Florence + the Machine

Brits Blog

Brits Blog

Tue 2 Mar, 2010

Greetings from deepest Europe.

I think I might have finally touched down after the Brits whirlwind and I thought I should try and thank some of the people I didn’t have time to get to in my speech.

Winning Best Album is such a huge honor, but I certainly can't take all the credit. Making that record was an enormously collaborative process, and so many things fed into it. A lot of people influenced me and a lot of people helped me out. I will always be grateful to all of them.

I have just been told that Tim McCall has passed away. He played guitar on Kiss With a Fist and Girl With One Eye on the record. He was a brilliant guitarist and a brilliant person to work with. All my heartfelt condolences go out to his friends and family. 
 
Thank you so much, belatedly, Tim.

Thank you to all the musicians I've ever worked with - on the album itself and in the years that led up to my finally making it. Thank you particularly to Devonte Hynes and Kid Harpoon, Matt Alchin, all the Ludes (RIP - Listen to their new incarnation 'Rum Shebeen') and Leo Abrahams. Also of course, again and emphatically; thank you to all the amazing members of my band.

Thank you to Gang Gang Dance, who are one of the best bands in the world and who I command you all to go and listen to right now. I got obsessed with their amazing song House Jam for a while back there, so much so that a line from it ended up in Rabbit Heart. I remain completely grateful to them for the inspiration and for everything.

Thank you to everyone I know for all the conversations that fed into my writing. Thank you post-it notes, billboards, domestic violence posters, church bulletin boards, love notes, Remove-Your-Bicycle-Or-We-Will-Have-It-Removed-Notes.

Thank you Ugo Rodinone, for the beautiful installation that inspired Dog Days, and thank you to all the artists and writers whose work has influenced me in various ways in the last few years: Ed Ruscha, Damien Hirst, Francis Bacon, Jasper Johns, Jenny Holtzer. Thank you Martin Creed, for that neon-glowing 'EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE ALRIGHT' across the top of the Tate.

Thank you David Vann (his book 'Legend of a Suicide' is completely amazing and I entreat you all to read it. He also wrote a foreword for the box set of my album, which was the coolest thing ever and for which I am eternally grateful).

Thank you Thom Gunn, John Berryman, Zora Neal Hurston's 'Their Eyes Were Watching God', Cormac McCarthy's 'The Road', Don DeLillo's 'White Noise', Gordon Burn's 'Born Yesterday' and innumerable other amazing books. (Also I just finished Kirsten Reeds debut novel, ‘The Ice Age’, hot off the press. And it is A.MAZING. )
 
Thank you to Tom Waits, Beyonce, Fever Ray, Liars, Fuck Buttons, Lil Wayne, Maddonna, Moondog, The Exorcist Soundtrack, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and the gazillions of other artists who I was listening to while I was making the album.
 
And thank you London. Simply wandering the streets of London has probably been my greatest inspiration in all this.

This is all off the top of my jumbled head and I'm sure I've forgotten loads of things. But thank you to all of you who listened to the album.

It took years of living, blood, and tears to make it and I can't tell you how much I appreciate all the support I've received. It means so much to me to think that some of you have taken this record to heart. I couldn’t have done it without all the help and inspiration I got from so many other people.
 
So thank you, everyone.
 
From my heart to all your hearts, sincerely,

Florence
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  • I FUCKING LOVE YOU FLORENCE WELCH

    Posted by ginamariespano on Wed 22 Jun, 2011

  • I will go to London and I wish that with every footstep I'll just realise for more and more and more....

    Posted by Juuli on Sun 05 Dec, 2010

  • I LOVE UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

    Posted by abbie flo townsend on Sun 29 Aug, 2010

  • thank you, florence. I just want to say how much lungs actually brought to my life... it made my world shatter down after blinding. but it was a good thing because now i know much more about well, everything. so happy that you shared it.

    Posted by Juuli on Fri 09 Jul, 2010

  • HUGE BELATED CONGRATS TO FLORENCE FOR ALBUM OF THE YEAR. Stayed up ages and watched the whole thing just to see Florence and nearly had a heart attack when she won!!! I can't wait for the new album to win next year:D

    Posted by GothicAuthoress on Mon 31 May, 2010

  • pretty pretty pretty PLEASE. come to Australia. i know we are a blob on the map, literally. but you won't regret it! you guys are amazing.

    Posted by mkavadas on Thu 15 Apr, 2010

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_PQCIkx9-w Watch this video! My friends and I made it for Florence and because of how much we love the song Dog Days!

