Oceania (song) 5007524 216800657 2008-06-03T08:03:48Z 210.50.176.69 Fixed links, etc. {{Infobox Single | Name = Oceania | Cover = Oceaniabjork.jpg | Artist = [[Björk]] | from Album = [[Medúlla]] | Released = [[2004]] | Format = | Recorded = | Genre = [[Avant-garde music]], [[Beatboxing]] | Length = 3:24 | Label = [[One Little Indian]] | Writer = Björk and [[Sjón]] | Producer = Björk and [[Mark Bell (LFO)|Mark Bell]] | Chart position = * #8 <small>(Portugal)</small> * #9 <small>(Taiwan)</small> * #75 <small>(UK)</small> * #99 <small>(US Pop)</small> | Reviews = | Last single = "[[It's in Our Hands]]"<br />(2002) | This single = "Oceania"<br />(2004) | Next single = "[[Who Is It (Björk song)|Who Is It]]"<br />(2004) }} "'''Oceania'''" is a song by Icelandic singer [[Björk]]. It was formerly planned to be the first single release from [[Björk]]'s ''[[Medúlla]]'' album. Later it was just released as a promo. It was written for the [[2004 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony]], where she performed immediately following the Parade of Nations. As with most of ''Medúlla'', the track is composed purely of human vocals and features a London choir and Leeds-based [[beatboxer]] [[Shlomo (human beatbox)|Shlomo]]. The lyrics are written by her friend, [[Sjón]], who is an Icelandic poet and novelist. They are written in the point of view of the ocean who sings about the evolution of humans from her waters. This was the last song written and mixed for the album. The video, directed by [[Lynn Fox]], features a jewel-encrusted Björk in dark watery depths, with a colourful sunset and swirling floral creatures above her. Lynn Fox also made visuals for Björk's Greatest Hits Tour and the music video for "Nature Is Ancient" which is available on the greatest hits DVD ''Volumen'' as a bonus. A re-recording of "Oceania" was featured as a [[A-side and B-side|B-side]] to the "[[Who Is It (Björk song)|Who Is It]]" single. This version features vocals by [[Kelis]] and additional lyrics she had written herself from the continent's point of view. [http://www.bjork.com/qna/main.php?id=5471] A piano version also appeared on the DVD single, which was assisted in its creation by [[Nico Muhly]]. [http://unit.bjork.com/specials/albums/medulla/nicomuhly/] The song was nominated for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the 2005 [[Grammy Awards]] but lost out to [[Norah Jones]]. ==Live== Being a fan favorite, "Oceania", along with several other tracks from ''Medúlla'', surfaced on the 2007 ''[[Volta (album)|Volta]]'' tour. It was first introduced on [[April 4]] at the Laugardalshöll in Reykjavik, Iceland, where sweeping brass arrangements replaced the choral voices from the album version. ==Promo CD track listing== #"Oceania" #"Oceania" (Remix featuring Kelis) ==Versions== * Album version * Piano and Vocal Mix - 3:04 * Radio Mix Featuring Kelis - 2:55 * Olympic Studio Version - 3:14 ==Charts== {| width="0%" |- valign="top" | width="25%" | {|class="wikitable" !align="left"|Chart !align="center"|Peak<br />position |- |align="left"|[[UK Singles Chart]] |align="center"|75 |- |align="left"|[[Billboard Hot 100]] |align="center"|120 |- |} ==External links== *[http://unit.bjork.com/specials/albums/medulla/nicomuhly/ Interview with Nico Muhly, Pianist on "Oceania"] *[http://unit.bjork.com/specials/albums/medulla/lynnfox/index.htm Interview with Lynnfox, Video Director of "Oceania"] {{2000s-single-stub}} {{Bjork}} [[Category:2004 singles]] [[Category:Björk songs]] [[Category:A cappella songs]] [[it:Oceania (canzone)]] [[nl:Oceania]]