Florence + The Machine and V For Vendetta

Today I have some incredible music for you today. This first song is by Florence  + The Machine. Many of you may know her, but the question is how well do you know her music. This song is really great because it has a darker twist to her music. Florence + The Machine has a very special style of music because it features elements used in a lot of movie scores. The heavy drums, the Celtic influences, the orchestral swells, etc. This song in particular features beautiful and amazing drum work. The title might give it away, but this song is more than just drum beats. It is the magnificence behind the way the drums sound. It is the strength and power which they thrum and pound. Florence Welch's vocals of course serve as a splendid compliment. Her voices sways and swells and grows stronger as the song progresses. In my opinion, Florence + The Machine is one of the most underrated musical groups. One listen to this song says it all. However, today I am not as focused on the vocal song as I am on the instrumental. Today's instrumental song comes from the movie V For Vendetta. This movie was absolutely incredible. There were so many takeaways from this movie about so many aspects of life. Of course, the most prominent was the idea of government and how the people are the true voice of government. The timing of this movie was impeccable because it acted sort of as propaganda while also being extremely entertaining. This movie is actually one of the few perfect pieces of propaganda but it also expresses the importance of this idea. And as V so beautifully points out to us, ideas are bulletproof and can still change the world. This movie was so artfully and masterfully done. I have to admit it, Marvel may come out with a lot of action movies, but DC Comics comes out with epic masterpieces. They are few in number but have the cream of the crop in all respects. Brilliant writing was accompanied only by the finest acting and a score that embodies the essence that is V and him as a symbol. This specific piece in the score embodies the mysterious and dangerous aspect of the masked vigilante. There are similarities and differences between this score and the Batman score for a multitude of reasons. For one, both feature a masked vigilante. However, V is a different kind of enigma. He is charming and suave, deadly calm and sophisticated while he is performing his missions. He remains a figure that is so well known yet completely in the shadows. No one knows who he truly is except for two, both of whom are taken care of. By the end of the movie, not a soul knows who he is which makes the audience wonder and ponder over his identity. This score reflects this enigma so incredibly well. There are twists of what we would associate with colonial style music in homage to Guy Fawkes, the inspiration of the film. The orchestra focuses on steady but energetic phrasing and themes which focuses more on the strings than the brass. In fact, this song would be nothing without the strings. They provide this solid and underlying state of danger and darkness, mystery and action and excitement. Everything that is supposed to accompany the persona that is V is encompassed in this song. There is no better piece that could have been composed for this movie. This piece has small  bursts of a calm which is very similar to the deadly tranquility that seems to surround V when he is getting ready to act. The cello, bass, and piano lines in this song often are played in the lower register with really great syncopation in order to sustain that enigmatic nature. It really brings about that suspense and danger which seems to shroud this entire movie. This song would also be completely lost without the incredible drum work. Many different drums are used in this great style which gives a colonial beat but then transfers to almost a tribal sound which then turns into something you would hear in a band. It is somewhat strange but completely appropriate. The final part of this piece goes from a state of calm and builds to this intense burst which writhes with energy and chaos, coming to a close with a perfect decrescendo. This piece could not have been more perfect. I hope you enjoy the music and please feel free to comment!