What Kind of Man (Florence and the Machine song)

"What Kind of Man"

12" single cover
Single by Florence and the Machine
from the album How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful
B-side "As Far as I Could Get"
Released 12 February 2015 (2015-02-12)
Format
Recorded The Pool
(London, England)
Genre
Length 3:36
Label Island
Writer(s)
Producer(s)
Florence and the Machine singles chronology
"Lover to Lover"
(2012)		 "What Kind of Man"
(2015)		 "Ship to Wreck"
(2015)

"What Kind of Man" is a song by English indie rock band Florence and the Machine from their third studio album, How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful (2015). It was written by Florence Welch, Kid Harpoon and John Hill, produced by Markus Dravs and co-produced by Hill. The song was released on 12 February 2015 as the album's lead single. "What Kind of Man" received Grammy Award nominations for Best Rock Performance and Best Rock Song.

Composition

According to lead vocalist Florence Welch, the song represents a new guitar-driven sonic direction for the band. "It's got very loud guitars and that was very fun to record actually", she said in an interview. "Trying to get exactly the right tone of guitar—I never realised how complicated that is. It took us forever.... Every day there'd be a different guitar sound. We ended up layering with three different guitar sounds, one on top of the other, in order to create this one song."[3]

The song builds slowly and breaks into a heavy beat with tambourine and bass drum, and then becomes a textured pop song with heavy brass arrangements.[4] The song lyrically focuses on an indecisive man who wronged Welch.[4][5]

Critical reception

"What Kind of Man" received acclaim from music critics. Al Horner of the NME wrote, "Musically, it's big. Wagnerian backing vocals and horn blasts turn 'What Kind Of Man' into a spectacle worthy of [Welch's] new festival headliner status".[6] Dee Lockett of Vulture dubbed it a "fiery rocker".[5] Andrew Unterberger of Spin opined that the song "starts off a letdown, but quickly proves to be ['Ship to Wreck''s] roaring equal, with the unexpected arrival of a thick guitar chop and regal horn salute that gives Florence the instrumental support she deserves as she excoriates an uncommitted significant other".[7]

Commercial performance

"What Kind of Man" debuted at number 57 on the UK Singles Chart,[8] peaking at number 37 the following week.[9] In the United States, the song reached number eight on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart, tying with the band's 2010 single "Dog Days Are Over" and subsequent single "Ship to Wreck" as their highest-peaking single on that chart.[10]

Music video

The music video for "What Kind of Man" was directed by Vincent Haycock and choreographed by Ryan Heffington. It premiered on 12 February 2015.[11] The video is a short film that includes dialogue about the unifying power of tragedy in a relationship between a couple as they drive down a country road. Scenes of the couple driving at various points in their relationship are interspersed with examples of the woman and her relationships with different men, often taking on a smothering quality. The woman later is the centre of religious rituals that involve her being lifted by several men, including her love interest played by Richie Stephens, speaking in tongues, baptism and exorcism.

Track listings

  1. "What Kind of Man" (Nicolas Jaar Remix) – 12:21
A. "What Kind of Man"
B. "As Far as I Could Get"

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful.[14]

Florence and the Machine
Additional personnel

  • Leo Abrahams – electric guitar
  • John Barclay – trumpet
  • Mat Bartram – brass recording
  • Robin Baynton – engineering
  • Iain Berryman – assistant engineering
  • Nigel Black – French horn
  • Elise Campbell – French horn
  • Philip Cobb – trumpet
  • Andy Crowley – trumpet
  • Markus Dravs – percussion, production, synths
  • Pip Eastop – French horn
  • Richard Edwards – tenor trombone
  • John Hill – brass arrangements, brass writing, co-production, synths
  • Sam Jacobs – French horn
  • Ted Jensen – mastering
  • Joe Kearns – additional engineering
  • Kid Harpoon – brass arrangements, brass writing
  • Oren Marshall – tuba
  • Janelle Martin – backing vocals
  • Nim Miller – backing vocals
  • Baby N'Sola – backing vocals
  • Ronan Phelan – assistant brass recording
  • Tom Rees-Roberts – trumpet
  • Jonathan Sagis – assistant engineering
  • Mark 'Spike' Stent – mixing
  • Geoff Swan – mixing assistance
  • Ed Tarrant – Euphonium
  • Andy Wood – Euphonium

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2015) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[15] 16
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[16] 52
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[17] 50
Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia)[18] 37
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[19] 46
Canada Rock (Billboard)[20] 2
France (SNEP)[21] 74
Ireland (IRMA)[22] 31
Italy (FIMI)[23] 86
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[24] 34
Scotland (Official Charts Company)[25] 25
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[26] 44
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[27] 42
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[9] 37
US Billboard Hot 100[28] 88
US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)[29] 1
US Alternative Songs (Billboard)[10] 8
US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[30] 7

