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Icelandic Beauty: Sigur Ros' Glosoli Hot

Avatar Written by Bob Davidson     June 17, 2007     Favorites 1 Add to favorites
 

Music Video

Title Glosoli
Artist Sigur Ros
Director Arni and Kinski
Year Released 2005

What images come to mind when you hear the name... "Iceland"?

I am guessing the folks that make up the Icelandic Department of Tourism" (or the IDT) have not only asked a similar question, but have speculated the response you just formed.

[Enter Sigur Rós.]

If this Icelandic band has yet to mesmerize American culture viatheir ambient sound, they certainly have the opportunity to do sothrough their poetic imagery. [Cue Arni and Kinski]. Sigur Rós , named after lead singer, Jónsi Birgisson's, younger sister Sigurrós,is the compilation of a rare breed of musicians who are experimentingwith both a pure and somewhat "wholistic" approach to music production."Pure" in the sense that their creative process is stripped from agenda(or any talking for that matter). It's organic. Show up. Play. See whathappens. "Wholistic" in the sense that the group lends themselves to"experience" over product.

With this in mind, it is no surprise that Sigur Rós takes anyvisual accompaniment just as serious as their music - anything fromalbum art to music videos.

[Enter Arni and Kinski]

SigurRosCrop.jpgThe IDT can rest assured that Sigur Rós is not alone in the Icelandic rebranding effort. (Here for more on the Rebranding Campaign ). Almost every video release from the band is directed/produced by fellow Icelanders Stefan Arni and Siggi Kinski (Arni and Kinski), who are themselves an intriguing story. Arni and Kinski (the production entity) came out Stefan and Siggi's involvement in a unique music/film collaborative group known as GusGus in the mid-1990s, who also possesed a strong committment to the "experience" - exuding soulful music accompanied by intense visuals that often stemmed from their native backdrop--Reykjavik, Iceland. (Sigur Rós' pronounced 'home') Combine this duo's talent and background with Sigur Rós' commitment to expansive - yet innocent art - and you are left uncertain what you have just encountered.

[Cue Glosoli]

Though each Sigur Rós (and Arni and Kinski) video possesses its own unique intensity, Glosoli certainly distinguishes itself from the rest. Free of shameless promotion, this musical short exudes commitment, freedom, and beauty. In the end, through a creative fusion of both music and film, "something" happens.

"Transcendent" comes to mind.

-----

For the curious... this video was the first visual inspiration for this site and overall "experiment".

For the HD version of the video, go here.

Enjoy.

 

Sigur Ros' Glosoli

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.mov

TAGS: glosoli , sigur ros , arni and kinski , iceland , beauty , follow , innocence , music video
Comments (7)add comment

Tom Brown said:

0
 It's not about the music, its about what inspired the music.
I love that throughout the video this 'drummer' is gathering up so many diverse people. Most of them are simply sitting somewhere, maybe "watching" or "waiting"... some of them are "building towers", others "wearing masks" and "hiding".. still others porring gasoline over cars, "Destroying".. but somehow the sound of his music gathered them. In some crazy we the song of his heart brought them together. And even then as they make there final charge they drop their masks, and even their drum. Because it wasn't about the music, it was about what inspired the music in him.

What a beautiful picture of the way Jesus puts a song in us, and calls us toward something unifying and beyond our human possibility.
October 15, 2008

Landon Lynch said:

0
 what if?
Every time this piece encounters me I am in a very different emotional place in life. I am truly an agent interpreting this text anew with each meeting.
The brilliant combination of musical tropes and framing somewhat aside, what is so compelling to me is that no matter where I am when I meet this text I find myself asking, "What if?" from beginning to end.
"What if that was a real drum? What if I followed the drummer? What if he was leading me where I've always wanted to go? What if I adventured with all these other people? What if I have real strength? What if the precipice is just the beginning? What if the greater risk is not jumping? What if all that I've longed for was actually reality and all I had to do was step into it, follow the drum?"
For me this film is the audio/visual representation of C.S. Lewis' "the thing yearned for night and day, from childhood to old age ... and never had it."
You're right, it excites wonder.
September 19, 2008

Samuel Hirt said:

Samuel Hirt
 ...
Isn't it something like 80% of their lyrics are a made-up language they call "Hopelandic"...?

I think that is wonderfully original.
January 24, 2008

webb said:

0
 ...
Loved the song....especially with the vid. I'm not completely sure about the meaning of the entire thing, but I felt the innocence of the children. This world may be better off if we were all still children. If you believe....I mean really believe you can fly............you can. The only thing that holds us back on this earth and beyond is......well.......us.
December 16, 2007

Shayne said:

0
 ...
this is a great music video because it demonstrates the path that we use to follow GOD.
June 28, 2007

Jordan said:

0
 ...
This video is beautiful because of how the kids followed with out a worry. It is just like how we should follow God and put faith in that.
June 25, 2007

Casey said:

0
 taking the leap
I like this video because its all about taking a leap of faith, and not worrying about the fall.
June 18, 2007

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