Bjork, Michel Gondry Reunite for "Independence" Video

Björk and French filmmaker Michel Gondry have reunited for the first time in ten years for the Icelandic singer's new video, "Declare Independence." We can't believe it's already been a decade since Gondry was pumping out all those Homogenic videos. That's like a Human Nature/Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind/Dave Chappelle's Block Party/The Science of Sleep/Be Kind Rewind ago. While the video lacks the innovation and flashy eye candy aesthetic that marked Gondry's videos for Kylie Minogue's "Come Into My World" or the White Stripes' "Hardest Button to Button," it's still an interesting take on that whole Nineteen Eighty-Four universe. Plus, it fits the song well, which is probably most important. Björk's "Declare Independence" single, the third single of Volta, will feature four remixes and a much-better quality version of the video you see above.

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Song Stories

“Time to Pretend”

MGMT | 2008

Listening to MGMT’s breakthrough song, one might interpret it as being about the excesses of rock stardom, but it’s actually about the duo’s pet praying mantis. Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden told Rolling Stone they got the idea from the insect's jerky movements. The mantis died, but the two bandmates kept the egg sack and allowed the hundreds of eggs to hatch. “We tried to name them all, but they died after a day,” said Goldwasser, with VanWyngarden chiming in, “But the praying mantis dance inspired us.”

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