Top 12 Female Pop Artists - Number 8: Florence + The Machine

Every Saturday for the next 12 weeks I decided to count down my top 12 female pop artists. After each cut will be a short explanation of why they made the list and their discographies. There will also be audio of some of my favorite songs to listen to, and video of some of their music videos and live performances that I like the most. Give the page time to load after you click "Read More" because all the audio and video may cause it to take awhile.

Some of these songs or video may have already been posted in other entries, but they will be reposted for the countdown purposes if they are some of favorites. (And of course the number of songs and videos posted will depend on how new the artist is...a newer artist will have far fewer than one who's been around for years). This week we the countdown continues with:

Number 8 - Florence + The Machine


Florence + The Machine is the recording name of British musician Florence Welch and a collaboration of other artists who provide backing music for her voice. She's only had one album so far but has already made a huge impact on the industry. Her voice, fashion and musical style are a unique blend of pop, rock, soul with a bit of a gothic feeling thrown in. Her signature hard beating drum is prevalent in many of her songs, as is her use of non-traditional instruments in popular music, such as the ukelele. Her strong female persona is refreshingly different from other pop stars out there and I only see her making more of an impact on the industry as time goes on.

Discography:
Lungs (2009)
Lungs: The B-Sides (2011)

Songs You Must Hear:

Kiss with a Fist (from "Lungs"):



I'm Not Calling You A Liar (from "Lungs"):



Howl (from "Lungs"):



Girl With One Eye (from "Lungs"):



Between Two Lungs (from "Lungs"):



My Boy Builds Coffins (from "Lungs"):



Hurricane Drunk (from "Lungs"):



Blinding (from "Lungs"):



Strangeness and Charm (Live From Hammersmith Apollo) (from "Lungs"):



Swimming (from "Lungs: The B-Sides"):



Bird Song (from "Lungs: The B-Sides"):



Videos You Must See:

Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up) (from "Lungs"):



You've Got the Love (from "Lungs"):



Drumming Song (from "Lungs"):



Dog Days Are Over (from "Lungs"):



Cosmic Love (from "Lungs"):



Heavy In Your Arms (from "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse Soundtrack"):



Performances You Must Watch:

Ghosts (I'm Not Calling You A Liar Acoustic Live BBC Introducing):



Cosmic Love (Acoustic Live From RTE's Other Voices):



Dog Days Are Over (Live From the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards):

Dog Days Are Over (Acoustic Live From Sirius XM):



Dog Days Are Over (Live From VEVO Go Shows):



Drumming Song (Live From Oxygen Festival 2010):



Cosmic Love (Live From The Late Show with David Letterman):