07.05
There is something almost too beautiful about the other-worldliness of Sigur Rós.
It’s dark outside, the rain is hammering against the windscreen as we plough through the bow-waves of other traffic that sprints faster than us down the M40.
The dark, the rain and the amber light that seems to filter in through the glass in big orange lumps; these things all collide and are added to by the stunningly ethereal, almost alien scene that Sigur Ros creates in my ears.
Jonsi sings his Icelandic lyrics in his incredibly distinctive voice; the unmistakably quirky Icelandic instrumentals (quirkily instrumentalised) are the perfect backing to his equally unmistakably individual vocal carriage.
It’s raining.
As a consequence of this simple meteorological condition we are currently 45 minutes late, though Christ knows how late we’ll be when we get to our destination.
Why is this?
Where does the extra traffic come from when it rains? And why?
Is it just Londoners who believe they are made from caster sugar and, as such, will dissolve on contact with just a few spatters of rain? Or is it a South East of England trait? Or is it a British thing?
The locals in the Sierra Nevada didn’t vary their routines if the weather shifted from sun to rain or snow. So what gives here?
Answers please on a wet piece of cardboard.
Not even icelandic lyrcis…. complete gibberish! (also known as Vonlenska)
You possibly sat in the same A40 traffic that I did this morning, all marvelling at the enormous puddle under the bridge that had closed the carriageway in the opposite direction.
The puddle with the stranded Royal Mail lorry in it.
Tee hee.
Hi Helen, I never like to say someone’s wrong so… I’m afraid you’re mistaken. Their latest album (með suð à eyrum við spilum endalaust) was recorded almost entirely in Icelandic (one track is in English). I refer you to their website which says:
… newest creation is the first album in the band’s career to be made outside of iceland. it is also their first album to feature vocalist jónsi’s vocals in english on one track. in addition to the english, one of the album’s tracks is sung without lyrics (“hopelandic”) and the rest of the tracks are sung in icelandic. Wikipedia put it more succinctly with The final track “All Alright” is the band’s first to be sung in English, though all the other lyrics are in Icelandic.
Icelandic is an interesting language; I have some German but when I was in Reykjavik two years ago I was refused any opportunity to try and communicate with the locals in anything other than English, such is their desire to help outlanders.
Masher, no, not us; we were off the A40 by 06.05, perhaps it hadn’t happened by then.
It’s not just a British thing. Rain produces much more cars over here as well.
🙂
? The locals in the Sierra Nevada I know go out and do a Happy Dance when it rains or snows. They’re being threatened with mandatory water rationing.
(C’mon, Brennig, try hyphenating the title so it looks like it’s two words! It takes so little to make me happy. That and snow in the Sierras is all I ask. Oh, and World Peace, if you’re feeling generous 😉
Brenning, that is the most gracious put-down I think I’ve seen. Congratulations.
But on the traffic, it is the same here in Dublin. It is as if people suddenly swarm in to their cars but I don’t know where they swarm from, because the public transport doesn’t look or feel any less empty. It is very puzzling.
Merry, I think we’re talking about two different places called Sierra Nevada. I’m talking about the original, in Spain, where I used to live. I think you’re talking about a place that’s only held that name for the last couple of hundred years or so. It snows in the Sierra Nevada every year, despite being less than 100 miles from the Sahara Desert as the crow flies; it is Europe’s most southerly Ski resort. Winter there is punishing with a typical December snowfall of over 4m and temperatures down to minus 30c. So you see, there is snow in the Sierras so you do get that. Which makes me feel justified in saying… no to hyphenation. 🙂
Froggywoogie, I just don’t get it!
Eamonn, Hi and welcome. We were in Dublin last year. Even on the non-rainy days the traffic was muderous! And a good three-quarters of the city seemed to be populated by Scandinavians; what gives?
Mancunians are sadly exactly the same. It took me frigging hours to get to work this morning.
I love, adore and worship Sigur Ros. He got me through many late night studying sessions in college and inspired some of my best poetry.
Piercingly beatiful, for sure.