Florence and the Machine connecting to the soul via that universal language called music. Have a listen to this magnificent piece extracted the inter-web and if ever there was such a thing as a Carlsberg Musical Introduction this surely has to be it.
There are 5 levels of juxtaposition that make this video unbearably touching and meaningful. The first is the setting. An innocent teenage girl is fighting against the merciless face of mortality. We see the hand of Death preying on the weak. Then enter the Heroes; the forces of good. Not only family, not only friends but a celebrity... a modern day Royal (clad in white, nonetheless). Formidable as can be, they are powerless to stop the young girl's horrid affliction. The song is the definition of heartbreaking irony. The Dog Days are not over... The song, sung with that angelic voice, is the ultimate symbol of Hope & Strength. Yet, beautiful & powerful as they may be, they are nothing compared to the unforgiving force of death. It's like watching a duel between God and the Devil. We watch the battle of forces in real time. Beginning with the visible gratitude & awe of the family and friends, because they are meeting a celebrity. The celebrity's humility adds to her endearment. She is well-aware that she is the Hero of this precious moment. Her weapon, is Hope. Her foe is the force of Death (the emotion is most clearly shown @ 1:48 when the girl faces her family, overwhelmed, while family and Hero take each of her hands).
