Stevie Nicks Felt She Influenced This Florence and the Machine Song
Fleetwood Mac’s Stevie Nicks really “felt” one of Florence and the Machine’s songs. Nicks thought the song was inspired by her music. Florence Welch discussed the origin of the track. In addition, Welch revealed what she thought about Nicks’ looks and songs.
Stevie Nicks ‘really felt’ the lyrics of this song
Nicks is an incredibly influential rock star. During an interview with HuffPost, Welch cited Nicks as her greatest idol. Welch said liked to watch Nicks’ old performances on YouTube. She was obsessed with everything about the “Edge of Seventeen” singer, including her voice, her style, and the way she moved.
During another interview with HuffPost, Nicks discussed one of Florence and the Machine’s songs. “And with Florence Welch, I don’t really know much about her or her music but with that ‘Shake It Out’ song I really like because I felt that song,” she said. “I was feeling what she was saying when she wrote that. So yes, I do, I do hear the influence.”
Florence Welch didn’t cite Stevie Nicks as an influence on Florence and the Machine’s ‘Shake It Out’
During an interview with MTV News, Welch didn’t cite Nicks as an influence on “Shake It Out.” In fact, she didn’t know what inspired the song. “I think I came to the studio with a bit of a hangover, and it was one of those strange days where you’re not really sure where a song comes from,” she explained.
“[Producer] Paul [Epworth] just had these chords on the organ, and they sounded optimistic and sad at the same time,” Welch added. “And I was thinking of regrets, like, you know when you feel like you’re stuck in yourself, you keep repeating certain patterns of behavior, and you kind of want to cut out that part of you and restart yourself.”
The way the world reacted to Florence and the Machine’s ‘Shake It Out’
Regardless of what inspired “Shake It Out,” the song became a minor hit. The track peaked at No. 72 on the Billboard Hot 100, staying on the chart for 20 weeks. It’s Florence and the Machine’s highest-charting single besides “Dog Days Are Over,” which hit No. 21 and stayed on the chart for 20 weeks. The parent album of “Shake It Out,” Ceremonials, became significantly more popular. The album hit No. 6 on the Billboard 200, staying on the chart for 77 weeks.
“Shake It Out” became a smash in the United Kingdom. According to The Official Charts Company, “Shake It Out” peaked at No. 12 in the U.K., lasting on the charts for 36 weeks. Meanwhile, Ceremonials lasted 75 weeks on the U.K. chart, spending a week at No. 1. Regardless of what inspired “Shake It Out,” it seemed to connect with many listeners, including Nicks.
