I wasn't really into his music and kinda got bored so I read my book. Then the crowd started to get excited. I believe the front row started singing It's Oh So Queit... Then the lights dimmed down and Matmos, Zeena and the Icelandic String Octet walked out onto the stage. Then Bjork came out with this sparkly black dress and these green fluffy feathers around her neck. She looked amazing!!! Too bad the choir from Greenland wasn't there. I felt her performance for Pagan Poetry and Aurora were missing something... I had such a smile on my face. It was like heaven. To hear Bjork sing live!!! She started off with Hunter. Hearing Hunter live with the beats and the strings sends chills up my spine. Hearing strings live itself just sets you in this melencholy mood and then to add beats behind it is just uplifting. The second song she sand was Pagan Poetry. I loved watching the Harp being played when she was singing Pagan Poetry. The harp is such an important part to the song. Then she sang Sídasta Ég and the crowd just went totally quiet. It was Bjork's intimate moment with her musicians. I can't remember what video still was behind it but it was pretty cool! When she finished singing Bjork started talking saying "I need you to help me with something tonight." Then she walks up to someone from the icelandic string octet and says "Her name is Yonina. I need you to help me sing Happy Birthday." She got the whole crowd singing Happy Birthday and I felt special because I got to sing with Bjork!!!! I was such a wonderful moment that I will never forget! Next came Jóga and usually when I see Jóga being played on her live DVD's it's just her and the strings, but this time Matmos added the landscapey beats behind it! IT was so amazing! And even better fire started comming up on the stage and the fireworks went off!!! It was so intense!!! She definetly knows how to please the crowd!!!! after that the guy from MAtmos came out and started walking on those rocks and she sang Aurora. I really like this song off Vespertine! So wonderful! After that she played All Is Full Of Love. The ICelandic Octet definetly had a big part to that song! HEaring the strings to All Is Full Of Love is just amazing! IT sounded so peaceful and wonderful! And then to have the beats behind it! It was just so emotional for me! Desired constellation was next. The people around me were kind like "What's this?" but it was great! she had a video still for that too. Next sheh played Heirloom. I don't really like this song, but whatever! It's Bjork and she sings so kyute! Then Nature is ancient came on and that's the only video still that I can picture in my head! OF the Baby fetus kicking inside. It was so maternal! she played 5 Years next and right after that she played You've Been Flirting Again (Icelandic). The curtains came down and purple lights were shining on them. It was so magical! Then things started to get lively when she sang Isobel! It just sounded so awsome live!!! Then I literally jizzed my pants when she sang Bachelorette!!! OMG her screams!!!!! The loud Dynamics the violins stressed on! Then one of the most anticipated songs I've always wanted to hear live came on the ever so lovely Hyper-ballad!! She had the fireworks and fire going off for this song too!!! I went crazy!!! I couldn't stop dancing ;) and to make things even better she played It's In Our Hands (SPT mix) and I couldn't stop moving!!!!! I love that mix and to hear it live was even more amazing! and then to make the crowd go even more wild she sang Pluto and everyone went wacky! Well at least I did ;) Pluto live is so craaazzzzzzzzzzzyyyyyyyy!!! Then she ran off stage, we called for the Encore and she ended off with Scary and Human behavior. While she was playing Human Behaviour she had the fire and fireworks going on and it was so wonderful! She introduced everyone and then said "Thanks for tonight!" Bjork is so cute when she says "Thank you". Awww she's adorable and I'd definetly see her again and again I hope she comes back to Toronto soon!!!!!! This concert is definetly a memory that I"ll never forget! Definetly a story that I"ll tell my future children and future grand children hehehe /munchkin_142 - 1647 |
