Dog Days Are Over
Encyclopedia
"Dog Days Are Over" is the second single released by Florence and the Machine
from their debut album Lungs
. It was originally scheduled for release on November 24, 2008 through Moshi Moshi Records
in the UK
but was later pushed back for release on December 1, 2008. A day later on December 2, 2008 the single was released in download and seven inch vinyl format through IAMSOUND Records
in the US
. The B-side to the single is a cover of "You Got the Love
" by The Source
featuring Candi Staton
which later was confirmed as a track on their debut album and the band's fifth single. A demo version of "Dog Days Are Over" is featured on disc two of the deluxe edition of Lungs. The single reached the top 30 in Canada
, Ireland
, the United Kingdom
and the United States
.
, which Welch used to see every day, riding her bike over Waterloo Bridge
.
The song was produced and mixed by James Ford
of Simian Mobile Disco
and The Last Shadow Puppets
, who is also famous for producing for the likes of Bloc Party
and the Arctic Monkeys
. He is also credited as playing piano and guitar on the record.
Florence co-wrote the song with Isabella Summers
who is also credited as the song's co-producer, and played piano on the record. Welch and Summers also teamed up for the percussion on the track, together with Charlie Hugall.
"Dog Days Are Over" also features musicians Tom "Moth" Monger (harp), Bruce White (viola), Everton Nelson (violin), Christopher Lloyd Hayden (drums) and Rob Ackroyd (guitar).
Jimmy Robertson, extensively involved in the recording of Lungs
recorded and mixed "Dog Days Are Over" as well.
An acoustic version of the song was performed live on BBC
's Radio 1 Big Weekend. The track has been performed at a great number of high profile festivals through 2008 and 2009, including the Reading
and Leeds
festivals. The band also performed the song on the Mercury Prize
2009 awards show and BBC Introducing.
A six-minute, forty-second-long Optimo
remix of "Dog Days Are Over" has also been made available.
The song was used in an advertisement for programming on RTÉ
and in an episode of BAFTA Award
-winning teen drama
Skins
. In 2010 it was used in an advertising campaign for the television premiere of Slumdog Millionaire
on Channel 4
. It was used in a promo for the first series of CBBC
series, Deadly 60
. It was also heard in the NBC medical drama Mercy
, and used during a promotional video for the show. In addition the song was used in Episode 3.8 of Secret Diary of a Call Girl
. It also featured in Gossip Girl
Season 3 Episode 14. In March 2010, the song was used in the theatrical trailer for Eat, Pray, Love. The song was used in July 2010 for a commercial for Covert Affairs
and was used in the pilot of the series. The song was used extensively in Australia during winter in 2009, for advertising for the latter half of the 2009 AFL
season. This song was covered by Amber Riley
(Mercedes) and Jenna Ushkowitz (Tina) from Glee
on the second season episode "Special Education
" in November 2010. The song has also been used extensively in a series of television advertisements by Telus
in Canada.
The background music of the song is also featured in a promotional video for the 1GOAL Education for All
campaign called "2 girls born on the same day".
Florence and the Machine performed the song at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert
in December 2010. They performed it on the June 21, 2011, episode of The Colbert Report.
sandwiches."
.com, "'Dog Days Are Over' only seems likely to add to her already burgeoning reputation. While not as immediately catchy as "Kiss with a Fist
", it's an urgent, pounding, almost bluesy anthem which shows off Florence's voice to its very best advantage". Further, the track's B-side, a cover of "You've Got the Love", was praised. "Following with her tradition of some finely chosen cover versions, there's even an excellent rendition of The Source
's "You Got the Love
". Contactmusic.com rated the song 9/10. The website remarked that "It's brilliant. It's a masterful yet primal tour-de-force of folk/pop/rock that reveals a beguiling talent that should surely be regarded as one of the finds of the musical year. "Dog Days Are Over" succeeds in capturing a powerfully 'live' studio sound that sinks, swells and explodes in a series of unconventional verse/choruses that, accentuated by Welch's snarling".
