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.
Strangeness and Charm
Florence + the Machine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It cannot hold itself
Our my blood is pouring
And the pressure in our bodies
That echoes up above it is exploding
And our particles they're burning up
Because they yearn for each other
And although we stick together
Feel it on me love
Feel it on me love
Feel it on me love
(Strangeness and charm)
See it on me love
See it on me love
See it on me love
(Strangeness and charm)
An atom to atom oh can you feel it on me love
A pattern to pattern oh can you see it on me love
Atom to atom oh what's the matter with me love
Strangeness and charm
It started from your arms and it's a catalyst
You're a chemical that burns there's nothing like this
It's the purest element but it's so volatile
An equation heaven sent, and you'll forever inject
Strangeness and charm
Feel it on me love
Feel it on me love
Feel it on me love
(Strangeness and charm)
See it on me love
See it on me love
See it on me love
(Strangeness and charm)
An atom to atom oh can you feel it on me love and
A pattern to pattern oh can you see it on me love
Atom to atom oh what's the matter with me love
Strangeness and charm
It started from your arms and it's a catalyst
You're a chemical that burns there's nothing like this
It's the purest element but it's so volatile
An equation heaven sent and you'll forever inject
Strangeness and charm
Strangeness and charm
Strangeness and charm
Strangeness and charm
Strangeness and charm
Strangeness and charm
Strangeness and charm
Strangeness and charm
Strangeness and charm
Strangeness and charm
It started from your arms and it's a catalyst
You're a chemical that burns there's nothing like this
It's the purest element and it's so volatile
An equation heaven sent and you'll forever inject
Feel it on me love
Feel it on me love
Feel it on me love
(Strangeness and charm)
See it on me love
See it on me love
See it on me love
(Strangeness and charm)
Feel it on me love
Feel it on me love
Feel it on me love
(Strangeness and charm)
See it on me love
See it on me love
See it on me love
(Strangeness and charm)
Oh, oh, down, down down down
Oh, oh, down, down down down
Oh, oh, down, down down down
Oh, oh, down, down down down
The lyrics of Strangeness and Charm by Florence + the Machine are about the beauty and complexity of the universe, and how our existence is intertwined with it. The song talks about how the elements and particles within us are all connected and how despite our connection, we can feel distant from each other at times. The phrase "Hydrogen in our veins" talks about the element that makes up water, which is essential for life. The line "my blood is pouring" indicates that the singer is feeling overwhelmed with emotion. The pressure in our bodies is compared to the pressure of the universe above, which is exploding. This means that we are all made up of the same elements that make up the stars above us.
The line "An atom to atom oh can you feel it on me love, a pattern to pattern oh can you see it on me love" suggests that the singer is talking to a lover, telling them that they are more than just physical beings, but they are connected on a deeper level. The phrase "strangeness and charm" is a scientific term for the combination of two particles that create something beautiful, which can be applied to human relationships. The chorus repeats multiple times, emphasizing the idea that although we may feel disconnected at times, we are still connected on an atomic and emotional level.
Overall, Strangeness and Charm is a poetic and whimsical song that celebrates the beauty and complexity of the universe, and how the connections between all things can result in something beautiful.
Line by Line Meaning
Hydrogen in our veins, it cannot hold itself, my blood is pouring
Our love's intensity is beyond our control, it's suffusing me and I'm overwhelmed.
And the pressure in our bodies that echoes up above it is exploding
The force of our love is so powerful, it feels like it's shaking the world around us.
And our particles that burn it all because they are for each other
Our burning passion is a result of our perfect chemistry and our deep connection.
And although we stick together it seems that we are stranging one another
Despite being together, the intensity of our love is making it hard for us to stay fully aligned.
Feel it on me love
Our love is a palpable force that can be physically felt.
See it on me love
Our love is such a powerful force that it's visible in how we interact and how we look at each other.
An atom to atom oh can you feel it on me love
Our connection is so deep, it's like the physical contact between two atoms.
A pattern to pattern oh can you see it on me love
Our mutual attraction and desires are like a pattern that repeats and reinforces itself.
Atom to atom oh what's the matter with me love
Our love is so intense that it's causing us to question our own sanity and reality.
It started from your arms and it's a catalyst
Our relationship started with physical attraction and turned into a catalyst for our deep connection.
You're a chemical that burns there's nothing like this
Our love is powerful and all-consuming, like a burning chemical reaction that can't be controlled.
It's the purest element but it's so volatile
The purity of our love is what makes it so intense and powerful, but also unpredictable and potentially dangerous.
An equation heaven sent, and you'll forever inject
Our love is like a perfect equation, a gift from the heavens, that we'll always carry with us and that keeps us connected.
Strangeness and charm
Our love is so intense and unique that it defies explanation, it's a strange and charming force that we can't ignore.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Florence Welch, Paul Epworth
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind