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There was a travel show on Radio Four a couple of years ago which featured Ross Noble the comedian. It was called Ross Noble goes Global. In the first episode (I think it was the first) he spent time in Eastern Europe. He played hide and seek in a railway carriage, reaching the conclusion that there are not many places to hide in a railway carriage, and was fleeced in various flea markets.

As a traveller from the ´óÏó´«Ã½, the government of Warsaw were expecting someone along the lines of Michael Palin, and allowed him an audience with the new Mayor of Warsaw, who Ross said he knew only one thing about: he was the youngest Mayor of a European capital city ever. This achievement and the challenges of adapting post-communist Poland to a new global climate where the things he should have questioned him about. In the event however Ross was quite concerned with all the money he had wasted in the flea markets and upon meeting the Mayor the actual conversation went: "Hello, Do you like my hat?".

Subsequent questions revolved chiefly around the hat, the wearing of fur hats in general, and how many hats the Mayor himself personally owned. The Mayor answered politely, but one could sense an underwhelm-ment (if such a word exists) about the whole thing. Ross himself admitted this along the lines of - this is ridiculous. I get the chance to interview Europe's youngest Mayor and all I ask him is "Do you like my hat?".

Just a thought. What do you think Spirit?

Very good Jaxi...

My album "Lungs " is at number 2 , it gained a lot of critical acclaim , I have my first ever top 20 hit with Rabbit Heart , my previous singles Dog days are over and Kiss with a fist are lyrically strong with biting messages ......

"But please..... just ask me about my hat. "

Fraser, you are funny, and your observations are mostly enjoyable. That is not in doubt.

You are saying that comment 1 is a bad analogy because Ross Noble is a comedian, and it would make sense for him to ask irrelevant questions. And you would be right, if I was having a go at him for asking irrelevant questions.

From this I infer that you do not consider yourself a comedian. So you are saying it would make sense for you to ask relevant questions, rather than "hat" questions. That is precisely the point I am making. (Albeit in a lumbering and clearly confusing way).

Pardon me for throwing my oar in, but I don't really see how these questions are not relevant. Florence was performing at Eden, Fraser asked her about Eden. Florence started talking about how things she has done lately have had religious influences, Fraser expanded on that with her - as far as I can see, the direction of this interview was as much her decision as it was Fraser's. I mean, you can ask her how it feels to have a hit album or to talk endlessly about the deeper meanings of her work at any time, but this interview was tied to a specific, rare moment. I know which one I'd rather read.

Okay, there really were spaces after my full stops when I wrote that. I don't know what happened there...

Steve has a point; an interview is meant to be interesting and revealing, and, if possible, funny as well.
This interview was all of those things. In a choice between the above and:
Fraser: So, how does it feel to have your first top 20 single?
Florence: It's completely abstract, I never thought this would happen.
Fraser: Thank you Florence. Goodbye.
surely the former is preferable?

yes, I know which one I would rather have read too.

However I also refer you to my comment on the Wild Beasts.

"And there's a song that he plays on his walkman, and I remember thinking that was the best song ever when I was a kid. If anyone can remember what that song is, please tell me...."

It was probably Land of a Thousand Dances?
(from )

That would seem to be correct Matthew going by the first review of the soundtrack on Amazon.

To be honest , I would have liked to have read both , there are loads of in depth chart and fun questions to choose from , and especially as Florence is likely to be experiencing a life changing/ enriching experience , such is the single and album success effect and the emergence of her "star " in the world of music .
Wow , all those hopes and dreams and hard work being finally realised... amazing.

Would have loved to have heard more....

I thought this was the title of Flo's new single. Which is an easy assumption to make, considering how crazy she is - but the album is amazing! Her cover of halo was wonderful too - so much more evocative than Beyonce's, whose voice is perfect but emotionless and sounds like it's coming out of a machine.

Not Florence's Machine, though, obviously.

The final proof of how the interview should have focussed on Florence's songs and her album. . ( And NOT "hat" questions ! )

Today she has been shortlisted for the Mercury Music Prize for her album " Lungs ".

Case closed .

*reopens case*

...which means there will now be endless interviews with Florence in other places talking about her songs and her album, so it's not like she's going to be starved of opportunities to discuss those topics.

Opens case....
The inspiration for songs , the inspiration for lyrics to a song , the cover of " You got the love " , the album title "lungs " , the story behind "rabbit heart " , the angst and the pain behind " kiss with a fist " , the huge meaning of "dog days are over " .......

I know you focussed on Eden , and you may have been short of time , I suppose I personally wanted a bit more " meat on the bones ".

Being a huge Florence fan , and only so far , meeting her to say hello to , I suppose I may have asked different stuff about her music ....

You are right , interviews about chart positions would be SO boring..

I have not so far , met an artist who does not want to about their songs or music , or their inspiration....

Respect as always....

Agree to disagree etc.

Anyway , I think you are wanted by AKA on the Kanye blog....

If the case is still flapping about with a bit of life in it...?!

Re: spirit's comment (no. 18) about "the huge meaning of 'dog days are over'"... well, it may have a huge meaning, but Florence herself probably won't shed much light on it even if you ask her: she's already said in an interview that it means nothing! She mentioned that she sometimes feels guilty about choosing lyrics in a flippant way, because she likes a phrase... but people then find their own meanings.

So really, it would be a bit irrelevant to ask her about her songs! It wouldn't change the effect the music has on people...

*runs away after lighting the touchpaper!*

(Here's a quote from her if you're interested:

Ha ha ! Glad you got my irony !

Yes, I realised afterwards that you were probably being ironic there, but I didn't add anything as I thought, well, it doesn't change my point!