Dailymusicguide.com also positively reviewed the single, writing, "Florence Welch has one hell of a voice and uses it to full effect on "Dog Days Are Over", which plays the traditional verse-chorus-verse-chorus pattern to create a song of two halves. The song begins with an intricate acoustic beginning, before building and building along with the volume of Florence's stunning voice and coming to a crescendo at the half way mark. A moment of silence gives the listener a breather before the onslaught begins building to another stunning climax when Florence's voice hits incredible heights". Rating: 4.5/5 Thisisfakediy.co.uk gave "Dog Days Are Over" a 8/10 rating, mentioning, 'Dog Days Are Over' is incredibly entertaining and furthermore a complete storm of a song. Florence plays with this song, exerting a huge energy. It is a wonderfully spiritual four minutes that will never fail to impress".
In October 2011, NME
placed it at number 33 on its list "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years".
. The following week it dropped one place to #90 before dropping out of the top 100. It then re-entered the chart a month later on January 17, 2009 at #93 before dropping out of the chart again. Approximately four months later the single made another re-entry on May 23, 2009, this time at #91.
Following performances on Top of the Pops
, Jools Holland and use in a television advertisement for Slumdog Millionaire
and Eat, Pray, Love , "Dog Days Are Over" began to receive increasing amounts of digital downloads, despite not having been re-released. On 10 January 2010, "Dog Days Are Over" re-entered the UK Singles Chart
at #23, marking its highest peak to date. However, the following week, on the 17 January 2010, the single fell one place to #24. Following the single's re-release in March 2010, it re-entered the UK Singles Chart
at #34 on 4 April 2010. The following week, the single rose to #24 before dropping again.
On the January 15, 2010, "Dog Days Are Over" entered the Irish Singles Chart
for the first time, reaching a peak of #35. This is the third Top 40 hit for Florence in Ireland
. Following its re-release in March 2010, the single once again entered the Irish Singles Chart, this time climbing to #24 and a week later to #17. The following week, the single rose to #15 and the week after #13. On 15 April 2010, the single climbed into the Top 10 at #6, marking its current peak and Florence
's second most successful single in the Irish Singles Chart, only to Cosmic Love
, a later release.
On the week ending September 25, 2010, "Dog Days Are Over" debuted at #93 on the Billboard Hot 100
. Following the performance of "Dog Days Are Over" on the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards
, the track sold 96,000 digital downloads which signified a 257% increase over the previous week and leaped to number 21 giving Florence her first top 30 hit on the Billboard Hot 100
. It has now gone on to sell over 1.79 million downloads.
.
On 10 March 2010, UK newspaper The Sun's official website featured the new video that would accompany the re-release of the track on 22 March 2010. It was directed by Georgie Greville and Geremy Jasper and edited by Paul Snyder. It shows Florence dancing in a white-washed room wearing many different costumes and gradually being joined by go-go dancers, drummers wearing tribal outfits, harpists, marching band bass drummers and a gospel choir wearing white and purple. At the climax of the song Florence runs by all the people and as she does, they burst into ash in a flash of brightly coloured light. The video ends with Florence once again standing alone in the room. Throughout the video she wears full-body white make-up with intricate clothing and vivid red eye-liner and blusher.
On 3 August 2010 the video was nominated for four MTV Video Music Awards
in the categories Video of the Year
, Best Rock Video
, Best Art Direction
and Best Cinematography
, and won for Best Art Direction
on September 12, 2010.
Remix single
7-inch vinyl
Digital bundle
During the songs original promotion, the band played the song at BBC Introducing Sessions, along with "My Boy Builds Coffins", "Kiss with a Fist
" and "I'm Not Calling You a Liar".
The song has been performed live several times since the confirmation of the song being re-released. The song was first performed on Alan Carr: Chatty Man
on 18 March 2010. The band also performed the song on GMTV
on the single's release date, 22 March 2010.
The group performed the song live at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards
. It was later performed on The Colbert Report in the episode airing on June 21, 2011.
performed the song in the episode "Special Education
" on November 30, 2010, with Jenna Ushkowitz (as Tina Cohen-Chang
) and Amber Riley
(as Mercedes Jones
) singing the lead. The cast version was also released as a digital single, and charted on the Billboard Hot 100
at No. 22, one space below a bounding return of the original to its post-VMA peak.
Vicci Martinez
covered the song on The Voice (U.S. TV series)
.
Florence and the Machine
Florence and the Machine is the recording name of English musician Florence Welch and a collaboration of other artists who provide music for her voice. Florence and the Machine's sound has been described as a combination of various genres, including rock and soul...
from their debut album Lungs
Lungs (album)
Lungs is the debut album by English indie pop band Florence and the Machine, released 6 July 2009 by Island Records. The album debuted at number two on the UK Albums Chart for five weeks after its release, behind The Essential Michael Jackson compilation. On 10 January 2010 the album returned to...
