The Sugarcubes - Birthday (Icelandic)

(Also known under the title 'Ammæli')
Released: October 1987
Directed by: Friðrik Þór Friðriksson / The Sugarcubes
Song written by: The Sugarcubes
Song produced by: The Sugarcubes
The Sugarcubes
Björk Guðmundsdóttir (vocals, keyboards)
Einar Örn Benediktsson (vocals, trumpet)
Sigtryggur Baldursson (drums)
Þór Eldon (guitar)
Bragi Ólafsson (bass)
Einar Melax (keyboards) - 1987-1989
Margrét (Magga) Örnólfsdóttir (keyboards) - 1989-1992
www.bjork.com

[@maisiefreeman8597]

First heard this in its Icelandic form whilst sitting in the departure lounge at Brisbane Airport - my boyfriend of 5 years was escorting me home, and had told me he was letting me go once we got there because of his own personal demons. My mother had just walked out on my father and I was alone in the world. Heard this and the silent tears started hot and fast. Very surreal moment of my life. I still listen to this beautiful song a year and a half on, and it still hits me hard. Bjork, you are something very special, to make people feel this much through your music.

[@jayofthedead7750]

Dude. This made me cry, I hope you’re okay and as well as you can be. You’re not alone. Much love ❤️

[@hellbound0086]

I have a Scandinavian demon I could put in you.

[@lazybelphegore6748]

Sending

[@lazybelphegore6748]

On another note. I lost my Father five years ago. I was going to college as a non-traditional student. (That means I was old). Sitting around houses with various family members for days; and I just felt totally forlorn and broken. I felt like my heart had been pulled straight out of my chest. I picked up my phone; saw that Bjork had just released a new single. (This was after Vulnicura). Turned on tye video for “The Gate” and there is Björk; right on time, singing about “My Healing chest wound” has become a Gate; theough which I can receive love from, and through which I give love from and I care for you; care for you”! The synchronicity was unreal. I could see that I may heal, people will love me, and I will love them. Thank you Bjork!

[@insideself1471]

Wow, what a moving story! x

[@michaelhoskins6579]

God, the 80s were a great time to be a music fan. Bands just casually dropping amazing singles like this almost every week. The amount of inventiveness, originality, and daring in this music is incredible. There were so many talented and creative musical minds around at that time. I don't think we'll ever see a period in music history like it again.

[@fishsticks2965]

i would argue music is still like this, you just have to find the artists you appreciate :)

[@yyz4761]

You ain’t shitting me brother, what a time to be alive. I thought that this would just get better and better.

[@pinekun]

Björk's voice is mesmerizing.

[@yyz4761]

It is a shame that we will never have a high quality recording of this magnificent performance. Byork is beyond wonderful in this version and to have her captured in high quality video/ audio would be priceless. What a beautiful talent, just brings tears. Gorgeous voice.

[@herrgolf]

Hi quality enough:)

[@BuuGames]

get the vynl one comes with cat bside too :P

[@unaaaaaaa1934]

there's a 7 inch with a b side of this in high quality! 💫

[@yyz4761]

Thanks, I'll look for it.

[@zararity]

It's on Bjork's Family Tree boxset...

[@fofitohi]

I will never look again to the english version. This song is perfect in it's native language

[@Abitibidoug]

fofitohi Agreed. I don't understand Icelandic, but I like this version none the less. It's even more like something from another world than the English version.

[@Grendel53]

+fofitohi lol.. too right. it is like a magic incantation.

[@mercenery1232]

fofitohi i kinda have a feeling it was better ,so i came and wasn't wrong

[@RudyPalos]

What 'english' version?? ;) I have no idea, never wanted a translation. That first scream, man; still catches me offguard. Amazing vocal performace.

[@coffeebeanz4058]

thanks for respecting our native language. :)

[@shandib5328]

This is The most INFECTIOUS song ever!!! God, she's adorable...I could listen to her "Ooooh oh oooooh!" for all of eternity!

