Florence and the Machine facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Florence and the Machine
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![]() Florence and the Machine at the Vector Area, Auckland, 2015
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Background information | |
Origin | London, England, UK |
Genres | Alternative rock · art rock · indie rock · baroque pop · soul · neo folk · electronica · dream pop · symphonic rock |
Years active | 2007–present |
Labels |
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Associated acts | Lightspeed Champion, Noah and the Whale, Ashok |
Members | Florence Welch Robert Ackroyd Christopher Lloyd Hayden Isabella Summers Tom Monger |
Past members | Devonte Hynes |
Florence and the Machine (also written as Florence + the Machine), is an English rock band that is a recording name of Florence Welch and a collaboration of other artists who provide backing music for her voice. Musically, Florence and the Machine's sound is generally referred to as soul-inspired indie rock. Florence and the Machine's music has received praise across the music media, especially from the BBC. This is because the BBC played a large part in Florence and the Machine's rise to prominence by promoting her as part of BBC Introducing. This led to the band playing at a number of music festivals in 2008, including Glastonbury as well as Reading and Leeds and T in the Park. The band's debut album, Lungs was released on 6 July 2009. It held the number 2 position for its first five weeks in the charts, behind Michael Jackson. The album has now been in the top 40 UK charts for 22 consecutive weeks.
Contents
Florence Welch
Florence Leontine Mary Welch (born 28 August 1986 in London) is the daughter of Evelyn and Nick Welch. Evelyn Welch is a Professor of Renaissance Studies and Academic Dean for Arts at Queen Mary, University of London and author and formerly a Studio 54 regular. Nick Welch works in advertising. Welch says she is prone to "falling into severe holes” that leave her crying on the floor. Welch has been diagnosed with dyslexia and dysmetria. Welch would like to have a career similar to PJ Harvey and Björk who are "constantly creating new exciting stuff". When she was 13, Welch found comfort in the music of Hole, Nirvana, Green Day, Kate Bush, Annie Lennox, The Velvet Underground and Celine Dion. As a teenager she was the frontwoman for Toxic Cockroaches and Ashok. Feeling she was in "the wrong band" she got out of a contract with Ashok by resigning.
The Machine
Welch said that "The name Florence and the Machine started off as a private joke that got out of hand. I made music with my friend, who we called Isabella Machine to which I was Florence Robot. When I was about an hour away from my first gig, I still didn't have a name, so I thought "Okay, I'll be Florence Robot is a Machine", before realizing that name was so long it'd drive me mad". In 2006 Welch's performances in small London venues as "Florence Robot is a Machine" began to attract notice.
The Machine is Florence's backing band. This is currently made up of Robert Ackroyd (guitar), Christopher Lloyd Hayden (drums), Isabella Summers ('Isabella Machine') (keyboards) and Tom Monger (harp). Previously Devonte Hynes (Lightspeed Champion and Test Icicles) was also a member.
Florence and the Machine are managed by Mairead Nash. Nash is one half of the DJ outfit Queens of Noize.
Touring
Florence and the Machine were part of the 2009 Shockwaves NME Awards tour. Welch said that she planned a "pretty theatrical" performance.
The group played at the Concerts for the Teenage Cancer Trust charity event at the Royal Albert Hall in March 2009. Florence and The Machine also supported Blur for their 26 June comeback performance at the MEN Arena in Manchester, and supported Duran Duran in July 2009.
The group performed at the 2009 Glastonbury Festival, Reading and Leeds Festivals, Electric Picnic in County Laois, Ireland and the T in the Park festival. On October 27 the group played its first official New York City show and appeared on the television programmes Late Night With David Letterman and Jimmy Kimmel Live!.
Welch has said that she would like to tour the United States. However, she is fearful of becoming homesick due to the length of time it would take to tour the country.
On New Year's Eve 2009, the group appeared on the pre-recorded New Year's Eve celebration show Hootenanny. On the show, they performed "Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)" and "Dog Days Are Over". Welch then performed a cover of "My Baby Just Cares for Me" with Jools Holland & his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra.
Critical acclaim
Florence and the Machine have gained a large amount of support from NME magazine who included them in their annual NME Awards Tour for 2009. They supported White Lies, Friendly Fires and Glasvegas on the tour. The Times described her as "the most peculiar and most highly acclaimed female singer of the moment" and "the latest in a line of great English pop eccentrics". Allmusic described Lungs as "one of the most musically mature and emotionally mesmerizing albums of 2009".Spin Magazine gave Lungs four out of five possible stars and wrote, "You’ve gotta hand it to the girl: She always makes you feel something". The magazine named the album as the 8th best of 2009.
Welch appeared on the front cover of The Guide subsection to The Guardian. She also collected the Critics' Choice Award at the BRIT Awards in February 2009. Florence and the Machine came third in the BBC's Sound of 2009.