. It was originally scheduled for release on November 24, 2008 through Moshi Moshi Records
Moshi moshi records
Moshi Moshi Records is a small London-based record label that has released music by bands such as The Rakes, Bloc Party, Hot Chip, Late of the Pier, Hot Club De Paris, Kate Nash, Junkboy, Architecture in Helsinki, Tilly and the Wall, Slow Club, Yeti, and Au Revoir Simone...
in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
but was later pushed back for release on December 1, 2008. A day later on December 2, 2008 the single was released in download and seven inch vinyl format through IAMSOUND Records
IAMSOUND Records
IAMSOUND Records is a Los Angeles-based independent record label. Started as a part of Worlds End Management , one of the largest producer management companies in America, it was created in 2006....
in the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The B-side to the single is a cover of "You Got the Love
You Got the Love
"You Got the Love" is a 1986 single by the band The Source and Candi Staton. One of its many remixers also adopted the name The Source. In 2008, the song was recorded by English soul singer Joss Stone for her fourth studio album, "Colour Me Free!" released in October 2009...
" by The Source
The Source (musician)
The Source originally started out as an alias of unknown origin for Source Records's 1986 single release "You Got the Love" which featured Candi Staton. In 1989, DJ Eren, put Candi Staton's vocals over a track by Jamie Principle called "Your Love" which became a club hit. This was also released on...
featuring Candi Staton
Candi Staton
Candi Staton is an American soul and gospel singer, best known for her 1970 remake of Tammy Wynette's "Stand By Your Man" and her 1976 disco hit "Young Hearts Run Free". In 2007, Staton was inducted into the Christian Music Hall of Fame.-Early years:...
which later was confirmed as a track on their debut album and the band's fifth single. A demo version of "Dog Days Are Over" is featured on disc two of the deluxe edition of Lungs. The single reached the top 30 in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Background and release
"Dog Days Are Over" was recorded with no instruments in a studio the "size of a loo". The song was inspired by a giant text installment titled "Dog Days Are Over" by artist Ugo RondinoneUgo Rondinone
Ugo Rondinone New-York based, mixed-media artist whose works explore themes of fantasy and desire. Many of his pieces coax the viewer into a meditative state like the blurred, brightly-colored, concentric rings of his target-shaped paintings; or his strictly black and white landscapes of gnarled...
, which Welch used to see every day, riding her bike over Waterloo Bridge
Waterloo Bridge
Waterloo Bridge is a road and foot traffic bridge crossing the River Thames in London, England between Blackfriars Bridge and Hungerford Bridge. The name of the bridge is in memory of the British victory at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815...
.
The song was produced and mixed by James Ford
James Ford (musician)
James Ford is an English musical composer, record producer and musician.-Biography:Ford was a founding member of the group Simian and currently a member of their spin-off duo Simian Mobile Disco...
of Simian Mobile Disco
Simian Mobile Disco
Simian Mobile Disco are a United Kingdom-based production and remix team formed in 2005 by James Ford and Jas Shaw of the band Simian. Musically, they are known for their analogue production...
and The Last Shadow Puppets
The Last Shadow Puppets
The Last Shadow Puppets is a band consisting of Alex Turner of the Arctic Monkeys, Miles Kane formerly of The Rascals, and composer/producer James Ford.-Formation:...
, who is also famous for producing for the likes of Bloc Party
Bloc Party
Bloc Party are a British Indie rock band, composed of Kele Okereke , Russell Lissack , Gordon Moakes , and Matt Tong...
and the Arctic Monkeys
Arctic Monkeys
Arctic Monkeys are an English indie rock band. Formed in 2002 in High Green, a suburb of Sheffield, the band currently consists of Alex Turner , Jamie Cook , Nick O'Malley and Matt Helders...
. He is also credited as playing piano and guitar on the record.
Florence co-wrote the song with Isabella Summers
Isabella Summers
Isabella Summers , also known as Isabella ‘Machine’ Summers, is a British songwriter, producer and member of British band, Florence and the Machine....
who is also credited as the song's co-producer, and played piano on the record. Welch and Summers also teamed up for the percussion on the track, together with Charlie Hugall.
