Post 6: Florence + The Machine
Florence + The Machine has always been one of my favorite artists with her songs “Dog Days Are Over,” “You’ve Got the Love” and “Shake it Out.” Her voice is captivating, and I love listening to her music, which reflects a very carefree and emotional spirit. This album was fascinating as she struggles with religion and reflects that with her music. This album felt much darker than the music that I used to listen to years ago. The two songs that resonated were “Girl Against God” and “Free.”
In “Girl Against God,” she struggles with her relationship with God and seems to start a war against him. The song’s ending surprised me as the melody slowly descends, incorporating evil laughter and footsteps. In the last line, she sings/whispers:
I met the Devil
You know, he gave me a choice
A golden heart or a golden voice
From my perspective, this line is quite odd and alludes to a darker theme, specifically the Illuminati. The eeriness of this verse posed a question of what relationship or struggle she was facing. She could choose to be kind-hearted or have her voice, but she couldn’t choose both. The Illuminati alludes to many singers selling their souls to remain popular and relevant in society. These lyrics challenged her ideologies as she was forced to make an important decision. The war she created against God implied the profound connection that would be made with the devil.
I noticed how she capitalized the d in the devil to emphasize its authority in her world. I didn’t particularly resonate with this part; instead, I was engaged by the small implications of this line. It emphasizes that she had a choice and chose a golden voice based on the new album. Her wide range is continuously heard throughout the album, implying that she would prefer a golden voice over a golden heart. The sound of footsteps and choppy yet precise voices was uncomfortable. The intention was to show the darker side that Florence was facing.
Another song in the album that resonated with me was “Free.” This reminded me of her previous songs that feel more carefree but still discuss the tough dualities of life. In this song, Florence emphasizes the struggles of depression and sadness that she endures. The repetitive lines of “Picks me up, puts me down” suggest the battles that life brings that we must continuously bear. The song’s beginning represents a never-ending pattern of agony that feels draining. The melancholy melody associated with this beat shows the repetition and challenges we face. There are many moments when we may feel we finally got back on our feet, and another situation may occur. It causes a domino effect in our lives where we think we cannot escape.
However, when she finally introduces the bridge, “And for a moment, when I’m dancing, I am free,” she stresses the importance of music and its power on an individual. Listening to this part of the song, I could relate to her feelings. Listening to music is so freeing and calming that it distracts me from all the hardships I had to face. Florence makes the listener feel carefree listening to her music rather than constantly dwelling on life. Instead, we should all take a moment and appreciate the beauty of life and being alive. I couldn’t help but feel seen when listening to “Free” as, for a brief moment, I felt that all my problems were minuscule and did not matter.