Another Single to Add to the Mythology . . .
5
By Elliot21
“Volta” has certainly affected many people in many ways, be it with either extreme glee or unabiding hatred, and for me personally the line is at its most unstable in the track “Declare Independence.” With Björk foregoing her most accomplished vocal wonders, a risky endeavor, by replacing her usual guttural snipes with a spoken anthem, she took a chance that I can still not wrap my head around completely. However, the musical arrangement is so severe and so jaunting, that the message Björk was trying to convey actually succeeded, by waking up the population with, if nothing else, a political message and a thumping electronic dance line. In short, the reason people continue to listen to Björk after thirty years of official releases can be nicely summed up in “Independence,” for she is so intent on expanding her own musical abilities and attempting something alien to her other sensibilities (Timbaland, anyone?) that she will even sacrifice some of her old “fans” for the sake of her development. Again, a risky endeavor, to be sure, but a purposeful composer lies behind the knitwear and makeup, and if you have the opportunity to hear this song in concert, you would be hard-pressed not to face the creature . . . up close and personal. And I can safely say your opinion of the song would change.
