Björk

Björk Guðmundsdóttir (Icelandic pronunciation: [ˈpjœr̥k ˈkvʏðmʏntsˌtouhtɪr], born 21 November 1965), known mononymously as Björk (/ˈbjɜːrk/), is an Icelandic singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and occasional actress. She initially became known as the lead singer of the alternative rock band The Sugarcubes, whose 1987 single "Birthday" was a hit on US and UK indie stations and a favorite among music critics. Björk embarked on a solo career in 1993, coming to prominence as a solo artist with her single "Human Behaviour" and her album Debut. She has since had 30 singles reach the Top 40 on pop charts around the world, with 22 Top 40 hits in the UK, including the Top 10 hits "It's Oh So Quiet", "Army of Me", and "Hyperballad". Additionally, "Big Time Sensuality", "Hyperballad" and "I Miss You" were number one Dance Hits in the US. Over her three-decade career, she has developed an experimental and eclectic musical style that draws on a wide range of influences and genres spanning electronic music, dance, pop, and the avant-garde. Critics have consistently praised Björk's work, praising her innovative approach to singing and composition, her musical experimentation, her music videos, and her distinctive voice; she has been described as "the most important and forward-looking musician of her generation" and "the best non-pop female vocalist of the last 30 years."

Björk (name)

Björk, Björck, Biörck, or Bjork is a Swedish surname meaning birch. It is also a common Icelandic name given to girls, meaning birch, specifically the most common native tree of Iceland, Betula pubescens tortuosa (Arctic downy birch).

Notable people with the name include

Björk (disambiguation)

Björk (born 1965) is an Icelandic singer-songwriter.

Björk or Bjork may also refer to:

Bjork–Shiley valve

The Björk–Shiley valve is a mechanical prosthetic heart valve. The valve was co-invented by American engineer Donald Shiley and Swedish heart surgeon Viking Björk.

Beginning in 1971, it has been used to replace aortic valves and mitral valves. It was the first successful tilting-disc valve. It was manufactured first by Shiley Laboratories, then later by Pfizer after that company purchased Shiley. One model of the Bjork–Shiley valve became the subject of a famous lawsuit and recall after it was shown to malfunction.

Construction

The Björk–Shiley valve consists of a single carbon-coated disc in a metal housing. The disc is held in place by two metal struts, an inflow and an outflow strut. The housing is made from the alloy Haynes 25, which is composed of 51% cobalt, 20% chromium, 15% tungsten, and 10% nickel. The Björk–Shiley valve was considered very durable and was widely used in the 1970s. However, later research indicated it was susceptible to long-term wear problems, and could shed microscopic metal fragments.