Bubbi Morthens
Encyclopedia
Bubbi Morthens is a singer and songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...

 from Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...

. His name of birth is Ásbjörn Kristinsson Morthens, Bubbi being the affectionate form of Ásbjörn.

History

Bubbi Morthens recorded his first solo album in 1979, a blend of rock, blues and reggae, and published it the following year with the title of Ísbjarnarblús
Ísbjarnarblús
Ísbjarnarblús was the debut solo record released by Icelandic songwriter Bubbi Morthens.The album was released on June 17, 1980 in co-operation with Bókaútgáfan Iðunn...

 which led him to popularity in Iceland due to influences of Iggy Pop
Iggy Pop
Iggy Pop is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Though considered an innovator of punk rock, Pop's music has encompassed a number of styles over the years, including pop, metal, jazz and blues...

 and other artists, the changes of music styles during the recording sessions, but particularly due to the lyrics as their content was embedded in the social struggle, especially of the lower classes from the fishing industry to migrant workers.

His first important band was Utangarðsmenn (The Outsiders), a punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...

 band that led the new wave
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...

 movement in Iceland and was formed by guitarists Michael D. Pollock (Mickey Dean) and Daniel Pollock (Dirty Dan), drummer Magnús Stefánsson
Magnús Stefánsson
Magnús Stefánsson is an Icelandic politician. He has been member of the Althing for the Progressive Party for the West Iceland constituency and for the Northwest Iceland constituency since 2003...

 (mad Dog Magoo), and finally bassist Rúnar Erlingsson (Rooney the Ripper).

Utangarðsmenn gained renown in Iceland by means of extensive press coverage and several gigs, including three at Laugardalshöll, Iceland’s biggest sports arena, where one of the gigs they performed was as supporting band for The Clash
The Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...

. Bubbi left the band right after the fourth album, Í Upphafi Skyldi Endinn Skoða in 1981, and the other band members continued playing, but under the name of Bodies, which was a tribute to one of Utangarðsmenn’s songs.

At that time, Bubbi and his brother, Bergþór, were joined by bassist Þorleifur Guðjónsson and formed the band Egó
Egó
Egó was founded in Reykjavík, Iceland), in the fall of 1981. Bubbi Morthens, frontman and main lyricist in the band had just been fired from the influential punk/rock/reggie band "Utangarðsmenn"...

, a name that some claimed was a reference to Bubbi’s great ego. The original group was extended when Jóhann Ridar (aka “Motorhead”) entered as the drummer, next to guitarist Ragnar Sigurðsson
Ragnar Sigurðsson
Ragnar Sigurðsson is an Icelandic professional footballer. Sigurðsson plays in a centre back position and plays for F.C. Copenhagen in the Superliga. He also plays for the Iceland national team.- IFK Göteborg:...

.

The band had their first tour in Reykjavík
Reykjavík
Reykjavík is the capital and largest city in Iceland.Its latitude at 64°08' N makes it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói Bay...

, but when they started to record, Jóhann and Ragnar had left the band and were replaced by Magnús Stefánsson and Tómas Magnús Tómasson, who joined as session musician and producer respectively. After these changes, the band's music improved, and their debut album, Breyttir Tímar which was released on April 1, 1982 became one of the best-selling albums in Icelandic music history, climbing to second place on the Icelandic album chart, and staying in the top ten for 19 weeks. During the promotional tour for the album in Iceland, Þorleifur left the band and was replaced by Rúnar Erlingsson.

Egó followed up with Í Mynd the same year and it was considered better than the previous album. With this release, Egó toured Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...

, where Magnús Stefánsson decided to leave the band and was replaced by Jökull Úlfsson, and the band was extended once more with the addition of Gunnar Rafnsson on keyboards. After achieving success, internal conflicts undermined the relationship with the record label, and even though the band had decided to break up, they had signed a contract by which they were obliged to release another album. Egó released their final work in 1984. The band split up, Bubbi left Iceland and the musicians continued along different paths. In 2001, Egó members were reunited to release a compilation under the title of Í Upphafi Skyldi Endinn Skoða.

Later in 1984, Bubbi returned to Iceland and formed a rock and roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...

 band called Das Kapital and released an album called Lili Marlene, but the band broke up afterwards.

