Florence & The Machine, Dog Days Are Over - A Classical Musician’s First Listen and Reaction

[@BillWeye]

That IS the harp!! Florence regularly uses a harp in her band.

[@csn10]

To be fair, they should have called the band Florence and the Harp to avoid any confusion.

[@lejoe48]

This "harp" sounds to me like the ringing of a cell phone call. I can't stand this pseudo-music...(and I consider myself a pop connoisseur). Just my opinion.

[@brunokingz]

@@lejoe48 looool

[@emmavink]

​@@lejoe48get over yourself. I've studied and played "classical" music with piano, voice and with focus on internationally competitive choir singing for over 20 years now. I still don't think I'm too precious to make snobistic comments like yours 🥴🥴🥴 The plucking melody and motif in the beginning IS NOT the harp part that is being identified and referred to in other places in the piece. The obviously plucked strings in the beginning are somewhere between a really tinny acoustic guitar and a ukelele. Whiny people like you that just suck the joy out of everything and couldn't produce a song as well done as this one if you were paid to do so.

[@emmavink]

​@@lejoe48"pSeUdO mUsIc"... What an intolerable wanker 😂😂😂😂

[@buca505]

Amy, that was a harp you heard, it was played in studio by Tom "Moth" Monger, other musicians you can hear are: Bruce White (viola), Everton Nelson (violin), Christopher Lloyd Hayden (drums) and Rob Ackroyd (guitar), song was recorded and produced by James Ford, who also play piano and guitar on recording. James Ford is well known as a producer who worked a lot with Arctic Monkeys, Last Shadow puppets, and Depeche Mode, along with Florence and the Machine. Song is written by singer Florence Welch, together with Isabella Summers who plays keyboards and synthesizers in band. Tom Monger who plays harp, is also playing xylophone, and various percussion instruments in band. So this machine that goes with Florence is musical one, but consist of real humans and real instruments, and they are one really musically interesting group of people, and I hope you will give them more chance. Keep on good work Amy, kiss the little one and all greetings to Vlad!

[@lejoe48]

I can't stand this pseudo-music...(and I consider myself a pop connoisseur). This "song" sounds to me like the ringing of a cell phone call LOL.

[@ErgoDog]

Are you on their payroll?

[@jasonwebb4871]

Florence does play harp, and, her live shows are amazing. She runs a marathon while singing. It’s incredible

[@emmavink]

Does Florence Welch herself play the harp???? How have I been a super fan for 15+ years and didn't know this?

[@emmavink]

But yes. She is probably one of the best libe performers in the industry for many, many years. The closest to Freddie Mercury talent level that we've come in decades 😊

[@jasonwebb4871]

@@emmavink you know what? It’s apparently a common piece of misinformation. I just looked it up. She added the harp, but another band member plays it. She claims to not play instruments (well) but looks like she does like lay piano, guitar, and maybe a few other things some. She’s still super rad.

[@emmavink]

@jasonwebb4871 it's all good, I was just shook that I'd missed that for so many years 😂 Florence is incredible 🥰 I know she plays a little bits of a variety of instruments because she is so involved with the entire composition of the songs.

[@hgoodin1013]

There's a beautiful video on KZbin of her singing this song to a young girl in her hospice hospital room. The 15-year-old girl named Cat Chen (you can find it on Cat's KZbin channel) had tickets to go to her concert but was just too ill to make it. So Florence came to her and performed in her room. It's bitter sweet and beautiful.

[@curtisw502]

Instant tears

[@hgoodin1013]

@@curtisw502 ikr. She passed shortly afterwards. But in an interview I watched of her she said it was probably the best 45 minutes of her entire life. Such a brave soul.

[@jjh5374]

I dare anyone to watch that and not shed a tear. My love and respect for Florence grew immensely.

[@irisblue2332]

THANK YOU for mentioning this. I'd never seen the video and my life is fuller now for having done so. I particularly love how Florence's attention is fully fixed on Cat despite the other people in the room. What a video.

[@carlysoprano8677]

I'm already crying

[@SteveJohnson-ls3et]

The is a great track. I love Florence's voice. Shake It Out is another song which is beautiful.

[@ClaireWW]

It's a real harp. The harpists' name is Tom Monger.

[@brodee2923]

you described her voice so accurately! "driven" is such a well placed word for Florence's style of music and often messages

[@41Forethought]

Florence Welch has a truely unique vocal style and musicality. She's one of my favorite indie artists, along with St. Vincent's Annie Clark, a contemporary of Ms. Welch and one of the world's greatest lead guitarists, male or female. Thanks once again, Amy, for another insightful "first listen."👍

[@lejoe48]

indie? what indie? lol

[@79mib]

Florence puts on one of the best live shows I’ve ever seen. Absolute magic. ❤

[@knightofnii4659]

Glad you have decided to try Florence. I think you would love some of the tracks from later albums, if you want a lot of the harp then try No Light or Cosmic Love. For Florences vocals try Queen of Peace or Delilah.

[@korail4]

I have seen her live in a festival a few years ago, that is a great memory for me. Her stage performance was so awesome, what a character. She has something unique in the way she sings and presents herself, how she moves on the stage. She looked like a witch or a faery, it was amazing.

[@carolynryan-smith5960]

I love watching people discover Florence + The Machine!

[@Hornet71]

She did have a harpist in the recording studio. Whether they processed the sound a bit, which makes it sound unusual to your ear. I have seen it performed live with real harps.

[@alittlebitgone]

It's 100% a real harp!

[@lejoe48]

Really? Sounds to me like the ringing of a cell phone call...LOL

[@knightofnii4659]

@@lejoe48 Certainly real. I have seen it as well as heard it.

[@emmavink]

​@@lejoe48it's a production choice for the studio recording. Shut the fk up and watch a live perfomance of the song and then come back and whinge about how "fake" it sounds. Tosser level edgelord comments you come out with 💩💩💩

[@IIIIDCIIII]

Florence is well known for using a harp. It’s not a synthesizer. She also has a classical background and just recently did a full concert at Royal Albert Hall with Jules Buckley Orchestra. She’s such a unique force of nature artist and live she’s unlike no other artist especially with how soft spoken she is.

[@emmavink]

The harp does have a bit of distortion in production on this studio recording. But yeah, obviously they are heavy on the original instrumentation in the band 😊

[@UrsaMajorPrime]

Should have definitely watched the video for this one, it's a trip!

[@cynthiagauthier8897]

Videos, there are two clips.

[@brianboye8025]

All of her videos kill. They should never be missed. I love love this song.

[@UrsaMajorPrime]

@@brianboye8025 The official video for this was my introduction to F+M...that thumbnail with the blue girls and Florence looking all funky, I had to click and find out what that was all about. I became a big fan.

[@cynthiagauthier8897]

@@brianboye8025 I agree. She is a full artist.

[@UrsaMajorPrime]

Mine too!

[@ZiriO]

Florence and the Machine mentioned!!!! This is one of my favorite bands and absolutely one of my favorite songs of hers, it's so powerful and the way she so seamlessly flows between airy and delicate to a powerful almost warcry is wonderful. Love their work!!!

[@leninaular4858]

One of my favorites bands, and yes, she do, Florence really play the harp... I recommend these bands and their pieces: the cure "blood flowers", Joy Division "new dawn fades", Siouxie and the Banshees "night shift", Patti Smith "because the night"... Thank you very much, your music analysis is excellent, greetings from Venezuela

[@LeeKennison]

I enjoyed this, a new one for me. Those in my generation always talk about how our music was so much better and more creative, so I always like to hear newer artist showing that musical creativity and talent still exists, just not in the same volume as what was coming out in the 60s and 70s. At least not in terms of what succeeds in the mainstream markets, since creativity and talent still exist, with the truly creative ones mainly found in the indie markets. I went and watched a live performance and that is a full sized harp at the beginning being played on the highest strings. Perhaps it is run through some effects. You should watch them live to see if you think it has added effects. Great reaction!

[@henriquezane]

NEVER clicked so fast on a video :D

[@jeffgagen3561]

The 1st time I heard Florence Welsh's voice, I was hooked. I've never been disappointed in her.

[@emakrop]

You should really listen to other songs from Florence. "All this and heaven too", "Free" and of course "Shake it out"!

[@NorthernKitty]

Florence shares that same quality with Sinead O'Connor of having the most softest, delicate, vulnerable voice in the world one moment - simply angelic - and then the strongest, fiercest, boldest, most powerful voice the next.

[@brianboye8025]

Absolutely phenomenal. Neither singer forces anything. They just connect to another level.

[@alexsmall5732]

The live performance from Glastonbury is a joy

[@willfromyadkinville]

i love Florence!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! what a voice!!!!!!!!!!!!! you will throughly enjoy any song! go for it! you should do some videos just to see how awesome Florence is!!!

[@michaelb1761]

She seems like a genuinely nice person as well. She and her guitarist went to a cancer ward to perform for a young lady who was too sick to come to their concert (died a couple of months later). It was so sweet, sad, and genuine. kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZnnYiniFhJelZ8kfeature=shared

[@irisblue2332]

I commented above about never having encountered this. Everyone, do yourself a favor and click the link. It's truly wonderful.

[@telstar4772]

I was going to mention that video to show that her voice wasn`t "modified" in the studio.

[@michaelb1761]

@@irisblue2332 especially if you want a good cry. Florence sounds and behaves like an angel.

[@derlis_whatever7033]

Florence is sooooooo good

[@lovepower6727]

Yep!! it is played on the harp!!! For more....listen to Cosmic Love and/or Between Two Lungs

[@michaelb1761]

And she has a harp in her band! Cosmic Love is another great, harp forward, song.

[@mariateresaantona3073]

Hi, thank you very much for the reaction to Florence, who I think is one of the most beautiful and captivating female voices of our time. If you want to try the most beautiful male voice, I recommend Dimash Qudaibergen, a Kazakh singer who is currently considered the most gifted, with a range of 7 octaves and 4 semitones... the song I recommend is "Stranger" in English (not perfect). Dimash has perfect pitch and sings in 14 languages...please listen to him .... Thank you very much Love Teresa from GENOA italy

[@vaderspetpig]

Please check out her song Never Let Me Go or No Light, No Light. Those songs so impactful ❤

[@garethcharlton922]

Some fantastic live versions of this on KZbin , definitely harp used in those!

[@tgmcface]

Thank you!

[@user-Mike8290]

She's gotta do Seven Devils!

[@Jodrac]

Keep being impressed with the variety of this channel. Keep them coming Vlad 👍

[@criss_v33]

Love to see FTM here! Florence is a force of nature! She's such an amazing artist, singer and soul. You'd enjoy their sound very much!

[@paulmarynissen]

See Florence sing live and you’ll see her vocal range and amazing technique. I truly do not believe that her voice has been modified in the song, she really can bend notes and has that amazing break that is almost a yodel.

[@emmavink]

The harp is one of the almost permanent instruments in the band. I'm struggling to think of one of their tracks that doesn't include a harp in some way 😊

[@Hartlor_Tayley]

Very nice song. Great commentary. Thanks Virgin Rock

[@jasonduplock3832]

Amy… watch this song sung live at the Albert Hall… then you get to see the harp!

[@gustavoolivieri6568]

You should definitely watch live presentations of this one. It's a party! 🎉🎉🎉 she makes people clap and jump! 😄💥

[@RH-hb6qh]

Someone just became a Florence fan!

[@HereBeDragonsYT]

Great musicians know. Sometimes, the most powerful thing you can do is nothing.

[@sfnewyork6615]

The video from the Oxegen Festival- beyond magical!!!

[@juliemarcos2240]

The live show was great. Beautiful use of classical instruments and sounds.

[@jwickham65]

I know we have a winner when Amy starts looking at her harp!

[@sam04019491]

Me: “Oh this will be good, harp lady listens to harp lady.” Me half way through: “Never mind.”

[@emmavink]

It's not their "best" harp track though. They use quite a bit of distortion/effects on the harp on this studio recording. I'd love her to react to Never Let Me Go 😊

[@renlessard]

This song just makes me happy

[@Elnuwanda]

chills...

[@seajaytea9340]

A first listen for me as well. It's a fun song. Thanks!

