"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.
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.
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. Filmed in Los Angeles, the video opens with an intense monologue from an old man. 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." At the end of the video, Welch "triumphantly rides through the streets of Los Angeles [...] as a hat tip to her newfound freedom."
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."
Track listings Digital download – Galantis Remix "Delilah" (Galantis Remix) – 5:37 "Delilah" (Galantis Remix / Radio Edit) – 4:11
Limited-edition 12-inch single (Record Store Day exclusive) 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.
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) Peakposition UK Singles (OCC) 102
Year-end charts + Year-end chart performance for "Delilah" Chart (2016) Position Iceland (Plötutíóindi) 45
Certifications
Release history + Release dates and formats for "Delilah" Region Date Format Label Various 27 November 2015 Digital download – Galantis Remix Island United States 19 January 2016 Alternative radio Republic 16 April 2016 12-inch single
Notes
References