Ship to Wreck

Last updated
"Ship to Wreck"
Florence and the Machine - Ship to Wreck.png
Single by Florence and the Machine
from the album How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful
Released9 April 2015 (2015-04-09)
Studio The Pool (London)
Genre
Length3:54
Label Island
Songwriters
Producers
Florence and the Machine singles chronology
"What Kind of Man"
(2015)		"Ship to Wreck"
(2015)		"Queen of Peace"
(2015)
Music video
"Ship to Wreck" on YouTube

"Ship to Wreck" 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 released on 9 April 2015 as the album's second single. The track premiered on Huw Stephens' show on BBC Radio 1 on 8 April 2015 and the accompanying music video was released on 13 April, following the narrative of band's previous two videos of "What Kind of Man" and "St. Jude". The video was filmed in frontwoman Florence Welch's London house. [1] [2]

Contents

"Ship to Wreck" was met with critical acclaim, with critics praising Welch's vocals, as well as the song's production. The song received nominations for Best Rock Video at the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards.

Composition

"Ship to Wreck" is a folk rock, [3] pop rock, [4] and soft rock [5] song that carries an "upbeat, bouncy sound", in contrast to the lyrics, which speak of self-destructive behaviour. [6] The song almost did not make the cut for How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful, as producer Markus Dravs had disallowed Welch to write more songs about water, a recurring theme in the band's previous album, Ceremonials (2011), but she managed to include it. [7] In a press release, Welch explained the meaning behind the song, saying: "I was thinking about my own self destructive side, and how you can make something only to tear it down, enjoy/destroy, create/devastate etc. When you're in that whirlwind, you often end up breaking the thing you love the most." [8]

Critical reception

Jason Lipshutz of Billboard included "Ship to Wreck" on its "Top 10 Songs of 2015 (So Far)" list in June 2015, stating, "Florence Welch may have reached a new peak with third album How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful—she's certainly never been more effective as a live performer, and 'Ship To Wreck' demonstrates that she's still growing as a pop songwriter. Everything comes together for Florence + The Machine on their latest single, as Welch's voice coils around the slender arrangement and squeezes hard on the chorus." [9] Rolling Stone ranked "Ship to Wreck" at number 26 on its list of the "50 Best Songs of 2015". [10] The song also reached number 40 on the annual Triple J Hottest 100 for 2015. [11]

Commercial performance

As of July 2018, "Ship to Wreck" had shifted 279,000 units in the United Kingdom, including 17 million streams, and counting. [12]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful . [13]

Recording

Personnel

Florence and the Machine

Additional personnel

  • Markus Dravs – production, glockenspiel
  • Kid Harpoon – production, drums, percussion, bass, electric guitar, CP70 synth
  • Robin Baynton – engineering
  • Jonathan Sagis – engineering assistance
  • Iain Berryman – engineering assistance
  • Leo Abrahams – acoustic guitar
  • James Hallawell – Hammond organ
  • Janelle Martin – backing vocals
  • Nim Miller – backing vocals
  • Baby N'Sola – backing vocals
  • Mark "Spike" Stent – mixing
  • Geoff Swan – mixing assistance
  • Ted Jensen – mastering

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for "Ship to Wreck"
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [34] Platinum70,000‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) [35] Gold30,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ) [36] Gold15,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI) [37] Gold400,000‡
United States (RIAA) [38] Gold500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Ship to Wreck"
RegionDateFormatLabelRef.
Canada9 April 2015 Digital download Island [39]
United States [40]
19 May 2015 Alternative radio Republic [41]

References

  1. ↑ "Watch: Florence + The Machine share new video". Hot Press . 13 April 2015. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  2. ↑ Murison, Krissi (3 May 2015). "A tour of Florence" . The Sunday Times . Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  3. ↑ Monger, James Christopher. "How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful – Florence + the Machine". AllMusic . Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  4. ↑ Johnston, Maura (1 June 2015). "Florence + the Machine, 'How Big How Blue How Beautiful'". The Boston Globe . Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  5. ↑ K., Rudy (2 June 2015). "Florence and the Machine – How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  6. ↑ Spanos, Brittany (8 April 2015). "Florence + the Machine Build a 'Ship to Wreck' in New Song". Rolling Stone . Retrieved 28 December 2018.
  7. ↑ Cooper, Leonie (16 February 2015). "Florence Welch reveals 'chaotic' year and 'nervous breakdown' behind new album". NME . Archived from the original on 5 March 2015. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
  8. ↑ Beauchemin, Molly (8 April 2015). "Florence and the Machine Share "Ship to Wreck"". Pitchfork . Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  9. ↑ Lipshutz, Jason (22 June 2015). "Top 10 Songs of 2015 (So Far)". Billboard . Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  10. ↑ "50 Best Songs of 2015". Rolling Stone. 3 December 2015. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
  11. ↑ "1–100 List | Hottest 100 2015". Triple J. 11 January 2014. Archived from the original on 30 January 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
  12. ↑ Bloodworth, Adam (2 July 2018). "Florence and the Machine's Official Top 10 biggest UK singles revealed". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  13. ↑ Florence and the Machine (2015). How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful (liner notes). Island Records. 602547236067.
  14. ↑ "Florence %2B the Machine – Ship to Wreck". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  15. ↑ "Florence %2B the Machine – Ship to Wreck" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  16. ↑ "Florence %2B the Machine – Ship to Wreck" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  17. ↑ "Florence %2B the Machine – Ship to Wreck" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
  18. ↑ "Florence the Machine Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  19. ↑ "Florence %2B the Machine – Ship to Wreck" (in French). Le classement de singles. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  20. ↑ "Florence + the Machine – Ship to Wreck" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  21. ↑ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Florence %2B the Machine". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  22. ↑ "Florence %2B the Machine – Ship to Wreck". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  23. ↑ "Airplay – Nowości – Archiwum (11.07. – 17.07.2015)" (in Polish). ZPAV . Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  24. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  25. ↑ "Tedenska lestvica – 22 Teden (25.05.2015 – 31.05.2015)" (in Slovenian). SloTop50. Archived from the original on 17 February 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
  26. ↑ "Schweizer Airplay Charts – Woche 25/2015". hitparade.ch (in German). Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  27. ↑ "Florence and the Machine: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  28. ↑ "Florence the Machine Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  29. ↑ "Florence the Machine Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  30. ↑ "Florence the Machine Chart History (Rock & Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  31. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten 2015 – Singles" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  32. ↑ "Hot Rock & Alternative Songs – Year-End 2015". Billboard. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  33. ↑ "Rock Airplay Songs – Year-End 2015". Billboard. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  34. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  35. ↑ "Brazilian single certifications – Florence + The Machine – Ship To Wreck" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil . Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  36. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications – Florence and the Machine – Ship to Wreck". Radioscope. Retrieved 9 December 2025.Type Ship to Wreck in the "Search:" fieldand press Enter.
  37. ↑ "British single certifications – Florence & The Machine – Ship to Wreck". British Phonographic Industry. 3 December 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  38. ↑ "American single certifications – Florence & The Machine – Ship To Wreck". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  39. ↑ "Ship To Wreck (2015) | Florence + The Machine". 7digital . Canada. Archived from the original on 26 September 2015. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  40. ↑ "Ship To Wreck: Florence + The Machine: MP3 Downloads". Amazon . United States. Archived from the original on 1 February 2016. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  41. ↑ "Future Releases on Alternative Radio Stations". All Access Media Group. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
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