Björk - Jólakotturinn (Christmas Cat), 1987

A song about the Icelandic Christmas Cat

[@michaelkay5142]

🌵😻Dr Emily Zarka led me here. Greetings from Flagstaff Az!😻🌵

[@Mr.Beauregarde]

Same. Salutations from Louisville KY. 😾🏇🥃

[@abp4671]

Greetings from Calgary Alberta!

[@MorbusIff]

Same! New Hampshire, USA!

[@penni006]

Merry Christmas from the Bahamas

[@user-user.user-user]

Hello from New Zealand!

[@WhiteTiger333]

Love it! I found this video through Monstrum's channel. She just posted a video about the Christmas Cat and mentioned this song.

[@missjoshemmett]

Me, too, in 2023!

[@tomkatt8274]

@@missjoshemmett same here

[@VS-vv6pq]

Golden Masterpiece

[@ぼじん-o5r]

Merry Christmas everyone ❤

[@fractiousperson303]

Merry Christmas!

[@leoh2680]

J love this icelandic song , melodie very nice and Bjork magic

[@IronIck45]

For me, a not-specialist sounds it mittelalterlich /middle age iii???, a yeah-I like it. Björks voice is a great voice. Kærar þakkir!

[@gemhecks9390]

Who doesn't love a little scary in the dark? I hope you all get new warm clothes this Christmas or the giant Christmas cat will get you... You know, assuming you don't end up in its owner's pot!

[@TheAirinn]

My new Christmas Song! ♥️🎄

[@RidiculousThoughts]

Fantastic melody and song! I bet Icelandic kids loved this.

[@ronewoodard]

Tidings of Hope and Cheer with BJORK X-Mas is Celebrated All Throughout The Year! W/🥰

[@tonyf8500]

Sweet Björk... Happy new year 2022 👩‍❤️‍💋‍👨

[@alec6909]

Magnificent!

[@evygil]

LOVELY

[@მემარივარ]

wooo. 👍👍👍👍👍👍👏👏👏👏

[@tarasadewasser6148]

I will live forever

[@amywright2243]

I'm here thanks to Stuff You Should Know. Good luck, Icelandic kids.

[@michelelaraia7358]

Before Sugarcubes.Celtic/Medieval music with an almost harpsichord-sounding instrument

[@NaevaCannelle]

People in my class: Listening to Tiktok songs Me: Listening to this, Christmas is still 5-6 months away and i'm not from Iceland/ live there I'm a little bit worried about my obsession with Iceland now

[@aurapain5757]

same bro. by the way, i am an indian. where r u from?.

[@MrErikchaugen]

You have chosen wisely,my friend!!

[@IronIck45]

A indian indian, or a northamerican 5-1000 tribes indian? @@aurapain5757

[@ricardolujan9801]

woow nunca había escuchado esto y eso que sigo a bjork desde debut !!! en qué disco viene??? está genial, medieval y vikinga !! thanks for it !!

[@kittn8756]

❤

[@larrybob]

Apparently it initially appeared on the 1987 Icelandic Christmas compilation “Hvít Er Borg Og Bær” which can be found on Discogs.

[@darrylhunt1]

Chuck and Josh sent me

[@MrFleem]

I need a new jacket.

[@XylenRoberts]

With the dungeon synth revival in full bloom, me thinks Bjork should get in touch with her Icelandic roots and reexplore/modernize the style she had with this song. Was this off that album she made as a child or is this a rarity from her Sugarcubes days?

[@Lunar994]

Considering the date and the sound of her voice, it's the latter, though I don't know if she was specifically with the Sugarcubes at that time as I know she was in a few band before recording Debut.

[@gregorybabbitt2082]

I saw this in a Reykjavik record store as one off on a 1987 Holiday album with lots of other local Icelandic singers. BTW - the style is very celtic/Irish/Scottish...just a simple slow jig in E minor with traditional ornamentation. During the first Viking migrations to Iceland, alot of Irish women went there with Viking men...making the older genetics about 60% Nordic and 40% Celtic

[@banananaz674]

Hahaha I immediately thought of Dungeon Synth when I heard this.

[@ぼじん-o5r]

Merry Christmas everyone 🎉

[@segura2112]

She's always been a little otherworldly to me, like she has an almost elfin look and her art fits that.

[@yatesy117]

The ice Queen 🇮🇸❄️❄️

[@eckhardreuter7316]

Incredible good! Was ot released on CD?

[@lovasip]

A karácsonyi macska jóllakott és uri. Ha jól értem.

[@MrSpektyr]

Watch out! If you're poor and can't afford new clothes you'll be eaten by the christmas cat! lol jk jk. Beautiful music, I do love the legend behind the Yule Cate as well. An interesting take on the holiday season stories rather than the same stuff the play for us here in the U.S.

[@moodist1er]

*if you don't finish your wool work you'll be eaten by the yule cat. It had nothing to do with being poor..

[@GenerationWhyMe]

Looking at the English translation of these lyrics, if they are to be believed, this song is kinda scary for Christmas. Leave it to Iceland to make a scary Christmas song

[@jacarandadancer]

Translation? Please?

