Which Florence and the Machine song is a cover?

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When it comes to people who can wring out-sized emotion out of their voice, Florence Welch is definitely up there. So it’s not that surprising, but still totally delightful, that during Florence + the Machine’s tour-ending performance in Paris, Welch closed the set with a stunning cover of none other than The Beatles’ seminal ~*all of the feelings*~ tune, “All You Need Is Love.”

The singer, who’s currently on tour in support of her third album How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful, has covered the Fab Four before — namely, their also-very-heartfelt “Oh Darling.” But her performance in Paris was extra special, given the city’s recent events; another song the band covered was by the band Eagles of Death Metal, whose Paris show had been targeted in the attack.

For “All You Need Is Love,” Welch dialed her usual bombast back, instead choosing to punch the song up a bit with her signature brass-heavy backing band. It’s the kind of cover that makes you appreciate both the original song and the new take on it; so, take a break from looping “Come Together” for the fiftieth time at your family potluck to jam out with Florence and your feelings:

This incredible cover of Joni Mitchell’s ‘A Case of You’ will make your day

We now know what the Beatles’ most streamed song is

(Image via Youtube)

‘Only Love Can Break Your Heart’ by Neil Young is one of his most instantly recognisable songs. The third track on his 1970 album After the Gold Rush, the track features an all-star cast of musicians who helped the Canadian troubadour instil magic that remains timeless.

Featuring Billy Talbot, Danny Whitten, Ralph Molina, Jack Nitzsche, Nils Lofgren and Stephen Stills, the combined power of the band, in tandem with the warm production of David Briggs, elevated Young’s poetic lyrics and the central message that is made so clear by the title.

A touching tribute to the pitfalls of love and relationships, lyrically, the song is a concise account of love, and is one of the most evident reflections of Young‘s perception as a man and songwriter. Whilst it is probable that Young, who is best described as an autobiographical artist, dotted flecks of his own experience throughout the song, it was principally written about the end of the relationship between his CSNY bandmate, Graham Nash, and fellow Canadian folk star Joni Mitchell.

It is this that gives the song its melancholic feeling and what has made it such a go-to for those wanting a hearty sob after splitting from their partner.

This authenticity has spawned numerous covers, ranging from Saint Etienne’s dance-infused hit to Psychic TV’s atmospheric rendition. Even though Psychic TV’s undertaking makes a solid claim to be the song’s ultimate cover, the one that British indie rockers Florence and the Machine released in 2016 is also right up there.

A stripped-back take on the original, here we find Florence Welch’s unmistakable voice front and centre, backed by an acoustic guitar, piano and horn section. Her take on the chorus is exquisite, and the silk of the backing vocalists dovetails perfectly with the rawness of her delivery, bringing something new to the song.

Florence and the Machine released the track as the B-side to the Record Store Day single ‘Delilah’, and it’s quite surprising that the song is not spoken about more often. The band manage to be original whilst still being faithful to Neil Young, a reflection of their collective brilliance.

So, as the band gear up to release their long-awaited fifth studio album, Dance Fever, later this month, why not remind yourself of their talent with this cover?

Listen to Florence and the Machine cover ‘Only Love Can Break Your Heart’ below.

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Florence and the Machine are no strangers to Fleetwood Mac covers. Back in 2018, a session at SiriusXM produced a wonderful cover of the Stevie Nicks-penned classic ‘Silver Springs’, the bittersweet love song that became the final song axed from the Rumours tracklisting. Thanks to live performances and deluxe editions including the track, ‘Silver Springs’ managed to become one of the most endearing Mac tracks of all time, as proven by Florence Welch’s emotional rendition.

That wasn’t actually the first time that Florence had taken on the mighty Mac though. Back at the band’s 2010 appearance at the Glastonbury Festival, the Machine busted out a stark and explosive rendition of another Rumours track, the side two opener ‘The Chain’.

The original version of the song is almost wholly dependent on the vocal interplay between Fleetwood Mac’s three vocalists. Really, like a lot of great Mac tunes, ‘The Chain’ is another excuse to reignite the sordid soap opera that the band entrenched themselves in during the late 1970s. With every call and response of “you don’t love me now” between Lindsay Buckingham and Stevie Nicks, the drama escalates to a brutal crescendo.

Fleetwood Mac could fight without weapons and cut without knives. Some of the best YouTube rabbit holes you can fall down are live performances of ‘The Chain’, where Buckingham and Nicks lean into that intensity. Sometimes it appears performative and staged, but other times it feels raw and immediate, like the heartbreak is still being felt in real time. There are clips of Buckingham and Nicks shouting the lines at each other from across the stage in a clear attempt to one-up the other, and it’s some of the most entertaining battles that classic rock ever produced.

Compared to that level of palpable emotion, obviously, Florence isn’t going to quite match that. Instead, she has just her voice to bring the central drama of the song to life. No one to play off of and no one to direct all that anger towards. That’s why her version of ‘The Chain’ seems more celebratory and joyous. Clearly, Welch is having a ball covering a band she loves and her rendition feels exalted, fine-tuning the chorus to be a crowd sing-along instead of a bitter game of nerves between two former lovers.

Check out Florence and the Machine’s cover of ‘The Chain’ down below.

Who has covered Florence and the Machine?

Artists covered by Florence + the Machine.

What Take That songs are covers?

Songs covered by Take That.

What is Florence and the Machine most famous song?

“Dog Days Are Over” remains one of the best Florence + The Machine songs and the group's highest-charting hit, essentially launching her from the MTV Video Music Awards stage and into the stratosphere.