There's nowhere to hide from "You Got The Love" at the moment. Every time I put the TV on it's lying in wait for me. In the last couple of days I've heard it three times in trailers for a thrilling new dance-related reality show, as well as on the last episode of Gavin and Stacey and performed in person by Florence and her accompanying Machine on the Christmas Top Of The Pops. It's featured on a few best-of-the-year round-ups on the radio too.
I haven't made my mind up yet about Florence Welch. I find her voice a bit grating, rather too shouty in the middle range and with an occasional tendency to be frankly all over the place intonation-wise. Having said that, she did a passable, if unnecessary, "My Baby Just Cares For Me" on Jools Holland's New Year's Eve knees-up last night. I do also like "Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)", a single she released earlier last year. Listen to the difference though between her singing on the recorded version and her live performance of the song. Thank heavens for auto-tuner software eh?
No doubt spurred on by the excellent xx remix of the Florence version of the song, the Guardian recently ran an interesting article giving a comprehensive history of "You Got The Love". The piece serves as a timely reminder that, far from being a musical creation of the currently ubiquitous Ms Welch, in fact the song originally saw the light of day in 1991 thanks to a mysterious group of musicians calling themselves The Source and featuring the vocals of erstwhile disco diva Candi Staton:
Judging by what I've heard of Staton's voice--and there's some great southern soul material on her myspace page--I think it's fair to say that she can knock Florence into a cocked hat any day of the week.
5 comments:
Happy New Year Hoops. It sounds like you might have had a similar one to me, alternately smiling, then grimacing, at Jool Holland on the box?
The Candi Staton and The Source version is indeed way better than Florence's. So much so, that I really don't know why she bothered.
I have an album of Candi Staton's and I fully recommend that you check her out. There is lots on Spotify (including her disco classic Young Hearts run Free).
Hello Cocktails. Happy New Year to you too.
Yes I'm not sure what to make of Jools' Hootenanny goings-on. I suppose it's better than anything else on TV on New Year's Eve, although that's not saying much. I actually came in from the pub towards the end so didn't see it all. I don't think I could have made it through the whole programme. His showbiz chumminess can be difficult to take at the best of times but on New Year's Eve it just runs riot...
I'll look forward to listening to some Candi Staton. I seem to remember hearing her some time ago on Andy Kershaw's radio show (must have been a while ago) and thinking she had made some changes since Young Hearts Run Free.
Hi, Agree with Jools Holland points. All gets a little self-indulgent talking to so many "mates".
Thanks for pointing out who covered "You got the love". Much discussion over New Year. I do find Florence and the Machine a little irritating however. Can't quite put my finger on it but it just all (photos, songs etc.) seems a little too "manufactured" and not very raw to me. Not sure if that makes any sense...
Yeah I know what you mean. I think she's a slight improvement on yer Little Boots and La Roux but possibly not much...
See also the Guardian music blog this week.
Post a Comment