In 1985 he signed with Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....

 record label Mistlur and released Frelsi til Sölu (Freedom for Sale) which helped bring further commercial success, until Dögun (Dawning), was released in 1987 and became a smash success. Bubbi’s popularity was finally established in 1990 with the release of Sögur af Landi, which received good reviews.

Towards 1987 Bubbi joined guitarist Þorsteinn Magnússon (former member of Þeyr
Þeyr
Þeyr was a renowned Icelandic New Wave band from the early 1980s. Shrouded under a veil of mystery, their three-year existence was characterized by a deep interest in ancient wisdom...

), Jakob Smári Magnússon (former bassist of Tappi Tíkarrass
Tappi Tíkarrass
Tappi Tíkarrass was a famous Icelandic punk/pop band which added elements of funk, disco and jazz to their music, marking a difference from other traditional bands at that time...

), drummer Halldór Lárusson and keyboardist Tómas Magnús Tómasson to form a new group called MX-21. The band collaborated with Megas
Megas
Megas , is a rock and roll singer, songwriter and writer who is well-known in his native country of Iceland.-Interest in music:...

 and Sykurmolarnir (later to be known as The Sugarcubes
The Sugarcubes
The Sugarcubes were an Icelandic alternative rock band formed in 1986 and disbanded in 1992. They received critical and popular acclaim internationally.-History:...

) on Skytturnar
Skytturnar (soundtrack)
Skytturnar is the soundtrack to the Icelandic film directed by Friðrik Þór Friðriksson in 1987. This 12" EP was released through the Gramm-label and was produced by Kjartan Kjartansson and the renowned Tómas Magnús Tómasson....

, the soundtrack to the film directed by Friðrik Þór Friðriksson
Friðrik Þór Friðriksson
Friðrik Þór Friðriksson , sometimes credited as Fridrik Thor Fridriksson, is an Icelandic film director....

.

By the early 1990s, Bubbi was planning to record a Spanish or South-American style album; this work was consolidated with the release of Von (Hope), which was recorded in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...

 with the band Sierra Maestra. It was an album that marked a change in his music style; with elaborate arrangements and performances, the lyrics are about loss and regret.

In 1993, Bubbi moved towards a mellow country music style with the release of Lífið er Ljúft (Life is Good), and in 1994 experimented with rap music in the album 3 Heimar (3 Worlds). Also in the ‘90s Bubbi joined Rúnar Júlíusson
Rúnar Júlíusson
Guðmundur Rúnar Júlíusson was an Icelandic pop singer from Keflavík. He died December 5, 2008.-References:...

 to form a rock band called G.C.D.. He also recorded a tribute album for his beloved crooner uncle, Haukur Morthens and a spoken word album of original poetry in 1996. In 1998, appeared Arfur (Heritage), an album for which he drew from traditional Icelandic rhymes and ballads.

Most of the works performed by Bubbi Morthens are in Icelandic. He is one of the all time best selling musicians in Iceland, but he has not gained popularity outside his country.

EPs

  • 1980 - Ha ha ha (Rækjureggae) (Steinar)
  • 1981 - 45 RPM (Steinar)

Albums

  • 1980 - Geislavirkir (Steinar)
  • 1981 - Í Upphafi Skyldi Endinn Skoða (Steinar), compilation release.
  • 1994 - Utangarðsmenn (Japís), Live.
  • 2000 - Fuglinn Er Floginn (Skífan), compilation release.

Collaborations

  • 1981 - Flugur (Steinar) Icelandic compilation.
  • 1981 - Gæðapopp (???), Icelandic compilation.
  • 1981 - Northern Lights Playhouse (Fálkinn
    Fálkinn
    Fálkinn was an Icelandic record label.The label's only well known original release was Björk's 1977 debut album Björk. Fálkinn is sometimes used as the title for the album as the album did not have an official title....

    ), Icelandic compilation.
  • 1982 - Næst á Dagskrá (Steinar), Icelandic compilation.
  • 1985 - Með Lögum Skal Land Byggja (Steinar), Icelandic compilation.
  • 1998 - Nælur (Spor), Icelandic compilation.
  • 2006 - Rokkskífan (Skífan), Icelandic compilation.

Singles

  • 2009 - Kannski Varð Bylting Vorið 2009
    Kannski Varð Bylting Vorið 2009 (single)
    "Kannski Varð Bylting Vorið 2009" is EGÓ's first song in 25 years. It was released on January 10, 2009. Bubbi first performed the song at a radio show Poppland at Rás 2 on January 5. On January 7, EGÓ recorded the song at Stúdíó Sýrland. EGÓ also recorded another song by Bubbi called "Fallega Þú"...

