Solange Knowles let slip that she’d performed a “gospel version” of Bjork’s “It’s Oh So Quiet” while on tour in Europe earlier this week, and her take on the song–a slower take that plays up the song’s waltziness and allows her background singers to shine–has made it to YouTube. Check out the octave-jumping she does at the end! Anyway, I’m sure that Bjork-fan “purists” out there will find something to complain about with it, because the Internet was made for complaining. So why not peep the original versions of the song after the jump?
And just for good measure, here’s the song Bjork based “It’s Oh So Quiet” on–Betty Hutton’s “Blow A Fuse,” which was recorded in 1951 and which was itself a cover of German bandleader Horst Winter’s “Und jetzt ist es still”:
(Shh!)
Solange - “It’s Oh So Quiet” [YouTube]
Bjork - It’s Oh So Quiet [Dailymotion]
Betty Hutton - Blow A Fuse [YouTube]
I like it. It’s a little oversung, but points for creativity, the arrangement and the soul.
Ok, Björk “purists” will complain about this regardless because first of all it’s not even Björk’s song. It’s a cover of an old song, just like you guys have stated…so clearly what would Björk fans have to complain of? It’s not her song, now if she took something original of hers, that’d be a different story. Enough said.
I don’t know if I’d call myself a “purist”, but I do love me some Bjork. That being said, I dig her take on that song. Is her album worth checking out?
@mahkiavelli: definitely.
@mahkiavelli: One of my top 5 records of 2008. REALLY good.
I’m not sure what a Bjork “purist” is; but I would like to stab someone for Bjork, so you may be talking about my ilk. As such, it has always pleased me ridiculously when someone acknowledges Bjork.
I am, however, confused as to why Knowles removes the “Shh. It..” joke, but then randomly yells “get your shit and get out” later in the song. Badu?