Year-end charts

Chart (2015) Position
US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)[31] 17
US Alternative Songs (Billboard)[32] 36
US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[33] 33

Release history

Region Date Format Label Ref.
Canada 12 February 2015 Digital download Island [34]
United States [35]
United Kingdom 2 March 2015 Contemporary hit radio [36]
Various 11 March 2015 Digital download – Nicolas Jaar Remix [12][37][38]
Canada 15 March 2015 [39]
United States [40]
United Kingdom 13 April 2015 12" single (Record Store Day exclusive) [41]
United States 18 April 2015 Republic [13]

References

  1. ↑ Tomer, William (10 June 2015). "Florence and the Machine – How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful". The 405. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  2. ↑ Clayton-Lea, Tony (29 May 2016). "Florence + The Machine: How Big How Blue How Beautiful Album". The Irish Times. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  3. ↑ "Hear: Florence + The Machine debut new single 'What Kind Of Man'". Triple J. 13 February 2015. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  4. 1 2 Grow, Kory (12 February 2015). "Florence and the Machine Announce New Album 'How Big How Blue How Beautiful'". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  5. 1 2 Lockett, Dee (12 February 2015). "Florence and the Machine's New Song Is Pretty Fierce". Vulture. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  6. ↑ Horner, Al (13 February 2015). "Florence + The Machine Wrestle With Melancholy On Triumphant Comeback Single 'What Kind Of Man' – First Listen Review". NME. Time Inc. UK. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  7. ↑ Unterberger, Andrew (4 June 2015). "Review: Florence + the Machine Go Big, Then Go Home on 'How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful'". Spin. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
  8. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Chart Company. 15–21 February 2015. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
  9. 1 2 "Archive Chart: 2015-02-22" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
  10. 1 2 "Florence + The Machine – Chart history" Billboard Alternative Songs for Florence + The Machine. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
  11. ↑ Carley, Brennan (12 February 2015). "Florence + the Machine Announce Third Album, 'How Big How Blue How Beautiful'". Spin. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  12. 1 2 "What Kind Of Man (Nicolas Jaar Remix): Florence + The Machine: MP3 Downloads". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
  13. 1 2 "Florence + The Machine – What Kind of Man". Record Store Day. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
  14. ↑ How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful (CD liner notes). Florence and the Machine. Island Records. 2015. 602547236067.
  15. ↑ "Australian-charts.com – Florence + The Machine – What Kind of Man". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  16. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Florence + The Machine – What Kind of Man" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  17. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Florence + The Machine – What Kind of Man" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  18. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Florence + The Machine – What Kind of Man" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  19. ↑ "Florence + The Machine – Chart history" Canadian Hot 100 for Florence + The Machine. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  20. ↑ "Canada Rock". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 23 May 2015. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
  21. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Florence + The Machine – What Kind of Man" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  22. ↑ "Chart Track: Week 8, 2015". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  23. ↑ "Top Digital – Classifica settimanale WK 10 (dal 2015-03-02 al 2015-03-08)" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
  24. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Florence + The Machine – What Kind of Man". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  25. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2015-02-22". Scottish Singles Top 40. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
  26. ↑ "Spanishcharts.com – Florence + The Machine – What Kind of Man" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
  27. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Florence + The Machine – What Kind of Man". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  28. ↑ "Florence + The Machine – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Florence + The Machine. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  29. ↑ "Florence + The Machine – Chart history" Billboard Adult Alternative Songs for Florence + The Machine. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
  30. ↑ "Florence + The Machine – Chart history" Billboard Hot Rock Songs for Florence + The Machine. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  31. ↑ "Adult Alternative Songs: Year End 2015". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
  32. ↑ "Alternative Songs: Year End 2015". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
  33. ↑ "Hot Rock Songs: Year End 2015". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
  34. ↑ "What Kind Of Man (2015) | Florence + The Machine". 7digital (CA). Retrieved 27 May 2016.
  35. ↑ "What Kind Of Man (2015) | Florence + The Machine". 7digital (US). Retrieved 27 May 2016.
  36. ↑ "BBC – Radio 1 – Playlist". BBC Radio 1. Archived from the original on 3 March 2015. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
  37. ↑ "What Kind Of Man (Nicolas Jaar Remix): Florence + The Machine: MP3-Downloads" (in German). Amazon.de. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
  38. ↑ "What Kind Of Man (Nicolas Jaar Remix): Florence + The Machine: Téléchargements MP3" (in French). Amazon.fr. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
  39. ↑ "What Kind of Man (Nicolas Jaar Remix) – Single by Florence + The Machine". iTunes Store (CA). Apple. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
  40. ↑ "What Kind Of Man (Nicolas Jaar Remix): Florence + The Machine: MP3 Downloads". Amazon.com. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
  41. ↑ "What Kind of Man [12" Vinyl]". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
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