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"No Light, No Light" is the seventh track and third single from Florence and the Machine’s sophomore album, Ceremonials.
Background[]
"No Light, No Light" was written by band members Florence Welch and Isabella Summers while the production was handled by Paul Epworth.[1] The song was recorded in 2011 at the Abbey Road Studios. According to Welch, "No Light, No Light" was the first song written for the album.[2] During an interview with MTV News she confirmed the release of the song.[2] Welch further revealed that the intro of the song was written during the tour in Amsterdam, "We had gone out for Rob [Ackroyd]'s birthday to an all-night restaurant in Brussels called Midnights. We went to this funny restaurant and then got on the tour bus and everyone was a bit drunk and it was like, 'Yeah, let's write a song.'"[2] Welch also said that "No Light, No Light" was also recorded in Amsterdam, "And we recorded the sound of the bus moving, a real drone-y bass sound, and that's the intro, and then the tour bus arrived in Amsterdam [and we were saying], 'Let's go toast this song! We will find a bar that will serve us drinks at 7 in the morning! Come!'.[...] So we trotted off into Amsterdam and managed to find a sports bar that would only serve us Midori. It was bright-green drinks and me and Isa [Summers] kind of looking like crazy old ladies."[2] During an interview with Los Angeles Times, Welch further described the song as "one of the biggest tracks on the album."[3] Island Records released the song as the third single from Ceremonials on January 16 with two remixes by Dave Sitek and Breakage.[4][5] Consequence of Sound's Chris Coplan gave a mixed review for the remix by Dave Sitek, saying: "In the able hands of Sitek, 'No Light, No Light' loses some of its melodramatic air, replaced instead with an effervescent, club-ready vibe. Both tracks may be decidedly similar, but they'll evoke wholly unique sets of emotions."[6] A limited 12" vinyl single was released simultaneously with the remix single.[6][7]
Lyrics[]
You are the hole in my head
You are the space in my bed
You are the silence in between
What I thought and what I said
You are the night-time fear
You are the morning when it's clear
When it's over you're the start
You're my head, you're my heart
No light, no light in your bright blue eyes
I never knew daylight could be so violent
A revelation in the light of day
You can't choose what stays and what fades away
And I'd do anything to make you stay
No light, no light (no light)
Tell me what you want me to say
And through the crowd I was crying out and
In your place there were a thousand other faces
I was disappearing in plain sight
Heaven help me I need to make it right
You want a revelation
You want to get right
But it's a conversation
I just can't have tonight
You want a revelation
Some kind of resolution
You want a revelation
No light, no light in your bright blue eyes
I never knew daylight could be so violent
A revelation in the light of day
You can't choose what stays and what fades away
And I'd do anything to, to make you stay
No light, no light (no light)
Tell me what you want me to say
Would you leave me
If I told you what I've done?
And would you leave me
If I told you what I've become?
'Cause it's so easy
To sing it to a crowd
But it's so hard, my love
To say it to you out loud
No light, no light in your bright blue eyes
I never knew daylight could be so violent
A revelation in the light of day
You can't choose what stays and what fades away
And I'd do anything to make you stay
No light, no light (no light)
Tell me what you want me to say
You want a revelation
You want to get right
But it's a conversation
I just can't have tonight
You want a revelation
Some kind of resolution
You want a revelation
You want a revelation
You want to get right
But, it's a conversation
I just can't have tonight
You want a revelation
Some kind of resolution
Tell me what you want me to say
Music video[]
Background and release[]
An accompanying music video for the song was released on Florence and the Machine's official Vevo account on November 18, 2011. It was directed by Icelandic duo Arni & Kinski.[8] A teaser was also uploaded on their Vevo account on November 15, 2011. During an interview with MTV News, Welch revealed some of the stories behind the inspiration of the music video saying, "When [directors Arni and Kinski] pitched it to me, I loved the idea of stained glass ... and this falling thing, to do it on a New York skyline was really important to me, and there's some weird stuff with my grandmother about New York that's kind of too dark to go into... The idea of falling from a great height in New York is intense ... because my grandmother, she died in New York, and I literally didn't think about it until we were filming and I was like, 'This is kind of insane.'"[9]
Synopsis[]
The video begins with Welch lying next to a crystal skull. Several scenes showing a masked and shirtless contortionist sitting on a chair follow and soon after he starts to dance and takes his mask off. The video then moves into a church where a choir consisting of kids (The Trinity Boys Choir) starts singing the song. Welch is then seen atop of a building as the contortionist takes a voodoo doll in his hands. He puts a needle in the doll and Welch falls from the building. She later falls in the church where she's being caught and held by the choir. Welch then ends up in the arms of her love interest, played by actor Torstein Bjorklund.[10] Shots of Welch being chased by the contortionist in a town are interspersed amongst the other elements of the video.
