Delilah (Florence and the Machine song)

"Delilah" 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 and Isabella Summers, and produced by Markus Dravs. The song was released on 27 November 2015 as the album's fourth and final single.

"Delilah"
12-inch single cover
Single by Florence and the Machine
from the album How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful
B-side	"Only Love Can Break Your Heart" (live)
Released	27 November 2015 (2015-11-27)
Studio	The Pool (London)
Genre	Pop gospel[1] Northern soul[2][3]
Length	4:53
Label	Island
Songwriter(s)	Florence Welch Isabella Summers
Producer(s)	Markus Dravs
Florence and the Machine singles chronology
"Queen of Peace" (2015) "Delilah" (2015) "Wish That You Were Here" (2016)
Music video
"Delilah" on YouTube

Critical reception

Jon Blistein of Rolling Stone wrote that "Delilah" begins sparsely with Welch's multi-tracked call-and-response vocals sailing atop a simple piano and simmering synths.^[4]

Music video

The music video for "Delilah" was directed by Vincent Haycock and premiered on 21 October 2015 as part of the video series The Odyssey.^[5] Filmed in Los Angeles,^[6] the video opens with an intense monologue from an old man.^[5] Florence Welch is then seen roaming through a "maze of motel rooms – dancing, writhing intensely, cutting a man's hair and encountering a horrifying goblin."^[5] At the end of the video, Welch "triumphantly rides through the streets of Los Angeles [...] as a hat tip to her newfound freedom."^[6]

In an interview with Rookie, Haycock said of the video, "The cutting of the hair was a direct reference to the biblical [story of] Delilah, but then it veered off into something more personal to Florence. Since this song was always planned as being the end of the series, we decided to make it about [her] returning to her true self, killing off the ego version of herself, and finding her way home again."^[7]

Track listings

• Digital download – Galantis Remix^[8]

1. "Delilah" (Galantis Remix) – 5:37
2. "Delilah" (Galantis Remix / Radio Edit) – 4:11

• Limited-edition 12-inch single (Record Store Day exclusive)^[9]

A1. "Delilah" – 4:53

A2. "Delilah" (Demo) – 4:23

B. "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" (live) – 2:58

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful.^[10]

Recording

• Engineered at The Pool (London)
• Mixed at Toast Studios (London)
• Mastered at Sterling Sound (New York City)

Personnel

Florence and the Machine Florence Welch – vocals, backing vocals Chris Hayden – drums, percussion Mark Saunders – bass

Additional personnel Markus Dravs – production Robin Baynton – engineering, organ, piano Jonathan Sagis – engineering assistance Iain Berryman – engineering assistance Leo Abrahams – electric guitar Pete Prokopiw – programming Craig Silvey – mixing Eduardo de la Paz – mixing assistance Ted Jensen – mastering

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "Delilah" Chart (2015–2016) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[11] 41 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[12] 31 France (SNEP)[13] 89 Scotland (OCC)[14] 53 UK Singles (OCC)[15] 102 US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[16] 15

Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for "Delilah" Chart (2016) Position Iceland (Plötutíóindi)[17] 45

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[18]	Gold	30,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Delilah"

Region	Date	Format	Label	Ref(s)
Various	27 November 2015	Digital download – Galantis Remix	Island	[8][19][20]
United States	19 January 2016	Alternative radio	Republic	[21]
	16 April 2016	12-inch single[a]		[9]

Notes

1. Limited-edition release for Record Store Day

References

1. Kot, Greg (1 June 2015). "Review: Florence gives her Machine a more intimate voice". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
2. Hermes, Will (2 June 2015). "Art-pop diva Florence Welch returns with a renewed love for loud guitars and soul vocals". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 13 July 2018. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
3. Unterberger, Andrew (4 June 2015). "Review: Florence + the Machine Go Big, Then Go Home on 'How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful'". Spin. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
4. Blistein, Jon (19 May 2015). "Florence and the Machine Learn to Dance Like 'Delilah' on New Song". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
5. Reed, Ryan (21 October 2015). "Watch Florence Welch Navigate Creepy Motel in 'Delilah' Video". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 28 December 2018. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
6. Manders, Hayden (21 October 2015). "Florence + The Machine Debut "Delilah" Music Video". Nylon. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
7. Donahue, Anne T. (21 October 2015). "Florence and the Machine: Delilah". Rookie. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
8. "Delilah (Galantis Remix): Florence + The Machine: MP3 Downloads". Amazon. United Kingdom. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
9. "Florence + The Machine – Delilah / Only Love Can Break Your Heart". Record Store Day. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
10. Florence and the Machine (2015). How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful (liner notes). Island Records. 602547236067.
11. "Florence %2B the Machine – Delilah". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
12. "Florence %2B the Machine – Delilah" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
13. "Florence %2B the Machine – Delilah" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
14. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
15. "CHART: CLUK Update 30.05.2015 (wk21)". Zobbel.de. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
16. "Florence the Machine Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
17. "Tónlistinn – Lög – 2016" (in Icelandic). Plötutíóindi. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
18. "Brazilian single certifications – Florence + The Machine – Delilah" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
19. "Delilah (Galantis Remix): Florence + The Machine: MP3 Downloads". Amazon. United States. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
20. "Delilah (Galantis Remix): Florence + The Machine: MP3-Downloads". Amazon (in German). Germany. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
21. "Alternative > Future Releases". All Access Media Group. Archived from the original on 17 January 2016. Retrieved 3 March 2016.