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Possibly Maybe
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox song
| name = Possibly Maybe
| cover = Bjrk - Possibly Maybe.png
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Bjrk
| album = Post
| B-side = Vsur Vatnsenda-Rsu
| released =
| recorded = 1995
| studio = Compass Point (Nassau, Bahamas)
| venue =
| genre =
| length =
| label = One Little Indian
| writer = Bjrk
| producer =
| prev_title = Hyperballad
| prev_year = 1996
| next_title = I Miss You
| next_year = 1997
}}
"'Possibly Maybe'" is a song by Bjrk, released as the fifth single from her second album 'Post' (1995). It is a song with deep electronic tones and soft beats that reflects on potential love. Released in the United Kingdom as the fifth single from the album, it reached number 13 on the UK Singles Chart in November 1996.
There were three different single releases. This was the first Bjrk single to be released in three parts; two of these three parts are rarities in the music world in that their A-side is not the first track. The first CD came with a slipcase that could also house the other two. The song has been covered by numerous other artists.
Background
The song details different stages of a breakup. Bjrk has said it was "the first unhappy song I wrote I felt ashamed writing a song that was not giving hope". The melancholic piece was dedicated to her broken relationship with Stphane Sednaoui, who, curiously, also directed the video. Rumours have persisted that Bjrk recorded the song in the nude, although this has not been publicly commented on. Bjrk was sued by British electronic musician Scanner for the uncleared sample of telephones ringing (from his album 'Mass Observation') at the start of the track. The situation caused her record label, One Little Indian, to retire all current copies of 'Post' in the shops, and release a new version of the album that included a version of "Possibly Maybe" without the sample.Bjrk: "Post", 1995. Catalogue number: 527733-2 (One Little Indian Ltd./Mother Records). Editor's note: I own myself a copy of the album which doesn't feature the sample. Later on, when the issue was solved, the single version of the song included the sample again, as it appears in the music video.
The B-side of single was "Vsur Vatnsenda-Rsu", taken from the 1994 album 'Chansons des mers froides' by Hector Zazou. A short making-of was recorded as part of the album.
Critical reception
British magazine 'Music Week' rated the song four out of five, adding that "this gorgeous ballad from 'Post' is released with some diverse, and weird, mixes as a taster for the upcoming mixes album 'Telegram'."
Music video
The accompanying music video for "Possibly Maybe" was directed by French artist Stphane Sednaoui, for a song that is about his failed relationship with Bjrk. The singer and the director had previously worked together in the music video for "Big Time Sensuality". In the clip, she appears "as a goddess, floating out from a numinous light-streaked background." It shows Bjrk in a variety of different rooms in an apartment. She is primarily shown in a large, stylish bedroom with modern dcor. These scenes are intercut with shots in ultra-violet lighting (which subsequently causes everything to appear in day-glo colours). She is also shown in three other rooms: submerged in the bathtub of a bathroom; an Asian-themed room; and a room full of stereo equipment. These scenes are intercut with an angelic image of her dressed all in white, floating out of a blue sky with the sun behind her. The majority of objects appearing in the video were Bjrk's own.
Sednaoui is known for having a particularly filmic technique for each of his clips; in "Possibly Maybe", the use of blacklighting "makes Bjrk glow sensuously and perversely". It was conceived in a theatrical way: nearly all of the scenes were filmed in the same space, which is transformed with changes in the 'mise en scne'. The style of "Possibly Maybe"'s scenery and Bjrk's wardrobe reference East Asian imagery, and a Japanese traditional doll is featured as Bjrk's only accompaniment; as a silent witness, it is the object on which the protagonist casts reflections on her own identity.
Short interviews with both Stphane and Bjrk discussing the video are included on the Stphane Sednaoui 'Directors Label' DVD. The music video was included along with all of 'Post's music videos on the 1998 video release 'Volumen', and its 2002 reissue 'Volumen Plus'. They also appear on 'Greatest Hits Volumen 19932003', a release that includes the videos featured on 'Volumen' and 'Volumen Plus'.
