#4
Dog Days Are Over - 8.54621
#4 scores11 – BlackAura, Magickarp, Phil, Vilppu
10 – Bitchcraft, conatus, enxe, HalcyonParadise, holyground, HonourableVomit, ilya, Kayzan, KTLe, K$Ellie, lemonade., Mr. Fahrenheit, paulyyyozd, Price of Fame, Reverie, That Bad Eartha, Valentine, winebaldo
9 – Eeveelution, Ewan Chaos, HereInMyHead, LadyFlorence, Lioness (9.5), Lucas32 (9.5), Pink Matter, Rhisiart, Staryu (9.25), Suilen, ultraviolento, Vulnicura
8 – Achilles., AlexisNeiers (8.1), Auburn (8.8), BlackoutZone (8.5), Clueless, Cristhian, Hilly, Pierrot, Stevie (8.5), Supervillain, Temporal, thatsmydemi, theblackestday (8.75), theREALslimSHADY, TheWayWeWere, Thin White Duke (8.2), ThisCharmingMan (8.75), Tom Vercetti (8.5)
7 – Dylobs, jpow, Hoobs21 (7.7), KillingYourCareer (7.5), madonnas, Superpower
6 – ahauntingnearu, holocene, Icarus (6.5)
5 – Kxvk, Wonderlust
4 – fireaero, RoyalT
3 – Delilah.
2 –
1 –
0 –
While Kiss With a Fist didn't have much of an impact on charts or critics, Florence and her mates' situation totally changed after Dog Days Are Over, arguably their biggest hit to date (Lord knows I'm not counting these Calvin Harris tracks). It was a slow burner, only barely scrapping UK top 100 after its release in 2008 and quickly falling out of the chart. However, nearly 1.5 years later the single was re-issued and this time it charted within top 40 in both the UK and the US. To this day, it's sold approximately 5 million digital copies (sales + streaming, I think?), being certificated 4x platinum by RIAA. See, even Americans sometimes have taste. The track received critical acclaim as well, e.g. in 2011 NME placed it at #33 on a 150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years list.
So yeah, my 11. Everything about this song is just so crazy, unmatchable and one-of-its-kind. I don't think I've ever heard any other track where such an overjoyed feeling comes off as something completely natural and not try-hard in the slightest. It definitely has a lot to do with the uplifting lyrics telling the listener to leave all the sorrows and, what's interesting, love behind to feel true happiness. With all the tempo and atmosphere changes, it's truly the epitome of Florence Welch as an artist – a girl which might initially seem rather calm and peaceful but you never know when she's gonna go OFF. Another – and just as important – advantage is the instrumentation. Alongside guitars and drums, it includes viola, violin or a harp which help creating a truly enchanting, unforgettable atmosphere. It's amazing how neither of the two elements, vocals and melody, outshines the other, it's all in harmony, complementing one another and sounding the best together. As if that wasn't enough, I also find it endlessly replayable, it always leaves me wanting more and more, and it just never leaves me bored, even for one second.
Wonderlust: meh
Lucas32: The constant alternation between fast and slow is the best thing about this amazing song.
jpow: Good but a little overplayed here.
ahauntingnearu: perhaps overrated by some fans, but a really well written song, very unique, interesting, great track that will probably forever be the track that is associated with florence.
Price of Fame: For the longest time I had no idea this was a Florence song. Technically, it's the first one I ever heard and it's still as amazing as ever.
HonourableVomit: This is my spiritual eleven but I needed to use it more strategically since Dog Days is going to be the obvious winner.
Superpower: used to love this but I'm a little tired of it now.
Vulnicura:
Auburn: I can't believe I used to not like this song, thank gosh I got taste!
NLNL (on EskaRock) and STW felt way bigger.
. Kinda shocked since I thought there was a sudden influx of hate for the HBx3 singles.
