Earth Intruders

The first mention of "Earth Intruders" as a song title was made on All Access on 10 March 2007,{{cite web| website=4um.bjork.com| year=2007| title=bjork.com/\/\unity - First Single from Volta: 'Earth Intruders' April 10th| url=http://4um.bjork.com/viewtopic.php?t=12073| access-date=2007-08-15| archive-date=20 July 2011| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720050301/http://4um.bjork.com/viewtopic.php?t=12073| url-status=dead}} and was later confirmed as the lead single through an article by The Guardian on 11 March 2007.{{cite news | title=10 essential albums for spring | url=http://observer.guardian.co.uk/review/story/0,,2030991,00.html#article_continue| access-date=2007-08-15 | work=The Guardian | location=London | date=2007-03-11}} On 26 March 2007, a distorted sample of the song was uploaded to YouTube as part of the viral marketing campaign for the Volta album.{{cite web| website=4um.bjork.com| year=2007| title=bjork.com/\/\unity - Possible slight leak on youtube?| url=http://4um.bjork.com/viewtopic.php?t=12546&highlight=| access-date=2007-03-29| archive-date=15 October 2007| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071015111311/http://4um.bjork.com/viewtopic.php?t=12546&highlight=| url-status=dead}}{{cite web| website=Pitchfork| year=2007| title=Pitchfork: Bjork Trickling Out Volta Teasers| url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/page/news/42003-bjork-trickling-out-ivoltai-teasers| access-date=2007-03-31| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070422140450/http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/page/news/42003-bjork-trickling-out-ivoltai-teasers| archive-date=2007-04-22}} A fifteen-second sample of the track then appeared on the Rhino Records online ringtone website on 1 April 2007.{{cite web| website=4um.bjork.com| year=2007| title=bjork.com/\/\unity - Earth intruders ringtone!!!!!!!| url=http://4um.bjork.com/viewtopic.php?t=12734| access-date=2007-04-01| archive-date=8 July 2011| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708011723/http://4um.bjork.com/viewtopic.php?t=12734| url-status=dead}}{{cite web| publisher=Rhino Entertainment| year=2007| title=Rhino Ringtones {{!}} Bjork| url=http://www.rhino.com/ringtones/artist.lasso?artistid=583681| access-date=2007-04-01| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070406202805/http://www.rhino.com/ringtones/artist.lasso?artistid=583681| archive-date=2007-04-06}} The purchased ringtone featured a different clip (with different lyrics) to the one used in the online preview on the site; both audio samples were subsequently spread across music forums.{{cite web| website=4um.bjork.com| year=2007| title=bjork.com/\/\unity - Earth intruders ringtone!!!!!!!| url=http://4um.bjork.com/viewtopic.php?p=468859#468859| access-date=2007-04-03| archive-date=20 July 2011| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720045750/http://4um.bjork.com/viewtopic.php?p=468859#468859| url-status=dead}} On 3 April 2007 it was reported that the Björk section of the Rhino Records online ringtone store had been removed.{{cite web| website=4um.bjork.com| year=2007| title=bjork.com/\/\unity - Earth intruders ringtone!!!!!!!| url=http://4um.bjork.com/viewtopic.php?p=470727#470727| access-date=2007-04-03| archive-date=14 April 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150414155922/http://4um.bjork.com/viewtopic.php?p=470727#470727| url-status=dead}} After internet radio station WOXY played the song on 6 April 2007 the song was made widely available across file-sharing networks.{{cite web| website=4um.bjork.com| year=2007| title=EARTH INTRUDERS 6PM Woxy.| url=http://4um.bjork.com/viewtopic.php?t=12987| access-date=2007-04-07| archive-date=20 July 2011| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720045855/http://4um.bjork.com/viewtopic.php?t=12987| url-status=dead}} "Earth Intruders" was sent to alternative radio stations for the week of 16 April 2007.{{Cite web |date=2007-04-18 |title=®R&R :: Going For Adds™ :: Alternative |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070418015806/http://gfa.radioandrecords.com/PublishGFA/GFANextPage.asp?sDate=04/16/2007&Format=6 |access-date=February 23, 2025 |website=Radio & Records |publisher=VNU Media}}