     (Sena
    Sena (record company)
    Sena is an Icelandic company that is owned by 365 ljósvakamiðlar. It specializes in the distribution of music, movies and videos. Sena runs the Smárabíó, Regnboginn and Borgarbíó Akureyri movie theaters....

    ), Only released on the internet.
  • 2009 - Í Hjarta Mér
    Í Hjarta Mér (single)
    "Í Hjarta Mér" is the second single from EGÓ’s album 6. Október. The single released on February 19, 2009. The song became a big hit immediately and peaked at #1 on all charts in Iceland...

     (Sena
    Sena (record company)
    Sena is an Icelandic company that is owned by 365 ljósvakamiðlar. It specializes in the distribution of music, movies and videos. Sena runs the Smárabíó, Regnboginn and Borgarbíó Akureyri movie theaters....

    ), Only released on the internet.
  • 2009 - Fallegi Lúserinn Minn
    Fallegi Lúserinn Minn (single)
    "Fallegi Lúserinn Minn" is the third single from the album 6. Október. The song was aired on several radio stations in Iceland on April 24, 2009, it‘s release date.- External links :****...

     (Sena
    Sena (record company)
    Sena is an Icelandic company that is owned by 365 ljósvakamiðlar. It specializes in the distribution of music, movies and videos. Sena runs the Smárabíó, Regnboginn and Borgarbíó Akureyri movie theaters....

    ), Only released on the internet.
  • 2009 - Ástin Ert Þú Á Litinn (Sena
    Sena (record company)
    Sena is an Icelandic company that is owned by 365 ljósvakamiðlar. It specializes in the distribution of music, movies and videos. Sena runs the Smárabíó, Regnboginn and Borgarbíó Akureyri movie theaters....

    ), Only released on the internet.
  • 2009 - Engill Ræður För (Sena
    Sena (record company)
    Sena is an Icelandic company that is owned by 365 ljósvakamiðlar. It specializes in the distribution of music, movies and videos. Sena runs the Smárabíó, Regnboginn and Borgarbíó Akureyri movie theaters....

    ), Only released on the internet.

Albums

  • 1982 - Breyttir Tímar (Steinar)
  • 1982 - Í Mynd (Steinar)
  • 1984 - Egó
    Ego (album)
    Ego is the seventh studio album by the German band Oomph!.-Track listing:# Ego - 4:19# Supernova - 3:59# Willst Du Frei Sein? - 3:54# Drop The Lie - 3:45# Bitter - 4:17# Transformation - 4:02# Atem - 3.58...

     (Steinar)
  • 2001 - Frá Upphafi Til Enda (Skífan), compilation release.
  • 2009 - 6. Október (Sena
    Sena (record company)
    Sena is an Icelandic company that is owned by 365 ljósvakamiðlar. It specializes in the distribution of music, movies and videos. Sena runs the Smárabíó, Regnboginn and Borgarbíó Akureyri movie theaters....

    )

Collaborations

  • 1982 - Rokk í Reykjavík
    Rokk í Reykjavík (soundtrack)
    Rokk í Reykjavík was the soundtrack to the Icelandic TV documentary directed by Friðrik Þór Friðriksson during 1981-82 winter and released in 1982....

     (Hugrenningur), soundtrack to the documentary directed by Friðrik Þór Friðriksson
    Friðrik Þór Friðriksson
    Friðrik Þór Friðriksson , sometimes credited as Fridrik Thor Fridriksson, is an Icelandic film director....

    .
  • 1982 - Á Fullu (Steinar), Icelandic compilation.
  • 1982 - Á Hjólum (Steinar), Icelandic compilation.
  • 1984 - Tvær í Takinu (Spor), Icelandic compilation.
  • 1984 - Á 100 (Steinar), Icelandic compilation.
  • 1985 - Með Lögum Skal Land Byggja (Steinar), Icelandic compilarion.
  • 1998 - Nælur (Spor), Icelandic compilation.
  • 2000 - Pottþétt Rokk 2 (Skífan), Icelandic compilation.
  • 2000 - 2 fyrir 2000 (Skífan/M12), Icelandic compilation.
  • 2001 - Óskalögin 5 (Íslenskir Tónar), Icelandic compilation.
  • 2002 - Óskalögin 6 (Íslenskir Tónar), Icelandic compilation.
  • 2003 - Skonrokk (Skífan), Icelandic compilation.
  • 2004 - Blindsker (Skífan), Icelandic compilation.
  • 2006 - Rokkskífan (Skífan), Icelandic compilation.
  • 2007 - 100 Íslensk 80's Lög (Sena
    Sena (record company)
    Sena is an Icelandic company that is owned by 365 ljósvakamiðlar. It specializes in the distribution of music, movies and videos. Sena runs the Smárabíó, Regnboginn and Borgarbíó Akureyri movie theaters....

