If you haven’t listened to any music by Florence + The Machine, you’re missing out. With two previous albums — Lungs and Ceremonials — under her belt, Florence has just released her third record, How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful. Throughout the tracks, her booming voice is accompanied by catchy instrumentals and dynamic rhythm. “Queen of Peace,” in particular, is the most powerful song on the album and is my pick for song of the summer.
Her music can be described as soulful pop, and HBHBHB does not stray from that. The album is Florence’s strongest one yet, as she outdoes herself with eloquent lyrics and sound. Writing about her personal life is nothing new to her; however, the songs on this album have a stronger sense of urgency and a more intimate feel.
The album chronicles Florence’s journey for clarity after a tumultuous romantic relationship. The song tells the story of a king and queen who have lost their son in battle, and even though the battle was won, the victory is bittersweet. Florence compares the suffering in her relationship to the royal defeat depicted in the song. The lyrics illustrate her internal struggle between dwelling on her suffering and rising above it. The empowering lines in the pre-chorus, “Like the stars chase the sun / Over the glowing hill / I will conquer,” show Florence is determined to get over her pain and reclaim her independence.
“Queen of Peace” is the perfect song of the summer because its sound is uplifting and its lyrics are relatable. The theme ring true to most, if not all, of us at some point in our lives, and a song about moving on from past hurts is great for the season when all we want to do is relax and take each day as it comes. Summer should be a time when we use our downtime to let off steam and de-stress. “Queen of Peace” is a song that empowers us to find the strength we need to let go of the past and enjoy the present.
