Earth Intruders

"Earth Intruders"
Single by Björk
from the album Volta
Released9 April 2007
Recorded2006
Genre
Length
  • 6:13 (album version)
  • 6:13 (Jimmy Douglas Mix)
  • 3:18 (single version)
  • 4:26 (Mark Stent's extended edit)
  • 4:26 (without outro)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Björk singles chronology
"Triumph of a Heart"
(2005) 		"Earth Intruders"
(2007) 		"Innocence"
(2007)
Music video
"Earth Intruders" on YouTube

"Earth Intruders" is a song written and recorded by Icelandic singer Björk. The song was released as the first single from her 2007 full-length studio album, Volta.

The single was released digitally in the US on 9 April and 21 April 2007 and in Europe on 28 April 2007.[1][2][3] The single was released in a physical box set on 4 February 2008. Due to high digital download sales, it remains Björk's highest charting single in the United States to date.

Background

The first mention of "Earth Intruders" as a song title was made on All Access on 10 March 2007,[4] and was later confirmed as the lead single through an article by The Guardian on 11 March 2007.[5] On 26 March 2007, a distorted sample of the song was uploaded to YouTube as part of the viral marketing campaign for the Volta album.[6][7] A fifteen-second sample of the track then appeared on the Rhino Records online ringtone website on 1 April 2007.[8][9] The purchased ringtone featured a different clip (with different lyrics) to the one used in the online preview on the site; both audio samples were subsequently spread across music forums.[10] On 3 April 2007 it was reported that the Björk section of the Rhino Records online ringtone store had been removed.[11] After internet radio station WOXY played the song on 6 April 2007 the song was made widely available across file-sharing networks.[12]

The album version of Earth Intruders was leaked to the internet on 24 April 2007 due to the full album being made available accidentally on the UK iTunes Store on 23 April 2007 for a total of six hours, two weeks before the album's official release date.[13] Björk said of the song was based on a dream during a cross-Atlantic flight to New York where;

"a tsunami of millions and millions of poverty-stricken people" swelled high above the airplane she was a passenger on. Eventually, the wave overtook the plane, hit land and razed the White House into oblivion. "It's a quite chaotic song," she said of Volta's first single. "Lyrically, it's a collection of all of these images" burned into her memory, from her trip to Indonesia as well as her vivid, in-flight reverie."

[14]

"Earth Intruders" is co-produced by R&B record producer Timbaland and his protégé Danja.[15] Congolese group Konono Nº1 play electric likembes on the song.

Critical reception

"Earth Intruders" received favourable reviews from music critics. Drowned in Sound reviewer Mike Diver gave the song 9/10, praising it as "immediately catchy, compellingly left of centre, and undeniably unique".[16] Digital Spy reviewer Miriam Zendle cited "Earth Intruders" as returning to Björk's earlier commercial sound, comparing it to her more recent albums that were "incredibly difficult to grasp hold of".[17] Music website Popjustice called it the 80th greatest single of 2007.[18]

Music video

Screenshot from "Earth Intruders"

The music video for "Earth Intruders" was directed by Michel Ocelot. It was accomplished within strict time constraints through a combination of live-action, silhouette animation, 3D computer graphics, traditional animation, cut-outs and other special effects.[19] "Kirikou" was danced by Legrand Bemba-Debert in a costume made, based on Ocelot's ideas, by paper sculptor Anne-Lise Kœhler.[20] A preview was shown during Le Grand Journal show on French TV channel Canal+ on 17 April 2007.[21] The full video was made available in the iTunes Store on 24 April 2007.[22]

It features Björk's face floating in the background, first upside down, then upright, singing with her eyes closed. In the foreground, a large group of silhouetted tribal warriors dances in time to the music. The video features psychedelic colours and patterns imposed on an earthy backdrop. The video ends with Björk's face slowly fading into the middle of a glade, her eyes being opened just as she sings the last lyric. Ocelot stated that Björk had originally wanted Kirikou (the child-hero of Ocelot's Kirikou and the Sorceress and Kirikou et les bêtes sauvages) to be featured as a 20-year-old in the video. It was nominated for the 2007 Q Award for Best Video.[23]

