From Eden

"From Eden"
Single by Hozier
from the album Hozier
Released9 March 2014
Recorded2013
GenreSoul rock, blues rock
Length4:43
Label
Songwriter(s)Andrew Hozier-Byrne
Producer(s)
Hozier singles chronology
"Take Me to Church"
(2013) 		"From Eden"
(2014) 		"Sedated"
(2014)
Alternative cover
EP cover
Music video
"From Eden" on YouTube

"From Eden" is a song recorded by Irish singer-songwriter Hozier for his 2014 eponymous debut studio album. It was released on 9 March 2014 as the second single from the record and peaked at number two on the Irish Singles Chart and number fifteen on the Billboard Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart. An accompanying music video was released in November 2014, featuring actress Katie McGrath.

Writing and composition

"From Eden" is the sixth track from the album and written by Hozier[1] "From Eden" is one of the experimental tracks on the album, with Motown influences breaking down a flamenco bridge while returning to religious metaphor; the lyrics contain "torturous Biblical ponderings", with Hozier slithering from the Garden of Eden to confront a love he deems "familiar/like my mirror, years ago".[2][3]

Critical reception

"From Eden" received praise from critics; The Irish Times commended the track for its "grit and substance" and exclaimed that Hozier's vocals contained a "blue-eyed, soulful delivery", while PopMatters stated that the song saw the Four Tops quartet "put their arms around young Hozier" as he realises a "journey as much about finding himself as it is about finding the girl."[3][4]

Commercial performance

The song peaked at number 15 on the Billboard Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart and number 2 on the Irish Singles Chart.[5][6] "From Eden" also scored within the Top 100 charting positions in the UK, Canada, and Belgium, respectively.[7][8][9] "From Eden" is certified gold in the United Kingdom and Australia.[10][11]

Music video

Released on 18 November 2014, the official music video for "From Eden" was directed by filmmaking duo henry/ssong (Henry Chen and Ssong Yang).[12] Actress Katie McGrath and child actor Tate Birchmore star alongside Hozier in the video, which contrasts a "life of crime" with the breezy melody and lyrics, resulting in conflicting emotional circumstances.[13][14] It depicts Hozier as an outlaw with his companion, McGrath, and young boy they've taken into their company while on the run.[14] Hozier robs a gas station and the trio commandeer a house in which to spend the night; the pair are subsequently caught, with the boy being taken from their custody. It is revealed that the couple had found the boy alone in a dilapidated house.[14] The video has garnered over 59 million views on YouTube.[15]

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[11] Gold 35,000‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[24] Gold 30,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[25] Platinum 80,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[10] Gold 400,000‡
United States (RIAA)[26] Platinum 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Format Label
Ireland[27] 9 March 2014 Digital download (EP) Universal
United States[28][29][30] 1 April 2014 Columbia
6 October 2014 Adult album alternative radio
10 February 2015 Modern rock radio

References

  1. ^ "From Eden". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  2. ^ "Hozier, Hozier". Billboard. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Hozier: Hozier". PopMatters. 4 February 2015. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  4. ^ "Hozier". The Irish Times. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  5. ^ "Chart Week 14". IRMA. Archived from the original on 2018-04-28.
  6. ^ "From Eden". Billboard.
  7. ^ "From Eden". Ultratop. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  8. ^ "From Eden". Canada Rock. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  9. ^ "OCC". UK Singles. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  10. ^ a b "British single certifications – Hozier – From Eden". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  11. ^ a b "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2019 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
  12. ^ "HENRY / SSONG". HENRY / SSONG. Retrieved 2023-04-01.
  13. ^ "Tate Birchmore". Pro-labs.imdb.com. 2015-12-02. Retrieved 2016-07-26.
  14. ^ a b c "Hozier Shares "From Eden" Music Video". Music Times. 18 November 2014. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  15. ^ "From Eden". YouTube. 18 November 2014.
  16. ^ "Hozier – From Eden" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  17. ^ "Hozier – From Eden" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  18. ^ "Hozier Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  19. ^ "Chart Track: Week 14, 2014". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  20. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
  21. ^ "Hozier Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
  22. ^ "Hozier Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
  23. ^ "Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2015". Billboard. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
  24. ^ "Brazilian single certifications – Hozier – From Eden" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
  25. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Hozier – From Eden". Music Canada. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  26. ^ "American single certifications – Hozier – From Eden". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  27. ^ "From Eden EP". Ireland: 7digital. Archived from the original on 26 February 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  28. ^ "From Eden EP". United States: 7digital. Archived from the original on 26 February 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  29. ^ "Future Releases on Triple A (AAA) Radio Stations, Independent Artist Song Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on 7 October 2014. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  30. ^ "AllAccess.com Alternative eWeekly". AllAccess. 3 February 2015. Retrieved 4 July 2016.