Set your calendars, ladies and gentlemen. Set your alarm clocks almost a week in advance, cancel any plans with friends or loved ones. In short, make sure you’re in front of a television on Sunday night.
Why?
Because the three members of Icelandic band Sigur Rós are turning yellow and animated – they’re being Simpsonized.
Yes, the band Sigur Rós will guest star on Sunday’s episode of “The Simpsons,” in which characters in the show head to Iceland. The episode will feature new original Sigur Rós music as well as its version of the iconic theme song of the show.
On the surface, this is just a guest-starring appearance, partially a result of Matt Groening’s self-professed fandom of the band (he’s a smart guy). But this is also one of the most mainstream things the band has ever done, and I mean that in a good way. Sigur Rós is known for its sometimes epic and sometimes ambient music, sung by the stoic frontman Jónsi Birgisson. But for all its musical skill and its devoted fan base, the band’s music is anything but commercially accessible.
So, on one side, this episode may cause some fans to accuse Sigur Rós of going too mainstream – of selling out. But I couldn’t disagree more in this case. The members of Sigur Rós rarely speak in live performances, instead simply playing the music. The members themselves have always somewhat mirrored their music – skillful, but occasionally aloof and easier to appreciate from a distance.
I think the three men’s choice to guest star on “The Simpsons” is a welcome show of humor from the band. A typically serious band is choosing to take itself far less seriously by turning yellow. It should be a fun chance to see a different side of the band, both for longtime fans of the group and for those who are relatively new to the group.
This guest appearance is also a testament to the power of “The Simpsons” to reflect – and, to a lesser extent, shape – public perceptions of what is popular. The show has hosted a wide variety of celebrity guests, from other musicians like The Decemberists to celebrities such as Leonard Nimoy, Reese Witherspoon, Liam Neeson and Anne Hathaway.
To put it bluntly, the show features guest stars who are currently very popular – it does need viewers, after all. So, is this a sign that, after all these years, Sigur Rós has finally made it on a grander scale? Its earlier releases, including two of my favorites “Takk” and “(),” were amazing albums, but they were by no means radio-friendly with the exception of the song “Hoppipolla” (you’ve all heard it in a commercial for something or a movie trailer, I promise). After the band’s hiatus, it returned with “Valtari” and is now on a tour that includes stops at both Coachella back in April and Sasquatch! later this month. And with another album coming out this summer, Sigur Rós really seems poised to expand its audience even further.
How much will this appearance on “The Simpsons” help? I’m not sure. I would be willing to bet that the band will see increased downloads of its music, but this won’t result in Sigur Rós’ music being played on the radio. I think this will probably be the most commercial thing the band ever does.
And it’s going to be great.
After three years of writing columns, Bain finally fulfilled his wish to write a whole column about Sigur Rós. What would be your dream column? Email Bain at abain@media.ucla.edu. “B-Sides” runs every Monday.