Rokk í Reykjavík
Encyclopedia
Rokk í Reykjavík was a documentary directed by Iceland
ic Friðrik Þór Friðriksson
during the Icelandic winter of 1981-1982 and released for the local television the same year.
With this documentary, Friðriksson showcases the alternative music scene through several performances of the post punk/New Wave
most important bands at that time taken from different concerts and accompanied by, some times, short interviews with musicians, and it portrays the lifestyle of the Icelandic youth faced to the establishment and advocated to anarchy, who were trying to find their own identity.
Rokk í Reykjavík is today considered as one of the most important documentaries about the Icelandic music culture and it included several important bands. For instance, Tappi Tíkarrass
, a punk
/pop
band led by vocalist Björk Guðmundsdóttir
contributed with two of their works: “Hrollur” and “Dúkkulísur”. The New Wave band Þeyr
, today considered as one of the legendary Iceland bands of the early eighties, is featured here with their songs “Rúdolf” and “Killer Boogie”.
It is also worth of mentioning, the presence of Einar Örn Benediktsson
’s punk group Purrkur Pillnikk
, which appeared with two tracks: “Ovænt” and “Gluggagægir”.
Other important artists featured here are Bubbi Morthens
with his band Egó
, Fræbbblarnir
, Grýlurnar, and the renowned Sveinbjörn Beinteinsson
with his chanting poem “Rímur”, among others.
As this film was the first Icelandic work in Dolby Stereo
, it brought innovation to the Icelandic film industry. With Íslenska kvikmyndasamsteypan as the distributor, Rokk í Reykjavík was released in VHS
format. The soundtrack to this film was released as a double LP compilation by Hugrenningur in April 1982.
The image cover for this release depicts singer Björk
from (at that moment) Tappi Tíkarrass
on stage.
In July 2008 the movie was released on DVD
by Sena (Iceland only) http://www.sena.is/pages/49/NewsId/392.
.
Cinematography and lightning: Ari Kristinsson.
Other shooting personnel: Árni Páll Jóhannsson, Baldur Hrafnkell Jónsson, Friðrik Þór Friðriksson, Jón Karl Helgason, Magnús Magnússon, Peter Auspin, Richard Crowe, Sigurður Grímsson, Sigurður Snæberg Jónsson, Sigurjón Sighvatsson, Vilhjálmur Knudsen and Þorgeir Gunnarsson.
Recording engineers from Þursabit recording studio: Júlíus Agnarsson, Tómas Magnús Tómasson, Þórður Árnason.
Sound: Jón Karl Helgason.
Edition: Ari Kristinsson, Kristín Pálsdóttir, Peter Auspin, Richard Crowe, Sigurður Grímsson, Sigurður Jón Ólafsson, Sigurður Snæberg Jónsson.
Executive board: Þorgeir Gunnarsson.
Mixing: Alan Snelling, Þórður Árnason.
Sound production: Anvil Studios, Abbey Road, London.
Video production: Johan Ankerstjerne a/s, Kaupmannahöfn.
Distributor: Íslenska kvikmyndasamsteypan.
Soundtrack: Title: Rokk í Reykjavík
. Label: Hugrenningur in 1982. Reissue: in 1993 by Bad Taste
.
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...
ic Friðrik Þór Friðriksson
Friðrik Þór Friðriksson
Friðrik Þór Friðriksson , sometimes credited as Fridrik Thor Fridriksson, is an Icelandic film director....
during the Icelandic winter of 1981-1982 and released for the local television the same year.
With this documentary, Friðriksson showcases the alternative music scene through several performances of the post punk/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...
most important bands at that time taken from different concerts and accompanied by, some times, short interviews with musicians, and it portrays the lifestyle of the Icelandic youth faced to the establishment and advocated to anarchy, who were trying to find their own identity.
Rokk í Reykjavík is today considered as one of the most important documentaries about the Icelandic music culture and it included several important bands. For instance, 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...
, 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...
/pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
band led by vocalist Björk Guðmundsdóttir
Björk
Björk Guðmundsdóttir , known as Björk , is an Icelandic singer-songwriter. Her eclectic musical style has achieved popular acknowledgement and popularity within many musical genres, such as rock, jazz, electronic dance music, classical and folk...
contributed with two of their works: “Hrollur” and “Dúkkulísur”. The New Wave band 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...