[@barendborrelworst3850]

jacarandadancer You know the christmas cat - that cat is very large We dont know where he came from nor where he has gone He opened his eyes widely glowing both of them it was not for cowards to look into them His hair sharp as needles his back was high and bulgy and claws on his hairy paw were not a pretty sight Therefore the women competed to rock and sow and spin and knitted colorful clothes or one little sock For the cat could not come and get the little children they had to get new clothes from the grownups When christmas eve was lighted and the cat looked inside the children stood straight and red-cheeked with their presents He waved his strong tail he jumped, scratched and blew and was either in the valley or out on the headland He walked about, hungry and mean in hurtfully cold christmas snow and kindled the hearts with fear in every town If outside one heard a weak "meaow" then unluck was sure to happen all knew he hunted men and didnt want mice He followed the poorer people who didnt get any new clothing near christmas - and tried and lived in poorest conditions From them he took at the same time all their christmas food and ate them also themselves if he could Therefore the women competed to rock and sow and spin and knitted colorful clothes or one little sock Some had gotten an apron and some had got a new shoe or anything that was needful but that was enough For pussy should not eat no-one who got some new piece of clothes She hissed with her ugly voice and ran away If she still exists I dont know but for nothing would be his trip if everybody would get next christmas some new rag You may want to keep it in mind to help if there is need for somewhere there might be children who get nothing at all Mayhaps that looking for those who suffer from lack of plentiful lights will give you a happy season and merry christmas

[@bradlupei6103]

You know the christmas cat - that cat is very large We dont know where he came from nor where he has gone He opened his eyes widely glowing both of them it was not for cowards to look into them His hair sharp as needles his back was high and bulgy and claws on his hairy paw were not a pretty sight Therefore the women competed to rock and sow and spin and knitted colorful clothes or one little sock For the cat could not come and get the little children they had to get new clothes from the grownups When christmas eve was lighted and the cat looked inside the children stood straight and red-cheeked with their presents He waved his strong tail he jumped, scratched and blew and was either in the valley or out on the headland He walked about, hungry and mean in hurtfully cold christmas snow and kindled the hearts with fear in every town If outside one heard a weak "meaow" then unluck was sure to happen all knew he hunted men and didnt want mice He followed the poorer people who didnt get any new clothing near christmas - and tried and lived in poorest conditions From them he took at the same time all their christmas food and ate them also themselves if he could Therefore the women competed to rock and sow and spin and knitted colorful clothes or one little sock Some had gotten an apron and some had got a new shoe or anything that was needful but that was enough For pussy should not eat no-one who got some new piece of clothes She hissed with her ugly voice and ran away If she still exists I dont know but for nothing would be his trip if everybody would get next christmas some new rag You may want to keep it in mind to help if there is need for somewhere there might be children who get nothing at all Mayhaps that looking for those who suffer from lack of plentiful lights will give you a happy season and merry christmas

[@goatcvlt2926]

YULE. ......Yule Cat...christian pieces of molesting murdering crap...wtf a tree and monster cat got to do with a layin ass 13 yr old birthin a baby?

[@jeffsammarco5553]

Goat Cvlt killed it. I’m dying m. Lmfao

[@edway9495]

@@goatcvlt2926 Pre dates Christianity. Christianity came in and homogenised all festivals, nearly all stories- ending with Disney.

[@jocelynmartin1572]

Why is there a polar bear when the song is about the Yule Cat?

[@Alfadrottning86]

munu Jólakotturinn éta ūig! Ūiđ hafiđ veriđ ađvöruđ. Gleđileg jķl, öll sömul. =)

[@IronIck45]

I say so to, sometimes...Spaaasss!

[@playsunnysea]

Ummm cats r cool if I could understand this song Cats r still cool Yaaaaaay

[@goatcvlt2926]

It's about the giant cat coming to kill you if you don't at least get one article of new clothes like socks mittens etc.

[@SpotifyPremiumツ]

This sheet is A$$!

[@goatcvlt2926]

Yule* cat and you getter get clothes of yule or he'll eat you

[@dalenickey4717]

Somebody please confirm she's not wearing real fur....

[@bjorkscolon6247]

Dale Nickey she would never

[@Mr.Beauregarde]

@@bjorkscolon6247 ikr.

[@noway8445]

Probably Lopi (Yarn from the sheep’s wool). It looks like braiding hair when sorting colors. The sheep are let free every spring and gathered into a “rettir” every fall before winter. The wool is shorn which the sheep require to stay agile. There are two coats and the long hairs on the outer coat are water repellent. This looks like lopi and hand knit Icelandic craftsmanship. If you ever get to Reykjavik, be sure to look for some of the most ethically made AND sold clothing on earth. It’s even environmentally friendly.

[@gn5359]

She's definitely wrapped by a really dead polar bear

[@Sunshine96818]

@@noway8445 If it wasn't for COVID I would've went to Iceland last year! I'm hoping to go next year, thanks for the info!!!