The album version of "Earth Intruders" was leaked to the internet on 24 April 2007 due to the full album being made available accidentally on the UK iTunes Store on 23 April 2007 for a total of six hours, two weeks before the album's official release date.{{cite web| website=macworld.co.uk | year= 2007| title= iTunes UK blunders with Bjork - iPod/iTunes - Macworld UK| url= http://www.macworld.co.uk/news/index.cfm?newsid=17882| access-date= 2007-04-28| archive-date= 2007-09-28| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070928044015/http://www.macworld.co.uk/news/index.cfm?newsid=17882| url-status= dead}} Björk said of the song was based on a dream during a cross-Atlantic flight to New York where;

{{cquote|"a tsunami of millions and millions of poverty-stricken people" swelled high above the airplane she was a passenger on. Eventually, the wave overtook the plane, hit land and razed the White House into oblivion. "It's a quite chaotic song," she said of Volta's first single. "Lyrically, it's a collection of all of these images" burned into her memory, from her trip to Indonesia as well as her vivid, in-flight reverie."}}{{cite web | publisher=MTV| year= 2007| title= MTV News – Tsunami, Timbaland Help Shape Bjork's Forthcoming Volta| url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1554591/20070314/bjork.jhtml| archive-url=https://archive.today/20120629133349/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1554591/20070314/bjork.jhtml| url-status=dead| archive-date=29 June 2012| access-date=2007-03-14}}

"Earth Intruders" is co-produced by R&B record producer Timbaland and his protégé Danja.{{cite news | work=The Guardian| title= 10 essential albums for spring| url=http://observer.guardian.co.uk/review/story/0,,2030991,00.html#article_continue| access-date=2007-03-11 | location=London | date=2007-03-11}} Congolese group Konono Nº1 play electric likembes on the song.

"Earth Intruders" received critical acclaim from music critics. Drowned in Sound reviewer Mike Diver gave the song 9/10, praising it as "immediately catchy, compellingly left of centre, and undeniably unique".{{cite web | website=Drowned in Sound| title= Drowned in Sound - Reviews - Singles - Björk - Earth Intruders| url=http://www.drownedinsound.com/release/view/9986| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070620022149/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/a46683/bjork-earth-intruders.html| archive-date=20 June 2007| date=2007-05-21}} Digital Spy reviewer Miriam Zendle cited "Earth Intruders" as returning to Björk's earlier commercial sound, comparing it to her more recent albums that were "incredibly difficult to grasp hold of".{{cite web| website=Digital Spy | year= 2007| title= Music - Singles Reviews - Bjork: 'Earth Intruders' - Digital Spy| url= http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/a46683/bjork-earth-intruders.html| access-date= 2008-02-05| url-status= dead| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070620022149/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/a46683/bjork-earth-intruders.html| archive-date= 2007-06-20}} Music website Popjustice called it the 80th greatest single of 2007.{{cite web | website=Popjustice | year= 2007| title= Popjustice - The Greatest Singles of 2007| url=http://www.popjustice.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2024&Itemid=9| access-date=2008-02-05}}

