Lead singer, Florence Welch, was an art-college drop-out, from Camberwell (London), who was discovered singing Motown covers in a nightclub toilet, drunk. ”The Machine” name originated with an in-joke between Welch and Summers. Musically, Florence + The Machine's sound is sometimes referred to as soul-inspired indie rock. Welch grew up listening to The White Stripes and Kate Bush and says she writes metaphorical songs that are "stories with consequences and weird morality issues."
2008
Florence + The Machine's music has received praise across the British music media, especially from the BBC, who played a large part in their rise to prominence, by bringing them into the spotlight as part of "BBC Introducing" (a program to support unsigned artists) - firstly at South By South West (SXSW) in Austin, Texas in March 2008 and later that year (Sept 2008) the band recorded a full session for the BBC at their Maida Vale studios.
2009 - 2010 - first awards and first studio album - "Lungs"
At the Brit Awards 2009, Florence + The Machine received the Critics' Choice Award at the Brits in the UK. The award was introduced in 2008 (when it was awarded to Adele) and focuses on new and emerging British talent, voted for by a panel of music industry experts.
The band's début album was "Lungs" (Jul 2009, Universal), preceded by third single Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up) (Jun 2009, Moshi Moshi). "Lungs" went on to become number one in the UK album charts in January 2010, and won the MasterCard British Album award at the 2010 Brits, where they performed a hugely popular collaboration, You've Got the Dirtee Love (live at The Brit Awards 2010) with Dizzee Rascal - a mix of You've Got the Love, the Candi Staton cover from "Dog Days Are Over" (Nov 2008, IAmSound), and Dizzee’s Dirtee Cash (Sept 2009, Dirtee Stank).
2011 - second studio album - "Ceremonials"
The second album "Ceremonials" (31 Oct 2011, Island) - with which Welch was inspired for the title and some themes from a '70s Super 8 film of an art installation, she recalls: "... this big procession of kind of coquette-style hippies and all these different coloured robes and masks, and it was all to do with colour, really saturated, brightly coloured pastas and balloons. I saw it a couple years ago, and it was called 'Ceremonials' and then, like, Roman numerals after it. And the word sort of stuck with me, and I think the whole idea of performance ...". The album is also influenced by hymns, poems and church bells.
2012 - MTV Unplugged album - "MTV Unplugged"
In 2012, the band released a live album - "MTV Unplugged" (Apr 2012, Universal) - as part of the MTV Unplugged series. It was filmed in December 2011 in New York’s oldest synagogue building, Angel Orensanz Center, with the band being backed by a ten-person choir.
2015 - third studio album - "How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful"
The band's long awaited third studio album is called "How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful". It was released on May 29, 2015 on Island Records.
2018 - fourth studio album - "High As Hope"
The band's fourth studio album is called "High As Hope". It was released on June 29, 2018 on Republic Records.
Spectrum
Florence %2B the Machine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We were cold and we were clear
With no colours on our skin
We were light and paper thin
And when we first came here
We were cold and we were clear
With no colours on our skin
Say my name
And every colour illuminates
We are shining
And we'll never be afraid again
Say my name
And every colour illuminates
We are shining
And we'l never be afraid again
Say my name
And every colour illuminates
We are shining
And we'll never be afraid again
And when we come for you
We'll be dressed up all in blue
With the ocean in our arms
Kiss your eyes and kiss your palms
And when it's time to pray
Dressed up all in grey
With metal on our tongues
And silver in our lungs
Say my name
And every colour illuminates
We are shining
And we'll never be afraid again
Say my name
And every colour illuminates
We are shining
And we'll never be afraid again
Say my name
And every colour illuminates
We are shining
And we'll never be afraid again
And when we come back we'll be dressed in black
And you'll scream our names aloud
And we won't eat and we won't sleep
We'll drag bodies from a ground
So, say my name
And every colour illuminates
And we are shining
And we'll never be afraid again
Say my name
And every colour illuminates
Say my name
And every colour illuminates
We are shining
And we'll never be afraid again
Say my name
And every colour illuminates
We are shining
And we'll never be afraid again
Say my name
We are shining
Say my name
Say my name
And we'll never be afraid again
The song "Spectrum" by Florence + The Machine is a powerful and uplifting anthem about self-empowerment and the liberation that comes from embracing one's true authentic self. The lyrics speak of the journey from an initial state of cold detachment, where there are "no colours on our skin", to one of radiant illumination and liberation, where "every colour illuminates" and "we are shining".
The phrase "say my name" serves as a powerful mantra that is repeated throughout the song, expressing a desire for recognition and acceptance. When spoken aloud, the name becomes a symbol of the self, and the act of stating it publicly is a declaration of one's existence and worth.
The song uses vivid imagery to convey a sense of transformation and rebirth, from being "dressed up all in blue with the ocean in our arms" to being "dressed in black" and "dragging bodies from the ground". These images serve as a metaphor for the journey from a state of innocence and purity to one of darkness and chaos, and the ultimate triumph of the individual spirit over adversity.
Overall, Spectrum is a powerful anthem of self-empowerment and liberation, and its uplifting message has resonated with millions of listeners around the world.
Line by Line Meaning
When we first came here
At the start of our journey or arrival at this place
We were cold and we were clear
We were lacking emotions and empty inside
With no colours on our skin
Our skin had no hues or shades
We were light and paper thin
We were weightless, weak, and fragile
Till we let the spectrum in
Until we embraced the full range of colors and emotions
Say my name
Call out to me with intention and purpose
And every colour illuminates
Every emotion and hue becomes visible and radiant
We are shining
We are glowing with positive energy and confidence
And we'll never be afraid again
We have conquered our fears and are now bold and fearless
And when we come for you
When we confront or approach you
We'll be dressed up all in blue
We will be adorned with the positive qualities of blue such as loyalty and trust
With the ocean in our arms
We will embrace you with peace and tranquility
Kiss your eyes and kiss your palms
We will express affection and care towards you
And when it's time to pray
During religious or spiritual rituals
Dressed up all in grey
We will be adorned with the neutral qualities of gray such as conservativeness and reliability
With metal on our tongues
We will speak our thoughts with honesty and determination
And silver in our lungs
We will express our emotions and thoughts with purity and clarity
And when we come back we'll be dressed in black
When we return, we will have acquired the elegance and sophistication of black
And you'll scream our names aloud
You will acknowledge and recognize our achievements and presence
And we won't eat and we won't sleep
We will be consumed by our passion and motivation
We'll drag bodies from a ground
We will achieve immense success and leave our mark on the world
Say my name
Call out to me with intention and purpose
We are shining
We are glowing with positive energy and confidence
Say my name
Call out to me with intention and purpose
And we'll never be afraid again
We have conquered our fears and are now bold and fearless
Say my name
Call out to me with intention and purpose
And every colour illuminates
Every emotion and hue becomes visible and radiant
We are shining
We are glowing with positive energy and confidence
And we'll never be afraid again
We have conquered our fears and are now bold and fearless
Say my name
Call out to me with intention and purpose
We are shining
We are glowing with positive energy and confidence
Say my name
Call out to me with intention and purpose
Say my name
Call out to me with intention and purpose
And we'll never be afraid again
We have conquered our fears and are now bold and fearless
Contributed by Alexis P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.