Björk & ROSALÍA, Oral | Song Review 🎵

Iconic Icelandic singer/songwriter Björk collaborates with Grammy-winning, Spanish standout, ROSALÍA on a marvelous single, “Oral.”  

“Your mouth 👄 floats above my bed 🛌 at night / My own private moon 🌙.”  Wow 😮! Being honest, when a song is named 🎵 “Oral” in the 2020s, you assume the worst – it’s got to be referencing a sexual experience! In the case of “Oral,” a collaboration between 🎙 Björk and 🎙 ROSALÍA, it’s more fantasy than action, and totally safe for work.  Honestly, that’s refreshing. “Oral” isn’t a brand-new song but rather, a reworked song from the Björk archives, turned into a duet with ROSALÍA.  Björk produced the record with 🎛️ Sega Bodega.  The sound is true to the Icelandic standout (somewhat quirky, but also lush), while also incorporating some dance and Spanish elements, playing to the strengths of ROSALÍA.

So, what’s the premise? The desire for a relationship, which is clearly dreamt about it. Also, there seems to be a special somebody, potentially, but the ladies deem it important to take pause in indulging such desires. “Let me introduce one to the other / The dream and the real, get them acquainted” marks one of the best lyrics.  Another key lyric is repeated throughout “Oral”: “Just because she can.” What’s the context? Well, just because she can do something, such as “…Sneak up from behind / To the back of his head / Then I lift up his hair / And nibble ever so lightly” doesn’t mean that she should. The chorus is a prime example of making a reasonable decision:  “Is that the right thing to do? / Oh, I just don’t know / I just don’t know.” Besides this blend of fantasy and reality regarding love, or at least, kisses, the marvelous 🎵 “Oral” is a fundraiser to save the fish 🐠, specifically fight against Norwegian-owned commercial fishing operations in Iceland. Great song, great cause, ‘nough said!

🎙 Björk & ROSALÍA • 🎵 “Oral” • 🏷 Wellhart LTD / one little independent LTD • 🗓 11.21.23

[📷: Brent Faulkner/The Musical Hype; Wellhart LTD / one little independent LTD; OpenClipart-Vectors, PIRO via Pixabay]