[@shandib5328]

Tam tam 🎶tam tam tamtam🎶

[@KrisRamJ]

It's still as fantastic to me today as when I first heard it... the dischordant sounds, detuned guitars, offbeat drums and the magical noises made by Bjork... amazing...

[@PBL187]

KrisRamJ Dunno about detuned but both the bass and guitars are using chorus FX, particularly the bass :)

[@kelvinbutler4351]

This is musical genius in its finest form. And Bjorks voice. Omg. So amazing and unique

[@musicdragon75]

I love her little dances . The beginning was cute, she's so free, that's what I love about her. She's inspiring me, and this song is so joyful! it makes me want to sing out like she does at 1:11. I think one day I will, at work or in the store... AHHHHHHHHHH AHHHHH AHHHH!

[@smakaol]

im lying down in bed listning to this on repeat and just discovered an actual puddle of tears in the neck dimple beneath my adams apple. never cried over a song before.

[@beatlesrgear]

Bjørk is a strange bird. She used to walk all around Reyjavik whilst reading a book. As far as I know, she never fell into any fountains or ponds (like Tjørnin) or bumped into any lampposts. She had her Bjørk radar working.

[@mariadaugbjerg6141]

lol

[@gish2465]

Бьёрк

[@H.rgirlie]

Bjœrk

[@beatlesrgear]

@@H.rgirlie I know how to spell her name. My keyboard wont give me the proper letter, so I chose the one that sounds the same, but is used in Norwegian.

[@H.rgirlie]

@@beatlesrgear dood I was joking with u

[@budianabanana]

I love how feral her voice sounds in the Icelandic version. dancing's so natural to her haha

[@horstborscht7401]

First heard this song 25 years ago, and I still consider it the most beautifully weird pop song of all time. The instrumentation is actually not that unconventional, yet the whole vibe and Björk‘s singing make it completely otherwordly. It‘s almost like aliens visiting Earth and going „Okay, let‘s grab some instruments and try to make a pop song like those humans do.“ Brilliant.

[@chriswayneevans]

Out of this world, literally. Even better when I don’t understand the lyrics somehow, and are just a collection of beautiful vocal sounds.

[@Dulcimerist]

I have the same birthday as Bjork, so this is my official birthday song! :)

[@KosTis]

My mom's 4 days older than her.

[@TheGloriousNosebleed]

She's born 1 day before me!

[@MrAdamNTProtester]

have you read the lyric sheet dude?!!? = [ ]

[@suvrat.sharma]

She was born one day after me hehe

[@suvrat.sharma]

But 38 years before

[@gojirafan2452]

Lyrics Hún á heima í húsinu þarna Þar heim fyrir utan Grabblar í mild með fingrunum Og munninum, hún er fimma ára Þræðir orma upp á bönd Geymir köngualær í vasanum Safnar fluguvængjum í krús Skrúbbar hrossaflugur Og klemmir þær á snúru Ohhh! Ohhh! Ohhh! Ohhh! Hún á einn vin, hann býr í næsta húsi Þau eru að hlusta á veðrið Hann veit hvað margar freknur hún er með Hún klórar í skeggið hans Hún mála þungar bækur Og límir þær saman Hún sá stórann krumma Hann sveif niður himininn Hún snerti hann! Ohhh! Ohhh! Ohhh! Ohhh! Í dag er afmæli Þau sjúga vindla Hann ber blómakeðju Og hann saumar fugl Í nærbuxurnar hennar Ohhh! Ohhh! Ohhh! Þau sjúga vindla... Þau liggja í baðkari... Í dag er hennar dagur... Tam, tam, tam-a-tam-a-tam... Please forgive me if anything is wrong. I got these lyrics from genius

[@danielcabrona8035]

bjorks vocal range at 2:21 is INSANE. So many squeaks

[@FirstnameLastname-bn4gv]

Daniel Cabrona Definitely wasn’t intentional though.

[@eddierayvanlynch6133]

I can imagine her in a Pixar movie -- Super Sexy Squirrel! Admit it, we need it. 😃

[@ether6697]

EddieRay VanLynch wtf bro

[@manuam98]

@@eddierayvanlynch6133 I think you and I have being watching very different Pixar movies

[@seanarooni]

@@FirstnameLastname-bn4gv its definitely intentional

[@antoniaaguirre5654]

my ears are blessed, and i say this without any exaggeration whatsoever. ég elska það

[@Nabo00o]

I brought myself here...