In 2009 she covered Beyoncé's song "Halo" on the BBC1 Live Lounge; host Jo Whiley stated that it was one of the best covers they have ever had in the Live Lounge. The BBC also used "You Got The Love" as the backing music to its Jenson Button Formula One 2009 season review video montage and it was used in the final episode of Gavin and Stacey.
Awards
Brit Awards
Year | Nominated work | Award | Result |
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2009 | Florence and the Machine | Critics' Choice | Won |
2010 | Florence and the Machine | British Female Solo Artist | Nominated |
British Breakthrough Act | Nominated | ||
Lungs | MasterCard British Album of the Year | Won | |
2011 | "You've Got the Love" | British Single | Nominated |
2012 | Florence and the Machine | British Female Solo Artist | Nominated |
Ceremonials | MasterCard British Album of the Year | Nominated |
Grammy Awards
Year | Nominated work | Award | |
---|---|---|---|
2011 | Florence and the Machine | Best New Artist | Nominated |
MTV
MTV Europe Music Awards
Year | Nominated work | Award | Result |
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2009 | Florence and the Machine | Best UK and Ireland New Act | Nominated |
MTV Video Music Awards
Year | Nominated work | Award | Result |
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2010 | "Dog Days Are Over" | Video of the Year | Nominated |
Best RockVideo | Nominated | ||
Best Art Direction in a Video | Won | ||
Best Cinematography in a Video | Nominated |
Other awards
Year | Organisation | Nominated work | Award | Result |
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2009 | BBC Sound of 2009 | Florence and the Machine | Sound of 2009 | Nominated Third place |
Mercury Prize | Lungs | Mercury Prize | Nominated | |
Studio8 Media International Music Award | Florence and the Machine | Female Voice of July 2009 | Won | |
"Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)" | Song of July 2009 | Won | ||
Q Awards | Lungs | Best Album | Nominated | |
"Drumming Song" | Best Video | Nominated | ||
Florence and the Machine | Breakthrough Artist | Nominated | ||
UK Festival Awards | Best Breakthrough Act | Won | ||
"Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)" | Anthem of the Year | Nominated | ||
Florence and the Machine | Festival Fitty of the Year – Girls | Nominated | ||
UK Music Video Awards | "Drumming Song" | Best Pop Video | Nominated | |
Best Styling in a Video | Won | |||
"Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)" | Nominated | |||
2010 | South Bank Show | Florence and the Machine | South Bank Show Award | Won |
Glamour Women of the Year Awards | Florence and the Machine | Band of the Year | Won | |
Meteor Music Awards | Lungs | Best International Album | Nominated | |
Florence and the Machine | Best International Band | Won | ||
Best International Live Performance | Nominated | |||
Elle Style Awards | Musician of the Year | Won | ||
Shockwaves NME Awards | Best Solo Artist | Nominated | ||
"Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)" | Best Track | Nominated | ||
"You've Got the Love" | Best Dancefloor Filler | Nominated | ||
Florence Welch | Best Dressed | Nominated | ||
MOJO Awards | Florence and the Machine | Breakthrough Act | Nominated | |
Best Live Act | Nominated | |||
"You've Got the Love" | Song of the Year | Nominated | ||
Lungs | Best Album | Nominated | ||
BT Digital Music Awards | Florence and the Machine | Best Female Artist | Nominated | |
"You've Got the Love" | Best Song | Nominated | ||
Q Awards | Florence and the Machine | Best Female | Won | |
"You've Got the Love" | Best Song | Won | ||
UK Music Video Awards | "Dog Days Are Over" | Best Pop Video | Nominated | |
Best Styling in a Video | Nominated | |||
UK Festival Awards | "You've Got the Love" | Anthem of the Year | Won | |
Florence and the Machine | Feel-Good Act of the Summer | Nominated | ||
4Music Video Honours | "Dog Days Are Over" | Best Video of 2010 | Nominated | |
European Festival Awards | "You've Got the Love" | Anthem of the Year | Nominated | |
Florence and the Machine | Best Newcomer | Won | ||
2011 | Virgin Media Music Awards | Hottest Women | Nominated | |
Florence and the Machine with Dizzee Rascal | Best Collaboration | Nominated | ||
"Dog Days Are Over" | Best Video | Nominated | ||
Florence Welch | Best Live Act | Nominated | ||
Shameless Publicity Seeker | Nominated | |||
Shockwaves NME Awards | Florence and the Machine | Best Solo Artist | Nominated | |
International Dance Music Awards | "Dog Days Are Over" (Yeasayer Remix) | Best Alternative/Rock Dance Track | Nominated | |
Florence and the Machine | Best Break-Through Artist (Group) | Nominated | ||
Glamour Women of the Year Awards | Best Band | Nominated | ||
Billboard Music Awards | "Dog Days Are Over" | Top Rock Song | Nominated | |
Top Alternative Song | Nominated | |||
2012 | Elle Style Awards | Florence and the Machine | Best Music Act | Won |
Shockwaves NME Awards | Florence and the Machine | Best Solo Artist | Won | |
"Shake It Out" | Best Track | Won | ||
Florence and the Machine | Hottest Female | Nominated |
UK festival Awards 2009
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- Anthem of Summer - Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up) - Nominated
- Best Breakthrough Act - Winner
- Festival Fitty of the Year - Girls - Nominated
- First in the 2009 BRITs Critics' Choice section.
