Ethan Teaches You Music Podcast I'm a fountain of blood
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Aug 1, 2025 Dive into the complexities of Björk's 'Bachelorette' as layers of tonality and emotion unfold. Explore how tango influences her music, blending self-identity and dance. Discover the harmonic intricacies that create emotional ambiguity. Delve into the unique challenges of covering her songs, where the rarity of tribute bands highlights her artistry. Finally, contrast presentational vs. participatory music, revealing how audience engagement varies across cultures and genres.
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Initial Reaction And Reassessment
- Ethan Hein recounts first hearing Björk's "Bachelorette" and intensely disliking it before gradually coming around.
- He later researched interviews and context which changed his perception of the song.
Deliberate Harmonic Ambiguity
- The song resists a clear tonic and is musically ambiguous despite a simple repeating loop.
- That ambiguity creates persistent tension that keeps the song interesting.
Collaboration With Sjón
- Björk co-wrote the song with Icelandic writer Sjón because she found the subject too personal to write alone.
- Sjón's poetic voice frequently meshes with Björk's, making his lines sound like they were written for her.
