Taylor Swift is probably the most well-known current pop star in the world, but there are better musicians for a college class to revolve around.
Now, let’s be clear — I don’t hate her. I grew up during her country pop era and have danced around with her music on full blast countless times. However, Swift’s albums have become repetitive and predictable. Good for a breakup or dance party, but not the best to base a class on.
I’d rather analyze the line “I’d walk so far just to take the injury of finally knowing you,” from Irish musician Hozier’s “Unknown / Nth” than the line “Touch me while your boys play ‘Grand Theft Auto,’” from Swift’s “So High School.”
Students have analyzed Shakespeare and Chaucer for centuries. It gets old. I’m glad to see universities modernizing their teaching with contemporary artists like Taylor Swift, but she’s not the only option for a course. Like Swift, Hozier has several songs alluding to classic literature, making him a perfect candidate for a lit class.
Additionally, professors don’t have to throw out old content to have a class on Hozier. His work can be studied alongside the traditional content in a refreshing way for students.
“Eat Your Young” is a reference to “A Modest Proposal” by Jonathan Swift. “Francesca” is a reference to “The Divine Comedy” by Dante Alighieri. “From Eden” is, you guessed it, inspired by the Bible.
Dissecting the connections between Hozier’s music and traditional literature may actually be a more effective way of teaching the content. Modern students are more likely to listen to relevant music than they are to voluntarily read hundred years-old literature.
Not only are several of his songs tied to classics, his lyrics are just downright more worthy of analysis. His writing ability is unmatched. Due to the depth of his lyrics, a Hozier class would offer more to students than a Taylor Swift class.
His use of literary devices, such as “I saw her hair like the branch of a tree” from “Would That I” and “Your love is sunlight” from “Sunlight” beg to be incorporated into a poetry class.
I would go so far as to say a psychology professor could form lessons around how Hozier’s cleverly written lyrics successfully distract the listener from how morally ambiguous the narrator in his songs can be.
Hozier has developed the reputation of a man written by a woman, but some of his songs make me wonder how he earned that label. “I’m almost me again, she’s almost you,” is a line straight from “Almost (Sweet Music).” The narrator admits that he’s looking for his ex in a new person.
I love Hozier, but I would not design a man who would say that to me. I am interested in learning the psychology behind how he was able to develop the reputation as a “perfect man” when his songs contain lyrics like that.
Though it is understandable why Taylor Swift is the top choice for many to take a class about, the meaningfulness of that class is over-inflated due to her popularity, overshadowing the value of studying other amazing musicians like Hozier. Both artists reference classics, but Hozier writes with a depth that puts a course about him higher on my list than a Taylor Swift course.
Hozier’s music can be explored through a variety of disciplines, not just an English class while being a fun, engaging and relevant learning experience. Whether a literature, English, psychology or music class, Hozier provides ample material for analysis.
