Comes on mother of pearl vinyl LP.
“Oral” is a standalone single by Icelandic artist Björk and Spanish singer Rosalía, released in November 2023. The song is a unique collaboration that blends the signature styles of both artists. The track was originally written by Björk in the late 1990s but was considered too pop-oriented for her albums at the time, and was subsequently lost in her archives. She rediscovered the song in 2023 and decided to release it as a duet with Rosalía.
Thematically, the song is a wistful meditation on the early stages of a relationship, exploring the tension and desire of an unexpressed connection. The title, “Oral,” references the idea of being aware of one’s lips and the possibility of a kiss.
Musically, the song features a mix of Björk’s avant-garde approach to pop, with lush strings and intricate electronic beats, combined with Rosalía’s modern sensibilities, particularly a subtle reggaeton-inspired rhythm that she contributed to the track.
Beyond its artistic merit, “Oral” is a charity single. Björk and Rosalía, along with their record companies, are donating all proceeds to AEGIS, a non-profit organization dedicated to fighting against open-net salmon farming in Iceland, a practice that poses a significant threat to the country’s native wildlife and ecosystems. The release of the song was a “call to arms” to raise awareness and support the legal battle against these industrial operations.
