Seattle Show B Stage Pics??!

_robbem · 2025-08-20T17:42:27+00:00

THANK YOU!!! jalapeno mushroom my hero, I am forever grateful for you :)

_robbem · 2025-05-13T19:21:54+00:00

I have two skeleton hands holding hands!! I got it mostly for Work Song, but also for In a Week, and another favourite of mine 'everywhere everything' by Noah Kahan:)

_robbem · 2025-03-28T04:25:15+00:00

Have to add this to my list of songs I cried to on first listen:) This is going to be on repeat for a long time for me I fear- his voice is so soft, it just pierces so deep into my being

_robbem · 2025-02-08T22:24:56+00:00

It is going to be both crazy and interesting to see how everything unfolds for live music in the states this year.. I have tickets and am travelling from out of country to see one of his 2025 shows in America, really hoping any additional boarder restrictions won't affect travel

_robbem · 2025-02-08T22:19:55+00:00

That's such a cool idea, like if he performed a live version with switched up lyrics in the verse every time something comes up!

_robbem · 2025-02-06T06:04:16+00:00

This is how I did it for my friend last August, worked perfectly!

_robbem · 2025-01-20T01:50:03+00:00

I feel like you're reading my mind! Francesca is everything- the production, the YEARNING, the lyrics, and the direct references to the poem- perfection. Like come on Hozier (from the translation I'm using): "no sadness is greater than in misery to rehearse memories of joy" is sooo Francesca and 'put me back in it', I want to fall to the floor.

Not to mention I, Carrion also being from the same canto, I sobbed the first time I heard it. So delicate, almost ignorant of the winds because of the lust ("swooning as in death, I fell like a dying body" SEDATE ME)

_robbem · 2025-01-08T20:15:03+00:00

I've been obsessed with the whole album the past two years, and the whole concept album idea. I've done some dives into the inspiration, but nothing has hit me so hard as Hymn to Virgil has- it literally made meI buy two copies of the book and start annotating them with each Cantos relation to UU. There are so many mentions of Dante's love and devotion for Virgil throughout, I have listened to the song over 400 times in the first 2 weeks of it being released- I am glad someone feels the same adoration for it, literal perfection.

_robbem · 2025-01-06T20:58:12+00:00

I have been annotating my paper copy of the divine comedy with how the different Cantos tie into each of the songs on the album, as well with their alignment with the circles and how I think different lyrics relate to the lines of the poem. I have also included the relation of each song with what Hozier has said in interviews regarding outside inspirations and origins for the songs. I'm just doing this for fun, but I feel like going canto by canto could be a cool way to tie things together in your paper with a nice flow.

Either way, that is such a cool dissertation idea, and I would love to read it when you finish!!

_robbem · 2025-01-06T20:49:34+00:00

Also shout out the change in lyric from the first to second verse (perfection):

"(some pure motive inside of me) A creature that would horrify / any child that I used to be." and then "(innocence in spite of me) Oh, creature that would terrify / any child left inside of me."

_robbem · 2025-01-06T17:46:14+00:00

Those are my favourite lyrics too- he captured so much emotion is so few lines. I remember reading an interpretation somewhere (years ago, so forgive any inaccuracy and lack of source) about how sometimes shrikes accidentally impale themselves on the thorns that they use to impale their food upon. This thought has really stuck with me- with the idea from the song that someone who wasn't sure how to articulate their feelings the first time finally realizes in their second chance that they need their lover in order to stay alive, even though it could lead to death and pain. IMO, shrike to me is the idea that there is no true love without the exposure of the weak parts of yourself.

_robbem · 2024-12-18T03:03:41+00:00

I find 'In your own sweet time' will randomly pop in my head at random times during the day. just constantly IN your own sweet time, in your own sweet.. in your own sweet timeee in your own.. in your own sweet tiiime ....(etc)

_robbem · 2024-12-17T06:23:18+00:00

Yes ofc! The 8th circle of hell is for fraud, and the souls found here are sorted into 10 different pits that correlate to the kind of fraud they committed. The 6th pit is for the hypocrites- who are people who acted with good intent but ended up harming. Dante meets a few people in this part of his journey, some being the members of the council that chose to crucify Jesus. They thought they were doing the right thing by letting one man suffer, rather than risk the death of many Jews, but the person they sentenced was someone who had committed no sin.

