Icelandic Cultural Exports We Love (VIDEO)

Avant-garde musician Bjork gained world-wide recognition in the 90s with the release of her full-length album Debut. As a result, her home country of Iceland was recognized for something other than elves. Over the next 14 years, Bjork released five more albums. And in October 2011, she dropped her first album in four years, Biophilia. In conjunction with the release, she is touring with more than just her music. Until March 2, Bjork will be coordinating with the New York Hall of Science to put on concerts and host educational and musical series and workshops.

Stirred by Bjork's presence in our city, HuffPost Culture is exploring the cultural offerings of Iceland for the second installment of our Around the World Culture series. From the beautifully offbeat like Bjork to jovial little horses, it isn't hard to find things to like about the volcano-dense nation.

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Comments

[msevilzbuggyluv]

04:17 PM on 02/15/2012

oh yeah! sigur ros! love em!

[Steve the Humanist]

04:28 AM on 02/14/2012

Well, they included Sigur Ros and used a great song and video for them, but I can't believe they didn't include múm. múm (not capitalized) has to be heard to understand what they are about, but I'll try to explain them with words. If you like Björk but think she's just a little too polished or conventional and commercial, múm might be what you are looking for. I think the best way I have described them to others, is by saying that it's the kind of music that you might hear while you're dreaming about flying or doing something grandiose like that.

I spent many evenings going on long drives and listening to múm or Sigur Ros after I first found their music, often wiping a tear from my eye because of the pure joy of the music, not to mention the pure joy of finding something so different and beautiful that I never knew existed.

[Kald]

10:42 PM on 02/13/2012

That elf thing is pretty accurate.

[FlowerGypsy]

05:54 PM on 02/13/2012

Iceland looks incredibly beautiful, I hope to be fortunate enough to travel there some day.

[indieprncss75]

02:43 PM on 02/13/2012

I have always wanted to go to Iceland.. now that I know they have a secret facination with elves.. I.Must.Go.Now!!!!

[Lulo]

01:32 PM on 02/12/2012

Bjork can't sing. Of course not. (sarcasm). These critics must be tone deaf or lack any artistic genes.

All is full of love. 13 years later, still the best.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjAoBKagWQA

And doing good old bordway-style in her "Oh It's so quite"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMbEge4BQQU&feature=related

[img005]

12:36 PM on 02/12/2012

Advanced banking.

[naschkatze]

12:24 PM on 02/12/2012

Arnaldur Indridason

[GalileosGhost]

12:20 PM on 02/12/2012

Dont forget ameliana!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emil%C3%ADana_Torrini

[The Dood]

12:06 PM on 02/12/2012

Wow! The gait on that horse looks incredibly smooth!

Gonna have to put "visit Iceland" on my bucket list!

[hughtensil]

12:06 PM on 02/12/2012

Icelandic born painter, Louissa Matthiasdottir, far and away the country's greatest export. She came to the U.S. in the forties, studied with legendary painter/teacher Hans Hofmann, married to great American painter Leland Bell. Check her out.

[BonzaSheila]

11:37 AM on 02/12/2012

GusGus!

[ennui the third]

10:58 AM on 02/12/2012

If you love the unmelodic meandrings of pretentious musical noodling, you will love Bjerk.

[RadicalAgent]

11:43 AM on 02/12/2012

thanks for explaining why I can't stand her

[ennui the third]

01:17 PM on 02/12/2012

No problem!

[Sean Forbes]

10:51 AM on 02/12/2012

Totally failed to throw in EVE online. That game is HUGE in icelandic popular culture. It's made there and EVE Online's fanfest is a big tourist draw. If you don't think video games are an export and impact the cutural scene I have two words for you: LEEEEEEROOOOY JENNNNNNNNNNKINS!

[eljefefx]

11:07 AM on 02/12/2012

I was coming in here to post just this. EVE: number one creator of space tears since 2003. Nerf Drakes.

[Sean Forbes]

11:16 AM on 02/12/2012

You sir win 1,000,000,000 ISK ;D

[Hoofpick]

10:40 AM on 02/12/2012

The Icelandic cultural export that has most affected my life is the Icelandic horse. It's a delight to ride, with a lot of action underneath and serenely smooth on top. It's got great temperament and stamina and loads of heart.

When you acquire an Icelandic horse, you don't just get the horse, you get Iceland. The horses all have Icelandic names, so you get to know what the names mean, and you develop an interest in the Icelandic language. Many of the names come from the Sagas, so you start reading those. You learn the name of the farm where the horse was bred, and you get into Icelandic geography. You participate in riding clinics conducted by Icelanders, and you make Icelandic friends. Next thing you know, you're visiting Iceland and being amazed by the landscape, climate, culture, folkways, and the warmth and wry humor of the Icelandic people.

Start with one extraordinary horse, and an entire extraordinary nation becomes yours.

Oh, and get past Bjork and Sigur Ros. Check out Jóel Pálsson, tenor sax player.