"Dog Days Are Over" also features musicians Tom "Moth" Monger (harp), Bruce White (viola), Everton Nelson (violin), Christopher Lloyd Hayden (drums) and Rob Ackroyd (guitar).
Jimmy Robertson, extensively involved in the recording of Lungs
Lungs (album)
Lungs is the debut album by English indie pop band Florence and the Machine, released 6 July 2009 by Island Records. The album debuted at number two on the UK Albums Chart for five weeks after its release, behind The Essential Michael Jackson compilation. On 10 January 2010 the album returned to...
recorded and mixed "Dog Days Are Over" as well.
An acoustic version of the song was performed live on BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
's Radio 1 Big Weekend. The track has been performed at a great number of high profile festivals through 2008 and 2009, including the Reading
Reading, Berkshire
Reading is a large town and unitary authority area in England. It is located in the Thames Valley at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, and on both the Great Western Main Line railway and the M4 motorway, some west of London....
and Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
festivals. The band also performed the song on the Mercury Prize
Mercury Prize
The Mercury Prize, formerly called the Mercury Music Prize and currently known as the Barclaycard Mercury Prize for sponsorship reasons, is an annual music prize awarded for the best album from the United Kingdom and Ireland. It was established by the British Phonographic Industry and British...
2009 awards show and BBC Introducing.
A six-minute, forty-second-long Optimo
Optimo
Optimo was a weekly Sunday-night club based in Glasgow, Scotland at the Sub Club on Jamaica Street, as well as a collective moniker for the night's resident DJ duo. Having run every week since it was founded in 1997, on Thursday 11 March 2010, it was announced on the official facebook page that...
remix of "Dog Days Are Over" has also been made available.
The song was used in an advertisement for programming on RTÉ
Raidió Teilifís Éireann
Raidió Teilifís Éireann is a semi-state company and the public service broadcaster of Ireland. It both produces programmes and broadcasts them on television, radio and the Internet. The radio service began on January 1, 1926, while regular television broadcasts began on December 31, 1961, making...
and in an episode of BAFTA Award
British Academy of Film and Television Arts
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts is a charity in the United Kingdom that hosts annual awards shows for excellence in film, television, television craft, video games and forms of animation.-Introduction:...
-winning teen drama
Teen drama
A teen drama is a dramatic television series with a major focus on teenage characters. The genre was relatively non-existent for the first 45 years of television; it came into prominence in the early 1990s...
Skins
Skins (TV series)
Skins is a BAFTA award-winning British teen drama that follows a group of teenagers in Bristol, South West England, through the two years of college. The controversial plot line explores issues such as dysfunctional families, mental illness , adolescent sexuality, substance abuse and death...
. In 2010 it was used in an advertising campaign for the television premiere of Slumdog Millionaire
Slumdog Millionaire
Slumdog Millionaire is a 2008 British epic romantic drama adventure film directed by Danny Boyle, written by Simon Beaufoy, and co-directed in India by Loveleen Tandan. It is an adaptation of the novel Q & A by Indian author and diplomat Vikas Swarup...
on Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
. It was used in a promo for the first series of CBBC
CBBC
CBBC is one of two brand names used for the BBC's children's television strands. Between 1985 and 2002, CBBC was the name given to all the BBC's programmes on TV for children aged under 14...
series, Deadly 60
Deadly 60
Deadly... is a strand of British wildlife documentary programming aimed principally at children and young people, which is broadcast on CBBC on BBC One and Two and on the CBBC Channel. It is presented by Steve Backshall, with Naomi Wilkinson as co-host on Live 'n Deadly...
. It was also heard in the NBC medical drama Mercy
Mercy (TV series)
Mercy is a medical drama which aired on NBC from September 23, 2009 to May 12, 2010. The series initially aired on Wednesday nights at 8/7c, as part of the 2009 fall season, but was pushed back to 9/8c in April....
, and used during a promotional video for the show. In addition the song was used in Episode 3.8 of Secret Diary of a Call Girl
Secret Diary of a Call Girl
Secret Diary of a Call Girl is a British television drama broadcast on ITV2 from 2007-2011 based on the blog and books by the pseudonymous "Belle de Jour," starring Billie Piper as Belle, a high-class London call girl. The series was written by Lucy Prebble, who is also known as the author of The...
. It also featured in Gossip Girl
Gossip Girl (TV series)
Gossip Girl is an American teen drama television series based on the book series of the same name written by Cecily von Ziegesar. The series was created by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, and premiered on The CW on September 19, 2007...
Season 3 Episode 14. In March 2010, the song was used in the theatrical trailer for Eat, Pray, Love. The song was used in July 2010 for a commercial for Covert Affairs
Covert Affairs
Covert Affairs is a USA Network television series starring Piper Perabo and Christopher Gorham. The one-hour drama premiered on Tuesday, July 13, 2010. The show concluded its first season on September 14, 2010 and was renewed for a second season on August 19, 2010. The second season began airing on...
and was used in the pilot of the series. The song was used extensively in Australia during winter in 2009, for advertising for the latter half of the 2009 AFL
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
season. This song was covered by Amber Riley
Amber Riley
Amber Patrice Riley is an American actress and singer best known for her role on the series Glee as Mercedes Jones.-Early life and career:...
(Mercedes) and Jenna Ushkowitz (Tina) from Glee
Glee (TV series)
Glee is an American musical comedy-drama television series that airs on Fox in the United States, and on GlobalTV in Canada. It focuses on the high school glee club New Directions competing on the show choir competition circuit, while its members deal with relationships, sexuality and social issues...
on the second season episode "Special Education
Special Education (Glee)
"Special Education" is the ninth episode of the second season of the American musical television series Glee, and the 31st episode overall. It was written by series creator Brad Falchuk, directed by Paris Barclay, and aired on Fox in the United States on November 30, 2010...
" in November 2010. The song has also been used extensively in a series of television advertisements by Telus
TELUS
Telus is a national telecommunications company in Canada that provides a wide range of telecommunications products and services including internet access, voice, entertainment, video, and satellite television. The company is based in Burnaby, British Columbia, part of Greater Vancouver...
in Canada.
The background music of the song is also featured in a promotional video for the 1GOAL Education for All
1GOAL Education for All
1GOAL Education for All campaign is run by the . Working with football and the footballing community, raises public awareness and involvement in achieving education for all the 67 million children out of school worldwide...
campaign called "2 girls born on the same day".
Florence and the Machine performed the song at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert
Nobel Peace Prize Concert
The Nobel Peace Prize Concert has been held annually since 1994 on 11 December, one day after the date of Alfred Nobel's death, to honour the Nobel Peace Prize laureate. The award ceremony on 10 December takes place in the Oslo City Hall, while the concert is in the Oslo Spektrum Arena, with the...
in December 2010. They performed it on the June 21, 2011, episode of The Colbert Report.
2010 re-release
The song was re-released into the UK market on April 11, 2010, accompanied with a new video. When questioned about why there would be a new video, she claimed "The original was so cheap [...] It was a video camera in a forest, with my dad and Marks & SpencerMarks & Spencer
Marks and Spencer plc is a British retailer headquartered in the City of Westminster, London, with over 700 stores in the United Kingdom and over 300 stores spread across more than 40 countries. It specialises in the selling of clothing and luxury food products...
sandwiches."
Critical reception
The song received generally positive reviews from critics. According to MusicOMHMusicOMH
musicOMH is a United Kingdom-based website which publishes independent reviews, featues and interviews from across all musical genres including classical, metal, rock and R&B.-History:...
.com, "'Dog Days Are Over' only seems likely to add to her already burgeoning reputation. While not as immediately catchy as "Kiss with a Fist
Kiss with a Fist
"Kiss with a Fist" is the debut single by indie pop band Florence and the Machine. It is featured on their debut2009 Mercury Prize-nominated album Lungs...
", it's an urgent, pounding, almost bluesy anthem which shows off Florence's voice to its very best advantage". Further, the track's B-side, a cover of "You've Got the Love", was praised. "Following with her tradition of some finely chosen cover versions, there's even an excellent rendition of The Source
The Source (musician)
The Source originally started out as an alias of unknown origin for Source Records's 1986 single release "You Got the Love" which featured Candi Staton. In 1989, DJ Eren, put Candi Staton's vocals over a track by Jamie Principle called "Your Love" which became a club hit. This was also released on...
