What is your favorite song? I bet you can't answer it. I say this because I ask everybody. How many people have an answer to that question? Exactly zero. Seriously. I have not yet encountered a single person – and I really do ask everybody – who can identify a favorite song. “There are too many to choose from,” they whine. “It changes, it depends on my mood.” Fine. Can you just name off a few of your favorite songs, to give me an idea of your musical tastes? “It's haaaaaard...” It's getting ridiculous, frankly, how people don't seem to comprehend their own preferences. Inevitably, the questioned one will turn to me and smugly ask, “What's your
favorite song?” And I have an answer: “Njósnavélin” by Sigur Rós.
I love Sigur Rós. They are dreamy and ethereal – listen in a quiet room with your eyes closed and you will be transported to a dreamworld in your own head. They are at the top of my list of bands-I-must-see-before-I-die. They just released a new album,
Valtari
, which I acquired from the library yesterday, but have not yet had a chance to listen to. I can't wait.
The band did something different with Valtari: they asked several filmmakers to create a video for each of the tracks off the album. They were given no parameters – just the song and the freedom to interpret it as they wished. The list of filmmakers includes a whole lot of Icelandic names which are doubtless unrecognizable, but one name that sticks out is John Cameron Mitchell – the genius behind
Hedwig and the Angry Inch
and
Shortbus
.
These videos will be shown around the globe this weekend, on all seven continents – including Antarctica. The Louisville Film Society humbly takes up the mantle for Louisville, screening the films tomorrow, Friday, at the Dreamland Film Center at 9:00. Cost of admission is $10. The Dreamland Film Center is located at 810 E. Market Street. Complete information about the project can be found at the official website.
Image: press release
