Hozier vs. All Souls Choir | Head 2 Head 🗣️

In the 49^th edition of Head 🗣️ 2 Head 🗣️ (2023), Hozier and All Souls Choir contend for the best rendition of “Nina Cried Power.”  

Welcome to Head 2 Head! On Head 🗣️ 2 Head 🗣️, we pit at least two musicians singing the same song together, comparing their performances.  Then, after much deliberation, we deliver a verdict of which performance was the best, or at least, subjectively, which performance moved us more.  In the 49^th edition of head 🗣️2 head 🗣️ (2023), 🎙 Hozier and 🎙 All Souls Choir contend for the best rendition of 🎵 “Nina Cried Power”. So, without further ado, let the Head 2 Head commence!

1. Hozier, “Nina Cried Power” (Ft. Mavis Staples)  

💿 Wasteland, Baby! • 🏷 Columbia • 📅 2019 

“It’s not the wakin’, it’s the risin’ / It is the groundin’ of a foot uncompromisin’ / It’s not forgoin’ of the lie / It’s not the openin’ of eyes / It’s not the wakin’, it’s the risin’.” 🏆 Grammy-nominated, Irish singer/songwriter 🎙 Hozier (Andrew Hozier-Byrne) commences his 2019 sophomore album,  💿 Wasteland, Baby!  powerfully with 🎵 “Nina Cried Power”. The songwriting by Hozier is impeccable – meaningful and thought-provoking.  Notably, in the first verse, many of the lines are framed with it’s not and it is, as evidenced by the lyrical excerpt. 

Hozier is in full-on soul mode – think gospel, in an alternative sort of way. The soulfulness of the backdrop (Hozier and 🎛️ Markus Dravs), and his own powerful pipes, is fitting given his legendary collaborator, 🎙 Mavis Staples.  Staples’ performance is like the cherry 🍒 on top, specifically her contributions on the chorus, the crème de la crème of the record:

“And I could cry power (power) 

Power (power) 

Power, lord 

Nina cried power 

Billie cried power 

Mavis cried power.” 

Staples is also electric in the bridge, where she asserts, “And I could cry power / Power has been cried by those stronger than me…” Speaking of the power, both artists pay ode to various musicians who were unafraid to protest via their songs.  These musicians mentioned in the song include legends like Nina Simone (duh), James Brown, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, and John Lennon 💪. Among the best songs of 2018, it peaked at no. 13 on the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (and other genre-specific charts) though failed to chart on the Billboard Hot 100.

Appears in 🔻: 

• 13 Superb Gospel-Tinged Secular Songs (2018)
• 101 Best Songs of 2018
• 13 Contemporary Protest Anthems (2019)
• 11 Energetic, Powerful and or Strong Songs (2020)
• 13 Songs That Feature Names in Their Title (2020)
• 15 N Songs Selected with No Rhyme or Reason (2020)
• Hozier: 4GEMZ 💎 7 (2021)

2. All Souls Choir, “Nina Cried Power”

🎵 “Nina Cried Power” • 🗓 2019

The power of a secular song, 🎵 “Nina Cried Power”, written and performed by 🎙 Hozier featuring 🎙 Mavis Staples, which sounds like a gospel song, despite never mentioning God, found its way to many churches ⛪️ 🤯.  On November 17, 2019, a rousing rendition of “Nina Cried Power” was performed by the 🎙 All Souls Choir, led by 🎙 Jen Hayman, at the All Souls Church Unitarian DC ⛪️.  The cover is epic 💪. With the original already containing ample soul, the soloists and choir only elevate the soulfulness.  

Following some opening piano tinkling (🎹 Gordon Kent), 🥁 Dante Pope locks down the sick groove on the drums, faithful to the original 🤘.  Also, filling out the rhythm section is 🎸 Corey Null on bass. The band accompanies the band superbly, helping to fuel ⛽️ a powerful fire 🔥.  The spirit is firmly entrenched through powerful solos by 🎙 Rochelle Rice and 🎙 Shacara Rogers-West. Both ladies possess big, robust voices, which pack a mean punch. Beyond Rice and Roger-West’s solos, the choir is filled with the spirit, which, in turn, elevates the spirit of the congregation in the live performance.  After the conclusion of the record, the spirit is so high, All Souls Choir gives an encore, something common if you’re familiar with church performances, and in some case, poppier choral and instrumental performances. 🎵 “Nina Cried Power” covered by All Souls Choir from the All Souls Church Unitarian DC is best experienced via listening as opposed to described.   

Appears in 🔻:  

• All Souls Choir, Nina Cried Power: Covers No. 47 (2023) 

The Verdict 👨🏿‍⚖️ 

So, this is the moment of truth. Does the original, studio version of 🎵 “Nina Cried Power” remain king 🤴 courtesy of 🎙 Hozier and 🎙 Mavis Staples, or does the anointed 🎙 All Souls Choir take the cake 🎂?  Hearing one of Hozier’s best songs in a church setting is incredibly cool.  If you hear the song, even without being faith-based, it feels and sounds like a spiritual experience.  That said, as great a performance as All Souls Choir gives, the original song by the talented Andrew Hozier-Byrne CANNOT be supplanted.  What I’m saying is, Hozier is the man 👏 👏 👏!

Hozier vs. All Souls Choir: Head 2 Head 🗣️ No. 49 (2023) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; All Souls Choir, Columbia; Hernán Toro, Los Muertos Crew, RDNE Stock project, Thomas Ronveaux from Pexels]