's "You Got the Love
You Got the Love
"You Got the Love" is a 1986 single by the band The Source and Candi Staton. One of its many remixers also adopted the name The Source. In 2008, the song was recorded by English soul singer Joss Stone for her fourth studio album, "Colour Me Free!" released in October 2009...
". Contactmusic.com rated the song 9/10. The website remarked that "It's brilliant. It's a masterful yet primal tour-de-force of folk/pop/rock that reveals a beguiling talent that should surely be regarded as one of the finds of the musical year. "Dog Days Are Over" succeeds in capturing a powerfully 'live' studio sound that sinks, swells and explodes in a series of unconventional verse/choruses that, accentuated by Welch's snarling".
Dailymusicguide.com also positively reviewed the single, writing, "Florence Welch has one hell of a voice and uses it to full effect on "Dog Days Are Over", which plays the traditional verse-chorus-verse-chorus pattern to create a song of two halves. The song begins with an intricate acoustic beginning, before building and building along with the volume of Florence's stunning voice and coming to a crescendo at the half way mark. A moment of silence gives the listener a breather before the onslaught begins building to another stunning climax when Florence's voice hits incredible heights". Rating: 4.5/5 Thisisfakediy.co.uk gave "Dog Days Are Over" a 8/10 rating, mentioning, 'Dog Days Are Over' is incredibly entertaining and furthermore a complete storm of a song. Florence plays with this song, exerting a huge energy. It is a wonderfully spiritual four minutes that will never fail to impress".
In October 2011, NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
placed it at number 33 on its list "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years".
Chart performance
On December 6, 2008 "Dog Days Are Over" debuted at #89 on the UK Singles ChartUK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. The following week it dropped one place to #90 before dropping out of the top 100. It then re-entered the chart a month later on January 17, 2009 at #93 before dropping out of the chart again. Approximately four months later the single made another re-entry on May 23, 2009, this time at #91.
Following performances on Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. After 25 December 2006 it became a radio program, now hosted by Tony Blackburn...
, Jools Holland and use in a television advertisement for Slumdog Millionaire
Slumdog Millionaire
Slumdog Millionaire is a 2008 British epic romantic drama adventure film directed by Danny Boyle, written by Simon Beaufoy, and co-directed in India by Loveleen Tandan. It is an adaptation of the novel Q & A by Indian author and diplomat Vikas Swarup...
and Eat, Pray, Love , "Dog Days Are Over" began to receive increasing amounts of digital downloads, despite not having been re-released. On 10 January 2010, "Dog Days Are Over" re-entered the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
at #23, marking its highest peak to date. However, the following week, on the 17 January 2010, the single fell one place to #24. Following the single's re-release in March 2010, it re-entered the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
at #34 on 4 April 2010. The following week, the single rose to #24 before dropping again.
On the January 15, 2010, "Dog Days Are Over" entered the Irish Singles Chart
Irish Singles Chart
The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured...
for the first time, reaching a peak of #35. This is the third Top 40 hit for Florence in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. Following its re-release in March 2010, the single once again entered the Irish Singles Chart, this time climbing to #24 and a week later to #17. The following week, the single rose to #15 and the week after #13. On 15 April 2010, the single climbed into the Top 10 at #6, marking its current peak and Florence
Florence and the Machine
Florence and the Machine is the recording name of English musician Florence Welch and a collaboration of other artists who provide music for her voice. Florence and the Machine's sound has been described as a combination of various genres, including rock and soul...
's second most successful single in the Irish Singles Chart, only to Cosmic Love
Cosmic Love
"Cosmic Love" is a song by Florence and the Machine, and the sixth single from the album Lungs. The single was released through Moshi Moshi Records on July 5, 2010 in the UK....
, a later release.
On the week ending September 25, 2010, "Dog Days Are Over" debuted at #93 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. Following the performance of "Dog Days Are Over" on the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards
2010 MTV Video Music Awards
The 2010 MTV Video Music Awards took place on September 12, 2010 at Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, honoring the best music videos from the previous year...
, the track sold 96,000 digital downloads which signified a 257% increase over the previous week and leaped to number 21 giving Florence her first top 30 hit on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. It has now gone on to sell over 1.79 million downloads.
