Nina Cried Power

Last updated
"Nina Cried Power"
Single by Hozier featuring Mavis Staples
from the EP Nina Cried Power and the album Wasteland, Baby!
Released6 September 2018
Length3:45
Label
Songwriter(s) Hozier
Producer(s)
Hozier singles chronology
"Better Love"
(2016)		"Nina Cried Power"
(2018)		"Movement"
(2018)
Music video
"Nina Cried Power" on YouTube

"Nina Cried Power" is a song recorded by Irish singer-songwriter Hozier, featuring vocals from American rhythm and blues and gospel singer Mavis Staples. It was released on 6 September 2018 as the lead single from Hozier's second studio album Wasteland, Baby! .

Contents

Writing and composition

"Nina Cried Power" is the first track on the album, written by Hozier alone. The song is described as a "soulful anthem" and contains blues and gospel influences, with subtle piano, a playful drumbeat, and soothing guitar rhythm. [1] The lyrics namecheck the artist-activists of previous generations, including Woody Guthrie, Billie Holiday, James Brown, Curtis Mayfield, BB King, Marvin Gaye, Pete Seeger, Patti LaBelle, Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Joni Mitchell, contributing vocalist Mavis Staples, and the titular Nina Simone; the naming of the track is a nod to Simone's recording of Sinnerman, which features the lyric "I cried power." [2] The song describes their work as the "hearing of a human spirit ringing." [3] "Nina Cried Power" salutes their contributions to the protest music of the American Civil Rights Movement, declaring that "It's not the waking, it's the rising." [4]

After touring his debut album, Hozier took a one-year hiatus from his work, residing in Ireland, to "re-connect". [5] He stated that he became a "news junkie" and wrote much of the album's material "trying to reconcile" his own "concerns and anxieties" regarding humanity when the Doomsday Clock moved to two minutes to midnight in 2018. [6] [7] Staples influenced the record's musical conception; "Nina Cried Power" was originally written on the piano while Hozier strived to make "music that hit a little bit harder, that leaned in to rhythm a little bit more". [7] Hozier has stated that his musical education was "grounded" in Chicago blues artists like Nina Simone and many of the artists receiving nods in the song have frequently been cited as his influences; he has previously stressed the importance of "crediting the legacy you're crediting". [8] [9]

Critical response

"Nina Cried Power" was lauded by critics. The Telegraph stated that he upheld the legacies of the aforementioned artists with "purposeful swagger" [3] while The Irish Times wrote that "from the first track, Hozier fuses his righteous political anger (“It is the bringing of the line, it is the baring of the rhyme, it’s not the waking it’s the rising”) with what you can only call a “tune”, citing it as "a tree-flattening tour de force that explores broad themes of protest and liberation." [2] PopMatters stated that "Hozier...uses the performer's legacy to inspire action and disrupt apathy. This is the poignant reminder that the work these artist-activists set in motion still needs redressing and enacting ... as an opener, "Nina Cries Power" is an inspirational triumph concertizing the single's place in the history of protest music." [4] Consequence of Sound praised the opening track for its "upbeat, joyous quality, testifying to the emotional material to come." [1]

Commercial performance

The song peaked at number ten on the Irish Singles Chart, scoring Top 50 positions in the US, the Netherlands, Scotland, New Zealand, and Belgium. [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15]

Music video

This song was intended as a thank you note to the spirit and legacy of protest; to the artists who imbued their work with the vigour of dissent, and a reflection on the importance of that tradition in the context of the rights, and lives, we enjoy today. My hope for this video is much the same.

— Hozier, The Irish Times [2]

The official music video for "Nina Cried Power" was released on 12 September 2018. [16] It was directed by Patrick Ryan and Jon Hozier-Byrne, Hozier's brother, and features a slew of Irish activists, including Sinéad Burke, Eamonn McCann, and Bernadette McAliskey. [16] The video was filmed in Dublin, and features the activists wearing headphones while wordlessly reacting to the powerful anthem for the first time. [16] The video has amassed over 13 million views on YouTube. [17]

Charts

Chart (2018)Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders) [18] 30
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia) [19] 33
Ireland (IRMA) [20] 10
Netherlands Single Tip (MegaCharts) [21] 28
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ) [22] 27
Scotland (OCC) [23] 42
UK Singles (OCC) [24] 87

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) [25] Gold40,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Staple Singers</span> American gospel, soul, and R&B singing group

The Staple Singers were an American gospel, soul, and R&B singing group. Roebuck "Pops" Staples, the patriarch of the family, formed the group with his children Cleotha, Pervis, and Mavis. Yvonne replaced her brother when he was drafted into the U.S. Army, and again in 1970. They are best known for their 1970s hits "Respect Yourself", "I'll Take You There", "If You're Ready ", and "Let's Do It Again". While the family name is Staples, the group used "Staple" commercially.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nina Simone</span> American singer-songwriter (1933–2003)