- Third in the BBCs Sound of 2009. This was a poll voted for by a select group of insiders from all sectors of the music industry.
- Florence and The Machine's debut album Lungs was nominated for the 2009 Mercury Prize.
Discography
Studio albums
Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Sales | Certifications | ||||||||||
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UK |
AUS |
AUT |
CAN |
GER |
IRE |
NZ |
NOR |
SWI |
POL |
US |
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Lungs |
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1 | 3 | 73 | 20 | 41 | 2 | 3 | 36 | 54 | 28 | 14 |
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Ceremonials |
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1 | 1 | 12 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 10 | 2 | 6 |
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"—" denotes album that did not chart or was not released |
Singles
Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | |||||||||||
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UK |
BEL (VL) |
BEL (WA) |
AUS |
AUT |
CAN |
GER |
IRE |
NZ |
NOR |
SWI |
US |
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2008 | "Kiss with a Fist" | 51 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Lungs | |
"Dog Days Are Over" | 23 | 21 | 19 | 47 | — | 19 | — | 6 | 27 | — | — | 21 |
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2009 | "Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)" | 12 | 50 | — | 93 | — | — | — | 41 | — | — | — | — | ||
"Drumming Song" | 54 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
"You've Got the Love" | 5 | 25 | 5 | 9 | 28 | — | 52 | 16 | — | — | 49 | — |
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2010 | "Cosmic Love" | 51 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | ||
"Heavy in Your Arms" | 53 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
2011 | "What the Water Gave Me" | 24 | 2 | 42 | 35 | — | 72 | — | 13 | 15 | — | — | 91 | Ceremonials | |
"Shake It Out" | 12 | 2 | 15 | 36 | 16 | 52 | 30 | 2 | 16 | 18 | 23 | 72 |
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2012 | "No Light, No Light" | 50 | 10 | — | 95 | — | — | — | 50 | — | — | — | — | ||
"Never Let Me Go" | 82 | 15 | 43 | 3 | — | 75 | — | 73 | — | — | — | — |
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"Spectrum" | 1 | 2 | 18 | 4 | — | — | 54 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — |
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"—" denotes single that did not chart or was not released |
Promotional singles
Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Album | ||||||
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UK |
AUS |
AUT |
FRA |
GER |
IRE |
US |
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2010 | "You Got the Dirtee Love" (with Dizzee Rascal) |
2 | 27 | — | — | — | 24 | — | Lungs |
2012 | "Breath of Life" | 87 | — | 64 | 143 | 65 | 68 | 113 | Snow White & the Huntsman soundtrack |
"—" denotes single that did not chart or was not released |
Other charted songs
Year | Song | Peak chart positions |
Album | |
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UK |
IRL |
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2009 | "Cosmic Love" | — | 3 | Lungs |
EPs
- A Lot of Love. A Lot of Blood (28 April 2009, 12")
- iTunes Festival: London 2010 (21 July 2010)
- iTunes Live from SoHo (16 November 2010)
Music videos
Year | Video | Director |
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2008 | "Kiss with a Fist" | Price James |
"Dog Days Are Over" | Tom Beard | |
2009 | "Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)" | Tom & Tabitha |
"Drumming Song" | Dawn Shadforth | |
"You've Got the Love" | Tom & Tabitha | |
2015 | ''What Kind Of Man (The Odyssey – Chapter 1)'' | Vincent Haycock |
''How Big How Blue How Beautiful (Chapter 2)'' | ||
''St Jude (The Odyssey – Chapter 3)'' | ||
'''Ship To Wreck (The Odyssey – Chapter 4)'' | ||
''Queen of Peace & Long and Lost (The Odyssey – Chapters 5 and 6)'' | ||
''Delilah (The Odyssey – Chapter 8)'' | ||
''Third Eye (The Odyssey – Chapter 9)'' | ||
''Florence + The Machine - The Odyssey (Full film, directed by Vincent Haycock)'' | ||
- Florence at MySpace
Images for kids
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Florence and the Machine performing at Coachella 2012
See also
In Spanish: Florence and the Machine para niños
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