[@wolervine]

Been a fan since this was released, I love how Guadians of the Galaxy Vol 3 brought it back with a bang last year 😊

[@jja77a]

Feist and Jenny Lewis are two other great female indie bands from the 2000s you are bound to like!

[@bozimsaho5590]

I've seen her live, that is her singing. There is a video where she sing this in a hospital room sat the girl bed accoustically no effects or autotune, that is her singing. As others have mention she play intruments too, and does in her live shows too.

[@alexchapman6930]

I always felt F&M was rooted in folk music, just updated. 😊

[@lawrencegillies]

For a great pause, try the Heinrich Manoeuvre by Interpol

[@bartholomattspidermonk4755]

How about some Joanna newsom? Peach plum pear reaction would be great! Plus harp 😊

[@VonBlade]

🎵 Svetlana sucks lemons across from me

[@altair8598]

or Loreena McKennitt

[@randomname4726]

And Aurora

[@bodhileaf-smh]

When played live, it's a harp

[@bodhileaf-smh]

More Florence, and more Radiohead would elevate my joy levels

[@lejoe48]

@@bodhileaf-smh No please Amy don't listen to this guy...(just Joking) It is true that these two groups that you point out share a sound similar to that of a cell phone ringing... Listen to this "harp"!!! Saving the distances..., because within the mediocrity Radiohead has more importance than this pseudo-music in the video.(Sorry, just my opinion).

[@LC-sc3en]

The way you describe this song as an arrow is the way the song describes happiness except for the not wanting to escape part. 😆

[@jamesl.802]

You should listen to Jenny old stone that they did for game of thrones .

[@revangerang]

Florence is such a queeeeeeen

[@CodeScrubber]

"The Machine" is a person. Isabella Summers, a.k.a Isa Machine.

[@Italanon]

I saw Florence Welch in 2007 at the Scala, London, before she broke into mainstream. She was supporting Scout Niblett.

[@robertadams998]

The Last Dinner Party do a pretty good version of this song ,they are a band well worth checking out .

[@jenniferterrell4669]

It is a real harp in the song.

[@renanenriquedossantos5553]

Wonderful commentary on Dog Days ❤ Though touched up in the studio as it might have been, that is indeed a harp! The band's harpist has been there in every tour since Lungs. I'd highly recommend checking some of their live performances. Their Tiny Desk is especially memorable ❤

[@deanroddey2881]

Their song "Shake It Out" is pretty amazing. It's sort of the modern version of classic euro-synth rock stuff, like Vienna from Ultravox back in 70s. Well, really in 1980 for that particular song.

[@honeychilerider]

In case no one showed her yet, here's Florence and the Machine performing a song live with a harp as one of only 3 instruments: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lZiwomaeh7F3epI

[@mradriankool]

The album wasn’t called “Lungs” for nothing, Florence is a powerhouse of a vocal. The machine in the name is the drum machine and always in the forward mix with Florence

[@Belly_Beane]

My favorite version of this song is her singing to the woman in the hospital ❤️

[@curtisw502]

Delilah and Cosmic Love are really good FATM songs as well!

[@roblaw4554]

Always love Your perspective! Very curious about your take on the Big God live performance at an amazing great Greek venue... I Always enjoy! Cheers rl 🤘👹🤘

[@Ottawajames]

I really loved this tune where it was out

[@annelihod]

Thank you for pointing out what I’ve always struggled with. I think Florence is a powerhouse vocalist but there are many times where I feel like her melodies steer flat or sharp and it feels wrong but it’s overcome by the driving music behind it so it isn’t a deal breaker.

[@sam04019491]

Cosmic Love next please. Live version on Letterman.

[@langaumann]

Your analysis and first listens are a delight. I’m not sure if you have a particular direction for what you are looking to explore, but might I suggest “Take Me Back to Eden” by Sleep Token. Lots to take in there and the lead singer’s voice is entrancing. Hope you give it a listen! Keep up the great work!

