“Human Behaviour” by Björk

"Human Behaviour" was the lead single from Debut, Björk's debut studio album, in 1993, and it's a dance record that looks at people through an animal's eyes, puzzling over our feelings and our strange ways. She wrote it with Nellee Hooper, who co-produced, and the whole idea of the song and its video traces back to the naturalist and broadcaster David Attenborough.

The groove is the star: a big, rolling beat worked up by Hooper, Luís Jardim and Bruce Smith, with Jardim on bass and Talvin Singh's tabla flickering around the edges. Brass from Gary Barnacle, Oliver Lake and Mike Mower blares in, Corky Hale adds harp, and Björk plays keyboards and sings with that wide-eyed, elastic voice, at once curious and fierce, with Jhelisa Anderson behind her.

Critics singled it out as a highlight of the album. It became an underground smash, reaching number two on the US dance charts and 36 on the UK Singles Chart. The video marked the first time Björk worked with director Michel Gondry, and like the song it tells the story from the animal's side.

Written with AI assistance from RockLists chart data, MusicBrainz and Wikipedia.