Bjork - The dull flame of desire (live Rekjavik 2007)

[mothberries]

she's so tiny next to Antony!

[jaggedalibi]

probably my favorite song on the album, or at least top 3.

[spritenite]

I love Bjork's outfit. It remind me of a a shiny, beautiful ham.

[Boobalopbop]

That may be the first time I've see the words beautiful and ham in the same sentence. Good job :)

[siobhansaid]

"beautiful ham" lol.

[PetrMatas]

Everybody can listen Fyodor Tyutchev's original poetry of "the dull flame of desire" as part of final scene in the Andrei Tarkovsky's film Stalker. Search "The Dull Flame of Desire poetry in Stalker film" at youtube.

[PetrMatas]

original version in russian language: Lyublyu glaza tvoi moj drug S igroj ih plamenno-chudesnoj Kogda ih pripodymesh' vdrug I slovno molniej nebesnoj Okinesh' beglo celyj krug... No est' sil'nej ocharovan'ya: Glaza, potuplennye nic V minuty strastnogo lobzan'ya I skvoz' opushchennyh resnic Ugryumyj, tusklyj ogn' zhelan'ya. Aprel' 1836

[PetrMatas]

It is text of Björk's song The Dull Flame of Desire from a new record Volta. But meaning of original version is different. Björk is singing about love (main character is "dear" and "love" in the EN translation) but in Fyodor Tyutchev's poem is it "friend" not "dear". More like "best friend". It is not Björk's fault. There is not very accurate a translation to english in the film Stalker.

[celinethebassist]

Well I didn't know it was the tranlation of a russian poem !! Thank you !

[mp3chudaci]

See Bjork Volta Podcast Part 5, there is a several words about her inspiration from the film Stalker (director: A. Tarkovsky, Soviet Union 1979). Stalker is my absolute favourite film ever. I'm very happy about the song with the lyrics from the film.

[draguns]

I totally disagree with you, PetrMatas. This IS a love poem also in Russian. And there is nothing about feelings towards the best friend.

[Kindzadzaa]

PetrMatas is absolutely right. This song is almost a word to word translation of Fyodor Tyutchev's poem. For those who study Russian. " Люблю глаза твои, мой друг, С игрой их пламенно-чудесной, Когда их приподымешь вдруг И, словно молнией небесной, Окинешь бегло целый круг... Но есть сильней очарованья: Глаза, потупленные ниц В минуты страстного лобзанья, И сквозь опущенных ресниц Угрюмый, тусклый огнь желанья" Фёдор Тютчев-(1803 - 1873) But, I like the translation.

[Kindzadzaa]

Another translation of F.Tyutchev's poem I love your dear eyes, my friend, With their play so bright and wondrous, When you promptly rise them, and, Like with a lightning in the wildness, Embrace at once the whole land. But there's more fabulous attraction: The eyes directed to the floor During the crazy osculation, And through the lashes, set before, The dusk and gloomy flame of passion.

[4TailedScorpion]

@Kindzadzaa I think Tyutchev's intended a much more obscure sentiment to the poem. I love the transposition though, it made it subtle. I imagine a huge beast resting tamed.

[Kindzadzaa]

@4TailedScorpion Actually, Russian is my native language &Tyutchev is1 of my favourite poets. His authors language &imagery are so exquisite, magical, fascinating that it seems to me it's absolutely impossible to translate his verses fairly. It's difficult to describe the wave of multiple feelings evoked by Tyutchev poem(s). It's sth about hidden fires in human soul, about overwhelming, magnetic power of passion. This rendition was a tremendous surprise for me. but, it was a good attempt.

[Kindzadzaa]

@PetrMatas

Bjork caught the idea. The poem written by Tyutchev is about the overwhelming magnetic power of passion, about adoration, magical fascination, hidden fires of human soul, etc ...

It's absolutely inessential, how he calls his beloved, "Friend" or "Dear'. In this poem 'friend' means "dear". This address - "My Friend" to beloved could be frequently met in other poems & could be explained by the necessity of Style, for example.

[PetrMatas]

This is the english translation from Björk's Volta:

DULL FLAME OF DESIRE

I love your eyes, my dear

their splendid, sparkling fire

when suddenly you raise them so

to cast a swift embracing glance

like lightning flashing in the sky

but there's a charm that is greater still:

when my love's eyes are lowered

when all is fired by passions kiss

[mp3chudaci]

the lyrics are not all, there is a last part with the verse ... The Dull Flame Of Desire:

and through the downcast lashes

I see the dull flame of desire

and through the downcast lashes

I see the dull flame of desire

[nikette]

oh it's so beautiful but too short you don't have it longer?

[celinethebassist]

No I'm sorry !!!! We tried to record a part of each song ; I just have Hyperballad and Declare independence from the beginning to the end ...