BJORK - VENUS AS A BOY

Released: August 23, 1993

Charted:  UK: #29 

"Venus as a Boy" is an ambient and chill-out song by Björk, released as the second single from her 1993 album, “Debut”. Written by Björk and produced by Nellee Hooper, the song incorporates Indian instruments like tablas into its musical ensemble. This track showcases Björk's fascination with Bollywood, influenced by her interactions with individuals of Indian descent in London, notably tabla player Talvin Singh, who later contributed to the song. 

Producer Nellee Hooper introduced her to Marius de Vries, a keyboard player and programmer who contributed to the modern style of the album. De Vries recalled how "Venus as a Boy" found its tone during a session at Hooper's house, where he inadvertently played Bollywood-flavored sound files. Reflecting Björk's desire for her album to have an Indian soundtrack vibe, several tracks, including "One Day," "Come to Me," and "Venus as a Boy," incorporate Indian instruments. The strings were recorded by a film studio orchestra in Bombay, facilitated by Singh. The song features a broken bottle sound, discovered by accident during the recording process. 

"Venus as a Boy" explores the perspective of a boy who appreciates beauty in everyday moments, beyond superficial appearances. The lyrics delve into the beauty found in simple activities like brushing teeth, waking up in sync with the right rhythm, and engaging in meaningful conversations with others. Björk revealed that she wrote it in her living room in Iceland and recorded it on her dictaphone. Although it is believed to be written about her then-boyfriend, Bristol DJ Dom Thrupp, Björk remains protective of the song's inspiration, preferring to keep such details private.

The music video was directed by Sophie Muller and draws inspiration from one of Björk's favorite books, "Story of the Eye" by Georges Bataille. Known for her work with artists like the Eurythmics and Annie Lennox, Muller showcases Björk in her kitchen, engaging in mundane activities like cooking eggs.