| My first Björk concert, and it was absolutely fantastic! The weather and venue were beautiful, the crowd was quite cool and happy, and the only thing that bothered me were the clouds of pot and cigarette smoke surrounding me at every turn. Anyway. I managed to get about 20 feet away centre; Kid Koala was fantastic. He kept saying that he was nervous, but what one guy yelled out phrased it best: "Don't be, you rock!" Bonnie Prince Billy was fine. For the firs 20 minutes. I probably would have actually enjoyed him at another time, but when I was so pumped up to see Björk, I was sort of frustrated. And then the long, long wait between BPB and Björk; agonizing. But then she came on, after the octet and matmos and zeena, and the crowd went insane. She did all of my favourite songs (except Unison, oh well) and my sister's as well. I was so happy! All the waiting in line before and after going to the ferry and standing and standing and walking and walking was worth it ten times over! Highlights: The opening Hunter was amazing. Great choice. Desired Constellation was one of the best performances of the night, I dearly hope it's on her next album. The SPT mix of It's In Our Hands was fantastic; the crowd went wild dancing. I swear, my heart stopped in the middle of Bachelorette; it was so beautiful. Pluto was a showstopper; Scary was adorable with some fantastic harpsichord playing by Zeena. And my favourite, 5 years, brought up huge cheers and tons of people showing their palms to Björk! Pagan Poetry was even more pounding and raw then the original! And everyone really started to dance, despite the closed spaces, for Hyperballad and Nature is Ancient! All in all, I was awed. You'll forever be surprising us all. All was full of love for you, Björk, and you deserved it! /kuro - 1646 |
| Björk. Wow. It was amazing seeing her for the first time. It was just amazing. There she was. This woman that I am in love with, who is so talented, and that I have been obsessing over. She opened with 'Hunter' just like I hoped she would. She was dancing so childish, which is perfect for her I think. She had a cool dress on and her new haircut was really cool. When a girl in the audience shouted out that she loved it, Björk let out a 'sank you!' and the crowd laughed. She played so many songs that I wished she was going to. Like '5 Years'. I proposed to her during her show. She had cool visuals behind her as well, like in the surprising 'Nature is Ancient', the Björkless video played behind her. As the show went on, the faster songs were aplenty, and she had the crowd pumped up and dancing like crazy. She is an amazing entertainer. The pyro was a nice touch too, but it was a shame that we couldn't see the fireworks that she had going off during 'Hyperballad'. You could tell that they were amazing, but you just couldn't see them from where we were. And to close the night, she chose 'Human Behaviour' in which she knocked over the mic stand during the last part of the song. The look on her face was so adorable when she realized what she had done. She couldn't go get the mic because of the pyro. She knew what to do though, and danced for the energetic crowd. She was better than I could've imagined and I really hope she comes back to Toronto soon. /ecstaticism - 1645 |
| The fans were snotty. Didn't like there schticky clothes or attitudes (mostly the younger ones). I'm 21 and thought the young ones were "too cool for school". Of course I'm comparing this with my first concert experience which was Pear Jam. One couple in particular who kept giving me stares really ruined my night. Other than that.. Bjork was great!! She danced around like a little girl on stage, full of energy and joy! I thought she would be tired of the tour by now, but no way!! Her energy & her singing of some of my most favorite songs like "Hyper-Ballad" made up for the long lines and any snotty fans I did encounter. Good job Bjork! You certainly did not disappoint! -Samia /cecropia - 1644 |
| Saw Bjork for the second time on her tour last night. The Toronto venue was beautiful. It was on the Toronto Islands, so everyone had to board a ferry to get to the show, which was included in the ticket price. We arrived to this manicured dream park where we had to go over this picturesque bridge to get to the stage. The Stage was set in front of the Toronto city sky-line....and like any city always looks better from a distance. Kid Koala opened, then Bonnie Prince Billy and then BJORK! Kid Koala is the Canadian Scratch Turntable King, so he geeked it up and also dedicated a Audrey Hepburn song for his mom. Awwww. Bonnie Prince Billy has been touring with Bjork, practically the entire time, but I felt like they just didn't work. It's folky, great song writing stuff...but really needs to be appreciated in a small intimate venue with a glass of wine, not before the anticipation of electronic pop artist BJORK! Bjork was fantastic as per usual....entering the stage wearing a black glittery dress with allot of green puffy lace. I would have to say the Toronto Olympic Island show was better than the New York, Coney Island show which I saw two weeks prior. The crowd was cooler in New York, much older and better dressed, but the fireworks and visuals were better in Toronto. At one point last night the sky was completely lit up by gold sparkles. It was fuckin' fantastic and the fire on stage was choreographed perfectly to her music. Bjork's voice was so clear and euphorically emotional...words