The Devil on Your Back

You know how I love Florence Welch (and her machine), so it’s no wonder how hooked I am to Shake It Out, the first single from her new album, Ceremonials. By hooked I mean, playing the song on loop at the office, at home, and while running. It’s one of those songs you need to play with the volume turned all the way up. You either listen to it on blaring speakers (or headphones) or you don’t listen to it at all!

I first heard it on Jam 88.3 late last year. I didn’t even have to bother taking note of the lyrics because this song was unmistakably Florence + The Machine’s! Oh it was love at first tune. Seriously, how could you not be drawn to those pure vocals set against sublime instrumentation?

So yes, I’ve been catching the song on the radio for a few months now but it was only a few days ago that I really listened to it. See, I’ve been sleeping for less than three hours a day (thanks to ze thesis!) so it’s truly been a challenge to drag my sleepy self to the office by 8am. But not last Wednesday, when this song played on Jam 88.3, on my way to work. Talk about the perfect perk-me-up to an otherwise dreary, heavy-eyed morning. If Florence’s powerful “shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out oh whoa” can’t shake out your morning sleepiness, I don’t know what will. Which gives me a wonderful idea: the chorus is the perfect alarm clock tone!

I usually don’t listen to a song in its entirety if I haven’t compiled a proper playlist yet (where “proper playlist” = ~50 tracks), but I made a special exception for this song, seeing as how it had jolted my morning. I watched the live performances on YouTube, researched the song background, and read (and re-read) the lyrics. In no time, I arrived at the conclusion that not only was Shake It Out my new Dog Days are Over — it had also become my song of the moment, and quite possibly, my song of the year.

I thought Lungs packed in some great tracks (e.g., You’ve Got the Love, Hurricane Drunk) but I’ve always had a stronger affinity with Dog Days are Over. I consider it “untouchable” as nobody but Florence can do it justice. Interestingly, Florence performed both Dog Days are Over and Shake It Out on Saturday Night Live.

It’s interesting to watch the two performances side by side because they’re both great tracks and Florence can (naturally) sing the living daylights out of both songs. Of course it needs to be mentioned that the massive harp is present in both performances. But I think Shake It Out represents a way forward for her. Without question, she’s always been in a league of her own but there’s a different glint in her eye this time around, as though she were more self-assured and in-control. Then again, the song explores empowerment by confronting your demons so it’s not too surprising that Florence is a little more serious here. She doesn’t need kooky backup singers and a lightbulb in a birdcage for props.

What she does need is a gospel chorus to help exorcise her demons! The theme of the song is nothing original — several artists have offered their own take on dealing with the past and “moving forward.” But trust Florence to add a little darkness to the proceedings by burying “that horse in the ground.” You gotta love how she smiles while she sings it because she “likes to keep her issues drawn.”

And just to remind us that we are mere mortals, I read that Florence wrote this song while she was nursing a hangover. In the meantime, while we try and figure out our way of dealing with our “ghosts,” this song offers the perfect motivational backdrop.