Björk returned to Hong Kong after 12 years, making this performance a truly rare and precious occasion for her fans. The Icelandic queen didn't keep us waiting long; the show started around 8:30 PM as she walked onto the stage with her band and female choir. She opened with "Earth Intruders" from Volta, followed by three other singles from the same album. Beyond the new tracks, she also performed numerous classics including "Joga", "All Is Full Of Love", and "Army Of Me". Having waited a full 12 years, the atmosphere among the Hong Kong fans was naturally electric; whenever a classic song began, the crowd erupted in excitement, cheering and jumping unreservedly. During the encore, Björk performed the mesmerizing "Oceania" in a nod to the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The night reached its climax with the final song, "Declare Independence", where the keyboardist put on the hat Björk wore during her entrance and ran around the stage waving a flag, sending the audience into a frenzy.
One concert couldn't possibly cover all her wonderful works, but her body language onstage—using every inch of the space to move back and forth—combined with the surprise streamer effects, left the audience completely mesmerized. We only hope that Björk’s next performance in Hong Kong won't take another 12 years.
Side note: Throughout the night, the Queen kept saying strange words to the audience. It turned out she was trying to say "Thank you" in Cantonese, and eventually, the audience had to teach her. She jokingly asked, "Do you know how to say 'Thank you' in Icelandic?" Actually, yes—your fellow countrymen Sigur Rós taught us to say: "Takk!"