can hardly describe how inthralled and ecstatic I was. Her poetic clarity consumes me. Desired Constellation must be a new song, but it was defiantly a highlight for me. Matmos are the masters of sound. Their synth noises with twerk-y new sounds added to her performance...made it uniquely brilliant. Nature is Ancient had the actual video play behind it during the song and the rest of the visuals that took place were organic swirls and lines with limbs and body parts floating around. During the Soft Pink Truth remix of In Our Hands, which has defiantly been the song of the summer for me...there was some eskimo animation going on, but I was too busy dancing and cheering to really pay attention. The visuals I remember at the New York show were sparse. Only one screen to the right of the stage with Bjork in a ball rotating in air...very Matthew Barney, but that was about it. The Toronto show was over-all presented better with a more attentive audience. Bjork's performance is always 100%, and defiantly always worth the ticket price. I can't understand why anyone would miss out on the opportunity to see her, as her performances and now memories are a true highlight to life. Yeah BJORK! ps. Also Bjork likes to shop! She was spotted pushing her daughter Isadora in a stroller on Queen St. W two days in a row prior to her show. ///andrea- - 1641 |
| Firstly, I just want to say, to ALL the Bjork fans next to me who were rude during Bonnie Prince Billy, BOO TO YOU! If you don't like the style of music, at bare minimum could you respect that Bjork obviously did when she chose him to open for her? Or maybe respect that some of us were enjoying his performance, and wanted to listen? That being said, WOW! that was an amazingly energetic show. I think in all the times I have seen Bjork, i've never heard her do Sidasta Eg live, and that is one of my favorites - nice to her it done all tinkly with the celeste! The songs were all new remixes in some form or another, even if it was just an addition of new sounds and beats - I never cease to be amazed at a live show how its somehow not like anything I've heard from her before. Thank you Bjork for an amazing show, as always! It was well worth the lengthy wait outside the gates to be so close (2nd-3rd row!) /chasingmadness - 1640 |
| Last night my dreams were filled with Bjork... A totally beautiful show. I was teary eyed during a few songs-hyperballad, joga, aurora, pagan poetry, you've been fliriting-because it was just so huge and emotional. Every one of my senses were peaked. The sound quality was amazing. The fireworks were mind-blowing. They were in sink with the beats of the songs and lit up all of the sky. I think they were some of the largest fireworks i've ever seen. I also loved the pyro torches on stage. A lot of bjork's music becomes more sensual live and it's really easy to be taken away. "she loves him, she loves him, she loves him, she loves him..." /slimyfox - 1639 |
| probably the greatest spectacle i've ever seen. i'm usually not huge on visuals during concerts since i'm there to hear the music, but WHAT visuals they were! The first time the fire spirts came up during 'Joga' i thought they were kind of cheesy... but by the end of the song when the fireworks came up and eveything was flowing, i was mesmerized. And 'Pluto'... my heart was pounding so fast I thought i was going to lift off the ground. What a show! Hard to compare with the Hummingbird centre show, since they were both very different. But i tell you... i'll be smiling for days. batakid /batakid - 1638 |
| This was my 1st Bjork show, found it very enjoyable. The weather had nice clear skies for viewing fireworks. The audience where I was standing was very respectful; no one talked much during the quieter, less popular songs. Kid Koala was also a welcome addition to the bill. He said he was nervous twice, it was cute ^_^ Bjork seemed very energetic, she has a very cute way of dancing. She didn't talk much during the show, but asked us all to sing Happy Birthday to one of the members of the string section, said she needed our help *smile*... The pyrotechnics were pretty mad (including those burning metal trees...), and it was pretty impressive that some of the fireworks actually did *explode* w/the beats (even when they were off, they were still somewhere in the vicinity - can't except fireworks to all explode on time lol). The set list was great, sort of felt like moving back in time... Aurora was very sweet, w/Matmos shuffling his feet to make the song's snow crust crunch sound (couldn't see what he was actually walking in though...). A slice of winter in the summer... Desired constellation was also a nice surprize; painful, but in that pagan poetry music vid sort of way. Isobel leading into Bachelorette was excellent: from forest to city. They had these new sounds on Isobel that made it sound like a violent jungle. All the songs w/fireworks were amazing, naturally. They were just gorgeous. Pluto was the underlord of destruction at his most intense. For those who don't know astrology, Pluto governs extremes, he is ALL OR NOTHING, and they went *all out* for this song: it was raw sonic power, the perfect end to a spectacular show. /isthmus nekoi - 1637 |
