This year I plan on having a very simple and quick Holiday season. With the opening of a new shop and simply being my age in general, the Holidays are not really something I try to drag out. One week, give or take is all I am looking forward to. However, with this album playing in the background, I am kind of excited to have a wonderful few evenings curled up in my big chair with an old quilt drinking hot cocoa and wearing really fuzzy slippers. She & Him have done an amazing job of adding some pizazz to the old songs yet keeping their vintage appeal alive. You can visit their website and hear a few tunes yourself if you would like or you could listen to some here… and the fact that they have matching knit hats and mittens on sale? Adorable.
I really should have asked for this LP for Christmas.
I especially love that one of my very favorite Christmas songs ever is on the album, “Blue Christmas”. At first I was nervous because I love Elvis’s version…. but She & Him do a pretty darn good job.
I have been watching Saturday Night Live since I was a child, so when a musical guest as fantastic as Florence + the Machine comes to the stage (again), it always makes the episode a million times better. Her performance and stage presence leaves little room for competition and she is by far in the top three artists I would like to see live (soon). She is a performer in every way, and certainly did not disappoint me as her voice rang through the stage and knocked out two of my new favorite songs in a dramatic yet elegant way.
But let’s get to the real reason I am posting this…. can we just talk about how AMAZING Florence Welch looks? Seriously – her gams are absolutely something to write home about, and both of the incredible dresses she wore flattered them impeccably well. The first dress was this black, gold and white long sleeved beaded wonder with a low cut front that very few people could pull off. The second was my favorite. It had long lace sleeves and a 40s style skirt with the peek-a-boo slit. Leave it to Florence to have me watching the video half in ecstasy at hearing songs from my new favorite album live, and half being jealous with spurts of wrinkled brows and thoughts of, “I am going to need a dress like that! I am! I need it!”.
The first song Florence + the Machine performed was “Shake it Off”, a new personal favorite from the album Ceremonials. It is such an amazing and uplifting song. Having had a few months of stress, emotional and personal funks, this song just happened to hit my ears right around the time I finally had taken a deep breathe, gained some control and shaken a lot of stuff off. It could not have been more perfect – and this is one pick me up anthem I know I will always play to make me feel ready to kick a little ass (in life).
Florence Welch is undoubtedly one of my idols and favorite people, ever. Both in fashion and in life. If someone my age can even still have idols? Sure. Why not.
Ceremonials does an amazing job of bringing in a chorus, back up and wonderful instrumentals without overshadowing Florence Welch’s unbelievable voice. In fact, I believe it makes the entire album stronger and gives even more strength and support to an artist who’s obvious natural singing ability is in my opinion, one of the best of our generation’s out there today.
Unfortunately, this is the only video I could find of the “No Light, No Light” performance on SNL. The timing is off.
The new album Ceremonials is definitely worth purchasing if you have not already. It hasn’t left my car’s cd player in over a week, and it is what I rearranged my entire apartment to last weekend. My other favorite song is “What the Water Gave Me”, which you can enjoy below…
