We were kind of momentarily stunned when we read on Jónsi’s website that he has a new track, “Stick & Stones,” that will be played over the end credits of the upcoming 3D animated family film, “How To Train Your Dragon.”
The news seemed all the more surprising in the wake of an interview the Sigur Rós singer did with Gigwise where he complained about the use of the band’s music on British TV, particularly the epic song “Hoppipolla” which he says has been “raped.” Apparently, rules for song use are a bit more relaxed in the UK, where producers don’t have to get a sign off to use a song, they just have to pay for the rights. But Jónsi is fairly philosophical about the whole thing saying, “But it’s also one thing I’ve learnt to let go, you just live for a while and you die. Nothing else matters that much.” Okay.
However, after we had some coffee and did a bit of digging, it turns out that Dean DeBlois co-director of “How To Train Your Dragon” and “Lilo & Stitch” also directed the Sigur Rós tour documentary “Heima.” If you’re a fan of the band and you haven’t seen it, you really should. It’s a beautiful film that track’s the band’s tour through the remote towns and villages of their native Iceland, playing acoustic or semi-acoustic gigs.
The director has also finished “Go Quiet,” a concert documentary of sorts that finds Jónsi performing his entire new solo album, “Go,” acoustically at home over New Year’s 2010. You can watch the trailer below.
Jónsi’s first solo album will hit store shelves on April 5th everywhere and April 6th in the United States. From what we’ve heard of it, it’s not so far off the beaten path from his daytime gig with Sigur Rós, just slightly less epic and more theatrically pop. He will be touring around the world with an elaborately conceived stage show which should be a treat.
jónsi – “go quiet” from Jónsi on Vimeo.
