Florence + The Machine‘s latest single ‘Sympathy Magic’— released just before the launch of their sixth studio album Everybody Scream—is arguably the most emotionally impactful and recognisable song of the new era.
After the scathing commentary of ‘One of the Greats’ and the defiant glam-rock of the title track, ‘Sympathy Magic’ reverts to the cinematic, sweeping sound that fans have loved for years, combining urgent string arrangements, dynamic percussion, and Florence Welch‘s passionate, top-notch vocals.
The song’s lyrics are closely related to the album’s main, very personal story, which is Welch’s near-fatal health crisis in 2023. It examines the aftermath of trauma, where moral goodness or conventional “worthiness” are ineffective as a buffer. The heartbreaking line, “I do not find worthiness a virtue, I no longer try to be good / It didn’t keep me safe like you told me that it would,” captures the lyrics‘ visceral incantation of intense vulnerability and rage.
This is Florence at her most straightforward, seeking a self-sourced, ritualistic form of healing—the “sympathy magic” of the title—by projecting internal suffering outward. Like an emotional reckoning set to a massive, anthemic melody, the result is a sound that is both cathartic and frantic, evoking the empowering rush of one of their classic tracks, like ‘Shake It Out’.
This duality is perfectly complemented by the accompanying visualiser, which was directed by long-time collaborator Autumn De Wilde. Welch, a protagonist who is both at the mercy of and derives great strength from the elements, is depicted in a state of beautiful chaos against the sombre background of nature. She emphasises the song’s theme of facing and eventually accepting one’s brokenness by embodying a strong yet wounded character. It feels like a hard-won moment of calm—the healing spell finally taking hold—when Welch lets a rare, sincere smile shine through the video’s intensity.
A crucial component of the Everybody Scream tapestry, ‘Sympathy Magic’ demonstrates that Florence + The Machine has not only reverted to the epic baroque pop style they invented, but has also imbued it with an incredible depth of brutal honesty and hard-won emotional truth.
Words by C. Sharmishtha
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