David Rafael Gonzalez
LV Life Editor
Florence + The Machine’s new album “Dance Fever,” released on May 13, is a boisterous journey about the pent-up energy from the pandemic through a fairytale-like production.
The name of the album comes from a phenomenon known as dancing mania, or “dance fever,” from Europe from the 14th to 17th centuries. Those stricken with “dance fever,” which spared no one, would dance until they collapsed from exhaustion and died. The sickness was viewed as a form of possession.
After listening to the album, the name of the album becomes abundantly clear as the entirety of the work is an ode to dance and freedom as a form of dance.
The song “Choreomania,” which was another name for dancing mania, takes the history of the sickness and turns it on its head. The song takes the sickness and turns it into a form of stress relief. The song feels like a traditional Florence song and those familiar with the band’s work, especially the song “Dog Days are Over,” would enjoy this track.
Freedom was a major theme throughout the album. The song appropriately named “Free,” is a mixture of synth and pop-rock that one cannot help but get up and dance. During the track Florence exclaims “and for a moment/ when I’m dancing, I am free.”
The album comes at the heels of the pandemic that some say took away two years of their lives, and this song feels like a song celebrating the moment people are able to safely leave their homes without fear.
The album’s opening track and first single released “King” is a battle between Welch’s expectations to fall into gender roles like motherhood and her desire to pursue art and music. She loudly throws aside the expectations and declares her undying passion for her music through the lyrics, “I am no mother. I am no bride. I am king.”
Welch’s powerhouse vocals shine on this track making the song feel like a battle cry, especially in the bridge.
“Cassandra,” “Heaven is Here” and “Daffodil” take inspiration from Greek mythology and heaven as a way to tell Welch’s story through the pandemic. In “Cassandra,” Welch likens her inability to perform on stage to the plight of the Greek myth of Cassandra.
In “Heaven is Here,” especially the outro, Welch sees her music as her heaven. Welch finally becomes optimistic about the state of the world and her music in “Daffodil,” which takes inspiration from the Greek myth of Narcissus.
“Dance Fever” is an emotional rollercoaster of an album, and is definitely worth a listen to. Powerhouse vocals, entrancing production and instrumentals and meaningful lyrics are the makings of good music, and “Dance Fever” has it all and more.
David Rafael Gonzalez can be reached at david.gonzalez9@laverne.edu.
David Rafael Gonzalez is a senior journalism major and LV Life editor of the Campus Times. He has been a three-time editor-in-chief and has also served as editorial director, LV Life editor and a staff writer.