Live performances

On 21 April 2007, a barefooted Björk appeared as the musical guest on an episode of the US comedy-variety show Saturday Night Live in promotion of the album. She performed the songs "Earth Intruders" and "Wanderlust".[24][25] On 8 June 2007 (recorded on 5 June 2007), Björk performed, along with her tour musicians, on the UK television show Later...with Jools Holland for the fifth time in her solo career. She performed "Earth Intruders", "The Anchor Song", and "Declare Independence". Björk has also performed the song on every show of the Volta tour, usually as the very first song played after she enters the stage. Björk's set at Glastonbury Festival was broadcast on BBC Four on 22 June 2007, with "Earth Intruders" being the first song of the concert.

Chart performance

"Earth Intruders" reached number 67 on the UK Official Download Chart, while the remix EP later released charted on its own at number 150. In the United States, the song debuted on the US Billboard Hot 100 at number 84 in the issue dated 28 April 2007.[26] This is Björk's highest position on the US Hot 100, the previous being "Big Time Sensuality" in 1993, which peaked at number 88. The song also peaked at number 75 on the US Billboard Pop 100.[27]

Track listings

Club Mixes EP

A digital-only "Earth Intruders – Club Mixes" EP was released on the iTunes Store in the US/UK on 21 May 2007. The European iTunes release contained only three of the original five tracks.[28] It is only the second time (the first being "Play Dead") that an instrumental of a Björk track has been officially released. With this release, it was determined that "Earth Intruders" would have no physical release in any territory worldwide. Also, the Mark Stent mix was initially labelled as an "Extended Edit", but on 23 May 2007, was retitled to "Radio Edit"; the "xxxChange Mix" was retitled from the previous non-descriptive title "Earth Intruders Remix".[29]

  1. Mark Stent Radio Edit – 4:26
  2. xxxchange Mix – 4:38
  3. Lexx Remix – 6:40
  4. Lexx Edit – 4:05
  5. Mark Stent Radio Edit Instrumental – 4:29

The European iTunes Store release omitted the tracks "Mark Stent Radio Edit" and "Lexx Edit".[28]

Limited edition release

A limited edition "multiformat" box set was released at the beginning of February 2008 with slightly different artwork. The box set consists of a sticker-sealed fold out box with five nesting boxes containing two 12" vinyl singles, a CD, and a DVD in coloured paper sleeves.

12-inch vinyl 1

Side A. "Earth Intruders" (xxxchange Remix)
Side B. "Earth Intruders" (Jimmy Douglas Mix)

12-inch vinyl 2

Side C. "Earth Intruders" (Lexx 12" Remix)
Side D. "Earth Intruders" (Mark Stent Mix)

CD

  1. "Earth Intruders" (Mark "Spike" Stent Mix)
  2. "Earth Intruders" (Jimmy Douglas Mix)
  3. "Earth Intruders" (Lexx Remix Radio Edit)
  4. "Earth Intruders" (xxxchange Remix)
  5. "Earth Intruders" (Lexx 12" Remix)

DVD

  1. "Earth Intruders" (Video directed by Michel Ocelot)

Charts

Chart performance for "Earth Intruders"
Chart (2007) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[30] 9
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)[31] 9
France (SNEP)[32] 64
Greece (IFPI)[33] 18
UK Singles (OCC)[26] 78
US Billboard Hot 100[26] 84
US Billboard Pop 100 75