| Once again, she blew me away. For the 3rd time I'd seen her, it just keeps gettin' better all the time. My life had led up to this great moment. Thankyou Bjork for: fireworks, food and fantabulous culture. Olympic Island ruled!!! I can't wait for the live DVD to come out. ---Jen from Buffalo /pumbaa - 1636 |
| To be honest, I wouldn't rate this concert as being the best I've seen. I still think the one at the Hummingbird Center will be hard to beat, but that's not to say this one didn't rock my world. It's strange how sometimes mediocre songs from an album can end up being the most memorable at a concert. What comes to mind was Pluto. Hot damn! The whole thing with the pyro and fireworks was utterly amazing! Did anyone else notice how the burst of fireworks was in synch with the beats for that song? Wow! Like all her concerts they go far too fast with a long wait inbetween. Sigh. /rid_grimlock - 1635 |
| As expected, the show was amazing. I was ready to compare this with the Montreal gig I saw last week. I figured that one of them would be better. But it's impossible to compare the two. They were different, but both outstanding. I was really happy to get the chance to see Kid Koala. Drew from Matmos was watching the set from offstage and he seemed to be really enjoying it. Bonnie Prince Billy was about the same as the Montreal gig, but the audience in Toronto was a bit more polite - some people even seemed to be getting into it. I showed up at the gates at 2pm so I was right in the front row centre. I missed most of the fireworks but it was worth it to be so close to Bjork. This time I even splurged and bought a t-shirt and the live book. What a wonderful experience. Seeing Bjork in concert twice in seven days! I already can't wait 'till she goes out on tour again!!! /no_cute_nickname - 1634 |
| there are moments in your life when you think an experience is just too intenst to handle. i had one of those moments last night. as i was surrounded with several of my good friends, i was wrapped with joy as i swayed to bjork singing joga while fireworks filled the sky above me. my breath was honestly taken away. this is now my third time seeing bjork live (besides the one time is stood in line for hours to get my copy of post autographed) and i must say that it was by far the most dynamic show. the fire, the water, the wind, and her voice sent shivers whipping up my spine like the first time a lover whispers in your ear. i was amazed with the mix of "its in our hands" as well as the ferioucious version of pluto. i was over joyed to hear scary live. thank you to everyone who was there to enjoy the show (except those fucking dumb drunk grrrls who were being all obnoxious and loud during "desired constellation" - if i ever run into you again i swear i'll kick you in the box) /eyescream - 1632 |
| BJORK, will never find perfection in her music because... she is musically perfect, so her search will never end. She could connect musically, the past with the present and future, and nobody could, can or will do that, only her. The show was great. P.S: I gave my reel to Matmos,s Martin, check it out. /gabrielt - 1628 |
| Astonishing! Bjork is a genius. The show on Olympic Island was just out of this world. Bjork was ON FIRE (not in a literal sense). The fireworks and the lights created the perfect mood. The amazing remixes and the climax at the end of the show was orgasmic. Bjork looked so beautiful in her dress. I loved her dancing. I loved everything about this show. I don't think that you can outdo her performance. I will never forget it! Thank you, Bjork. We love you! /modbears - 1627 |
| OMG...this woman is a genious!!! She's sooo passionate, she means every word she sings! There is no one like her! She takes my breath away and makes me feel things no other woman can! My goddess! /klubboy_2000 - 1626 |
| This is the first "real" concert I've been to (all the other ones were basically free things that weren't very good anyway), but I'm still going to say it was amazing. The energy from the other fans around me (in fourth row! great seats!) and the energy from Björk herself led to a wonderful experience. During the last few songs where she really let loose, I was dancing and jumping and waving and I forgot that my feet hurt and I was tired and thirsty. I started wanting to take my sweatshirt off because of the heat from the other fans and my own energy. It was an amazing experience. I was too close up to see the fireworks, but the pyrotechnics surprised and scared and impressed me. Despite the fact that opening acts weren't as good (Kid Koala was actually not that bad; Bonnie Prince Billy was a bit tedious), Björk made up for it all. The only thing is, I had a terrible time getting up for school. /agenda_suicide - 1625 |
