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Svefn-g-englar

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Svefn-g-englar"
Single by Sigur Rós
from the album Ágætis byrjun
Released27 September 1999 (1999-09-27) (UK)[1]
Genre
Length10:04 (album)
9:16 (single)
Label
Producer(s)Ken Thomas
Sigur Rós singles chronology
"Svefn-g-englar"
(1999)
"Ný batterí"
(2000)
Music video
"Svefn-g-englar" on YouTube

"Svefn-g-englar" is a song by the Icelandic post-rock band Sigur Rós, from their second album, Ágætis byrjun.

Overview

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"Svefn-g-englar" was released as a single in 1999, with two studio recordings — "Svefn-g-englar" (an Icelandic pun mixing "sleepwalkers" and "sleep angels") and "Viðrar vel til loftárása" ("good weather for airstrikes"), both from Ágætis byrjun — and two songs recorded live at the Icelandic Opera House located in Reykjavík — "Nýja lagið" ("new song"), which was never recorded in studio, and "Syndir Guðs" ("God's sins"), from the group's first LP, Von. The single was the first UK release for the band, issued on Fat Cat Records in 1999.[2] On its release, it was named "Single of the Week" in NME.[3] In 2001, it was re-issued, in the United States, on PIAS records.[4] The single is available both on compact disc and 12 inch vinyl, with somewhat different selections of tracks, including "Veröld ný og óð" ("new and old world").

The music video for "Svefn-g-englar" was directed by August Jacobsson.[5] The video features the Perlan special-needs theatre group, an Icelandic acting troupe of men and women with Down syndrome. Choreography was by Lára Stefánsdóttir, and the angel outfits were made by Binna & Nína.[6]

In media

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Track listings

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CD version

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  1. "Svefn-g-englar" (single edit) – 9:16
  2. "Viðrar vel til loftárása" – 10:13
  3. "Nýja lagið" (live at the Icelandic Opera House, June 12, 1999) – 9:28
  4. "Syndir Guðs" (live at the Icelandic Opera House, June 12, 1999) – 5:46

12" version

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  1. "Svefn-g-englar" (single edit) – 9:16
  2. "Viðrar vel til loftárása" – 10:13
  3. "Veröld ný og óð" – 3:29

References

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  1. ^ "FatCat Records web site "Svefn-g-englar" single page". Retrieved 2009-03-06.
  2. ^ Discography entry
  3. ^ NME Review
  4. ^ US release Discogs entry
  5. ^ "Svefn-G-Englar Video and Stills". fat-cat.co.uk. Fat Cat Records. Retrieved 2009-03-08.
  6. ^ "sigur rós - discography » ágætis byrjun". sigur-ros.co.uk. Retrieved 2019-03-23.
  7. ^ "eighteen seconds before sunrise - sigur rós news " 2001 " November " 11". sigur-ros.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2011-06-06. Retrieved 2009-09-26.
  8. ^ Tunefind entry