[@4171julian]

Me too 😉

[@tiraluvr941]

:3

[@NorthAyase]

I don't get it?

[@milepod]

Most youtube music videos have a shitload of "X brought me here" comments, where X is a video where the music is featured.

[@leonruvalcaba1549]

High freend My grandpa brought me hear at gunpoint

[@scottcerniglia2119]

I'm so glad she's one of a kind!!

[@betabite89]

This song reminds me of a roadtrip me and a friend of mine took in Iceland. The Icelandic landscape makes the song so much more intense.

[@ikeartfilms7783]

I thought the same. Something about it just sounds like Iceland.

[@lionsmanexx]

On my bucket list now

[@rygar3d83]

Those squeaks, howls.... you must appreciate having heard this gem. Wow

[@BrianGarzonio]

The slight vocal variations (from the English version) are fascinating to hear & I always love hearing a song sung in a another language! Rosetta stones.

[@sabrinagrammens8950]

one of my favorite songs ever.

[@carinevanremoortere6194]

Schoon he

[@sabrinagrammens8950]

Carine Van Remoortere Ja, speciaal.

[@heyyo3725]

Best single release of the 80s *definitely*.

[@inoriginalpackage]

Love this Icelandic version...but then again I don't know Icelandic....but damn she sure does sound great singin in her native tounge..

[@alisonlatimer4088]

Love her. Imho one of the most unique voices.

[@jarederbrecht]

i'll never get over how beautiful this song sounds in icelandic. björk is wonderful :)

[@markchapman9660]

I love this woman .....

[@kurtsiecolferites2160]

Mitch brought me here. What an interesting song and voice. She's got a very unique style all her own, which is awesome!

[@indoctrin8]

I can't tell the difference. bjorks voice breaks through languages.

[@ThirstyEye]

Amen.

[@mariadaugbjerg6141]

I can hear the difference about 3/4 of the time , but you are right about her voice .

[@MsMiguel70]

Good point.

[@dugstar]

This song completely changed my musical tastes. I remember seeing the video on Channel 4 chart show when it first came out and it was weeks in the Indie chart. I rushed out and bought it and still play the disk from time to time. Sounds so much better than the cd.

[@stephenhester9804]

Same place I saw it, I was round a friends house and the reactions were funny, 3 of them just said it was crap, I was just sitting there with my mind being blown open by the alien majesty of this track.

[@Tskbludemon]

I dont kno the language, but her voice i think is beutifull and powerfull. I could listen to her sing in icelandic all day. I think she did a great thing by putting out stuff in nativ langauge, cause , it would have been the easy road to sing everything in english, it is good to have pride in ones heritage.

[@helenGOF]

This song is older than I am. A timeless classic

[@sflachuck]

This song was absolute madness and genius at the same time. It's simply amazing how it works your emotions.

[@EvaLikesToSing]

I've grown up listening to this song, and ever since I was little I thought Bjork was a mermaid. :)

[@coffeemachtspass]

A swan, actually.

[@gx2music]

The Icelandic version is as if from another dimension. Another world. Ethereal. Absolutely magical in a true sense. Bjork isn’t human - she’s a magical pixie elf. ❤❤

[@MmostlyRandom]

this is hypnotic

[@TudeschiniGames]

yessss lolololol

[@NicholasMeyler]

Her music is pure genius. Amazing. Unbelievably good.

[@panoseddie9975]

We love Bjork since 1988 , greetings from Athens Greece

[@ansfridaeyowulfsdottir8095]

Phenominal. Astonishing. She is part woman, part child, part nature spirit. {:-:-:}

[@myusernamerocks3]

My god, she is so much more than a human... i don't know what she is, but I've always got that feeling from her...

[@berlinsaintclair9100]

I don't know any icelandic but this still moves me as much as the English version... If not more given Bjork's intensity!

