| "Isobel" | ||||
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| Single by Björk | ||||
| from the album Post | ||||
| B-side |
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| Released | 14 August 1995 | |||
| Recorded | 1994–1995 | |||
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| Genre | Trip hop | |||
| Length | 5:47 | |||
| Label | One Little Indian | |||
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| Björk singles chronology | ||||
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| Isobel song cycle singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Isobel" on YouTube | ||||
"Isobel" is a song by Icelandic singer-songwriter Björk for her second studio album, Post (1995). Written by Sjón based on a story by Björk, the lyrics of "Isobel" tell the story of the title character, who is magically born in a forest and sends a message of instinct amongst the logical thinking of the people of the city. The story of Isobel has been explored in "Human Behaviour" and "Bachelorette", forming a trilogy. The track was released as the second single for the album in August 1995 by One Little Indian. Featuring additional songwriting by Nellee Hooper and Marius de Vries, string arrangements by Eumir Deodato and production by Hooper and Björk, "Isobel" combines a lush orchestral sound with electronic breakbeats.
Most commentators were enticed by "Isobel", which they declared one of the highlights of the Post album. The single peaked at number eighteen on the Finnish Singles Chart, twenty-three on the UK Singles Charts and forty-seven on the New Zealand Singles Chart. The song was included in the compilation album Greatest Hits (2002), whose tracks were selected by fans through a survey.
The accompanying music video for "Isobel" was directed by frequent collaborator Michel Gondry and represents the story the lyrics convey. The surreal video resembles an early film and garnered acclaim from critics, although it received no support from MTV. Björk has performed "Isobel" on various television shows and in six of her tours, the most recent being the Utopia tour.