Reception[]
Marc Hogan of Spin concluded that the video, "touches on the fine line between spiritual ecstasy and reckless abandon."[11] Jillian Mapes of Billboard magazine commented that the video is exploring a "territory between Christianity and voodoo spirituality."[12] Mapes further praised the video for being dramatic, but he wrote that "more than that, it's completely absurd."[12] A writer of Rolling Stone concluded: "[the video] does not shy away from matching the music's melodramatic intensity. In addition to contrasting overtly Christian iconography with images of some kind of voodoo priest, the harrowing climax is paired with footage of Florence Welch falling from the top of a skyscraper."[13] Writing for Dose, Leah Collins found "seriously life-threatening juju going on in No Light, No Light [video]"[14] Nick Neyland of Prefix Magazine wrote: "That song ["No Light. No Light"] just got a suitably opulent video, which is full of religious imagery, Florence perched atop a building in Manhattan, and a strange masked figure. What does it all mean? We have no idea, but anyone who's afraid of heights may want to look away when Florence starts flinging herself across that rooftop and ultimately takes to the skies and starts flying (seriously)."[15] Eoin Butler of The Irish Times praised the boys dressed as priests comparing the scenes with a Catholic version of 1976 film Bugsy Malone.[16]
Controversy[]
Following the online release of the video, several publications and users on various websites commented on the use of racism and racial imagery due to the black face of the voodoo man at the beginning.[17][8][18][19] During an interview with MTV News, when asked by James Montgomery if she was a part of the Illuminati as online accusations claim, Welch responded, "That's ridiculous. Really? So people [think that?] I'm definitely not [a member]. It's just not true."[9]
Composition[]
"No Light, No Light" is an art rock[20] song with an indie rock[21] bridge. According to the sheet music published on the website Musicnotes.com by Universal Music Publishing Group, "No Light, No Light" is written in the key of A Minor with 132 beats per minute. Welch's vocals range from the note G3 to E5. The song begins with pulsating tribal drums as stated by Kyle Anderson of Entertainment Weekly.[22][23] According to Billboard magazine's Jillian Mapes, "A dramatic opening note on the... [song] ushers in a drum crescendo, followed by a 'Like a Prayer' - style interlude."[23] During the choir-led chorus, Welch sings the lines, "You can't choose what stays and what fades away/ And I'd do anything to make you stay/ No light, no light/ Tell me what you want me to say" over "thundering tribal" beats and harp strings that "grow louder and louder".[24][25] Lyrically, in the song she's expressing frustration about the state of her fragile relationship and she further tries to keep it together.[24][26] Ryan Dombal of the website Pitchfork Media commented that "No Light, No Light" was one of the songs where Welch "sets aside her usual flighty, dreamy, goth-y lyrical go-to's-- ghosts, graveyards, devils, angels, myths, drowning-- for something a bit more personal."[27] During the musical bridge of the song, Welch sings the lines "Would you leave me, if I told you what I'd become. 'Cause it's so easy to sing it to a crowd/ But it's so hard, my love/ To say it to you out loud",[27] which according to Mapes shows Welch "on her knees, begging her lover not to go".[23] Alix Buscovic of BBC Online compared the song with Florence and the Machine's earlier song "Cosmic Love",[28] while Newsday’s Glenn Gamboa compared "No Light, No Light" with Kate Bush's songs.[29] Sam Wolfson of The Guardian joked that the song talks about Tess Daly.[17]
Critical reception[]
"No Light, No Light" received widespread critical acclaim from music critics. Ryan Dombal of the website Pitchfork Media praised the song, saying that the lines "double as a snippet of self-criticism."[27] He added: "Perhaps Welch finds it 'so easy' to sing her tunes to thousands because they often lack an individual touch that could send them even further skyward-- the same touch that comes so naturally to fellow UK chart queen Adele."[27] Spin’s Rob Harvilla commented that "No Light, No Light" was "a desperate lovers' quarrel, all agitated strings and galloping drums (no broken jaws or burning beds this time, alas)."[30] Clash magazine's Laura Foster called the song "uplifting" and "typically Florence-sounding" further putting it in her list of "six massive anthems" on Ceremonials.[31] Alex Buscovic of the website BBC Online called "No Light, No Light" a "drum-chased, harp-gilded and hook-jawed" song.[28] However, Buscovic commented that its "epic proportions are too much."[28] Randall Roberts of Los Angeles Times called the song an anthem, which according to him, was "as overpowering as 'Dog Days Are Over.'"[3] In his review of Ceremonials, Jillian Mapes of Billboard wrote "'I'd do anything to make you stay / Tell me what you want me to say,' she pleads atop the album's most pulsating tribal drumbeat. Musically, the song exudes utter strength; lyrically, Welch is on her knees."[32] In a review of the album, Rebecca Nicholson of The Guardian commented,
