I owe Hozier an apology. Six years ago, I included him in a series I did on future one-hit wonders. I figured ‘Take Me to Church’ would be the only Top 40 single of his career.
That prediction held up pretty well for five years. His next 15 singles failed to crack the Hot 100. Then he managed to break into the Top 40 with ‘Northern Attitude,’ a collaboration with Noah Kahan. Still not exactly “hit” status.
Hozier’s ‘Take Me To Church’ was one of the biggest hits of 2014, going five times Platinum and topping Billboard’s Hot Rock Songs chart for a then-record 23 straight weeks.
Powered by that single, the Irish rocker’s self-titled debut LP sold a million copies worldwide. I think I heard it a couple of times and enjoyed it well enough, but I couldn’t name another of its songs.
Hozier’s ‘Take Me to Church’ was a huge hit but the sort of song one could easily see as a one-hit wonder.
It’s weird and gothic in a way not many Top 10 songs are, and I can imagine Hozier slipping into obscurity (playing for a small but fervent fan base) before becoming a staple on the charts.
Hozier is the second artist, and ‘Take Me to Church’ the second song, to arrive on this list courtesy of The Voice.
This compelling song was performed by Matt McAndrew, the contestant who should have won but came in second to country he-man Craig Wayne Boyd.
It’s probably some sort of commentary on American culture that the guy who sang this dark indictment of religion lost to the guy who sang ‘The Old Rugged Cross.’
Meet Me In Montauk 