| Well, this is the third time I've seen Bjork, and I don't know how to rank it because they've all been so different. Each show is special and unique in its own way. This one wasn't as intimate as both the others I've been to. However, there was a nice 'festival' kind of atmosphere. We got some corn on the cob and chilled out on the grass before she came out and the weather was quite nice. Kid Koala and Bonnie Prince Billy provided some nice background music. Some of the best tracks were her old standards, such as Joga and Hyperballad. On tracks like these, they really captured the beauty of the strings while enhancing the beats to their maximum potential. I haven't ever enjoyed a version of Joga this much, actually...the beats were just fantastic. The accompanying lights show and fireworks were spectacular. This is another element of the show that was unique--the fireworks and special effects. They added quite a bit to an artist whose music is usually complemented by visuals. Probably one of the best numbers of the night was Pluto--just a really intense performance. It's In Our Hands was fantastic as well--the Soft Pink Truth Mix is my favourite mix of the song, and they wisely chose to perform this more upbeat version for the summer tour. The more hardcore fans would have been pleased to hear some rarer material, namely Sidasta Eg, Nature Is Ancient, and Scary. Evidently all this retrospective work made her remember these b-sides, and it was interesting to get to hear them live, even if they weren't the best songs in the show. Isobel and Bachelorette were also excellent, as always. Although I think the show was the best towards the end as they really got going and as Bjork began to let loose, it was once again a unique and interesting show...with a fascinating and diverse audience. /Piku - 1624 |
| Great friggin' show- from Kid Koala to the mad four minute dash to the ferry at Ward's Island. While waiting for friends at the inside of the bridge my girlfriend (good eye Lynne) spotted Bjork herself pull up on a golf cart, and hop off and scamper into the security trailer there. We kept this our secret so not to create a big fuss for her when she tried to leave, (people were streaming in, not knowing that Bjork was right there just twenty feet away in a non-descript trailer.) The show was Amazing. Hard to put into words. Would have been nice to hear something from Selma Songs, but there was lots of older stuff which was good. /thistle - 1621 |
| The Björk concert tonight was delicious...but you already know that. On a summery september night, what a place Olympic island is to have seen her - a great choice of venue. Bonnie Prince opened. He sounded pretty good, not mind blowing, but nice folky music to sit on a blanket eating corn too. And then Kid Koala transitioned us all into the goods with a trippy collection of sounds. It was like listening to BBC radio in the forties, and then chinese vocal excercises, and then finally he teased some beats that had everyone ready and waiting. A neat little set. Björk. First thoughts she was well rested and had lots of energy. Her voice sounded great. {Hunter} sounded fresh. {Joga} was a defenite highlite. Just beautiful. The pyrotechnics on stage were great and the fireworks were hypnotic. Gold clouds like molten lava in the sky. {Nature is Ancient} - beautiful. {The new song} about rolling stars like dice to find the perfect constellation was *the* highlite for me. But what made this show really shine was Bjork firing up the big electric beats and big vocals. {In Our Hands} has become this kind of electroclash song that just rocks. {Pluto} was an assault. More fireworks, more big beats, more punk. {5 Years} kept it going. I saw Björk in 2001 at the Hummingbird Centre, in Toronto. Great acoustics. Lots of Vespertine. We all just hung on every note. This time around it wasn't quite as filling, but the songs had more beautiful rage, and Björk seemed to be loving it. Less intensity, more intense. But it was too short. Next time then. /kentrygiel - 1620 |