"A wonky piano, a choir and the return of the harp, as well as more Phil Collins-ey drums, in the tale of what appears to be a humdinger of a domestic – 'Kiss with a Fist', but more grown-up, and colder. 'I'd do anything to make you stay,' she sings, before switching tack: 'You want a revelation, no light no light in your bright blue eyes.' Like the rest of these tracks, it's kitchen sink and then some, but there's a little more texture here."[33]
In the review of the album, Lewis Corner of the website Digital Spy said that the song "manages to sound knee-quiveringly epic".[26] Later, in a separate review of the single he graded it with five stars out of five commenting that "she pleads to her beau in her unmistakable folk-tinged timbre".[24] The Boston Globe’s Mesfin Fekadu noted that Welch's vocals were "impeccable throughout" and "sounding bossy" in the track.[34] Luren Murphy of The Irish Times reviewed the song positively saying that it's "providing the huge choruses and skyscraping vocals we’ve come to expect of Florence and the Machine".[35] However, Eoin Butler of the same publication rated the song with two out of five stars commenting, "Like most of Florence's recent singles, this bombastic effort sounds as though it was intended to be enjoyed not on an iPod or CD player but rather sitting in Row 198 in the local EnormoDome."[16] Priya Elan of NME noted that the song was "the most traditionally Florence-like track" further comparing it with "Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)" (2009) and with songs by Björk.[36] A writer of the website Slant Magazine said, "The album is steeped in melodrama, with pump organs, choirs, and strings expertly deployed as pure pomp on...'No Light, No Light.'"[37]
Time placed the song at number one on their list of "Top 10 Songs of 2011". The writer further commented: "In another context, this 'No Light, No Light' could be the sound of a religious revival. Florence Welch's rich voice has never sounded better than on this track; her fervent, even rapturous, lamentations about her partner's lost love resonate like requests for salvation made by a faltering believer with arms raised to the sky. 'Heaven help me, I need to make it right' she wails, but gets no reply. Replete with harps and a tribal drum beat, 'No Light, No Light' operates as a plea for salvation that will soon have you running to your deity of choice."[38] On the Triple J Hottest 100 list, "No Light, No Light" was ranked at number 36.[39] It was also ranked at number 343 on The Village Voice’s year-end Pazz & Jop singles list.[40]
Commercial performance[]
"No Light, No Light" debuted at number 67 on the UK Singles Chart dated January 28, 2012.[41] It eventually peaked at number 50 for the week ending March 3, 2012 following the band's performance at the 2012 BRIT Awards, selling 6,909 copies.[41][42] On the Hungarian Airplay Chart, the song debuted at number 40 on February 6, 2012 and later peaked at number 36 for the week ending February 27, 2012.[43] On March 1, 2012, "No Light, No Light" debuted at number 50 on the Irish Singles Chart and failed to re-enter the chart.[44] On the ARIA Singles Chart, the song debuted and peaked at number 95 for the week commencing January 30, 2012.[45] On the Belgian Ultratip Singles Chart, the song peaked at number 10 on January 21, 2012.[46] In the US, the song debuted at number 39 on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart. On the chart issue dated April 25, 2012, the song debuted at number 48 on the US Billboard Rock Songs chart.[47]
Refrences[]
- ↑ http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a351630/florence-welch-falls-off-skyscraper-in-no-light-no-light-video.html
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 http://www.mtv.com/news/1672740/florence-and-the-machine-no-light-single/
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2011/10/on-eve-of-ceremonials-florence-welch-talks-about-breaking-down.html
- ↑ https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/no-light-no-light-single/id485714697
- ↑ https://pitchfork.com/news/44642-watch-new-florence-and-the-machine-video-no-light-no-light/
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 http://consequenceofsound.net/2011/12/check-out-florence-and-the-machine-no-light-no-light-dave-sitek-remix/
- ↑ "No Light, No Light - Limited Edition Vinyl"
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 https://www.nme.com/news/florence-and-the-machine/60554
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1676218/florence-machine-illuminati-no-light.jhtml
- ↑ https://www.nme.com/news/florence-and-the-machine/60474
- ↑ http://www.spin.com/articles/watch-florence-machines-dramatic-no-light-no-light-video
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/viral-videos/465064/florence-welch-crowdsurfs-through-childrens-choir-in-epic-no
