What Kind of Man (Florence and the Machine song)

"What Kind of Man" 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, Kid Harpoon and John Hill, produced by Markus Dravs and co-produced by Hill. The song was released on 12 February 2015 as the album's lead single. "What Kind of Man" received Grammy Award nominations for Best Rock Performance and Best Rock Song.

"What Kind of Man"
12-inch single cover
Single by Florence and the Machine
from the album How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful
B-side	"As Far as I Could Get"
Released	12 February 2015 (2015-02-12)
Studio	The Pool (London)
Genre	Garage rock[1] pop[2]
Length	3:36
Label	Island
Songwriter(s)	Florence Welch Tom Hull John Hill
Producer(s)	Markus Dravs
Florence and the Machine singles chronology
"Lover to Lover" (2012) "What Kind of Man" (2015) "Ship to Wreck" (2015)
Music video
"What Kind of Man" on YouTube

Composition

According to lead vocalist Florence Welch, the song represents a new guitar-driven sonic direction for the band. "It's got very loud guitars and that was very fun to record actually", she said in an interview. "Trying to get exactly the right tone of guitar—I never realised how complicated that is. It took us forever.... Every day there'd be a different guitar sound. We ended up layering with three different guitar sounds, one on top of the other, in order to create this one song."^[3]

The song builds slowly and breaks into a heavy beat with tambourine and bass drum, and then becomes a textured pop song with heavy brass arrangements.^[4] The song lyrically focuses on an indecisive man who wronged Welch.^[4][5]

Critical reception

"What Kind of Man" received acclaim from music critics. Al Horner of NME wrote, "Musically, it's big. Wagnerian backing vocals and horn blasts turn 'What Kind Of Man' into a spectacle worthy of [Welch's] new festival headliner status".^[6] Dee Lockett of Vulture dubbed it a "fiery rocker".^[5] Andrew Unterberger of Spin opined that the song "starts off a letdown, but quickly proves to be ['Ship to Wreck''s] roaring equal, with the unexpected arrival of a thick guitar chop and regal horn salute that gives Florence the instrumental support she deserves as she excoriates an uncommitted significant other".^[7]

Commercial performance

"What Kind of Man" debuted at number 57 on the UK Singles Chart,^[8] peaking at number 37 the following week.^[9] In the United States, the song reached number eight on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart, tying with the band's 2008 single "Dog Days Are Over" and subsequent single "Ship to Wreck" as their highest-peaking single on that chart.^[10] As of July 2018, the song had sold 177,000 copies and had been streamed 11.2 million times in the United Kingdom.^[11]

Music video

The music video for "What Kind of Man", directed by Vincent Haycock and choreographed by Ryan Heffington, premiered on 12 February 2015.^[12] Filmed in Los Angeles and Mérida, Mexico,^[13][14] the video is a short film that includes dialogue about the unifying power of tragedy in a relationship between a couple as they drive down a country road. Scenes of the couple driving at various points in their relationship are interspersed with examples of the woman and her relationships with different men, often taking on a smothering quality. The woman later is the centre of religious rituals that involve her being lifted by several men, including her love interest played by Richie Stephens, speaking in tongues, baptism and exorcism.

Track listings

• Digital download – Nicolas Jaar Remix^[15]

1. "What Kind of Man" (Nicolas Jaar Remix) – 12:21

• Limited-edition 12-inch single (Record Store Day exclusive)^[16]

A. "What Kind of Man"

B. "As Far as I Could Get"

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful.^[17]

Recording

• Engineered at The Pool (London)
• Mixed at The Mixsuite (UK)
• Mastered at Sterling Sound (New York City)

Personnel

Florence and the Machine

• Florence Welch – vocals, backing vocals
• Chris Hayden – drums, percussion
• Mark Saunders – bass
• Rob Ackroyd – electric guitar

Additional personnel

• Markus Dravs – production, percussion, synths
• John Hill – co-production, synths, brass writing, brass arrangements
• Robin Baynton – engineering
• Jonathan Sagis – engineering assistance
• Joe Kearns – additional engineering
• Iain Berryman – additional engineering
• Leo Abrahams – electric guitar
• Janelle Martin – backing vocals
• Nim Miller – backing vocals
• Baby N'Sola – backing vocals
• Kid Harpoon – brass writing, brass arrangements
• Nigel Black – French horn
• Pip Eastop – French horn
• Sam Jacobs – French horn
• Elise Campbell – French horn
• John Barclay – trumpet
• Andy Crowley – trumpet
• Philip Cobb – trumpet
• Tom Rees-Roberts – trumpet
• Andy Wood – Euphonium
• Ed Tarrant – Euphonium
• Richard Edwards – tenor trombone
• Oren Marshall – tuba
• Mat Bartram – brass recording
• Ronan Phelan – brass recording assistance
• Mark "Spike" Stent – mixing
• Geoff Swan – mixing assistance
• Ted Jensen – mastering

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "What Kind of Man" Chart (2015) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[18] 16 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[19] 52 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[20] 50 Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)[21] 37 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[22] 46 Canada Rock (Billboard)[23] 2 France (SNEP)[24] 74 Ireland (IRMA)[25] 31 Italy (FIMI)[26] 86 Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard)[27] 19 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[28] 34 Scotland (OCC)[29] 25 Spain (PROMUSICAE)[30] 44 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[31] 42 UK Singles (OCC)[9] 37 US Billboard Hot 100[32] 88 US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[33] 7 US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[34] 7

Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for "What Kind of Man" Chart (2015) Position US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[35] 33 US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[36] 41

Certifications

Certifications for "What Kind of Man"

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[37]	Platinum	70,000‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[38]	Gold	30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[39]	Silver	200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[40]	Gold	500,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release dates and formats for "What Kind of Man"

Region	Date	Format	Label	Ref(s)
Canada	12 February 2015	Digital download	Island	[41]
United States				[42]
Various	11 March 2015	Digital download – Nicolas Jaar Remix		[15][43][44]
Canada	15 March 2015			[45]
United States				[46]
United Kingdom	13 April 2015	12-inch single[a]		[47]
United States	18 April 2015		Republic	[16]

Notes

1. Limited-edition release for Record Store Day

References

1. Tomer, William (10 June 2015). "Florence and the Machine – How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful". The 405. Archived from the original on 13 June 2015. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
2. Clayton-Lea, Tony (29 May 2016). "Florence + The Machine: How Big How Blue How Beautiful Album". The Irish Times. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
3. "Hear: Florence + The Machine debut new single 'What Kind Of Man'". Triple J. 13 February 2015. Archived from the original on 15 February 2015. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
4. Grow, Kory (12 February 2015). "Florence and the Machine Announce New Album 'How Big How Blue How Beautiful'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 3 December 2018. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
5. Lockett, Dee (12 February 2015). "Florence and the Machine's New Song Is Pretty Fierce". Vulture. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
6. Horner, Al (13 February 2015). "Florence + The Machine Wrestle With Melancholy On Triumphant Comeback Single 'What Kind Of Man' – First Listen Review". NME. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
7. Unterberger, Andrew (4 June 2015). "Review: Florence + the Machine Go Big, Then Go Home on 'How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful'". Spin. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
8. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. 15 February 2015. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
9. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
10. "Florence + the Machine Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
11. Bloodworth, Adam (2 July 2018). "Florence and the Machine's Official Top 10 biggest UK singles revealed". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
12. Carley, Brennan (12 February 2015). "Florence + the Machine Announce Third Album, 'How Big How Blue How Beautiful'". Spin. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
13. Velez, Cat (19 February 2015). ""She isn't afraid of anything" – Vincent Haycock on directing Florence Welch". Promonews. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
14. Vásquez, Mariel Bejarano (24 March 2015). "'St. Jude': nuevo adelanto del próximo disco de Florence + The Machine" (in Spanish). Radiónica. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
15. "What Kind Of Man (Nicolas Jaar Remix): Florence + The Machine: MP3 Downloads". Amazon. United Kingdom. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
16. "Florence + The Machine – What Kind of Man". Record Store Day. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
17. Florence and the Machine (2015). How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful (liner notes). Island Records. 602547236067.
18. "Florence %2B the Machine – What Kind of Man". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
19. "Florence %2B the Machine – What Kind of Man" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
20. "Florence %2B the Machine – What Kind of Man" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
21. "Florence %2B the Machine – What Kind of Man" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
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23. "Florence the Machine Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
24. "Florence %2B the Machine – What Kind of Man" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
25. "Irish-charts.com – Discography Florence %2B the Machine". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
26. "Top Digital – Classifica settimanale WK 10 (dal 2015-03-02 al 2015-03-08)" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
27. "Hot Overseas". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). 18 March 2015. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
28. "Florence %2B the Machine – What Kind of Man". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
29. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
30. "Florence %2B the Machine – What Kind of Man" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
31. "Florence %2B the Machine – What Kind of Man". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
32. "Florence the Machine Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
33. "Florence the Machine Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
34. "Florence the Machine Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
35. "Hot Rock & Alternative Songs – Year-End 2015". Billboard. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
36. "Rock Airplay Songs – Year-End 2015". Billboard. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
37. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
38. "Brazilian single certifications – Florence + The Machine – What Kind of Man" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
39. "British single certifications – Florence & The Machine – What Kind of Man". British Phonographic Industry. 27 September 2019. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
40. "American single certifications – Florence + The Machine – What Kind of Man". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
41. "What Kind Of Man (2015) | Florence + The Machine". 7digital. Canada. Archived from the original on 23 February 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
42. "What Kind Of Man (2015) | Florence + The Machine". 7digital. United States. Archived from the original on 24 February 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
43. "What Kind Of Man (Nicolas Jaar Remix): Florence + The Machine: MP3-Downloads". Amazon (in German). Germany. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
44. "What Kind Of Man (Nicolas Jaar Remix): Florence + The Machine: Téléchargements MP3". Amazon (in French). France. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
45. "What Kind of Man (Nicolas Jaar Remix) – Single by Florence + The Machine". iTunes Store. Canada. Archived from the original on 31 July 2016. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
46. "What Kind Of Man (Nicolas Jaar Remix): Florence + The Machine: MP3 Downloads". Amazon. United States. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
47. "What Kind of Man [12" Vinyl]: Florence + The Machine". Amazon. United Kingdom. Retrieved 23 February 2019.