Controversial Music Video

Viorar Vel Til Loftarasa by Sigur Ros is set in Iceland in the 1950’s, an era when homosexuals and homosexuality was looked down upon – even today there is a negative connotation with homosexuals and gay relationships. 

We first see the act of homophobic  brutishness from the father of a young boy playing with two old china dolls. The father runs towards the boy in horror with what he is doing, snatches the dolls away from the son and throws them out into the open water.

We then see the same boy in a football match with his father on the sideline supporting. As the boy scores a goal the team and spectators celebrate, in the celebrating we see the son on the floor kissing another boy on his team. The pair are ripped apart by the father, who charges on to the pitch to break them up.

The music video was directed by Stefán Árni Þorgeirsson and Sigurður Kjartansson, both from Iceland, as is the band too. The Band Sigur Ros actually have cameo’s in the music video as; the coach, scorekeeper, referee and a spectator. The choice to have the video focusing on homosexuality was decided as members of the band are gay. The video is more controversial than other music videos featuring gay action, such as Katy Perry's - I kissed a girl, due to the set up of the music video. It is a lot more serious than the upbeat curiosity of liking 'cherry chap stick'. However on the other hand the video might not seem as controversial as other music videos with scenes of; nudity, drugs or violence. Viorar Vel Til Loftarasa sends a powerful message out about homosexuality and the judgement that still hangs over it. The video actually won an award in Iceland for Best Video in 2002.