Army of Me (Björk song)

"Army of Me" is a song recorded by Icelandic singer Björk for her second studio album Post (1995). It was released on April 24, 1995 by One Little Indian as the first single from the album. The song was written and produced by Björk and Graham Massey. Lyrically, the industrial rock and techno-pop song was inspired by the harmful behavior of Björk's brother, and in the lyrics, she tells him to stand up and take back control of her life. It was well received by music critics, who noted its darkness and praised Björk's energy. It was a commercial success and Björk's first single to enter the top 10 on the UK Singles Chart.

Björk premiered the song at a few concerts during the Debut Tour prior to the album's release. She played him in a number of television appearances, most notably for the first time on Top of the Pops with Skunk Anansie. In addition, the song was performed on all Post Tour dates. The song appeared on Björk's compilation album Greatest Hits (2002).

The song's accompanying music video was the product of another collaboration between Björk and Michel Gondry. It features the singer driving a huge vehicle through a city, fighting a gorilla dentist to retrieve a diamond he took from her mouth, and bombing a museum with dynamite to free a boy. In 2005, Björk, to help UNICEF, released a charity compilation titled Army of Me: Remixes and Covers, which included a number of covers and remixes by artists from around the world.

Background

"Army of Me" was written in 1992 by Björk and Graham Massey, during an early recording session for Debut, along with "The Modern Things", but Björk decided to put the songs on hold and wait before releasing them. However, Björk performed the songs during a few dates on her Debut Tour. The singer further explained the song: "Imagine you're in a club full of heavy metal guys and grunge people; "Army of Me" is like someone's grandma yelling over the PA system and saying, "Get out of it! Stop whining! Wash your hair! Get even!""

The single was released in the UK on 24 April 1995 as a cassette and two-CD single. The first CD contained the Icelandic version of "You've Been Flirting Again" and the cave version of " Cover Me", both by Post. The cave version of "Cover Me" was recorded in a cave in the Bahamas, and sounds of flying bats can be heard in the background. The single also contained "Sweet Intuition", a song composed by Björk and Black Dog, which would form the lyrical basis for the composition of another song written by Björk for Madonna: "Bedtime Story". The second CD contained, among other remixes, a cover of "Army of Me" featuring Skunk Anansie. The track was recorded and mixed in less than seven hours, as the band recalls, and features Björk making heavy use of screaming.

Video Clip

The video clip, directed by Michel Gondry, begins with Björk driving a truck of grotesque dimensions, and everything shakes due to its movement. The motor begins to fail and Björk opens the lid to see what is happening; the engine is a jaw and all the teeth of it are broken and full of garbage, also inside it is a smelly man. Then she Björk touches her cheek making a gesture that her teeth hurt. She goes to the dentist, who is a gorilla and takes a diamond out of Björk's mouth. Björk fights against the gorilla and the nurse to take the diamond, she takes it running and it starts to grow, so she deposits it inside the engine that starts working again. She continues driving and stops in front of a museum of modern art, she places a bomb inside her along with a man; lying down and apparently dead; and she runs away. The bomb explodes and after the explosion, she Björk re-enters the museum where she finds the man alive. Björk hugs him and cries diamond tears. The screen goes black and the message "To be continued" ("To be continued")

Song List

UK CD1

1. «Army Of Me» - 3:57
2. «Cover Me» (Cave Version)¹ - 3:07
3. «You've Been Flirting Again» (In Icelandic)¹ - 2:25.
4. «Sweet Intuition» - 4:43

UK CD2

1. «Army Of Me» (ABA All-Stars Mix) - 3:46
2. "Army Of Me" (Masseymix) - 5:12
3. "Army Of Me" (with Skunk Anansie) - 4:33 Different takes a vowel, not just a remix.
4. «Army Of Me» (Instrumental ABA All-Stars Mix) - 3:46

UK CD Promo

1. «Army Of Me» - 3:56

UK Vinyl 12" Promotion (1)

Side A B-side

1. «Army Of Me» (Instrumental ABA All-Stars Mix)

UK Vinyl 12" Promotion (2)

Side A

1. «Army Of Me» (Masseymix) - 5:15

UK Vinyl 12" Promotion (3)

Side A

1. «Army Of Me»

B-side

1. «Army Of Me» (featuring Skunk Anansie)²

UK Vinyl 12" Promotion (4)
Side A

1. «Army Of Me» (ABA All-Stars Mix)

B-side

1. «Army Of Me» (Instrumental ABA All-Stars Mix)

UK Vinyl 7" Promotion

Side A

1. «Army Of Me»

B-side

1. «Army Of Me» (Instrumental ABA All-Stars Mix)

UK 12" Acetate

Side A

1. "Army Of Me" (Beastie Boys Vocal Mix)

B-side

1. "Army Of Me" (Beastie Boys Instrumental Mix)

EUR CD

1. «Army Of Me» - 3:58
2. «Army Of Me» (ABA All-Stars Mix) - 3:46
3. "Army Of Me" (Masseymix) - 5:12
4. «Army Of Me» (featuring Skunk Anansie) - 4:33
5. «Army Of Me» (Instrumental ABA All-Stars Mix) - 3:46

FRA CD

1. «Army Of Me» - 3:58
2. «Cover Me» (Cave Version)¹ - 3:08.

USA CD Promo

1. «Army Of Me» - 3:38

JPN CD

1. «Army Of Me» - 3:58
2. «Army Of Me» (ABA All-Stars Mix) - 3:46
3. "Army Of Me" (Masseymix) - 5:12
4. «Army Of Me» (featuring Skunk Anansie) - 4:33
5. «Army Of Me» (Instrumental ABA All-Stars Mix) - 3:46

Notes

¹ Not indicated on the CD
² Remix somewhat different from the commercial release

Positioning

List (1995)	Better. position
GermanyGermany (Media Control Charts)	55
Australia (ARIA Charts)	35
BelgiumBelgium (Ultratop 50 flamenca)	13
BelgiumBelgium (Ultratop 50 valona)	17
CanadaCanada (RPM)	59
United States (Modern Rock Tracks)	21
France (SNEP)	22
Norway Norway (VG-list)	17
New ZealandNew Zealand (RIANZ)	26
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)	17
United KingdomUnited Kingdom (UK Singles Chart)	10
Sweden Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)	14
SwitzerlandSwitzerland (Swiss Singles Chart)	28