Music videos
The video was uploaded onto YouTube on November 6, 2008. "I just made it on a whim. We went down to the woods and we only had one camera. I got my dad to put a clown costume on and my friend's nephew to dress up as the baby clown while we decorated the woods. Dog walkers gave us the weirdest looks. It was really fun." The video starts with Florence lying in a forest, when a person in a white dress comes over and blindfolds her, and leads her to a clearing, filled with eerie-looking carnival/clown dressed people. Florence stands blindfolded for a few seconds, then takes the blindfold off and runs from the people. She eventually trips, and lays there as the carnival/clown people dress her like them. She then goes and dances with them, and the video ends with her walking away with 2 of the other people. The video featured acclaimed performance artist Theo AdamsTheo Adams
Theo Adams , previously referred to as The-O, is a performance artist and director of the contemporary theatrical performance art group Theo Adams Company.-Personal life:...
.
On 10 March 2010, UK newspaper The Sun's official website featured the new video that would accompany the re-release of the track on 22 March 2010. It was directed by Georgie Greville and Geremy Jasper and edited by Paul Snyder. It shows Florence dancing in a white-washed room wearing many different costumes and gradually being joined by go-go dancers, drummers wearing tribal outfits, harpists, marching band bass drummers and a gospel choir wearing white and purple. At the climax of the song Florence runs by all the people and as she does, they burst into ash in a flash of brightly coloured light. The video ends with Florence once again standing alone in the room. Throughout the video she wears full-body white make-up with intricate clothing and vivid red eye-liner and blusher.
On 3 August 2010 the video was nominated for four MTV Video Music Awards
MTV Video Music Awards
An MTV Video Music Award , is an award presented by the cable channel MTV to honor the best in music videos...
in the categories Video of the Year
MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year
The MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year is the main award handed out at the yearly MTV Video Music Awards. It was first awarded in , when The Cars won it, and has been given out since. Eminem has been the most nominated solo artist, male solo artist, and act in this category, having been...
, Best Rock Video
MTV Video Music Award for Best Rock Video
The MTV Video Music Award for Best Rock Video was first given out in , and it was one of the four original genre categories added to the VMAs that year. That year, though, the award was called the Best Heavy Metal Video. From 1990 to 1995, the award was called the Best Metal/Hard Rock Video, and...
, Best Art Direction
MTV Video Music Award for Best Art Direction
The following is a list of MTV Video Music Award winners for Best Art Direction in a Video. The Red Hot Chili Peppers are the biggest winners in this category with three wins in 1992, 2000, and 2006....
and Best Cinematography
MTV Video Music Award for Best Cinematography
The following is a list of MTV Video Music Award winners for Best Cinematography in a Video. Madonna is the biggest Winner in this category with 3 wins....
, and won for Best Art Direction
MTV Video Music Award for Best Art Direction
The following is a list of MTV Video Music Award winners for Best Art Direction in a Video. The Red Hot Chili Peppers are the biggest winners in this category with three wins in 1992, 2000, and 2006....
on September 12, 2010.
Track listing
Standard single- "Dog Days Are Over" – 4:10
- "You've Got the Love" – 2:48
Remix single
- "Dog Days Are Over (Yeasayer Remix) – 4:14
7-inch vinyl
- "Dog Days Are Over" – 4:10
- "Dog Days Are Over" (Optimo Espacio Remix)
Digital bundle
- "Dog Days Are Over"
- "Dog Days Are Over" (BreakageBreakage (musician)Breakage , is a London, UK drum and bass/dubstep producer and DJ. He is currently signed to the Digital Soundboy label.-Albums:-EPs:* Back Off * The Break Age * Hinds Sight...
Remix) - "Dog Days Are Over" (Steve Pitron & Max Sanna Remix)
- "Dog Days Are Over" (Optimo Espacio Remix)
- "You've Got the Love" (Strings version, live from The Union Chapel)
Live performances
"Dog Days" has been performed on every date of the Lungs Tour 2009 and has become a fan favourite. Florence often asks the crowd to do a particular action during the end of the song.During the songs original promotion, the band played the song at BBC Introducing Sessions, along with "My Boy Builds Coffins", "Kiss with a Fist
Kiss with a Fist
"Kiss with a Fist" is the debut single by indie pop band Florence and the Machine. It is featured on their debut2009 Mercury Prize-nominated album Lungs...
" and "I'm Not Calling You a Liar".
