Reykjavík Grapevine - 15.08.2014, Qupperneq 31

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sushisamba
Þingholtsstræti 5 • 101 Reykjavík
Tel 568 6600 • sushisamba.is
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Our kitchen is open
17.00–23.00 sun.–thu.
17.00–24.00 fri.–sat.
Amazing
6 course menu
Starts with a shot of the Icelandic
national spirit “Brennivín“
Arctic char
with cucumber andcoriander
Smoked puffin
with yuzu mayo
Minke whale
with celeriac purée
Reindeer burger
with portobello mushroom
Icelandic free range lamb fillet
with cinnamon potato
And to end on a high note ....
“Skyr“ panna cotta with white chocolate
and raspberry sorbet
6.990 kr.

A unique Icelandic Feast
31The Reykjavík GrapevineIssue 12 — 2014 MUSIC
Seven
Icelandic
Elf Songs
In keeping with this
issue’s theme...
“Álfareiðin” (“The Elf Ride”)
“Álfareiðin” is one of Iceland’s most
beloved elf-themed songs, and is sung
by a bonfire every year at Þrettándinn
(“the Twelfth Night”—celebrated by
Icelanders every January 6). The song is
actually not Icelandic at all: the lyrics are a
translation, by fabled Icelandic poet Jónas
Hallgrímsson, of a Heinrich Heine poem,
and the song is by German composer
H. Heide. Regardless, it is by now an
indispensable part of Icelanders’ cultural
heritage.
“Starálfur”—Sigur Rós
Apparently, there are certain elements
to Sigur Rós’ music that tend to make
their listeners associate the band with
elves and Hidden People (perhaps
their nationality is the biggest factor?).
“Starálfur” (“Staring Elf”) is the third
track on the celebrated post-rock band’s
breakthrough album ‘Ágætis byrjun,’
released in 1999. The song—one of Sigur
Rós’ most beautiful works—revolves
around a guy who goes to bed in his
blue pyjamas and encounters a elf under
his sheets, who simply stares at him: a
staring elf. “Starálfur” was used in an
important scene in Wes Anderson’s ‘The
Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou,’ which
had absolutely nothing to do with elves.
“Grasi vaxin göng”—múm
While not an elf song per se, “Grasi
vaxin göng” (“Green Grass Of Tunnel”)
from múm’s seminal ‘Loksins erum við
engin’ ('Finally, We Are No One') radiates
naturalistic mystique and an elfin aura.
“Álfur út úr hól”—Björk
“Álfur út úr hól” (“An Elf Out Of A Hill”) is
a song from Björk’s 1977 self-titled début
album, released when she was but eleven
years old. The song is sung to the tune of
The Beatles’ “Fool On The Hill,” and lyrics
are almost the same as the originals—the
only difference is that Björk sings about
an elf instead of a fool.
“Það eru álfar inní þér”—SSSól
“You’re like a rock, you’ve got elves inside
of you.” So go the translated lyrics for the
chorus of the song “Það eru álfar inní þér”
(“There Are Elves Inside Of You”), by the
celebrated ‘90s pop band SSSól, who
were fronted by legendary Icelandic rock
star Helgi Björnsson (AKA Holy B). This
is clearly an elf-themed tune, if there ever
was one.
“Álfar”—Magnús Þór
Sigmundsson
“Álfar” (“Elves”) is a song from an album
of the same name by Icelandic composer
Magnús Þór Sigmundsson, one half of
groundbreaking ‘70s folk duo Magnús &
Jóhann. Whether elves serve as metaphor
here or not, they definitely make an
appearance in the frankly enchanting
tune.
“Ólafur Liljurós”
“Ólafur Liljurós” is an Icelandic folk tune
from the fourteenth century, which
remains a popular standard at the so-
called “elf bonfires” that happen on
Þrettándinn. The lyrics have a fascinating
aura of mystery around them. The song
is ostensibly about a man riding a horse
to meet his mother, who along the way
encounters some elves who invite him to
live with them. As that would go against
his Christian beliefs, Ólafur promptly
refuses, at which points the elves murder
him.
Straumur has been active since last
summer, with writers Óli Dóri and Davíð
Roach documenting the local music
scene and helping people discover new
music at straum.is. It is associated with
the radio show Straumur on X977, which
airs every Monday evening at 23:00.
Words
Óli Dóri & Davíð Roach
straum.isThe Straumur radio show airs on
X977 Monday evenings at 23:00
Straumur