This document provides an analysis of the music video for Florence and the Machine's "Drumming Song". It summarizes various shots from the video and how they relate to the song's themes. The video depicts Florence in a church setting wearing religious-inspired costumes. Shots show her praying, laying on the floor, and with wings to represent the afterlife themes of heaven and hell. The analysis discusses how the video uses biblical imagery and symbolism to portray a clash between good and bad and themes of finding one's own path in life.

1. Florence and The
Machine - Music
Video Analysis
(Drumming Song)

2. This is the introductory shot to the music video. In the shallowed focus we can see that one of the extra’s
of the video has got her hands in the praying position. I think it fits the theme of the song because she
mentions heaven and hell.
On top of that I think it’s interesting that her hair is the focus of the shot – which emphasises her vibrant
and electric voice. The costume that Florence has on is a sexualised nun’s costume – to make the video
more artistic looking and appealing to her male demographic, because she is still in pop culture / genre. I
think it’s effective because it’s a shot that grabs your attention.
In this shot we can clearly see Florence laying down on the floor of a church – which emphasises the afterlife feel the song has. The costume Florence has on is fairly sexualised – the winged arms and the glittered
bodice feminine touch to the concept of hell.
I think that it’s effective because it adds drama to the shot. I feel like this is where my inspiration for my
music video will come from.

3. This shot goes back to the shot of her praying with the extras around her. The nuance around is symbolic because I think the meaning behind the song is about someone finding their own path in life and the
moving to beat of your own drum – reiterating the individualistic mindset of Florence’s demographic.
The robes that Florence and the extras are wearing contrast the background in a sharp and crisp manner.
Therefore making them more prominent. It could be said that this is a form of voyeurism.
This shot we see a change of costume, where Florence is seen to be wearing chiffon sleeves that create a
‘winged’ effect and a short leather outfit. The ‘wings’ once again remind us of the after life theme that is
resonate within the song. The outfit could be said to be a form of sexual liberation – giving the shot a
sense of power and freedom. These are very biblical themes which one again emphasise the message of
Here we have a long of shot of Florence Welch and her backing dancers. The long shot allows us to
see the church backdrop. We see that there all the females are wearing black clothing with the chiffon
‘winged’ sleeves. I think that this is a interesting choice of juxtaposition – as the wings are meant to represent angels, while black is connotated with the devil.

4. Here we have a very jagged mid shot of Florence Welch. Here in this shot we see that her hands are up
close to her face while her fingers are spread apart. I think this shot is effective because it could be said
that this is the first part of the music video where conflict between the good and the bad have been portrayed. The fingers in this shot also seem to flick themselves in time to the music.
In this shot we have a high angle of Florence. High angles are typically used to represent power. While
representing power, this shot could also be said to present liberation. We see that Florence is looking
towards to the ceiling of the church with her hands almost giving a sense of submit to a higher power –
linking back to the theme of the song.
Here we see a long shot of Florence with her arms spread apart – once again, giving the audience connotations
of acceptance to a higher power. I think this is an effective and powerful ending to the music video because
it could be said to represent death - which once again re inforces the life and death imagery that was used
throughout the music video

5. Ultamitely the music video for the ‘Drumming Song’ is a very
thematic music video - where the idea of life and death, and
the idea of good and bad are in constant clash - all very biblical
themes which relate to the message and lyics of the song.