Absolute MASTERPIECE!!! | FLORENCE AND THE MACHINE - "King" | REACTION & ANALYSIS 

She released a statement in which she said that she had never given much thought into her gender as an artist, that she always compared herself to male performers. But her views changed a bit as she's in her 30s and she came to the realization that for her as a female artist it is much harder to have a family. I think that's pretty universal for women today as we still have to make a choice between following our ambitions and being a mother. For me the line "I never thought my killer would be coming from within" is a metaphor that if she decides to have children, she would have to "kill" a certain part of her artistic ambition.

Great reaction, thank you! This is what Florence said about this song: “As an artist, I never actually thought about my gender that much, I just got on with it. I was as good as the men and I just went out there and matched them every time. But now, thinking about being a woman in my 30s and the future, I suddenly feel this tearing of my identity and my desires. That to be a performer, but also to want a family might not be as simple for me as it is for my male counterparts. I had modeled myself almost exclusively on male performers, and for the first time I felt a wall come down between me and my idols as I have to make decisions they did not.”

MY PERSONAL THOUGHTS:I feel like the man at the start was who lead to his metaphorical death with her career./ambition All of the men at the end are casualties to the women who've done the same. The number of women and men are 8 which is symbolic of inner-strength/confidence, ego, power, ambition and the duality between love for humanity and longing for serenity. Florence herself mentioned that her bigger influences in music have been men and it wasn't until now that she's realized expectations may be different for her as a female artist. Another thing worth mentioning is the use of the color purple which can be interpreted as a mixing of the two stereotypical gender colors (pink and blue) but also the obvious color of royalty. While Florence outwardly wears purple in a silk cape. The other women wear lace and silk. Lace which is typically thought to be more feminine and while it is fragile it's actually quite tough but silk being historically for both genders especially with those in the higher class and used in the making of musical instruments funny enough. HOWEVER, all the women wear the same shade of purple undergarments signifying they have the same prowess and ambition as Florence inside. The color the women are wearing is periwinkle which is similar to lavender but carries more blue than red (pink) which is also alluding to their masculine energies leaning towards power and dominance in the relationship (as far as being a breadwinner is concerned). At the end I think it's revealed that she never actually harms him, this was all possibly just fears in her head being played out. In fact, he embraces her, not what she was perhaps expecting? He allows himself to be taken by her. In the beginning it was clear that he was fighting her pull and maybe that's also her fear, that it won't be as easy as him surrendering to her bc of societal expectations on both of them?

This is so profound! Florence has no issues with stating things that are often blunt reality of feelings, but most in denial of it. The words "killer within" lyric makes me think of Smashing Pumpkins song "Disarm">"The killer in you is the killer in me". I will need to watch this a few times to process it all!

I usually don’t love the new songs artists come out with as soon as I listen to them- it even took me a while to warm up to her last album and I am a huge Florence fan- however this song was an exception. I loved it from the first time I heard it. I really relate to the lyrics, because even though I am not an artist, there are a lot of ambitions that I am having to evaluate now that I am in a committed relationship. I think she does a great job explaining the inner conflict that you feel with that give-and-take

the interpretation i took of the "how much is art really worth" line was "how much is art really worth if it takes you from family (both in time and emotionally)" but i also like your take

thank you for mentioning Never Let Me Go. it’s my favorite florence song of all time!

It's funny that you mentioned Never Let Me Go before watching/hearing. It's actually referenced at the end of the song ;) Lots of Ceremonials Easter eggs in the production and lyrics overall.

She actually shot that video in a university in Kiew/ Ukrain. That makes it kind of tragic to me.

Have you seen The Odyssey? It's a short movie from Florence's 3rd album. "What kind of man" is the first chapter/song

Love your analysis! Check out What Kind of Man/ The Odyssey

Just stumbled upon you. I think you are a very deep thinker and really good at explaining your thoughts. I really appreciate your depth and appreciation for messages and art.

I must say your analysis of lyrics and videos are quite intelligent.

finally someone who reviewed this song and saw how revilent the lyrics of this song are on a human level. thanks :)

Your interpretation is the best I've seen in reaction vids! The songs cover art looks like a tarot card as you said.

Loved you're take on this song!!! Really enjoyed watching you work through the lyrics. One thing I love about Flo is her profound honesty as her feelings and words bleed out of her art...she is on a completely different level than many other artists.

