Florence Welch
 

So I had never heard of Florence + The Machine until I watched the VMAs. Does the outfit not scream Stevie?

She's apparently a fan.

She is a fan and you may or may not have heard about her cover of The Chain at this year's Glastonbury, I personally liked it but i know others that weren't so keen. I also saw another festival performance on the TV (i forget which) where she wore an outfit that was reminiscent of the outfit worn by Stevie on the Belladonna cover. I think it is great that someone as young as she is clearly influenced and obviously holds a lot of respect for The Mac, she did speak of her disappointment that they didn't play Glastonbury this year after the rumours that they might

Florence also mentioned in a British paper earlier this year (perhaps someone could dig it up) that she was obsessed with Stevie, and that she watched all her old performances on YouTube, studying her, loving the way Stevie moved around the stage etc etc.

I keep hearing about Florence being "so young," and it always baffles me... she looks about 35-40 to me. So I just googled her, and it turns out I'm older than her... she's 24! :laugh:

I find her and her music pretty annoying, but kudos for her respecting the elders of rock! :p

WHAT?!?!?!?!?


Have you heard all of Lungs? "Howl"? "Rabbit Heart"? "Cosmic Love"? "You've Got The Love"?

I'm obsessed.

Huffington Post article talked about her influences = one being Stevie

Ha yeah I liked a few songs when I first heard her but now, meh. Her voice annoys me. You can definitely see some Stevie inspiration in her though.

Um you're older than everyone Louie :xoxo:.

Well Florence and her machine made an impact on a few people it seems...

From Billboard:

A quick look at the most notable jumps and drops on this week's Billboard 200 albums and Hot 100 singles charts.

Florence + the Machine: At No. 44, the act's "Lungs" album vaults 56 positions (8,000; up 70%) with the second-largest positional jump on the tally, thanks to the act's buzzed-about performance of "Dogs Days Are Over" on last Sunday night's (Sept. 12) MTV Video Music Awards. Expect another increase next week once a full week's worth of impact is felt from the show. (SoundScan's tracking week ends at the close of business each Sunday.) Over on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, "Dog Days" debuts at No. 93 off the strength of its 27,000 downloads sold last week (up 276%).

OMG. At the VMAs I swore she was in her 40! Glad I'm not the only one who thought so.

I'm impressed. There's new life to 'The Chain' in being played by a young band- a good band, with outstanding bass and drum work in this clip.
Florence seems to be a force, especially for being only 24- her vocals throughout and particularly at the ending of the song were vital, fresh, and inspired. Especially with 'The Chain' being such a well-known song, she put her own spin on it, and it works.
Have to say this version topped FM's 'Unleashed' tour version, hands down. The best version has to be the '82 Mirage Tour home video, though. Stevie was wailing on it and Fleetwood Mac was incredible that night, or over the 2 nights the concerts were filmed- whichever.
Thanks for sharing this performance by a new band, so many years later. It's really good.

Now I'm impressed twice. Vocally, I hear a lot of Grace Slick in Florence, though Florence may have even more vocal chops than Grace did.
Florence does look much more mature than 24 years old in this VMA clip, but it can be the pancake, the Bowie circa 'Diamond Dogs'-era dye, with too harsh lighting. It's youtube, but the lighting seems way severe. Or, she may have been jet lagged!
She looks much younger in the other clip, of 'The Chain,' which was filmed outdoors in daylight and her youth shows. Talented new singer, for sure.

HAHA! When we watched the VMAs, i said to my partner "OMG! Kate (Bush) and Stevie had a baby!" I thought she was awesome, went out and got the cd the next day, and I love it...and now, having seen this video, i love her even more!!! I really like the way she does The Chain here...Her voice does remind me of Fiona Apple a bit, too...but her style is pure Stevie/Kate...

I was surprised at how old she looked too, I have to say ... I never would have guessed 24...