[@Trendyflute]

This was a huge hit at the time and a bit of a "new classic" given its staying power, when I think of FTM I think of a dynamic range that starts soft but spends most of its time being bold, pounding, bombastic...approaching gospel in terms of its positivity and soul but within a vignette of melancholia as well. You raise a good point about how the bass doesn't provide much of a floor, it's more the big drums that do that I think. Was looking for 00s bands that have an intersection of popularity and artistic interest and looks like Muse, Death Cab for Cutie, the Flaming Lips, Wilco deserve a shout!

[@schubertuk]

Fermata - a complete stop - in pop music, is much rarer than it ought be. A device used throughout the ages of classical music and yet forgotten by too many more modern musicians. Its rarity these days - I suppose - makes it so much more effective. But then Florence + The Machine are special.

[@rudolfmann1555]

The reason that it is not used more frequently in modern music is that the sudden silence tends to drive radio DJs crazy. 😂

[@schubertuk]

@@rudolfmann1555 I suspect you are right, but I'd like to hope that doesn't have to be the case! [or do I mean that is a bonus effect that should be exploited...?]

[@tetsuoishiki4677]

When this ended up at the end of Guardians of the Galaxy 3 ... Total goosebumps!

[@codybishop7526]

Man I remember this song

[@samfisher6606]

Florence is such a fantastic artist! One of my favorite of her's is Delilah (different from Queen's Delilah and Tom Jones' Delilah). I highly recommend that song.

[@elreyvd]

It is a harp, played by Tom "Moth" Monger, and Florence usually employs the harp not only in recordings but onstage. And I can't believe you have not heard and commented anything by The Warning.

[@rogerrrice]

Live version showing the harp playing Live At Oxegen Festival, 2010 kzbin.info/www/bejne/rZqneoKYmZ2Ml6s

[@jimdotcom1972]

you should watch the KEXP video of florence's acoustic version of cosmic love, you'll see the harp pride of place.

[@johnsilva9139]

Haven't seen Florence and the Machine live, but in videos of live performances of this song there is a harpist in her band. I'm sure her fans will tell you his name.

[@theoya]

I'd urge you to check out more of Florence + The Machine, especially the album that this song is from. There's a lot of variety of style within the album which I think makes it a very interesting listen.

[@carlalima7365]

Don't know about the studio version but live is a real harp on stage

[@patriciaalvareztostado8170]

I know that you know Pentatonix, you should hear their version of this song, they sing this in the SingOff competition, is really good... love the energy, and goes well with the lyrics, the dogs days are over, are in the past

[@ChicagoPadre]

As @buca505 tells you--it is a real harp indeed! And "Florence" is an EXQUISITE singer!!

[@lejoe48]

What about Paperback Writer boys? I cant wait! Thanks!

[@smashmouthleonard]

Sparky Puppy!

[@evilqueen6402]

the way you were talking about the first verse i bet you would really like drumming song from the same album.

[@aprlk]

harp. saw them live. opened for u2

[@brianboye8025]

Oh, please watch the video for Big God. It is magical and beautiful.

[@mjrtensepian1727]

Joanna Newsome is an “indie rock” harpist with wonderful songs/albums; I’d suggest “Cosmia” off the album Ys. Also “Inside Out” by Spoon is an interesting rock/harp track. They have *many* great songs!

[@Chaotic_Enigma]

I'm curious on what she would think about Twelve Foot Ninja or Diablo Swing Orchestra...they are interesting bands too

[@Kissy-ge4wk]

Please look into Florence’s cover of ‘Stand by me’ she did for Final Fantasy 15 :)

[@sam04019491]

Can’t believe you didn’t play this on your harp behind you. It is a HARP! Watch it live.

[@therednoizeproject]

Flo is a bit pitchy live, but I will take that over autotuned vocals any day. It sounds real. Honest. She has a number of great songs you'll enjoy. Also, if it's real harp you're after...Cocorosie's "Fairy Paradise" would scratch that itch. The live in studio version.

[@lejoe48]

lol

[@OTB2002]

There is always someone like you, nitpicking

[@mae7158]

You need to react to a live show. Morning Elvis with Ethel Cain would be excellent to give a listen to

[@Sandy-dd4le]

I couldn't tell if the face in the thumbnail was approving or disapproving , good to know which!

[@VistasSrinagarun]

sounds more like a ukulele with a bit of delay than a harp, although it seems that it's played on harp in concert