References

  1. ^ "All Access Music Group". allaccess.com. 2007. Retrieved 10 March 2007.
  2. ^ "FMQB: Radio Industry News, Music Industry Updates, Arbitron Ratings, Music News and more!". fmqb.com. 2007. Archived from the original on 8 April 2007. Retrieved 10 March 2007.
  3. ^ "bjork.com/\/\unity - New Information on VOLTA!". 4um.bjork.com. 2007. Archived from the original on 8 July 2007. Retrieved 10 March 2007.
  4. ^ "bjork.com/\/\unity - First Single from Volta: 'Earth Intruders' April 10th". 4um.bjork.com. 2007. Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2007.
  5. ^ "10 essential albums for spring". The Guardian. London. 11 March 2007. Retrieved 15 August 2007.
  6. ^ "bjork.com/\/\unity - Possible slight leak on youtube?". 4um.bjork.com. 2007. Archived from the original on 15 October 2007. Retrieved 29 March 2007.
  7. ^ "Pitchfork: Bjork Trickling Out Volta Teasers". Pitchfork. 2007. Archived from the original on 22 April 2007. Retrieved 31 March 2007.
  8. ^ "bjork.com/\/\unity - Earth intruders ringtone!!!!!!!". 4um.bjork.com. 2007. Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 1 April 2007.
  9. ^ "Rhino Ringtones | Bjork". Rhino Entertainment. 2007. Archived from the original on 6 April 2007. Retrieved 1 April 2007.
  10. ^ "bjork.com/\/\unity - Earth intruders ringtone!!!!!!!". 4um.bjork.com. 2007. Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 3 April 2007.
  11. ^ "bjork.com/\/\unity - Earth intruders ringtone!!!!!!!". 4um.bjork.com. 2007. Archived from the original on 14 April 2015. Retrieved 3 April 2007.
  12. ^ "EARTH INTRUDERS 6PM Woxy". 4um.bjork.com. 2007. Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 7 April 2007.
  13. ^ "iTunes UK blunders with Bjork - iPod/iTunes - Macworld UK". macworld.co.uk. 2007. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 28 April 2007.
  14. ^ "MTV News – Tsunami, Timbaland Help Shape Bjork's Forthcoming Volta". MTV. 2007. Archived from the original on 29 June 2012. Retrieved 14 March 2007.
  15. ^ "10 essential albums for spring". The Guardian. London. 11 March 2007. Retrieved 11 March 2007.
  16. ^ "Drowned in Sound - Reviews - Singles - Björk - Earth Intruders". Drowned in Sound. 21 May 2007. Archived from the original on 20 June 2007.
  17. ^ "Music - Singles Reviews - Bjork: 'Earth Intruders' - Digital Spy". Digital Spy. 2007. Archived from the original on 20 June 2007. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
  18. ^ "Popjustice - The Greatest Singles of 2007". Popjustice. 2007. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
  19. ^ Lugt, Peter van der (25 August 2008). "This is animation". GhibliWorld.com. Archived from the original on 29 August 2008. Retrieved 20 October 2008.
  20. ^ Kœhler, Anne-Lise (26 May 2010). "Animation works, cinéma d'animation". Anne-Lise Kœhler, sculptures et cinéma's Photos (in French). Facebook. Retrieved 2 September 2010.
  21. ^ "Le clip "Earth Intruders" disponible en streaming" (in French). bjork.fr. 2007. Archived from the original on 9 June 2008. Retrieved 6 December 2007.
  22. ^ "Earth Intruders video and recent media". 17 April 2007. Archived from the original on 26 April 2007.
  23. ^ "Dazed&Confused + Q Award Nomination". bjork.com. 2007. Archived from the original on 26 April 2007. Retrieved 6 December 2007.
  24. ^ "Bjork on Saturday Night Live 04/21/2007". Archived from the original on 27 April 2007. Retrieved 28 June 2007.
  25. ^ Damien Mulley » Blog Archive » Bjork on Saturday Night Live April 2007
  26. ^ a b c Whitburn, Joel (2009). Top Pop Singles. Memomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 95. ISBN 978-0-89820-180-2. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 7 December 2010.
  27. ^ "Top Music Charts - Hot 100 - Billboard 200 - Music Genre Sales". Billboard. 2007. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 28 June 2007.
  28. ^ a b "bjork.com/\/\unity - Earth Intruders Club Mixes (5 track EP, May 21/28)". 4um.bjork.com. 2007. Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2007.
  29. ^ "bjork.com/\/\unity - Earth Intruders Club Mixes (5 track EP, May 21/28)". 4um.bjork.com 4um.bjork.com]. 2007. Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2007.
  30. ^ "Björk – Earth Intruders" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  31. ^ "Björk – Earth Intruders" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  32. ^ "Björk – Earth Intruders" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  33. ^ Greek IFPI Singles Chart Archived 10 February 2003 at the Wayback Machine