File:EarthIntrudersSShot.png

The music video for "Earth Intruders" was directed by Michel Ocelot. It was accomplished within strict time constraints through a combination of live-action, silhouette animation, 3D computer graphics, traditional animation, cut-outs and other special effects.{{cite web |url=http://www.ghibliworld.com/michel_ocelot_interview.html |title=This is animation |access-date=2008-10-20 |last=Lugt |first=Peter van der |date=2008-08-25 |work=GhibliWorld.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080829185726/http://www.ghibliworld.com/michel_ocelot_interview.html |archive-date=2008-08-29 }} "Kirikou" was danced by Legrand Bemba-Debert in a costume made, based on Ocelot's ideas, by paper sculptor Anne-Lise Kœhler.{{cite web|last=Kœhler|first=Anne-Lise|title=Animation works, cinéma d'animation|url=http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=4054691&id=304318268186&ref=fbx_album&fbid=400624038186|work=Anne-Lise Kœhler, sculptures et cinéma's Photos|publisher=Facebook|access-date=2 September 2010|date=26 May 2010|language=fr}} A preview was shown during Le Grand Journal show on French TV channel Canal+ on 17 April 2007.{{cite web| publisher= bjork.fr| year= 2007| title= Le clip "Earth Intruders" disponible en streaming| url= http://www.bjork.fr/+Earth-Intruders-clip-canal-plus+.html| access-date= 2007-12-06| language= fr| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080609074003/http://www.bjork.fr/+Earth-Intruders-clip-canal-plus+.html| archive-date= 2008-06-09| url-status= dead}} The full video was made available in the iTunes Store on 24 April 2007.{{cite web |url=http://www.bjork.com/news/?id=625;year=2007#news |title=Earth Intruders video and recent media |date=17 April 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070426113154/http://bjork.com/news/?id=625%3Byear%3D2007#news |archive-date=26 April 2007 |url-status=dead }}

It features Björk's face floating in the background, first upside down, then upright, singing with her eyes closed. In the foreground, a large group of silhouetted tribal warriors dances in time to the music. The video features psychedelic colours and patterns imposed on an earthy backdrop. The video ends with Björk's face slowly fading into the middle of a glade, her eyes being opened just as she sings the last lyric. Ocelot stated that Björk had originally wanted Kirikou (the child-hero of Ocelot's Kirikou and the Sorceress and Kirikou et les bêtes sauvages) to be featured as a 20-year-old in the video. It was nominated for the 2007 Q Award for Best Video.{{cite web| website=bjork.com| year= 2007| title= Dazed&Confused + Q Award Nomination| url= http://www.bjork.com/news/?id=625;year=2007#news| access-date= 2007-12-06| url-status= dead| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070426113154/http://bjork.com/news/?id=625%3Byear%3D2007#news| archive-date= 2007-04-26}}

{{clear}}

On 21 April 2007, a barefooted Björk appeared as the musical guest on an episode of the US comedy-variety show Saturday Night Live in promotion of the album. She performed the songs "Earth Intruders" and "Wanderlust".{{Cite web |url=http://www.culturebully.com/archives/3117 |title=Bjork on Saturday Night Live 04/21/2007 |access-date=2007-06-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070427161129/http://www.culturebully.com/archives/3117 |archive-date=2007-04-27 |url-status=dead }}[http://www.mulley.net/2007/04/23/bjork-on-saturday-night-live-apri-2007/ Damien Mulley » Blog Archive » Bjork on Saturday Night Live April 2007] On 8 June 2007 (recorded on 5 June 2007), Björk performed, along with her tour musicians, on the UK television show Later...with Jools Holland for the fifth time in her solo career. She performed "Earth Intruders", "The Anchor Song", and "Declare Independence". Björk has also performed the song on every show of the Volta tour, usually as the very first song played after she enters the stage. Björk's set at Glastonbury Festival was broadcast on BBC Four on 22 June 2007, with "Earth Intruders" being the first song of the concert.