    Posted by dogdays6 on Wed 14 Apr, 2010

  • Great performance in Chicago! I loved every minute of it. Please come back asap. Weekly performances in Chicago would be much appreciated haha.

    Posted by jono on Wed 14 Apr, 2010

  • HEY! Congrats once more by the way. Thank YOU for bwing who you are. I've been feeling really depressed at the moment, I have a lot of problems. (stupid friends...) But your songs make me feel so much happier. When I sing them when I dance to them, I look and sound ridiculous but i'm happier. Thank you, you deserved that award.

    Posted by clumsyducky on Mon 12 Apr, 2010

  • ATTN CANADIAN Florence and The Machine Fans! Win an autographed Florence and The Machine 18x 24 poster and her award winning album "Lungs" AND a chance to see her perform LIVE in NYC or LA @ TheBrokenHeelDiaries.com!! Visit for more details We Love You Florence! We Love you Machine!

    Posted by Classic on Sat 10 Apr, 2010

  • ATTN CANADIAN Florence and The Machine Fans! Win an autographed Florence and The Machine 18x 24 poster and her award winning album "Lungs" AND a chance to see her perform LIVE in NYC or LA @ TheBrokenHeelDiaries.com!! Visit for more details We Love You Florence! We Love you Machine!

    Posted by Classic on Sat 10 Apr, 2010

  • ATTN CANADIAN Florence and The Machine Fans! Win an autographed Florence and The Machine 18x 24 poster and her award winning album "Lungs" AND a chance to see her perform LIVE in NYC or LA @ TheBrokenHeelDiaries.com!! Visit for more details We Love You Florence! We Love you Machine!

    Posted by Classic on Sat 10 Apr, 2010

  • ATTN CANADIAN Florence and The Machine Fans! Win an autographed Florence and The Machine 18x 24 poster and her award winning album "Lungs" AND a chance to see her perform LIVE in NYC or LA @ TheBrokenHeelDiaries.com!! Visit for more details We Love You Florence! We Love you Machine!

    Posted by Classic on Sat 10 Apr, 2010

  • ATTN CANADIAN Florence and The Machine Fans! Win an autographed Florence and The Machine 18x 24 poster and her award winning album "Lungs" AND a chance to see her perform LIVE in NYC or LA @ TheBrokenHeelDiaries.com!! Visit for more details We Love You Florence! We Love you Machine!

    Posted by Classic on Sat 10 Apr, 2010

  • ATTN CANADIAN Florence and The Machine Fans! Win an autographed Florence and The Machine 18x 24 poster and her award winning album "Lungs" AND a chance to see her perform LIVE in NYC or LA @ TheBrokenHeelDiaries.com!! Visit for more details We Love You Florence! We Love you Machine!

    Posted by Classic on Sat 10 Apr, 2010

  • This is a little belated. I just read the last comment posted on your blog, and I also was at your concert in Philadelphia. We absolutely DO love you!!! I've been listening to you since one of your songs was posted in Spin Magazine. It hasn't been that long. But you have swiftly become my favorite musician, my favorite band. And now, my favorite concert-going experience. Well played Ms. Welch. Well played. :)

    Posted by beezkwee on Thu 08 Apr, 2010

  • Florence I just love you so much its untrue, i loved you last when i discovered you only last summer when your album really spoke to me an helped me through some difficult times. your voice is powerful and passionate and as is your emotion and drive. its great to see how youve really flourished since then and this was recognised at the brits, truly amazing performance and it was like christmas for me to see you on that stage.... p.s i also want your hair its just fabulous beyond belief xxxxx

    Posted by superste on Thu 08 Apr, 2010

  • Florence!! I must say you were amazing last night in Philadelphia, you must come back for a second round. I've been to several shows throughout my years but, with your concert I felt so alive with the power and love that went behind each and every song =] Philly loves you!!!

    Posted by micheleann12 on Tue 06 Apr, 2010

  • Florence I ♥ you!! You're songs are amazing!! You're really good!! Love Hannah xxxx

    Posted by Hannah...X on Mon 05 Apr, 2010

  • I think- no, I KNOW that I am now a Florence-a-holic. I know that u have probably heard this tonnes before, but seriously, u r AMAZIING!!!!!!!!!! P.s. Are "comments" like that good or do they just annoy you? Please answer. My email is in one of the comments on ur first blog ( the lungs one.) PLEEEAAASE reply, it's my 12th birthday tomorrow, and it would be awesome to get a reply! ( Pretty rubbish excuse, i know, but well, Please!) Anna xx

    Posted by mini machine on Mon 05 Apr, 2010