Nina Simone was an African American singer, songwriter, pianist, composer, arranger and civil rights activist. Her music spanned styles including classical, folk, gospel, blues, jazz, R&B, and pop.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Power Generation (song)</span> 1990 single by Prince

"New Power Generation", or "N.P.G.", is a song by American musician Prince from the 1990 album and film Graffiti Bridge. It is an anthem for his backing band, The New Power Generation, who were officially co-credited on his album covers for a time, and continued to back him up until 2013, albeit with a changing lineup. The song saw minimal chart attention, and was not as successful as its predecessor, "Thieves in the Temple".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sinner Man</span> African American traditional spiritual song

"Sinner Man" or "Sinnerman" is an African American traditional spiritual song that has been recorded by a number of performers and has been incorporated in many other media and arts. The lyrics describe a sinner attempting to hide from divine justice on Judgment Day. It was recorded in the 1950s by Les Baxter, the Swan Silvertones, the Weavers and others, before Nina Simone recorded an extended version in 1965.

"My Baby Just Cares for Me" is a jazz standard written by Walter Donaldson with lyrics by Gus Kahn. Written for the film version of the musical comedy Whoopee! (1930), the song became a signature tune for Eddie Cantor who sang it in the movie. A stylized version of the song by American singer and songwriter Nina Simone, recorded in 1957, was a top 10 hit in the United Kingdom after it was used in a 1987 perfume commercial and resulted in a renaissance for Simone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mavis Staples</span> American singer (born 1939)

Mavis Staples is an American rhythm and blues and gospel singer and civil rights activist. She rose to fame as a member of her family's band The Staple Singers, of which she is the last surviving member. During her time in the group, she recorded the hit singles "I'll Take You There" and "Let's Do It Again". In 1969, Staples released her self-titled debut solo album.

"Feeling Good" is a song written by English composers Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse for the musical The Roar of the Greasepaint – The Smell of the Crowd. It was first performed on stage in 1964 by Cy Grant on the UK tour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">To Love Somebody (song)</span> 1967 single by Bee Gees

"To Love Somebody" is a song written by Barry and Robin Gibb. Produced by Robert Stigwood, it was the second single released by the Bee Gees from their international debut album, Bee Gees 1st, in 1967. The single reached No. 17 in the United States and No. 41 in the United Kingdom. The song's B-side was "Close Another Door". The single was reissued in 1980 on RSO Records with "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" as its flipside. The song ranked at number 94 on NME magazine's "100 Best Tracks of the Sixties". It was a minor hit in the UK and France. It reached the top 20 in the US. It reached the top 10 in Canada.

"To Be Young, Gifted and Black" is a song by Nina Simone with lyrics by Weldon Irvine. Simone introduced the song on August 17, 1969, to a crowd of 50,000 at the Harlem Cultural Festival, captured on broadcast video tape and released in 2021 as the documentary film Summer of Soul. Two months later, she recorded the song as part of her concert at Philharmonic Hall, a performance that resulted in her live album Black Gold (1970). Released as a single, it peaked at number 8 on the R&B chart and number 76 on the Hot 100 in January 1970. A cover version by Jamaican duo Bob and Marcia reached number 5 in the UK Singles Chart in 1970.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hozier</span> Irish musician

Andrew John Hozier-Byrne, known professionally as Hozier, is an Irish musician, singer and songwriter. His music primarily draws from folk, soul and blues, often using religious and literary themes and a political or social justice stance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Take Me to Church</span> 2013 single by Hozier

"Take Me to Church" is a song by Irish singer-songwriter Hozier. It was released as his debut single on 13 September 2013, originally featuring on his extended play of the same name, before being featured as the opening track of his 2014 debut album Hozier. A struggling musician at the time of its composition, Hozier wrote and recorded the song in the attic of his parents' home in County Wicklow. A mid-tempo soul song, its lyrics use religious terminology to describe a romantic relationship in the face of Church discrimination. The song caught the attention of Rubyworks Records, where producer Rob Kirwan collaborated with Hozier on the final recording.

<i>Hozier</i> (album) 2014 studio album by Hozier

Hozier is the debut studio album by Irish musician Hozier. It was released on 19 September 2014 by Island Records and Rubyworks Records. Before the album's release, he attracted attention from his 2013 and 2014 EPs Take Me to Church (2013) and From Eden (2014), which contained songs that were later included on the album. Hozier collaborated with producer Rob Kirwan during its recording. Hozier has been described as a blues, soul and indie rock album with elements of gospel, R&B and folk music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Work Song (Hozier song)</span> 2015 song by Hozier

"Work Song" is a song recorded by Irish singer-songwriter Hozier for his 2014 eponymous debut studio album. It was released on 16 March 2015 as the fifth single from the record, appearing on the Irish Singles Chart and Billboard Hot Rock & Alternative Songs Chart. An accompanying music video was released in March 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">From Eden</span> 2014 song performed by Hozier

"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 and Alternative Songs Chart. An accompanying music video was released in November 2014, featuring actress Katie McGrath.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Someone New (Hozier song)</span> 2015 song performed by Hozier

"Someone New" is a song recorded by Irish singer-songwriter Hozier for his 2014 eponymous debut studio album. It was released on 2 March 2015 as the fifth single from the record and peaked at number 13 on the Irish Singles Chart. An accompanying music video was released featuring actress Natalie Dormer.