"Earth Intruders" reached number 67 on the UK Official Download Chart, while the remix EP later released charted on its own at number 150. In the United States, the song debuted on the US Billboard Hot 100 at number 84 in the issue dated 28 April 2007.{{cite book |title=Top Pop Singles |last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2009 |publisher=Record Research Inc |location=Memomonee Falls, Wisconsin |isbn=978-0-89820-180-2 |page=95 |url=http://www.recordresearch.com/pop/top_pop_singles_1955_2008.php |access-date=2010-12-07 |archive-date=2011-07-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716084619/http://www.recordresearch.com/pop/top_pop_singles_1955_2008.php |url-status=dead }} This is Björk's highest position on the US Hot 100, the previous being "Big Time Sensuality" in 1993, which peaked at number 88. The song also peaked at number 75 on the US Billboard Pop 100.{{cite magazine |magazine=Billboard |year=2007 |title=Top Music Charts - Hot 100 - Billboard 200 - Music Genre Sales |url=http://billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=396&cfgn=Singles&cfn=Pop+100&ci=3083457&cdi=9236505&cid=04%2F28%2F2007 |access-date=2007-06-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929174904/http://billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=396&cfgn=Singles&cfn=Pop+100&ci=3083457&cdi=9236505&cid=04%2F28%2F2007 |archive-date=2007-09-29 |url-status=dead }}

A digital-only "Earth Intruders – Club Mixes" EP was released on the iTunes Store in the US/UK on 21 May 2007. The European iTunes release contained only three of the original five tracks.{{cite web| website= 4um.bjork.com| year= 2007| title= bjork.com/\/\unity - Earth Intruders Club Mixes (5 track EP, May 21/28)| url= http://4um.bjork.com/viewtopic.php?t=14846&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=radio+edit&start=0| access-date= 2007-06-28| archive-date= 20 July 2011| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110720050058/http://4um.bjork.com/viewtopic.php?t=14846&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=radio+edit&start=0| url-status= dead}} It is only the second time (the first being "Play Dead") that an instrumental of a Björk track has been officially released. With this release, it was determined that "Earth Intruders" would have no physical release in any territory worldwide. Also, the Mark Stent mix was initially labelled as an "Extended Edit", but on 23 May 2007, was retitled to "Radio Edit"; the "xxxChange Mix" was retitled from the previous non-descriptive title "Earth Intruders Remix".{{cite web| website= 4um.bjork.com | year= 2007| title= bjork.com/\/\unity - Earth Intruders Club Mixes (5 track EP, May 21/28)| url= http://4um.bjork.com/viewtopic.php?p=543082#543082| access-date= 2007-06-28| archive-date= 20 July 2011| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110720050203/http://4um.bjork.com/viewtopic.php?p=543082#543082| url-status= dead}}

1. Mark Stent Radio Edit – 4:26
2. xxxchange Mix – 4:38
3. Lexx Remix – 6:40
4. Lexx Edit – 4:05
5. Mark Stent Radio Edit Instrumental – 4:29

The European iTunes Store release omitted the tracks "Mark Stent Radio Edit" and "Lexx Edit".

A limited edition "multiformat" box set was released at the beginning of February 2008 with slightly different artwork. The box set consists of a sticker-sealed fold out box with five nesting boxes containing two 12" vinyl singles, a CD, and a DVD in coloured paper sleeves.

:Side A. "Earth Intruders" (xxxchange Remix)

:Side B. "Earth Intruders" (Jimmy Douglas Mix)

:Side C. "Earth Intruders" (Lexx 12" Remix)

:Side D. "Earth Intruders" (Mark Stent Mix)

1. "Earth Intruders" (Mark "Spike" Stent Mix)
2. "Earth Intruders" (Jimmy Douglas Mix)
3. "Earth Intruders" (Lexx Remix Radio Edit)
4. "Earth Intruders" (xxxchange Remix)
5. "Earth Intruders" (Lexx 12" Remix)

1. "Earth Intruders" (Video directed by Michel Ocelot)

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.discogs.com/master/34548 Earth Intruders releases at Discogs]

{{Björk songs}}

{{Michel Ocelot|state=collapsed}}

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Category:2007 singles

Category:Björk songs

Category:Animated music videos

Category:Song recordings produced by Danja (record producer)

Category:Song recordings produced by Timbaland

Category:Songs written by Björk

Category:Songs written by Timbaland

Category:One Little Independent Records singles

Category:Songs written by Danja (record producer)

Category:Films directed by Michel Ocelot

Category:Song recordings produced by Björk

Category:2007 songs