Hozier released his mega hit song, “Take Me To Church”, 10 years ago, and in a new interview, is looking back on the impact.
The 33-year-old singer-songwriter spoke to Variety in support of his upcoming fall tour, and got candid about the message that’s still timely today, and the legacy of the track.
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Hozier first said that it was the timing changes in the song that first pulled him in.
“I was astounded that a song that changes from 3/4 time to 4/4 time, that has these weird chromatic movements, that was recorded without a bass guitar, and the vocals of which were recorded in an attic, became the hit that it became,” he shared, adding that “if I could have offered any message in a song, and if any of my songs would become a crossover hit and live the life that it’s lived, I’m proud that it’s that song in particular.”
Hozier added that he’s reminded just how impactful the song can be, “after the protests in Iran, that the song has taken on a life so far beyond what I imagined for it.”
He also spoke about the music video, which had an emphasis on Russian homophobia.
“At the time, some dismissive criticisms that I got of the music video were along the lines of, ‘Well, this is not our society. This is something that’s happening in a very faraway place.’ I’d done a few interviews at the time where I talked about how, when it comes to online culture, increasingly that was becoming the platform for our discussions and how we interact in civil society with one another,” he shared.
Hozier went on, “I was saying that there’s no borders in that space, in an online space, so that sort of culture is something that could absolutely find its way over in our direction. And (it’s proven true), but it’s not just a Tennessee thing, not just an American thing.”
“Currently within the EU, there are anti-LGBTQ zones in cities within the EU, in Poland, in Hungary. Globally, there’s this kind of huge backlash, and in some cases shows of paramilitary force, against the existence of trans people, drag shows, etc., which is so scary.”
“Take Me To Church” remains one of the most Shazamed songs.