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20111119223920/http://www.rollingstone.com/videos/new-and-hot/florence-and-the-machine-no-light-no-light-20111118
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20111120072750/http://www.dose.ca/Video+Florence+Machine+Dabble+Dark+Arts+Light+Light+Clip/5732683/story.html
- ↑ http://www.prefixmag.com/media/florence-the-machine/no-light-no-light-video/58790/
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 https://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/theticket/2011/1125/1224308082946.html
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/jan/14/this-weeks-new-singles
- ↑ https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/465049/florence-the-machines-no-light-no-light-video-causes-comment-controversy
- ↑ http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a352254/florence--the-machine-no-light-no-light-video-accused-of-racism.html
- ↑ https://beatsperminute.com/reviews/album-review-florence-the-machine-ceremonials/
- ↑ https://www.billboard.com/articles/review/1067470/track-review-florence-the-machine-no-light-no-light
- ↑ https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20540085,00.html
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 https://www.billboard.com/articles/review/1067470/track-review-florence-the-machine-no-light-no-light
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/singlesreviews/a358552/florence--the-machine-no-light-no-light-single-review.html
- ↑ http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/thesound/a340576/florence--the-machines-new-album-ceremonials-first-listen.html
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/albumreviews/a348373/florence--the-machine-ceremonials-album-review.html
- ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 27.3 http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/reviews/albums/16004-ceremonials/
- ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/qwcg
- ↑ http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/music/florence-and-the-machine-s-ceremonials-1.3280909
- ↑ http://www.spin.com/reviews/florence-and-machine-ceremonials-universal-republic
- ↑ http://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/florence-and-the-machine-ceremonials
- ↑ https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/465357/florence-the-machine-ceremonials-track-by-track-review
- ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2011/sep/15/florence-machine-ceremonials
- ↑ https://www.boston.com/ae/music/articles/2011/10/31/review_florence__the_machine_makes_magic_again/
- ↑ https://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/theticket/2011/1028/1224306602513.html
- ↑ https://www.nme.com/blog/index.php?blog=140&title=first_listen_florence_aamp_the_machine_c&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1
- ↑ https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/feature/the-25-best-albums-of-2011/294
- ↑ http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2101344_2101365,00.html%7Carchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111207232545/http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2101344_2101365,00.html
- ↑ http://www.perthnow.com.au/entertainment/perth-confidential/triple-js-hottest-100-countdown-2012/story-e6frg30l-1226254990618
- ↑ http://www.villagevoice.com/pazznjop/singles/2011/
- ↑ 41.0 41.1 https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/no%20light%20no%20light/
- ↑ http://www.musicweek.com/news/read/official-chart-analysis-week-on-week-album-sales-fall-despite-brits-as-adeles-21-shifts-another-65k/048188
- ↑ https://slagerlistak.hu/radios-top-40-jatszasi-lista/2012/9
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20161215114940/http://www.chart-track.co.uk/index.jsp?c=p%2Fmusicvideo%2Fmusic%2Farchive%2Findex_test.jsp&ct=240001&arch=t&lyr=2012&year=2012&week=9
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20120204174239/http://www.ariacharts.com.au/pages/chartifacts.htm
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20121012065051/https://www.ultratop.be/nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Florence+++The+Machine&titel=No+Light,+No+Light&cat=s
- ↑ https://www.billboard.com/artist/florence-+-the-machine/chart-history/rock-songs/
[]
 | |
|---|---|
| Tour • Merch • Photoshoot • Producers | |
| Discography | |
| Releases | Ceremonials |
| Tracklist | Only If for a Night • Shake It Out • What the Water Gave Me • Never Let Me Go • Breaking Down • Lover to Lover • No Light, No Light • Seven Devils • Heartlines • Spectrum • All This and Heaven Too • Leave My Body |
| Deluxe | Spectrum (Say My Name) • Breath of Life • Take Care (BBC Live at Maida Vale) • Remain Nameless • Strangeness and Charm • Bedroom Hymns • What the Water Gave Me (demo) • Landscape (Demo) • Heartlines (acoustic) • Shake It Out (acoustic) • Breaking Down (acoustic) • What the Water Gave Me (acoustic) |
| Extra Releases | Sweet Nothing • Over the Love • Midnight • I Come Apart |
| Other Eras | |
| Lungs • Ceremonials • How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful • High As Hope • Dance Fever | |