The band was formed in August 1983 when Ásmundur Jónsson from Gramm Records wanted to create an avant-garde supergroup to perform on the final episode of a radio show called Áfangar. He assembled Björk Guðmundsdóttir, vocalist of Tappi Tíkarrass; Einar Örn Benediktsson, a trumpeter and vocalist in Purrkur Pillnikk; keyboardist Einar Arnaldur Melax, from the surrealistic group Medúsa; Birgir Mogensen, the bassist from Spilafífl; and finally drummer Siggtryggur Baldursson and guitar player Guðlaugur Kristinn Óttarsson (a.k.a. Godkrist), both from the band Þeyr.
Aegean
KUKL Lyrics
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He invites me
oh, he invites me inside, and inside his room
offers - I take the offer, offers me a seat on his sofa
it's a nice sofa - a beautiful sofa
I like the colour and I sit down
but he shuts - he's shutting the door
he locks it - he's locking it
I don't sit any longer on his sofa - I lay
I lay - and he - he's right on the top of me
and he's forcing himself into my body
it's not right - oh! oh!
I don't understand this rhythm
I don't understand this rhythm
I can't connect myself to it
I don't understand this rhythm
so, stop, jump slow ohh!
Einar
The threat of castration lets us know so fear
push us over the cliff and out of the way
'cause the threat of castration
Is too much for the sick little minds
the threat of castration lets them who fear
call the willies inside the trousers
and they see her
Christ and God aren't fucking that day
weren't caught with our trousers down
their fear leaves them sexless
a glance - I did not know that
the monster of the fear of castration
they push us over the cliff
the scare, the glance, the monster
they've got something
it disappears
Björk
Oh, I am enjoying it - can I fulfill your needs?
oh! oh! who am I sobbing? I'm digging you!
Einar
The threat of castration let's us know so fear
push us over the cliff and out of the way
'cause you're blind, you cant drive
you can't see anything, but the fear of castration
the fear of castration, the fear of castration
gets no slow so fear, whatever he dressing
they stop us - the fear, but i'm continuing pushing
the threat of castration...
Björk
You can sell your bloody sofa
oh you're selling - who are you selling?
you can sell your bloody sofa
I'm digging! I'm digging! I'm trying to break you!
I'm trying! I'm trying too hard! I'm not sleeping at all
I'm digging you - leave me alone
who am I selling - I'm selling
what are you selling?
you can sell your bloody sofa!
The lyrics to KUKL's song Aegean describe an unsettling experience of sexual assault. The song is divided into two perspectives: Björk's and Einar's. In Björk's perspective, she is invited into a man's room, accepts his offer to sit on his sofa, but then he locks the door and assaults her. She expresses her confusion and discomfort with the situation, stating that she cannot understand the rhythm of his actions. As the assault continues, she appears to be both physically and emotionally in pain, but at times also expresses a sense of pleasure, which adds to the complex depiction of rape as a traumatic experience that can also be confusing and contradictory.
In Einar's perspective, the song explores the cultural and psychological factors that contribute to phenomena like rape culture. He sings about the fears and insecurities that lead to men feeling a need to assert their masculinity through violence against women. The lyrics suggest that these fears are rooted in a fear of castration or vulnerability, leading men to engage in violent acts as a way of exerting power and control. Einar expresses a sense of contempt for these types of men who feel the need to prove themselves in this way.
Overall, the lyrics to Aegean offer a complicated portrayal of sexual assault, exploring both the physical and psychological aspects of the experience, as well as the broader cultural factors that contribute to these types of violent acts.
Line by Line Meaning
He invites me
A man invites Björk inside his room.
oh, he invites me inside, and inside his room
The man invites Björk inside his room once again, emphasizing the situation.
offers - I take the offer, offers me a seat on his sofa
The man offers Björk a seat and she accepts the offer.
it's a nice sofa - a beautiful sofa
Björk compliments the sofa's appearance.
I like the colour and I sit down
Björk sits down on the sofa because she likes the color.
but he shuts - he's shutting the door
The man closes the door.
he locks it - he's locking it
The man locks the door.
I don't sit any longer
Björk no longer sits on the sofa.
I don't sit any longer on his sofa - I lay
Björk now lays on the sofa instead of sitting on it.
I lay - and he - he's right on the top of me
The man lays on top of Björk.
and he's forcing himself into my body
The man is sexually assaulting Björk without her consent.
it's not right - oh! oh!
Björk realizes the situation is wrong and uncomfortable.
I don't understand this rhythm
Björk doesn't understand why the man is doing this sexually aggressive behavior.
I can't connect myself to it
Björk can't find any logical or emotional connection to the situation.
so, stop, jump slow ohh!
Björk urges the man to stop and leave her alone.
The threat of castration lets us know so fear
Einar suggests that men's fear of losing their manhood encourages aggressive behavior.
push us over the cliff and out of the way
Men's fear of castration can drive them to commit dangerous actions and cause harm.
'cause the threat of castration
Men's fear of losing their manhood is what causes them to be violent.
Is too much for the sick little minds
Men who are afraid of losing their manhood are mentally weak and unstable.
they see her
Men see a woman as a reminder of their fear of losing their manhood.
Christ and God aren't fucking that day
Einar says that even the power of God is not enough to stop men from acting violently when afraid of losing their manhood.
their fear leaves them sexless
Men's fear of losing their manhood can make them unable to perform sexually.
a glance - I did not know that
Einar reflects on how he did not realize the gravity of the fear of castration.
the monster of the fear of castration
Einar describes men's fear of losing their manhood as a monster.
they push us over the cliff
Men's fear of castration can make them commit dangerous actions.
the scare, the glance, the monster
Einar describes different aspects of men's fear of castration.
they've got something
Men who fear losing their manhood are driven by something unknown.
it disappears
The unknown element that drives men to fear losing their manhood eventually disappears.
Oh, I am enjoying it - can I fulfill your needs?
Björk is being ironic, pretending to enjoy the sexual assault as a way to cope with the situation.
who am I sobbing? I'm digging you!
Björk is confused about her emotions and feelings towards the situation.
you're blind, you cant drive
Einar critiques men who are driven solely by their fear of losing their manhood.
you can't see anything, but the fear of castration
These men are unable to see or care about anything else except their fear of losing their manhood.
gets no slow so fear, whatever he dressing
Einar suggests men's fear of losing their manhood is a never-ending cycle.
they stop us - the fear, but i'm continuing pushing
Men's fear of losing their manhood creates restrictions, but Einar still pushes against these boundaries.
You can sell your bloody sofa
Björk is telling the man that she doesn't care about his sofa or his material things.
oh you're selling - who are you selling?
Björk is mocking the man's focus on material possessions when there are more important things happening.
I'm digging! I'm digging! I'm trying to break you!
Björk is trying to resist the man's hold on her and prove that she's stronger than him.
I'm trying! I'm trying too hard! I'm not sleeping at all
Björk is not giving up and is trying hard to resist the man's aggression.
I'm digging you - leave me alone
Björk is not attracted to the man and wants him to stop the sexual assault.
what are you selling?
Björk metaphorically questions the man's priorities and actions in the face of the sexual assault.
you can sell your bloody sofa!
Björk repeats her indifference to the man's material possessions, emphasizing that it is not important right now.
Contributed by Nathaniel M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Mason Michalec
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