<i>Nina Cried Power EP</i> 2018 EP by Hozier

Nina Cried Power is the third extended play (EP) by the Irish musician Hozier. It was released on 7 September 2018. Its lead single "Nina Cried Power" featuring Mavis Staples is inspired by the legacies of artists like Nina Simone, Joni Mitchell, Billie Holiday, James Brown, Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie, and Staples herself. The single was #1 on the Billboard Adult Alternative Songs airplay chart. The EP was Hozier's first new release since his 2014 self-titled debut album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Movement (Hozier song)</span> 2018 song by Hozier

"Movement" is a song recorded by Irish singer-songwriter Hozier for his second studio album, Wasteland, Baby!. It was released on 14 November 2018 as the second single from the record, peaking at number forty on the Irish Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hozier discography</span>

Irish singer-songwriter and musician Hozier has released three studio albums, seven EPs, and 22 singles. His debut studio album, Hozier, was released in September 2014. The album peaked at number one on the Irish Albums Chart. The album includes the singles "Take Me to Church", "From Eden", "Sedated", "Work Song", "Someone New", "Jackie and Wilson" and "Cherry Wine". "Take Me to Church" achieved widespread global popularity, topping the charts in twelve countries and reaching the top ten in twenty-one other territories. The song was nominated for the Grammy Award for Song of the Year at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards and has been certified diamond in the US. His second studio album, Wasteland, Baby!, was released in March 2019. The album peaked at number one on the Irish Albums Chart and the US Billboard 200. The album includes the singles "Nina Cried Power", "Movement", "Almost " and "Dinner & Diatribes". He released his third album Unreal Unearth in August 2023, which also topped the Irish Albums Chart and became his first number-one album in the UK.

<i>Wasteland, Baby!</i> 2019 studio album by Hozier

Wasteland, Baby! is the second studio album by Irish musician Hozier, released on 1 March 2019 by Rubyworks Records. It is Hozier's first album since 2014. The album includes the songs "Nina Cried Power" and "Shrike" from the 2018 EP Nina Cried Power, as well as the single "Movement". It was promoted by a North American tour beginning in March 2019, and a European tour in late summer to fall 2019. Wasteland, Baby! debuted atop the Irish Albums Chart and the Billboard 200, and has since been certified gold in the US.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Almost (Sweet Music)</span> 2018 song by Hozier

"Almost (Sweet Music)" is a song recorded by Irish singer-songwriter Hozier for his second studio album, Wasteland, Baby! It was released on 16 January 2019 as the third single from the record, peaking at number eight on the Irish Singles Chart.

References

  1. 1 2 "Hozier Picks Up Where He Left off on Wasteland, Baby!". COS. 5 March 2019. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 "Hozier: Wasteland, Baby! – Track by track review of his new album". The Irish Times. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  3. 1 2 McCormick, Neil (28 February 2019). "Wasteland Baby! Review". The Telegraph. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  4. 1 2 "'Wasteland, Baby' Highlights Hozier As an Impactful Voice in the Art and Activism Sphere". PopMatters. March 2019.
  5. ↑ "Interview: Hozier Talks 'Wasteland, Baby!' & New Collaborators". Idolator. 3 April 2019. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  6. ↑ "Hozier talks new album 'Wasteland, Baby!' and the legacy of 'Take Me To Church'". NME. 11 February 2019. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  7. 1 2 "For Hozier, the joy in 'Wasteland! Baby' comes from the journey". Spokesman. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  8. ↑ Llana, Kaplan (22 September 2014). "Interview Magazine". In the Middle with Hozier. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  9. ↑ "Hozier on Seamus Heaney, Maltesers and why Nina Simone turns his brain inside out". The Guardian. 18 February 2019. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  10. ↑ "Scottish Singles". Official Charts. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  11. ↑ "NZ Top 40". New Zealand Charts.
  12. ↑ "Weekly Charts". Netherlands Singles Chart.
  13. ↑ "Hozier". Ultratop. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  14. ↑ "Hozier". Ultratop. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  15. ↑ "Hozier". Irish Charts. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  16. 1 2 3 "New Hozier video for 'Nina Cried Power' pays tribute to Irish activists". The Irish Times. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  17. ↑ "Nina Cried Power". Youtube. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  18. ↑ "Hozier feat. Mavis Staples – Nina Cried Power" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  19. ↑ "Hozier feat. Mavis Staples – Nina Cried Power" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  20. ↑ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Hozier". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  21. ↑ "Netherlands Single Tip Chart". Mega Charts. 27 October 2018. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  22. ↑ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ . 17 September 2018. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  23. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  24. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  25. ↑ "Canadian single certifications – Hozier – Nina Cried Power". Music Canada . Retrieved 20 January 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.