, today considered as one of the legendary Iceland bands of the early eighties, is featured here with their songs “Rúdolf” and “Killer Boogie”.
It is also worth of mentioning, the presence of Einar Örn Benediktsson
Einar Örn Benediktsson
Einar Örn Benediktsson is a popular music singer and trumpet player who has worked with Björk and The Sugarcubes. Since the 2010 elections he is a member of the city council of Reykjavík....
’s punk group Purrkur Pillnikk
Purrkur Pillnikk
Purrkur Pillnikk is a rock band from late punk era in Iceland. The band existed for 18 months and were very active as they released at least two LPs, one live-album and two EPs...
, which appeared with two tracks: “Ovænt” and “Gluggagægir”.
Other important artists featured here are Bubbi Morthens
Bubbi Morthens
Bubbi Morthens , is a singer and songwriter from Iceland. His name of birth is Ásbjörn Kristinsson Morthens, Bubbi being the affectionate form of Ásbjörn.- History :...
with his 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"...
, Fræbbblarnir
Fræbbblarnir
Fræbbblarnir were formed in Iceland in 1978 and released a number of records until they quit early in 1983. A punk-pop band playing short, melodic songs fast and raw, they were inspired by the Ramones, Clash, Stranglers, Jam, Sex Pistols, Damned, Alberto Y Lost Trios Paranoias, Stiff Little...
, Grýlurnar, and the renowned Sveinbjörn Beinteinsson
Sveinbjörn Beinteinsson
Sveinbjörn Beinteinsson , a native of Iceland, was instrumental in helping to gain recognition by the Icelandic government for the pre-Christian Norse religion...
with his chanting poem “Rímur”, among others.
As this film was the first Icelandic work in Dolby Stereo
Dolby Stereo
Dolby Stereo, is the trade mark that Dolby Laboratories used for the various analogue stereo cinema sound formats that they produced.Two basic systems used this name. The first was the 'Dolby SVA' system used with optical soundtracks on 35mm film...
, it brought innovation to the Icelandic film industry. With Íslenska kvikmyndasamsteypan as the distributor, Rokk í Reykjavík was released in VHS
VHS
The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
format. The soundtrack to this film was released as a double LP compilation by Hugrenningur in April 1982.
The image cover for this release depicts singer Björk
Björk
Björk Guðmundsdóttir , known as Björk , is an Icelandic singer-songwriter. Her eclectic musical style has achieved popular acknowledgement and popularity within many musical genres, such as rock, jazz, electronic dance music, classical and folk...
from (at that moment) 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...
on stage.
In July 2008 the movie was released on DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
by Sena (Iceland only) http://www.sena.is/pages/49/NewsId/392.
Songs
| Track | Title | Length | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Ó Reykjavík | 02:25 | Vonbrigði |
| 02 | Sieg Heil | 01:10 | Egó |
| 03 | Gotta Go | 01:45 | Fræbbblarnir Fræbbblarnir Fræbbblarnir were formed in Iceland in 1978 and released a number of records until they quit early in 1983. A punk-pop band playing short, melodic songs fast and raw, they were inspired by the Ramones, Clash, Stranglers, Jam, Sex Pistols, Damned, Alberto Y Lost Trios Paranoias, Stiff Little... |
| 04 | Óvænt | 01:07 | Purrkur Pillnikk Purrkur Pillnikk Purrkur Pillnikk is a rock band from late punk era in Iceland. The band existed for 18 months and were very active as they released at least two LPs, one live-album and two EPs... |
| 05 | Rúdolf | 02:49 | 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... |
| 06 | Creeps | 01:48 | Q4U |
| 07 | Breyttir Tímar | 02:20 | Egó |
| 08 | Where are the Bodies | 05:08 | Bodies |
