Alarm Call (lost early alternate version of Björk music video; 1998)
Björk's Alarm Call CD1 Cover Art.
Status: Lost
"Alarm Call" is the fourth single released by Icelandic musician Björk from her third studio album, Homogenic. Peaking at #33 on the UK charts, it was a minor success[1]. Two music videos were created, one directed by graphic designer Paul White but was later turned down. Another version, this time directed by late fashion designer Alexander McQueen, would subsequently be the official music video for the song. However, Paul White's version of Alarm Call has never resurfaced nor released.
Paul White's version
Paul White directed the music video of "Hunter", the third single from Homogenic. His design firm Me Company also designed the album artwork of Homogenic, Björk's second album Post, and their respective singles. Commissioned for the next single's music video, his version was shot in the Los Angeles Subway while the "Hunter" music video was being completed. Described as a 'very guerilla-y' shoot in LA, it featured Björk going to an abandoned cabin in a canyon where she tapes sticks to her fingers and using them like prosthetic fingernails. The singer then proceeds to go on a walk to Venice Beach and the boardwalk[2]. A dance scene was also included, as well as Björk wearing her iconic kimono from the album's cover[3]. This version visualized the more upbeat, fun theme of the song, but the singer wasn't satisfied as she wanted to align the music video with the more mature and serious themes of her prior music videos for the album. Also, Björk didn't like the more conventional approach of this version. It was replaced by another output of Alexander McQueen, who designed the Homogenic kimono seen in the album cover (pictured above), also shot by McQueen and Nick Knight.
Availability
As of 2022, there has been no other information about the music video other than the ones White had shared. No storyboards or stills had appeared, and Björk herself hasn't acknowledged the unreleased music video.
Gallery
Björk in the Homogenic album cover. She wears the kimono in the first version of the "Alarm Call" music video.
External Links
References
- ↑ Official Singles Chart Top 100 | Official Charts Company, Björk at #33.
- ↑ Mackay, E. (2017). Björk’s Homogenic. Bloomsbury Academic.
- ↑ Blackwelder, Carson (14 July 2017). "Björk's 'Homogenic' Celebrates Its 20th Anniversary". Retrieved 3 February 2018.