Best Songs Of 2010 #9

Jónsi – Around Us

“I hear, I see you sing for us, you go tie a string around us.”

I will never, ever forget seeing this song live at Splendour In The Grass. It was one of the most magical experiences of my life, it was unforgettable. I said in my review that Jónsi surely cannot be from this planet, and I stand by that statement.

There is definitely something otherworldy in the music he makes with Sigur Rós, and he has carried this over to his first solo album, ‘Go’, released earlier this year. As a whole the album is magnificent, however none of its other songs capture the imagination quite as much as Around Us. And that is because there is such a palpable sense of adventure in this track.

It takes a while to get used to Jónsi singing in English, and the lyrics are at times incomprehensible, which is just fine by me. But yet somehow he still manages to convey this sense of pure wonder. I imagine that flying feels something like this song.

This song is definitely far removed from Sigur Rós’ earlier, more atmospheric music, however it is just as magical in its own way.