Following the release of their lead single “Everybody Scream” from their upcoming project last month, Florence + The Machine have now launched their second single titled “One Of The Greats” on Wednesday afternoon.
Ahead of their upcoming sixth studio album Everybody Scream, lead vocalist Florence Welch defies all odds in being a staple for authentic indie and alternative music. From her witchy, whimsical aesthetic to her enamoring stage presence, watching Florence continue to succeed in the industry is nothing but electrifying.
“One Of The Greats” is a six-minute folk-led track with deep, rich vocals. Formally written as a poem, Florence gives deep into self-reflection after a near-death experience she had in 2023.
From verse one, listeners are instantly drawn into her world: “I crawled up from under the earth / Broken nails and coughing dirt / Spitting out my songs so you can sing along, oh / And with each bedraggled breath, I knew I came back from the dead / To show you how it’s done, to show you what it takes / To conquer and to crucify, to become one of the greats / One of the greats.” Here, the opening verse gives listeners the full scope of how she felt metaphorically; recounting her initial thoughts as she confronted that obstacle.
Florence dives further in the second verse, explaining how past relationships have contributed to her critically acclaimed success: “I kept a scream inside my chest, killed everyone I’d ever kissed / Hung them on the wall like trophies, each name, a stain upon my lips / I told the truth but could never see it through / You see yourself hung on the wall but that song is not about you.” With this in mind, listeners are able to get an overview on how she navigated former partnerships and experienced a spiritual awakening that shaped the creation of Everybody Scream.
The official visualizer for “One Of The Greats” shows Florence riding in the back seat of a car late at night while singing and smoking a cigar. Not only does this bring a chill energy to the song itself, but it can be seen as a vital indicator of how revolutionizing Florence’s near-death experience was for her.
Florence + The Machine will hit the road next year for their upcoming European and United Kingdom tour starting February 6th at The SSE Arena in Belfast. Tickets are available to purchase here.
Everybody Scream is set to release on all platforms October 31st.
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