[@sherlocklucas8294]

Absolutely beautiful

[@sunsunnydayz]

I luv the Icelandic version more than in English

[@pygmypuff]

This is such a good song it makes me so happy

[@BanoDut]

What a gift! Even the quality of the audio is art to me. Perfect in it's own vintage way💜

[@mikep85]

Bjork in her rawest form. Amazing.

[@jg769]

I saw The Sugarcubes in Cleveland in 1988. She sang this tune in Icelandic during the concert, all other songs were done in English. Great show in a very small nightclub.

[@kelvinbutler4351]

Wow. What a memory.

[@johnmothershaw4485]

Stunning voice ! Absolutely incredible

[@LaBizarraRomina]

Not understand a single word...but my heart and mind enjoy this so!

[@joeparkes]

This song is strangely addictive!

[@GrayNeko]

The Sugarcubes constantly amaze me by just how jaw-droppingly original they are. Like my Quebecois boys, Voivod, one of a kind and not interested in compromising themselves. And wouldn't it be awesome if Snake and Bjork could sing a duet?

[@GuitarWithBrett]

Gives me chills , I don't need to understand the words : )

[@segppppp]

não,consigo abusar de assistir !!!, bjork canta como uma criancinha brincando alegremente com um brinquedo novo, amo essa artista linda demais !!!!!!!!!!!!

[@monsterlady6]

Björk is awesome ♥ Love you♥

[@nogmo100]

Love Bjork in all her forms😊

[@ethanlocke7936]

This song gives me chills I love bjork

[@ziweiyuan]

When I first heard the English version back in '88 it was about the craziest thing I'd ever heard put to vinyl...but they actually toned the crazy down a bit from this version.

[@Sean-gu3tq]

Pure talent always finds a way to see the sun.. well at least I hope it does ..this is sublime …and I love reading the comments about the ripples in caused in many lives.

[@marksainsbury4109]

Bought the 12" when it came out , still love it to this day . Bjork's voice is amazing.

[@julesjones9651]

Me too 🙂

[@willowvc1910]

Hauntingly stunningly beautiful 🤩♥️♥️♥️✨✨✨xxx

[@vashthestampede1132]

This is the best thing eI ever heard stoned.

[@ManOfJupiterMusic]

then you need to listen to pyramid song by radiohead stoned.

[@PBL187]

Prob the best thing you'll ever hear period!

[@azucarspacehead442]

Lmao any Beatles songs stoned is good

[@powersd453deven]

I remember the first time I heard this song in August 2020. She’s got t be my favorite living singer and second of all-time. Hope to visit Iceland someday.

[@garrettsmith810]

this was my first Bjork song I ever heard and she’s my fav artist of all time. From the first time I heard this I knew she was one of a kind

[@erflingnot]

Even if I had never heard the lyrics or understood them....... The sound the vibration stands up on its own......... it stands straight up!And then it twists and turns rotates gyrates and falls into the water again....Spent.

[@bristolian1970]

not heard or seen this since its release, remember loving it and hadn't heard of Bjork then, what a unique voice

[@forwardsdrawkcab]

This track, this version, is the best thing Björk and the Sukarmolarnin ever made. Epic.

[@Dulcimerist]

Happy birthday, Björk! It's my birthday, too!

[@thenoseyskeptic]

omg. at first when i stumbled across this artist . i was like wtf, im in the weird part of youtube. but her voice is honestly addicting and mesmerising

[@abina316]

Ever such

[@thenoseyskeptic]

Courtny Vaz​ SUCH!!!

[@WeeWyllie]

Hannah V Mesmerizing, perhaps, but emphatically not my cup of tea!

[@Grendel53]

+Hannah V lol...welcome aboard the BJORK Express. She is otherworldly.

