Movement (Hozier song)

"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.

"Movement"
Single by Hozier
from the album Wasteland, Baby!
Released	14 November 2018
Length	3:57
Label	Rubyworks Island
Songwriter(s)	Hozier
Producer(s)	Hozier Markus Dravs
Hozier singles chronology
"Nina Cried Power" (2018) "Movement" (2018) "Almost (Sweet Music)" (2019)
Music video
"Movement" on YouTube

Writing and composition

"Movement" is the third track from the album, written solely by Hozier.^[1] "Movement" was first written on the piano,^[2] and is a gospel-pop and R&B ballad with "intense emotionality", "twinkling' keys and organs, and slow-build, stomp-clap to the track.^[3][4] The lyrics reference "Jonah on the ocean" and Fred Astaire, illustrating "the summons of love as an awe-inspiring dance."^[5][6]

Critical reception

"Movement" received mixed reviews from critics. Billboard praised the track, saying "the emotional song touches on the beauty of movement, as Hozier sings about watching the subject dancing freely."^[7] while NPR stated that ""Movement," leans hard into Hozier's gifts for crafting songs that radiate waves of soaring intensity [...] and drama build[s] quietly."^[8] Pitchfork dismissed it, writing that the "murk of the song mostly invites you to avert eye contact from the back of the room"^[4] while The Independent likened it to a "church march to which the bride enters a disappointing wedding night."^[6]

Commercial performance

The song peaked at number eleven on the Billboard Digital Sales Chart.^[9]

Music video

The official music video for "Movement" was released on 14 November 2018. The video was directed by British filmmakers Chris Barrett and Luke Taylor and featured dancer Sergei Polunin, paying tribute to the "emotional physicality of dance" alongside the lyrics.^[10] The video has amassed over 32 million views on YouTube.^[11]

Personnel

Personnel from "Wasteland, Baby!" liner notes^[12]

• A. Hozier-Byrne – vocals, guitar, claps
• Alex Ryan – bass, piano, Rhodes, claps
• Rory Doyle – drums, claps
• Booker T. Jones – organ
• Paul Clarvis – shaker, bells
• Markus Dravs – kick drum programming, synthesizer, claps

Charts

Chart (2018)	Peak position
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[13]	14
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)[14]	33
Hot Canadian Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[15]	17
Ireland (IRMA)[16]	40
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[17]	26
UK Singles Downloads (OCC)[18]	91
US Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[19]	11

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[20]	Gold	20,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[21]	Platinum	80,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[22]	Silver	200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[23]	Platinum	1,000,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

1. "Movement". AllMusic. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
2. "Interview: Hozier Talks 'Wasteland, Baby!' & New Collaborators". Idolator. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
3. "HOZIER – WASTELAND, BABY! (ALBUM REVIEW)". Cryptic Rock. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
4. "Hozier: Wasteland, Baby!". Pitchfork.
5. "Wasteland, Baby! Review". PopMatters. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
6. "Album reviews: 'Hozier – Wasteland, Baby!' and Tom Walker – 'What a Time To Be Alive'". Independent. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
7. "Hozier Premieres Passionate 'Movement' Video Starring Ballet Dancer Sergei Polunin: Watch". Billboard. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
8. "Hozier Returns With The Grand 'Movement' — And Announces A New Album". NPR. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
9. "Digital Sales". Billboard.
10. "Watch Hozier team up with ballet dancer Sergei Polunin in stunning new video for 'Movement'". NME. 14 November 2018. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
11. "Hozier – Movement". Retrieved 5 January 2024 – via YouTube.
12. Wasteland, Baby! (CD liner notes). Hozier. 2019.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
13. "Hozier – Movement" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
14. "Hozier – Movement" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
15. "Hot Canadian Digital Songs". Billboard. 1 December 2018. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
16. "Irish-charts.com – Discography Hozier". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
17. "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 26 November 2018. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
18. "Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
19. "Digital Song Sales". Billboard. 1 December 2018. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
20. "Brazilian single certifications – Hozier – Movement" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
21. "Canadian single certifications – Hozier – Movement". Music Canada. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
22. "British single certifications – Hozier – Movement". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
23. "American single certifications – Hozier – Movement". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 29 June 2024.