A Voice Fit For Romance

When I think of being romanced through song, I think of the calming and powerful voice belonging to the dear artist Andrew Hozier-Byrne, who is more commonly known as Hozier. His live performances have captured my heart and ears. His voice carries out the strong emotional impact of the lyrics of his music. Of the many live performances of his songs, one that continues to leave me with the feeling of coming out of a movie theater is "Cherry Wine".

The lyrics of this song are narrated by a person who is a victim of an abusive "romantic" relationship. It's harsh descriptions of blood and violent abuse contrasts the soft tone of Hozier's voice, the simplicity of his guitar, and the setting. This performance allows us as the audience to be able to take in the words with more ease while still admiring his skills as an artist. The earnestness of the song feels like a love song. Perhaps it is one. It tells us of a type of "love", just not one that we are used to listening to.

This rendition of the song also includes outside noise, such as the sound of passing cars and birds. Perhaps I'm looking into it too much, but these sounds can be seen as a reminder for how mundane this song is. Abuse in romantic relationships is something common in our world. It is a sad truth that we are able to understand with Hozier's "Cherry Wine".