I loved this reaction! Thank you 😊

I really loved watching the emotion you displayed while watching this performance. I felt like your interpretation of the material was interesting and meaningful as well. Thank you for the perspective and shared enjoyment around this truly beautiful piece of work.

You had such an amazing take on this video and the message she was putting out! Such an amazing job!

Fantastic analysis !! Loved your take on being tied into the artists web you follow.

Definitely a new subscriber here! Loved this review 🥰 huge Florence + The Machine fan and this song is no exception!! I love the Sarah mclachlan reference, also love her but unfortunately her statement is correct about how can us as listeners listen to someone as emotional as Sarah or Florence when they are “happy” Bravo sir!

Artists don't just need their own pain, they articulate ours. Art can be a call to service and, like any call to service, it sometimes requires the sacrifice of the personal. To me, the song is about that tension - between ego, personal desire, and the larger ambition or call to be an artist. It hit me like a ton of bricks. This is a great reaction!

Big fan of the band never dissapoint cant wait to hear the full record

Oh she’s wonderful and this is amazing

your reactions are my fave!

I’m glad we’re back to Florence

Good interpretations. I make a living with art and feel every single line to this song. Never been read by a song so much. I want to go on a tangent and break down every line but i wont rn haha

You're my favourite new reactor. There are some really bad ones out there so it's a joy to find a good one. May I suggest (based on everything I think you like) that you consider a lana del rey deep dive. If you check out others, and how much they enjoy discovering her discography (plus the view numbers) I think that would be amazing to watch and you'd really get so much out of it 🙂

Great reaction

Never let me go is my fav song ever

This song feels like a proclamation. If you liked Never Let Me Go, you'll like All This and Heaven Too, it's one of my favorites, and it's very underrated.

Amaaaazing song of course. I think it's really hard to compare this song this album to her older albums especially from Ceremonials and Lungs because Florence herself grew a lot and change and so her music as well. If I would have to compare I would say it's similar to the story of How Big How Blue How Beautiful, but the story itself is so much different. Now she kind of overcame everything that was going on over there. And she is writing her own story she is making the decisions that she wants. She is evolving into something else. In my opinion. Great video would be great if you would do the reactions on all three singles that just came out ;)

The men were the dancers husbands as they're wives that had to kill their husbands to survive- the wedding gowns were torn and filthy from making someone else happy more than themselves.

Tori and Florence are my 2 favorite artists!!

She’s certainly in a league of her own, I don’t listen to all of her songs but the ones I do they’re just something else. BTW Avril’s new album came out ,hopefully get to hear /watch your thoughts

This video is incredible!!!! I am fascinated by her new direction . Very pegan, strong, feminist, very witchcraft Her voice gives me chills

Love Sarah McLaughlin too! Saw her live at the very last lilith fair

absolutely LOVED the analysis... Florence is single and has had a few relationship problems (based on past songs), no children, and suffered from alcoholism/self destructive behaviour. I feel like, "i am no mother, i am no bride, i am king" relates to, she's without a family, and single, but she's still strong and striving, but has her faults holding her back from those things.

As a woman ... 💯!!!!

I love you for this.

Do you understand the historical significance of her purple cape?

Anton is so attractive

Thought provoking!

There's something a bit handmaid's tale about the video. I think it's interesting how the men are trapped in suspended animation almost in purgatory. I wonder if they are trying to say that women's liberation is needed to free all of us.

The symbolism on this video is beyond my comprehension, but thinking about the audience and the artist point of view I think she's talking about the collective and individual, like two antagonist forces and the real person lost, not seen in the middle for what she is or want to be... because it isn't in one side or another, struggling to achieve her wishes of becoming, a mother, a wife etc. and at the same time being something else to the collective ( her public and audience ) like something Devine... and even her "husband" in the video, seeing her on a pedestal, higher than him, or like an apparition, not in the same level as him ( as human beings )... So how to have children with a goddess ? ...

and please a reaction to Nico soloist music, she is the creator of gothic music, using a modal structure in her songs...thnks!!

Su grito es el de muchas mujeres. Sean ya o no novias, sean ya o no madres

❤️💯

could you please react to cyndi lauper" songs? thanksss

Please please react to Sky Full Of Song by Florence and the Machine

I’m in the beginning but I think you’re missing a big point. She’s not married. She put a stop to it before it began. In this story.

👍

cringe reported

I think it's about the modern liberal woman who complains about her man being not good enough, not having babies, not marrying etc then at the end acknowledging most is rubbish so hit me on the head n pull me along. Then again Maybe Not.