    ), Icelandic compilation.
  • 2008 - 100 Bestu Lög Lýðveldisins (Sena
    Sena (record company)
    Sena is an Icelandic company that is owned by 365 ljósvakamiðlar. It specializes in the distribution of music, movies and videos. Sena runs the Smárabíó, Regnboginn and Borgarbíó Akureyri movie theaters....

    ), Icelandic compilation.
  • 2009 - 100 Íslensk í Ferðalagið (Sena
    Sena (record company)
    Sena is an Icelandic company that is owned by 365 ljósvakamiðlar. It specializes in the distribution of music, movies and videos. Sena runs the Smárabíó, Regnboginn and Borgarbíó Akureyri movie theaters....

    ), Icelandic compilation.
  • 2009 - Sumar á Íslandi 2009 (Sena
    Sena (record company)
    Sena is an Icelandic company that is owned by 365 ljósvakamiðlar. It specializes in the distribution of music, movies and videos. Sena runs the Smárabíó, Regnboginn and Borgarbíó Akureyri movie theaters....

    ), Icelandic compilation.

Featuring on film

  • 1982 - Rokk í Reykjavík
    Rokk í Reykjavík
    Rokk í Reykjavík was a documentary directed by Icelandic Friðrik Þór Friðriksson during the Icelandic winter of 1981-1982 and released for the local television the same year....

     (Íslenska kvikmyndasamsteypan), documentary directed by Friðrik Þór Friðriksson
    Friðrik Þór Friðriksson
    Friðrik Þór Friðriksson , sometimes credited as Fridrik Thor Fridriksson, is an Icelandic film director....

    .

Featuring

  • 1987 - Geyser - Anthology of the Icelandic Independent Music Scene of the Eighties
    Geyser - Anthology of the Icelandic Independent Music Scene of the Eighties
    Geyser – Anthology of the Icelandic Independent Music Scene of the Eighties is a compilation released in 1987 by the record label Enigma Records...

     (Enigma Records
    Enigma Records
    Enigma Records was a popular rock and alternative American record label in the 1980s. It was initially a division of Greenworld Distribution, an independent music importer/distributor, which it split-off from in 1985 to become its own company...

    ), Icelandic compilation.

Featuring

  • 1987 - Skytturnar
    Skytturnar (soundtrack)
    Skytturnar is the soundtrack to the Icelandic film directed by Friðrik Þór Friðriksson in 1987. This 12" EP was released through the Gramm-label and was produced by Kjartan Kjartansson and the renowned Tómas Magnús Tómasson....

     (Gramm
    Gramm
    Gramm was an Icelandic record label created by Ásmundur Jónsson and Einar Örn Benediktsson in 1981.Located in Reykjavík, Gramm’s first release was a 10-track 7" vinyl titled Tilf by Purrkur Pillnikk, a punk group led by Einar Örn....

    ), soundtrack to the film directed by Friðrik Þór Friðriksson
    Friðrik Þór Friðriksson
    Friðrik Þór Friðriksson , sometimes credited as Fridrik Thor Fridriksson, is an Icelandic film director....

    .
  • 1987 - Lífið Er Lag (Steinar), Icelandic compilation.
  • 1993 - Bíólögin (Spor), Icelandic compilation.
  • 1999 - Sögur 1980-1990
    Sögur 1980-1990
    Sögur 1980–1990 is a compilation of Icelandic singer Bubbi Morthens’ greatest hits from 1980 until 1990. The title Sögur means Stories.This double CD contains 34 songs and features Icelandic rock legend Megas who sings next to Bubbi on “Fatlafól”...

     (Íslenskir Tónar)

  • 2007 - Óskalögin 8 (Íslenskir Tónar), Icelandic compilation.
  • 2007 - 100 Íslensk 80's lög (Íslenskir Tónar), Icelandic compilation.