| 09 | Hrollur | 02:25 | 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... |
| 10 | Moving Up to a Motion | 03:15 | Baraflokkurinn |
| 11 | Talandi Höfuð | 02:55 | Spilafífl |
| 12 | Í Speglinum | 03:25 | Þursaflokkurinn Þursaflokkurinn Þursaflokkurinn , often written in a simplified way , is an Icelandic progressive rock group that was mainly active in the late 1970s and early 1980s... |
| 13 | Í Kirkju | 02:42 | Friðryk |
| 14 | Lífið og Tilveran | 03:25 | Start |
| 15 | Gullúrið | 03:10 | Grýlurnar |
| 16 | Sat ég Inni á Kleppi | 03:42 | Egó |
| 17 | Gluggagægir | 03:00 | Purrkur Pillnikk Purrkur Pillnikk Purrkur Pillnikk is a rock band from late punk era in Iceland. The band existed for 18 months and were very active as they released at least two LPs, one live-album and two EPs... |
| 18 | Dúkkulísur | 02:40 | 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... |
| 19 | Bereft | 03:18 | Mogo Homo |
| 20 | Hver er svo sekur? | 02:35 | Jonee Jonee |
| 21 | Killer Boogie | 02:45 | 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... |
| 22 | Kick Us Out of the Country | 01:55 | Bodies |
| 23 | Af Því Pabbi Vildi Það | 01:43 | Jonee Jonee |
| 24 | Í Nótt | 01:48 | Fræbbblarnir Fræbbblarnir Fræbbblarnir were formed in Iceland in 1978 and released a number of records until they quit early in 1983. A punk-pop band playing short, melodic songs fast and raw, they were inspired by the Ramones, Clash, Stranglers, Jam, Sex Pistols, Damned, Alberto Y Lost Trios Paranoias, Stiff Little... |
| 25 | Guðfræði | 03:00 | Vonbrigði |
| 26 | Stórir Strákar | 02:40 | Egó |
| 27 | Gonna Get You | 01:26 | Q4U |
| 28 | Toys | 01:57 | Q4U |
| 29 | Lollipops | 02:50 | Sjálfsfróun |
| 30 | Antichrist | 01:10 | Sjálfsfróun |
| 31 | Sjálfsfróun | 01:30 | Sjálfsfróun |
| 32 | Af Litlum Neista Verður Mikið Mál | 02:30 | Bruni BB |
| 33 | Rímur | 02:00 | Sveinbjörn Beinteinsson Sveinbjörn Beinteinsson Sveinbjörn Beinteinsson , a native of Iceland, was instrumental in helping to gain recognition by the Icelandic government for the pre-Christian Norse religion... |
Personnel
Direction: Friðrik Þór FriðrikssonFriðrik Þór Friðriksson
Friðrik Þór Friðriksson , sometimes credited as Fridrik Thor Fridriksson, is an Icelandic film director....
.
Cinematography and lightning: Ari Kristinsson.
Other shooting personnel: Árni Páll Jóhannsson, Baldur Hrafnkell Jónsson, Friðrik Þór Friðriksson, Jón Karl Helgason, Magnús Magnússon, Peter Auspin, Richard Crowe, Sigurður Grímsson, Sigurður Snæberg Jónsson, Sigurjón Sighvatsson, Vilhjálmur Knudsen and Þorgeir Gunnarsson.
Recording engineers from Þursabit recording studio: Júlíus Agnarsson, Tómas Magnús Tómasson, Þórður Árnason.
Sound: Jón Karl Helgason.
Edition: Ari Kristinsson, Kristín Pálsdóttir, Peter Auspin, Richard Crowe, Sigurður Grímsson, Sigurður Jón Ólafsson, Sigurður Snæberg Jónsson.
Executive board: Þorgeir Gunnarsson.
Mixing: Alan Snelling, Þórður Árnason.
Sound production: Anvil Studios, Abbey Road, London.
Video production: Johan Ankerstjerne a/s, Kaupmannahöfn.
Distributor: Íslenska kvikmyndasamsteypan.
Soundtrack: Title: 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....
. Label: Hugrenningur in 1982. Reissue: in 1993 by Bad Taste
Bad Taste (record label)
Bad Taste is one of Iceland’s most important record labels; located in Reykjavík and known worldwide for being home to The Sugarcubes, it also publishes poetry books, short films, greeting cards and Icelandic gifts...
.
See also
- 1982 - Rokk í ReykjavíkRokk 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), the soundtrack.
- 2005 Screaming MasterpieceScreaming MasterpieceScreaming Masterpiece is a 2005 documentary film directed and written by Ari Alexander Ergis Magnússon about the music scene in Iceland...
documentary about Icelands music scene.