Declare Independence

Björk à propos du titre Declare Independence
Volta était avant tout combatif, « sur les indépendances, la volonté, la revendication. » En Chine, le tube Declare independence, chanté pour le Tibet, avait fortement déplu aux autorités. Elle rit. « A la fin de la tournée, je n’en pouvais plus de jouer Declare independence tous les soirs ! J’avais envie de trouver des solutions.

Télérama n°3218 - Septembre 2011

Björk à propos du titre Declare Independence
Yours have always seemed to be the politics of the human spirit—that the world can be changed by not being afraid to be an individual. But Declare Independence seems to be railing with a bit more of a punk sense of defiance. Can you describe your emotional zeitgeist ? Maybe I felt that up to here things would be okay and the ’good’ would win in the end if only it persists. But things are not looking so good right now. It is time to go up on a mountain with a flag and a trumpet and insist on justice.

Army of She : Planting Flags with Björk - 24/04/2007

Declare Independence
For me, every time its starts I just burst laughing. I’m finding a lot of people don’t take it that way, which is okay. I seem to have a warped sense of humor that me and my three friends can understand, it’s very local. This one dress, for example... But I guess it’s sort of taking the piss of being myself, feeling that confrontational. I wanted the lyric to be a mix of like if you’re saying to your friend, who happens to be going out with a terrible boyfriend, and you say to the girl, "Declare independence ! Don’t let them do that to you !" [laughs] I just thought it’s so extreme, and so ridiculous to say. You know, "Make your own stamp ! Start your own currency !" And on the other hand, you can take that concept completely different. There’s this big thing you hear in the papers always...

XFM interview, April 2007

Declare Independence
I was thinking about Greenland and the Faeroe Islands, which are still part of Denmark, as Iceland was until 1944. But also I just thought it was kind of hilarious to say it to a person. It’s just so extreme !

the New York Times, 29 april 2007

Declare Independence
What made you come up with “Damn colonists/Ignore their patronizing/Tear off their blindfolds/Open their eyes ?“ The oppressors did. All oppressors ; men and women and countries. Emotionally it is about justice, the subject matter. It’s not so far away from Aretha’s “R.E.S.P.E.C.T.“

Harp Magazine, November 2007

Declare Independence
’Declare Independence’ could just as well be written to a girl in a bad relationship. It is not about party politics.

Under The Radar Magazine, Winter 2008

Declare Independence
I have been asked by many for a statement after dedicating my song ’Declare Independence’ to both Kosovo and Tibet on different occasions. I would like to put importance on that I am not a politician, I am first and last a musician and as such I feel my duty to try to express the whole range of human emotions. The urge for declaring independence is just one of them but an important one we all feel at some times in our lives. This song was written more with the personal in mind but the fact that it has translated to its broadest meaning, the struggle of a suppressed nation, gives me much pleasure. I would like to wish all individuals and nations good luck in their battle for independence. Justice ! warmth ,...

bjork.com, March 4 2008

Declare Independence
And even songs like Declare Independence... I mean, it is a tongue-in-cheek song for me, people don’t get that. I’ve said this before but when I was writing it thought it was hilarious – it’s like if you’re friend is heartbroken by a girl and she’s upsetting him, you can shout at him, declare independence ! Don’t let her do that to you ! Like those country and western songs with really strong lyrics, but kind of punk, when the words don’t fit to the song. People don’t realise the humour in those clashes I do !

TheLipster.com, April 9 2008

the video for Declare Independence
The military thing was Michel’s idea. I was quite intrigued by using the costumes that we had been using live ; they’re very colorful, very happy. But for him, because of the whole thing with the string being the only part that’s in color, the costumes couldn’t scream for attention. So the military thing was something that we thought might help [the performers] blend into the background. Like camouflage. Yeah, that was kind of the idea. When I spoke to Michel, it was important to me that it was a live performance. And it was important to me that there wasn’t a hierarchy. That everyone be kind of equal. I never see myself in a position of controller, or as someone with authority, even though I happen to be on stage. So that was something I was quite sensitive about. That [the other...

pitchforkmedia, January 2 2008