| The next time I go to a show and someone asks me how it was, I shall say, "well, phenomenal as it was, it was no Bjork on Olympic Island." Skimming my memory, songs performed included: Hunter, Pagan Poetry, Sidasta Eg, Happy Birthday to one of the violinists Jonina, Aurora, Joga, Nature is Ancient, You've Been Flirting Again (done in Icelandic!), All is Full of Love, Hyperballad, Pluto, Five Years, Isobel, Bachelorette, It's in Our Hands, and encore was Human Behaviour and something else. There was more. See, usually at a good show, I'm either very pleased because it boosts my mood or gave me something fun to watch, or the music moved me. This was like the very epitomy of both, FULL BLAST. I know I sound like an ass and it's 'cause the moment has faded and I've lost how I felt about it. But I can't say enough how much I love that woman, and she was wearing a cool fluffy black dress and green sleeve puffs, and she has this new haircut that looks kinda gross but kinda also insanely awesome, half of it is a standard bob but the other half is basically cut like a mushroom cut/guy's cut. ANyway, so on the guy's cut side there's room all over her face 'cause there's no hair covering it, and she had green glitter ALL over. It was really cool. But let me go on. Bjork's music...Bjork's music is so sexy. It's always either intimate and soft and sensual or it'll be throbbing and rough and...so on, but always either extreme. In both cases, and every song - SHIVERS DOWN MY SPINE. Fuck, I really can't review this show well. Every song was enhanced, like, thousand-fold from the studio versions - firstly just because of the nature of music, the songs have evolved since they were recorded so you get new loops and stuff in it, but JESUS, the musicians she had with her on tour! Zeena Parkins on the harp and the accordion, sometimes at the same time, the Icelandic String Octet (six violinists and two cellists), and Matmos workin' the synths - they all brought so much life into the songs. Zeena and the ISO, their music is so rich and when they all started playing, it was just so loud and commanding, the string arrangements were all so nice, and...*gushes* And Matmos is fucking Matmos, they twist her songs with their style but it's still Bjork, and they just made it sound phenomenal. One of the Matmos guys got up at the beginning of Aurora and put his hands in his pockets and started just, like, walking on sandpaper or something to get the sound of the walking in the song. And as for Bjork - her singing is so passionate. I'm still stunned that she can sing something like Human Behaviour which came out 9 years ago, and it's the last leg of this tour, and the way she sings her songs...Sometimes I would think she doesn't even need a microphone to project her voice. She just completely means every word she sings. Yeah, so it was like...I really was listening to those songs that I loved, LIVE. I feel so bad for not being able to put into words the awesomeness of the show. But take what I just said, and keep in mind that when appropriate, five torches would burst into flames in the front and five in the back, nearing the end the light show got more intense with the whole flashing/rave lights sort of thing, AND there really were huge fireworks. Bjork is so wonderful - she has the nicest accent and she said "thank you" so many times during the night, and it just sounded so cute. She did a lot of hopping and skipping sorts of dancing, playing with her hands, but seriously, I really remember during the last track (what the fuck was it?!), the torches were all firing away and she was running from one end of the stage to the other when they were off, and she would just visit four parts of the stage and start dancing really close to the front, and then she went nuts and she dropped the microphone and then the torches started firing again, so she ran around and just feverishly kept shaking her head and her hair went wild. It was great. /carmen425 - 1619 |
| The Toronto show was outstanding. Björk was stunningly beautiful, and sounded like a goddess. Fireworks filled the Toronto skies, during four songs throughout the night. A treat for us fans in Toronto, and a great idea when having an outdoor show. Made the songs more beautiful than they already are. So much energy in the preformance, and a night to remember. Worth the price of admission. Thank you Björk. /glamrock - 1618 |
| the show was amazing. the fireworks during joga and its in our hands were amazing.... golden sparks filling the sky above with the toronto landscape in the background. what an amazing way to end the tour. matmos was fantastic. please come back soon!!!!! (a bit of hell getting off the island though.) jared. /panic1983 - 1617 |
| MAGNIFICENT! I can't say enough of how much I loved tonights show. It was just STUNNING! /bry17 - 1616 |
| SETLIST: 1) Cunter 2) Pagan Poopetry 3) You've Been Farting Again 4) All (Celine) Dion Like 5) Yogurt 6) It's In Our Pants Ok..i am evil and bad...i am just extremely jealous of all who were able to attend the last show of the tour, hope it was a memorable one! NO DOubt! PS=======> manny, ya owe me $50 ;) /mattaboy - 1615 |
| i had tickets...but, i also had classes, donc... je suis tres triste ( i could not go) :( /kodama - 1613 |
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