MTV (USA) 1996-09-03 By Tabitha Soren "MTV's 1996 Video Music Awards Post Show" Subject: bjork's old interview Date: Sat, 3 May 1997 10:16:37 -0700 From: Michael and Donald Knapp To: Multiple recipients of list BEP-L This interview took place September 3rd, 1996. It's exactly 8 months old today. I sat down and copied it into text, word for word (took me about an hour) for you to enjoy. It gets extremely cute towards the end. Tabitha Soren interviewing Björk Guðmundsdóttir at Radio City Music Hall during Mtv's 1996 Video Music Awards Post Show. The video she won for was "It's Oh So Quiet." Tabitha: We're back, live, outside Radio City Music Hall. I'm joined by Björk, who won for best coreagraphy, and... this is news to her! She's just finding this out. Björk: Oh, I'm all grateful. I put so much effort-- it was the first time ever I learned to dance, you see. I had to get tap-dance shoes and everything! Tabitha: Really? Björk: Yeah! Tabitha: You didn't really do those back flips in the video though Björk: I'm not sayin'. Tabitha: (Laughs) it's not often people do back flips in such a short dress. Björk: Ummmmmm..... I'm not sayin'. Tabitha: Well what was the production like? I mean, that is a really stunning video! It was up for a bunch of awards. I mean, a lot of people were really rootin' for it because its so different. Björk: Yeah, it's basically my work with Spike, Spike Jonze. Tabitha: Spike Jonze. Björk: And I kinda, you know, started it off a bit, but, um, but kinda most of it, um, you know, because I wanted it--I kinda liked it to be all-American but celebrating the European (prononced "Irrapin") sort of normality sort of thing and make it more glamorous. And then Spike heard that and then he just went off and made this gorgeous video. Tabitha: Yeah. Björk: And he should be here, actually, doing this interview now. Tabitha: Oh, I'm sure he's off busy doing something-- Björk: --yeah-- Tabitha: --very important right now, as always. Speaking of all- American, what did you think of Van Halen re-uniting? Did you get to see them? Were they an important musical influence on you? Björk: Oh, I was just saying to the lady over there (points) that for me to come form Europe over here, I just see all these new things and for me its like I'm from Mars* or something-- Tabitha: (Laughs hysterically) Björk: --or Japan. And I don't mean that in a nasty way, you see. Tabitha: No, no. Björk: But it's all these things like the basketball player with the blond hair, right? And-- Tabitha: (mild laughter) Dennis Rodman? Björk: --and all these local jokes that are going on... I don't get half of them! Tabitha: You need a translator? Björk: Well, I kinda had to keep punching Spike, he sat next to me the whole time, and I was like "what does that mean?" And he was like (in a Spike voice) "well, he was in a soap opera 10 months ago." And he had to explain it all to me. I-- Tabitha: Is this a salute to Coolio, your hairstyle? (She points at her hair). Björk: (Touches her hair) I don't know! Its just kinda... practical, I guess. Tabitha: It's adorable! Björk: Thank you!