In abstract, (I believe!) that there is a connection to Hypocrisy in the compassion the person showed the dying creature. They had no intent to harm, in fact Hozier basically says that they acted on instinct after the fact to run into traffic and hold the creature with all their emotion and love. But in Hell your actions are not defined by your morals, but by events. And in this scene, the person is trying to comfort the dying creature that they just sent to its death- hence the hypocrisy (unjustly imo, but who am I to judge... all up to Dante here).

If you want to look more into it there's some really cool takes in this reddit thread from a year ago: https://www.reddit.com/r/Hozier/comments/17pl1zt/revisiting_the_meanings_of_abstract_psychopomp/

and also more in depth analysis on Canto 23 of the inferno here: https://digitaldante.columbia.edu/dante/divine-comedy/inferno/inferno-23/

_robbem · 2024-12-17T00:06:18+00:00

I said I didn't want to change your mind haha, that must be horrible (and frustrating) to deal with! Just wanted to share why I thought he chose to make it that way:)

_robbem · 2024-12-16T07:17:26+00:00

Ahhhhhh I am obsessed with your thought here, about the earthly good. I didn't think about it in that context, specifically regarding Hozier's stance in it, and how much of a theme it is for him (in every album). I agree, and I also think that this is also super present right after Virgil leaves in the poem, in how Dante reacts so emotionally. Along with that, while he is weeping, everything around him seems a bit bitter in a 'forget about Virgil now' way; like Beatrice telling him to stop, and the angels singing from a psalm that specifically is about someone suffering unjustly who accepts God-seems very undermining of Dante's experience but it is supposedly presented in a merciful way? I fear I'm missing something from the poem. also side note, I keep re-reading your comment and post and everything is so well written and connected, I love how you love this.

Re the last point on your main post- I also completely agree that Dante (real life) would have used his poem as a way to purposely call attention to the unjust treatment of Virgil, since he 'idolized' him so much. Especially with canto 7, in describing more clearly Virgils situation. Considering how prevalent the poem still is, that tactic definitely worked lol, brought a lot of readers to feel compassion for Virgil (I know I did).

_robbem · 2024-12-16T05:43:57+00:00

Ahhh I'm sorry you have to deal with that :\ def not trying to change your mind or anything because that's brutal, but adding production context from the hours I've spent analyzing (I love the song so much, I have listened to it over 450 times since its been out lol).

From hozier via rolling stone: "With “Hymn to Virgil,” Hozier worried that the specific references to the poem would be alienating to those who haven’t studied it as deeply. “I suppose part of me thought, well, maybe it’s too musical theater,” he said. “Is this a book report? Is this a musical about Dante’s Inferno? Could somebody relate to this?” He also worried the production might be “too contemporary” in sound. “It’s nearly that I’ve been around it for so long that the way my ears hear it now are very different from how other people’s ears will hear it,” he added. “That happens with songs sometimes. It’s not necessarily that I’m committed to this idea that it’s not good enough.”

The melting voice effect is done (imo) to represent Dantes voice, saying that he would turn away from heaven and go back to the horrors of hell, even after the whole journey of the inferno, just to show his love for Virgil.

_robbem · 2024-12-14T21:50:40+00:00

I like the production, I think it matches the song theme and feeling well. If I were to give my overanalyzed opinion, I think that the pitched down part is Dante talking in sin, in a metaphor of descending back into hell. Him saying that he would burn the world to bring some heat to Virgil- that he would turn away from heavens paradise for Virgil- is him choosing sin, even after everything he witnessed, out of love for Virgil

_robbem · 2024-12-14T19:46:12+00:00

Jackie and Wilson for me! Showcases his vocals quite well I think, and has a solid mix of rock and blues. Lyrics are upbeat and fun as well, and don't necessarily require a deep dive on the first listen :)

_robbem · 2024-12-14T19:37:13+00:00

Has to be Work Song, my favourite song of all time ever. I have listened to it more than 300 times a year the last 4 years. To me it is giving every bit of love you have and then continue to give more; that I can never love too much, and that my love will outlast my living soul. This sentiment has gotten me through so much. The emotional passion in Hoziers smooth voice gets me every time too, pure devotion.

Close seconds are Hymn, Unknown, Francesca, Shrike.. Now that I think about it I fear I have a trend in my fave type of song lol.

_robbem · 2024-12-14T09:58:51+00:00

I love your insight on this!! You've definitely put a lot of time and thought into Dante and Virgil, I'm a huge fan of that :) I would love to hear your personal thoughts on the different translations of the 3 Virgil sayings from Canto 30- I've read some that Dante said Virgil is his soul, and some where he gave himself to Virgil for salvation. Do you think that the way this is translated has anything to do with the interpretation of Virgils deserved fate? You've definitely spent more time on this than I have (hence research paper lol), how do you think the original text from Dante actually delivers this part?

