The Flow April 2014 | Page 23

when such a powerful bellow that is Florence's voice,

of this song. "This is a gift". That conclusion is it right

mixes with the revelation that Florence believes that

there. The whole song, of Florence overcoming her

she CAN be strong.

fears, ties off there. She doesn't follow that line with "it
comes with a price"; Florence has come to accept that

Slowly but surely, her realisation of fame in its true

her fame is not a sacrifice, but a gift, and a gift only.

perspective comes to light, and she descends into the

It's hers, and she has no obligation to anyone else to

bridge of the song - the change in her life. In an almost

repay it back.

ritualistic manner (reflected well by the music video,
may I add), Florence sees her reflected self (hence the

Florence hasn’t just written this song and recorded it

water reference) changing, from sad and cold blue to

as a filler. She's quite clearly etched her heart and mind

passionate and fiery red.

into it. She's thrown her emotions fully into the
cauldron and out came a moving melancholic

And, God almighty, she lives up to that fiery red! Along

masterpiece. Arguably, it is this exact song that,

with the final three swells of the chorus, comes a

ironically, launched the flame-haired songstress into

changed Florence. I'm not sure if anyone else has

the lime-light after reaching an astonishing number 12

noticed this, but the second repeat of this chorus after

in the UK chart (2009). It became Florence and the

the bridge almost has a quality of joyful tears to it. Even

Machine's highest-charting original song, together

before seeing the music video, I always imagined

with Shake It Out. Could we have expected anything

Florence, on the other side of a microphone during

less? No way. Florence triumphs over her fear in just

recording, sobbing slightly at her new-found passion.

over 3 mesmerising minutes, and that achievement is

Her voice quivers slightly, and I do have to admit that

what has guided her to becoming England's most

I like it very much!

treasured export in the modern music industry today.

However, although in theory hard to believe, these
sorrowful chants are not the most hard-hitting aspects
© Alex Lake 2009

Florence unleashes the beast within | during her Rabbit Heart music video shoot in May 2009. And makes one P a gof a
THE FLOW MAGAZINE ISSUE 6 herAPRIL 2014
23 | hell e
mess!