Take Me to Church

Take Me to Church

Hozier

“Take Me to Church” is the debut single by Irish recording artist Hozier. It has become an international hit, reaching #1 in 12 countries, and has been certified five times platinum in the US. “Take Me to Church” was nominated for a Grammy Award for “Song of the Year” in 2015.

Despite its widespread and international success, Hozier was a struggling musician when he recorded the song. And in fact, it wasn’t until the music video — a critique of Russia’s anti-LGBT+ policy, which some audiences have found controversial — went viral that the song attracted attention.

“‘Take Me to Church’ is essentially about sex,” Hozier said in an interview with New York Magazine in March 2014, adding that “it’s not an attack on faith.”

It’s about sex and it’s about humanity, and obviously sex and humanity are incredibly tied. Sexuality, and sexual orientation — regardless of orientation — is just natural… The song is about asserting yourself and reclaiming your humanity through an act of love.

The song has also garnered attention from musicians around the world — it was, for example, covered on The Voice, and director David LaChapelle released an interpretive dance video of “Take Me To Church”, featuring British Royal Ballet veteran Sergei Polunin performing choreography by Jade Hale-Christofi.