[@regandevereaux5079]

I think I actually heard it on Top of the Pops in 1987 because it had gone to number 1 in Iceland. But that cannot be right...Right?! I adored it completely from the first listen. Still love it just as much and still haven't a clue what the lyrics are. But it doesn't matter, it is brilliant all round! Peace, Regan 🌈

[@leoh2680]

very great song

[@concars1234]

Happy Birthday to me! thanks Bjork. Those vocal trills are a gift on any day

[@vicky8867]

Happy Belated Birthday🎁🎂🎈

[@concars1234]

@@vicky8867 Thank you and happy early birthday to you whenever it may be :D

[@vicky8867]

@@concars1234 Awe thank you☺

[@TheShakma]

If Bjork was a writer she would write extraordinary books...

[@qworky902]

Bjork's books write themselves!

[@tobygreen6950]

She is and she has!

[@LucasSSP]

Wow the screaming part is the same in both languages? Did I just learn some icelandic?????

[@ikeartfilms7783]

The scream is actually an Icelandic word (in both). It is the Icelandic word for Birthday, Ammæli ;)

[@LucasSSP]

@Ivanovich Svidrigailov iswydt

[@ZombieBabyDoll]

I remember listening to this when I was like, 5! She still looks the same! I love Bjork!

[@richardb8080]

I vividly remember seeing and hearing this for the first time. I was about 16 and was watching The Chart Show, a UK music video programme that was popular in the 80's . This came on and I was instantly captivated and pressed record on the VHS video recorder so I could have a permanent memento of this mysterious, exotic, wonderful, enigmatic , magical voice that I was hearing for the first time.

[@battlenoise]

The joy in this song is overwhelming. Doesn't matter what language it's in. Makes you want to explode right off the planet!

[@CharlieChinchillaTV]

shes a pure happy soul to this day...

[@ziweiyuan]

Singing about a possibly abused child who is into animal cruelty, yeah, very pure and happy.

[@kangfesher]

I saw this video on an old show called "Night Flight" in the late eighties...it blew my mind then and still does.

[@erflingnot]

Thank you so much for sharing this I have never seen it! I am again completely blown away........ .

[@sistemann6062]

Very well !!

[@arr204]

This song is Everything To Me….

[@morganolfursson2560]

Thank you for putting our country on the map Björk. takk fyrir

[@denisefreitas6727]

Absolutely awesome! 💖

[@たかこさんリンダさんと]

まだ子供の声が少し残ってる感じが凄く素敵‼

[@atheistleopard618]

*gorgeous woman-Best female artist/singer i've heard yet*(i love grimes a lot)

[@acigarette]

This song is so magical in Icelandic. What a great language

[@niuna3148]

She is awesome .. This song in her language is much better than english... Thankss BJork

[@OracleTurret]

happy bday bjork!

[@Boudiccat]

Ég elska alvarlega þetta lag með ástríðu, svo margar minningar!

[@arly2281]

🇮🇸👑🇮🇸🎶🎙️🎶🇮🇸🇮🇸🇮🇸

[@ozziemartinez1484]

Thank you Byork for making such beautiful music.

[@Wickedmarino]

I love Bjork! She inspires me, her voice gives me "eargasms," she is my Goddess!

[@burronia]

thank you very much. I saw them live around end of the eighties, and she sang the song in icelandic. Don't understand a word, but was something magic.

[@Sebastianx007]

had this album when I was 16 and loved every single song ... but to hear in Icelandic is priceless!

[@shannonnonnahs6943]

My favorite Birthday song.💓Love from California.

[@memeception]

I don't know what the fuck she's saying but I'm definitely living!

[@btbrookie]

just amazing

[@nume2621]

This makes me incredibly happy

[@rocketamadeus3730]

Violently happy?

[@nume2621]

@@rocketamadeus3730 you bet

[@veryoldandugly]

Well, since 1987 i've always wanted to be a coffee cause of this incredible sugar cube.

[@PBL187]

veryoldandugly 😂

[@flightonenine]

the goddess speaks

[@reallivebluescat]

or sings

[@johnoullette4908]

One of my faves evah...Used to play it a lot as a DJ back in the radio day

[@SunshineClementine]

'Happy Birthday, björk!' 👶🏻👧🏻 A toast to you!🥂

[@VioletStormyDaze]

I love it, her voice is beautiful!!

[@rimmel65]

Happy Bday, Bjork.