Live performances
The track was performed during the Post Tour, a performance of which can be found on the 1998 live DVD/VHS 'Live at Shepherds Bush Empire', a fan-club only concert held at the end of the tour. To support the release of 'Post', the song was performed on the UK TV show Later... with Jools Holland on 17 June 1995 with legendary slide guitarist BJ Cole. This performance was featured on Bjrk's 2003 DVD release 'Later'. Bjrk also performed the track on TFI Friday on 1 November 1996 to promote the official single release. The track was also included on a 1996 ChildLine charity album release, whose cover-art featured a parody of the 'Post' cover. In support of this album, Bjrk performed the song on Top of the Pops. Bjrk's then manager Netty Walker noted later that it "was the worst performance I've ever seen her do.""Bjrk - Wow & Flutter" by Mark Pytlik, 2003, Aurum Press, pg 116. A live performance recorded for US TV show 'Reverb' in 2001 included a performance of "Possibly Maybe". The track has been performed on Bjrk's subsequent tours, the Homogenic Tour and the Vespertine World Tour, the latter version of which appears on the 2002 DVD release 'Live at Royal Opera House'. After 2001, the song was not performed live until 2 March 2012 at the Roseland Ballroom in New York City during her Biophilia Tour, using only a hang drum and a Tesla coil.
Track listings
The release features remixes by Talvin Singh, Mark Bell from LFO, Dallas Austin, Trevor Morais (who was the drummer on the Post Tour), Photek and Plaid. The single was planned to coincide with Bjrk's tour dates in South America and South Africa in October 1996, although the South American concerts were cancelled only two shows in due to Bjrk suffering from laryngitis. Two live tracks ("Possibly Maybe" and "Hyperballad") recorded at Wembley Arena as part of a 'Top of the Pops' show are included on CD3.
'UK CD1' (193TP7CD; released 28 October 1996)
# "Possibly Maybe" 5:04
# "Possibly Maybe" (Lucy Mix) (also featured on 'Telegram') 3:03
# "Possibly Maybe" (Calcutta Cyber Cafe Mix) 5:33
# "Possibly Maybe" (Dallas Austin Mix) 4:50
'UK CD2' (193TP7CDL; released 28 October 1996)
# "Cover Me" (Dillinja Mix) 6:22
# "One Day" (Trevor Morais Mix) 7:01
# "Possibly Maybe" (Calcutta Cyber Cafe Dub Mix) 4:56
# "I Miss You" (Photek Mix) 5:53
'UK CD3' (193TP7CDT; released 28 October 1996)
# "Big Time Sensuality" (Plaid Mix) 5:21
# "Vsur Vatnsenda-Rsu" 4:20
# "Possibly Maybe" (live at Wembley Arena) 4:53
# "Hyperballad" (Over the Edge Mix) (live at Wembley Arena) 4:56
'UK and US 12-inch vinyl' (193TP12TD)
# "Possibly Maybe" (Calcutta Cyber Cafe Mix)
# "I Miss You" (Dobie Rub Part One Sunshine Mix)
'European CD single' (MUMTT 86)
# "Possibly Maybe" (single version) 5:04
# "Cover Me" (Dillinja Mix) 6:22
'European 12-inch vinyl' (193TP12TDM)
# "Enjoy" (The Beats Mix) 6:57
# "Possibly Maybe" (Lucy Remix) 3:03
Personnel
Credits adapted from 'Post's liner notes.
* Bjrk production, keyboards
* Nellee Hooper production
* Marius de Vries programming, keyboards
* Howie Bernstein mixing, engineering
* Oswald "Wiz" Bowe assistant engineering
Charts
Covers
The track was covered by Final Fantasy and Ed Droste for music website Stereogum's 2008 online tribute to 'Post'. As Droste has stated, "Bjrk is probably my most listened to and adored artist thus far in my life".
Michael Armstrong interpreted the song as an instrumental lullaby for the 'Rockabye Baby! Lullaby Renditions of Bjrk' tribute album. London Resonance Quartet created another instrumental cover for tribute album 'Violently'. Italian singer Serena Fortebraccio recorded a version for the album 'In A Shape Of A Girl Playing On Bjrk's Heartbeat'.
The artists, who released "Possibly Maybe" covers on their own releases include prog-rock band The Roots of Orchis, Polish jazz singer Monika Borzym, hip-hop artist Mumbls, jazz-funk bands Spirit Tuck and The Poma-Swank and the acts such as Wino Willy, Sallow, LumpyPork and others.
Samples
A sample of this song was used in the bumpers for VH1's 'Insomniac Music Theater' late night music video block from the song's release until the program was cancelled in 2005 and renamed 'Nocturnal State'. DJ Shadow sampled this song for the track "Mutual Slump" from his debut album 'Endtroducing.....'.
References
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