Albums

  • 1991 - G.C.D. (Steinar)
  • 1993 - Svefnvana (Skífan)
  • 1995 - Teika (Skífan)
  • 2002 - Mýrdalssandur (Skífan), compilation release.

Featuring

  • 1991 - Forskot á Sæluna (Steinar)
  • 1992 - Minningartónleikar um Karl J. Sighvatsson (Steinar)
  • 1993 - Heyrðu aftur '93 (Skífan), Icelandic compilation.
  • 1995 - Pottþétt '95 (Potþétt), Icelandic compilation.
  • 1995 - Svalasmellir (Skífan)
  • 1996 - Undarlegt með unga Menn (Spor)
  • 1997 - Pottþétt Rokk (Skífan/Spor), Icelandic compilation.
  • 1999 - Pottþétt Sumar(Skífan),Icelandic compilation.
  • 1999 - Dulbúin Gæfa í Tugatali (Geimsteinn)
  • 2000 - Pottþétt Rokk 2 (Skífan), Icelandic compilation.
  • 2003 - Óskalögin 7 (Íslenskir Tónar), Icelandic compilation.
  • 2004 - Óskalögin 8 (Íslenskir Tónar), Icelandic compilation.
  • 2006 - 100 Íslenskir Sumarsmellir (Íslenskir Tónar), Icelandic compilation.
  • 2008 - 100 Bestu Lög Lýðveldsins (Íslenskir Tónar), Icelandic compilation.

Singles

  • 2008 - Ég Er Kominn Heim (Sena
    Sena (record company)
    Sena is an Icelandic company that is owned by 365 ljósvakamiðlar. It specializes in the distribution of music, movies and videos. Sena runs the Smárabíó, Regnboginn and Borgarbíó Akureyri movie theaters....

    ), Only released on the internet.

Singles

  • 1988 - Moon in the Gutter (Mistlur), Taken from the Mistlur LP Serbian Flower
  • 2004 - Nei Nei Nei - Tjáningarfrelsi (Skífan)
  • 2005 - Þú (Skífan),Taken from Ást
    AST
    AST is a three-letter abbreviation that stands for a number of different things.In science and technology* Abstract syntax tree, a finite, labeled, directed tree used in computer science* Andrew S...

    , Only released on the internet.
  • 2005 - Ástin Getur Aldrei Orðið Gömul Frétt, Taken from Í 6 Skrefa Fjarlægð Frá Paradís  (Skífan), Only released on the internet.
  • 2006 - Grafir Og Bein (Sena
    Sena (record company)
    Sena is an Icelandic company that is owned by 365 ljósvakamiðlar. It specializes in the distribution of music, movies and videos. Sena runs the Smárabíó, Regnboginn and Borgarbíó Akureyri movie theaters....

    ),Taken from Lögin Mín, Only released on the internet.
  • 2007 - Ísbjarnarblús (Sena
    Sena (record company)
    Sena is an Icelandic company that is owned by 365 ljósvakamiðlar. It specializes in the distribution of music, movies and videos. Sena runs the Smárabíó, Regnboginn and Borgarbíó Akureyri movie theaters....

    ), Only released on the internet.
  • 2008 - Ég Er Kominn Heim (Sena
    Sena (record company)
    Sena is an Icelandic company that is owned by 365 ljósvakamiðlar. It specializes in the distribution of music, movies and videos. Sena runs the Smárabíó, Regnboginn and Borgarbíó Akureyri movie theaters....

    ) with Björn Jr. Friðbjörnsson, Only released on the internet.
  • 2010 - Sól (Sena
    Sena (record company)
    Sena is an Icelandic company that is owned by 365 ljósvakamiðlar. It specializes in the distribution of music, movies and videos. Sena runs the Smárabíó, Regnboginn and Borgarbíó Akureyri movie theaters....

    ), Only released on the internet.

EPs

  • 1988 - 56 (Gramm
    Gramm
    Gramm was an Icelandic record label created by Ásmundur Jónsson and Einar Örn Benediktsson in 1981.Located in Reykjavík, Gramm’s first release was a 10-track 7" vinyl titled Tilf by Purrkur Pillnikk, a punk group led by Einar Örn....

    )
  • 1989 - Hver er Næstur? (Geisli)
  • 1999 - Mér Líkar Það (Íslenskir Tónar)

Albums

Featuring and collaborations

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
x
OK