The song has been performed live several times since the confirmation of the song being re-released. The song was first performed on Alan Carr: Chatty Man
Alan Carr: Chatty Man
Alan Carr: Chatty Man is a British comedy chat show presented by comedian Alan Carr. The award-winning show is on Channel 4. The show features interviews with celebrity guests, sketches, topical chat and music....
on 18 March 2010. The band also performed the song on GMTV
GMTV
GMTV was the national Channel 3 breakfast television contractor, broadcasting in the United Kingdom from 1 January 1993 to 3 September 2010. It became a wholly owned subsidiary of ITV plc. in November 2009. Shortly after, ITV plc announced the programme would end...
on the single's release date, 22 March 2010.
The group performed the song live at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards
2010 MTV Video Music Awards
The 2010 MTV Video Music Awards took place on September 12, 2010 at Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, honoring the best music videos from the previous year...
. It was later performed on The Colbert Report in the episode airing on June 21, 2011.
Cover versions
The cast of GleeGlee (TV series)
Glee is an American musical comedy-drama television series that airs on Fox in the United States, and on GlobalTV in Canada. It focuses on the high school glee club New Directions competing on the show choir competition circuit, while its members deal with relationships, sexuality and social issues...
performed the song in the episode "Special Education
Special Education (Glee)
"Special Education" is the ninth episode of the second season of the American musical television series Glee, and the 31st episode overall. It was written by series creator Brad Falchuk, directed by Paris Barclay, and aired on Fox in the United States on November 30, 2010...
" on November 30, 2010, with Jenna Ushkowitz (as Tina Cohen-Chang
Tina Cohen-Chang
Tina Cohen-Chang is a fictional character from the Fox musical comedy-drama series Glee. The character is portrayed by actress Jenna Ushkowitz, and has appeared in Glee from its pilot episode, first broadcast on May 19, 2009. Tina was developed by Glee creators Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Ian...
) and Amber Riley
Amber Riley
Amber Patrice Riley is an American actress and singer best known for her role on the series Glee as Mercedes Jones.-Early life and career:...
(as Mercedes Jones
Mercedes Jones
Mercedes Jones is a fictional character from the Fox popular musical comedy-drama series Glee. The character is portrayed by actress Amber Riley, and has appeared in Glee from its pilot episode, first broadcast on May 19, 2009. Mercedes was developed by Glee creators Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and...
) singing the lead. The cast version was also released as a digital single, and charted on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
at No. 22, one space below a bounding return of the original to its post-VMA peak.
Vicci Martinez
Vicci Martinez
Vicci Martinez, Born on September 21, 1984 is an American singer/songwriter from Tacoma, Washington, who is now signed with Universal Group . She came in joint third on NBC's singing competition series The Voice in 2011. She came in first place on Team Cee Lo Green and represented him in the final...
covered the song on The Voice (U.S. TV series)
The Voice (U.S. TV series)
The Voice is an American reality talent show that premiered on April 26, 2011 on the NBC television network. Based on the reality singing competition The Voice of Holland, the series was created by Dutch television producer John de Mol. It is part of an international series...
.
Charts
| Chart (2010-11) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Singles Chart ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
47 |
| Belgian Singles Chart Ultratop 50 Ultratop 50 singles, often just Ultratop 50, is the weekly chart of fifty best-selling singles in Flanders, Belgium, and is produced and published by the Ultratop organization. The chart has existed since March 31, 1995... (Flanders) |
21 |
| Belgian Tip Chart (Wallonia) | 19 |
| Canadian Hot 100 Canadian Hot 100 The Canadian Hot 100 is a music singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine which ranks songs in Canada. The chart debuted in the Billboard issue dated June 16, 2007 and was made available for the first time via their online services on June 7, 2007... |
19 |
| Irish Singles Chart Irish Singles Chart The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured... |
6 |
| New Zealand Singles Chart Recording Industry Association of New Zealand The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and recording artists who sell music in New Zealand... |
27 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
23 |
| US Billboard Alternative Songs | 8 |
| US Billboard Rock Songs Rock Songs Rock Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine which ranks the airplay of songs on alternative, mainstream rock and triple A radio stations. The first chart was published in the issue dated June 20, 2009. "Know Your Enemy" by Green Day was the first number-one song. The Rock Songs... |
9 |
| US Billboard Adult Pop Songs | 11 |
| US Billboard Dance/Club Play Songs | 4 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (2009) | Position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
147 |
| Chart (2010) | Position |
| UK Singles Chart | 93 |