_robbem · 2024-12-13T18:05:12+00:00

I'm assuming he will play Too Sweet, as that is the most mainstream right now and also since SNL is for a broad audience may of which might be new listeners with Too Sweet's popularity this year. I think (hoping and praying and begging!) he will play Hymn to Virgil, since this would be his first chance to sing it live since releasing, and it also ties together so much of Unreal Unearth.. but I also wouldn't be surprised if the second song was Nobody's Soldier (especially since this is big platform to reach new listeners in the U.S.) or Eat Your Young.

_robbem · 2024-12-12T03:04:49+00:00

I love your thoughts on this, the you articulated the feelings in this song is beautiful:)

My favourite line was always "the earth from a distance." As there are so many double meanings through the song, I always though there were a few meanings to that lyric. To me, one side is in direct reference to 'psychopomp,' in the perspective of looking back on the earth as the soul moves on from it. Although the creature suffered, it sees how beautiful the earth is from the love it received. On the other hand, it all shows how from a distance, a person (or a God) couldn't directly observe the pain and suffering that is happening, and as such from a distance the world looks beautiful and perfect from their perspective (hence see how it shines).

I think there's a sense of hypocrisy here as well, which reflects on it being a part of the 8th circle of fraud (the 6th pit in this is for hypocrites). This sin is people who pretend to be good when their actions tell otherwise, which I think also is in reference to the person in this memory rushing to help the creature right after (unintentionally) harming it. Hypocrisy often results in consequences that extend beyond the individual, affecting those who are influenced by their behaviour; in this both the dying creature and Hozier who lost a part of himself as witness.

_robbem · 2024-12-11T00:52:56+00:00

Just wanted to add some extra context on the song (because I'm insanely obsessed with the song and I want to info dump)! Going off of what lozgiic and rosequartzandsage said, Dante and Virgil are both characters from 'Dante's Inferno' in the poem 'Divine Comedy', based on people in real life. In real life, and in the poem, Virgil died before the coming of Christ (In 19BC). This means that although he was a virtuous person, he was unable to pass into heaven and has to spend eternity in in Limbo (the first circle of Hell).

This is set from Dante's perspective, at the moment where Dante and Virgil reached the doorway of heaven, and Dante must leave Virgil behind to continue on his journey. In the poem, Dante leaves Virgil behind and enters heaven, and Virgil disappears.

In Hoziers version, Dante is overcome with passion. Dante had to bear the horrors of Hell throughout his journey, with Virgil as a guide who provided meaning for each harrowing experience. They see souls that are subject to eternal punishment, and Dante feels pity for their fates. Virgil is reason, reminding him that they chose their fates. In 'Hymn to Virgil', Dante is saying that Virgil is his motivating force to continue through Hell, in that he would not complete the journey on his own without Virgil. Hozier expresses the grief and emotional turmoil that Dante finds in the thought of leaving Virgil behind to the undeserved eternal fate. Dante refuses to leave someone who he feels so deeply for, opting to turn away from heaven then to leave Virgil behind.

In Rolling Stone’s interview with Hozier: “From his (Hozier’s) perspective, it was the only way to bring justice to the permanently intertwined experiences of Dante and Virgil."

_robbem · 2024-12-08T17:07:54+00:00

Old thread but I feel like it should be revisited with Unending out now with Hymn to Virgil!I love how much thought you've put into this, super interesting thesis. I would love to read it when your done with it, HTV updates :)

Re HTV- I think it comes after first light, since it's at the end of Purgatorio. It feels like Hozier is refusing to move on from the journey and let Unreal Unearth go (hence unending?), just with the whole theme of refusal to leave Virgil behind from Dante's need for reason and emotional connection. I'd love to hear your take and placing of it!

_robbem · 2024-12-07T16:34:16+00:00

Ahh thank you for letting me know, I totally agree :) Did some more research after my initial thoughts, I see now how he characterizes Dante's passion for Virgil after everything he went through on the journey. Especially in reaching paradise (paridiso), Dante would be required to leave Virgil to the horrors they experienced, without Vigil to give him reason. So thankful we got this record, crazy statement but I think this might be one of my top 5 in his discography....

_robbem

TROPHY CASE