Rising to number three in this week’s Billboard Hot 100 Chart, Hozier’s Grammy nominated single, “Take Me To Church,” continues to flood the airwaves with its captivating indie-rock and bluesy feel. At first, I do admit, I was rather confused with the meaning of the song and what was being said, but there was just something about it that made me absolutely love it, and before I knew it, I couldn’t get it out of my head.
The 24-year-old Irish, singer/songwriter, released the single back in 2013, but it wasn’t until the video went viral on YouTube that it became a worldwide hit. In an interview with Gigwise.com, the singer goes on to explain that the song was based on things he has strong opinions about. “I wouldn’t like to think of it as an indictment against religion or an indictment against institutions,” he said. “Perhaps, specifically for Take Me To Church, it is an indictment against those institutions that undermine some of the more natural parts of being a person; undermine humanity in some way shape or form.” Thus, this could explain the rather disturbing images in the video that show a gang attacking a gay couple, for presumably just being a part of the LGBT community.
In a way, I think this gave me a greater appreciation for the song; the fact that he feels so strongly about these institutions that undermine humanity. It made the song heavy and political, and for me, it became more than just a catchy song with a simplistic background. It has depth, it has value and it is raw; definitely one to look out for at the Grammy’s.
Here is a link to the interview with Gigwise.com: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKzwZnyvLcE
Erica M. Szkola