It happened in 2014. If you were watching NBC at the time, you probably remember the specific chill that went down your spine when Matt McAndrew stepped onto the stage. He wasn't the first person to cover Hozier’s breakout hit, and he certainly wasn’t the last, but the performance of Take Me to Church from The Voice season seven changed the trajectory of how we view "reality" singing competitions. It wasn't just a cover. It was a moment where the polished, often sterile environment of a soundstage felt like a basement club at 2:00 AM.
The song itself is a beast. Hozier wrote it as a searing indictment of institutional religion and a celebration of humanity, wrapped in a mid-tempo soul-rock shell that requires a massive vocal range. Most people fail it. They either over-sing the chorus or lose the nuance of the verses. But on The Voice, McAndrew found a way to make it intimate.
The Night Matt McAndrew Cracked the Code
When we talk about Take Me to Church from The Voice, we are largely talking about the Top 12 week of Season 7. At that point, the show was a juggernaut. Adam Levine, Blake Shelton, Gwen Stefani, and Pharrell Williams were in the chairs. McAndrew, under Adam Levine’s mentorship, took a song that was still relatively fresh on the charts—Hozier’s original had only been out for about a year—and stripped away the indie-folk polish.
He started at the piano. That was the key.
By beginning the song with just those haunting chords, he forced the audience to listen to the lyrics. "My lover's got humor / She's the giggle at a funeral." It’s dark stuff. Most reality contestants treat songs like vocal gymnastics. Matt treated it like a confession. Honestly, it’s rare to see a contestant on a major network show lean into the "dirt" of a vocal performance. His voice broke in the right places. He didn't hit every note with a laser-guided vibrato; he hit them with an emotional desperation that matched the source material.
Adam Levine’s reaction said it all. He wasn't just coaching; he was witnessing a "winner" moment. In the world of SEO and digital trends, this specific performance created a massive spike in searches that lasted for years. Even now, when people search for Hozier covers, this version remains the gold standard for many fans.
Why This Specific Performance Still Ranks
Google likes things that stay relevant. But why does a performance from 2014 still get traction in 2026?
👉 See also: Is Heroes and Villains Legit? What You Need to Know Before Buying
It’s the "Hozier Effect." Hozier is an artist who values authenticity over artifice. When a contestant on a show as commercial as The Voice manages to tap into that same vein of authenticity, it creates a lasting cultural footprint. There’s a certain grit required for this song. If you sing it too "pretty," you lose the soul. If you scream it, you lose the pain.
Matt McAndrew’s version of Take Me to Church from The Voice succeeded because it respected the dynamics.
The Vocal Breakdown
- The Lower Register: The verses are notoriously low for many tenors. Matt stayed grounded, avoiding the "breathy" trap that many singers fall into when they can't find power in their bottom range.
- The Falsetto: Hozier’s "Amen" in the chorus is a cry. On the show, the sound mixing actually favored the raw edge of Matt's voice, making it feel less like a TV performance and more like a live concert.
- The Climax: By the time he reached the final bridge, the stage was flooded with light, and he was away from the piano. It was a classic "star is born" staging, but the vocal grit kept it from feeling cheesy.
Comparisons and Other Contenders
We shouldn't pretend Matt was the only one. Over the years, dozens of people have tried to tackle Take Me to Church from The Voice across different global franchises. From The Voice UK to The Voice Australia, this song has become a rite of passage.
Take Jordan Smith, for instance. Another Team Adam powerhouse. While he didn't do "Church" in the same way, he tackled similarly massive ballads. Many fans often compare Matt and Jordan when discussing the "Golden Era" of the show. Jordan had the technical perfection, but Matt had the "cool" factor.
Then there’s the international circuit. There was a version on The Voice Kids (various countries) where young singers would try it, which honestly felt a bit strange given the lyrical content. It’s a song about sex and religion. Hearing a twelve-year-old sing it is... weird. But it proves the melody is so strong that producers can't help themselves. They want that Hozier magic.
The Impact on Hozier's Career
It’s a two-way street. While The Voice gave Matt McAndrew a platform, the constant rotation of his song on the show helped cement Hozier as a household name in the United States. In 2014, Hozier was still an "alternative" artist. Having a frontrunner on the #1 show in the country perform your song to 12 million people is better than any billboard.
✨ Don't miss: Jack Blocker American Idol Journey: What Most People Get Wrong
Interestingly, Hozier himself hasn't commented extensively on the various Voice covers, but the royalties alone from the iTunes sales (back when that was a primary metric for the show) were significant. Matt’s version actually charted on the Billboard Hot 100, which was a rare feat for a reality contestant cover.
Technical Hurdles of the Song
If you're a singer and you’re thinking about trying this for an audition, be careful. There are three major traps:
The rhythmic syncopation in the verses is tricky. It’s a 3/4 or 6/8 feel that moves like a dark waltz. If you rush it, you sound like a pop singer trying to be deep. If you drag it, you lose the audience.
Secondly, the "Amen" isn't just a high note. It's a "blue note." It sits in that uncomfortable space where you have to decide between a full belt or a reinforced head voice. Matt McAndrew chose a distorted belt that probably shredded his cords a little bit, but for a one-off performance, it was exactly what the doctor ordered.
Finally, the breath control. The chorus is relentless. "Take me to church / I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies / I'll tell you my sins and you can sharpen your knife." There aren't many places to take a deep breath. You have to be an athlete to get through it without sounding winded.
What Really Happened After the Finale?
Despite the massive success of Take Me to Church from The Voice, Matt McAndrew didn't win the season. He came in second to Craig Wayne Boyd. This remains one of the most debated finales in the show's history.
🔗 Read more: Why American Beauty by the Grateful Dead is Still the Gold Standard of Americana
Many believe that Matt’s song choices—including "Take Me to Church"—solidified him as the "artistic" choice, while Craig appealed to the massive country music voting bloc that typically dominates these shows. But if you look at the streaming numbers today, Matt’s performances still outpace many winners. He eventually went on to front the band Rain City Drive (formerly Slaves), pivoting toward a post-hardcore and alternative sound.
It’s a classic case of the "non-winner" having the most iconic moment.
Actionable Steps for Music Fans and Singers
If you’re diving back into this performance or looking to master the song yourself, here’s how to approach it with a "Voice" level of quality:
- Study the dynamics, not just the volume. The reason Matt’s version worked was the contrast between the quiet piano opening and the explosive ending. If you start at a 10, you have nowhere to go.
- Focus on the storytelling. Read the lyrics. Understand the critique of the Catholic Church and the celebration of love. If you don't feel the "anger" in the song, it will fall flat.
- Check the legalities. If you're a creator looking to cover this on YouTube or TikTok, remember that "Take Me to Church" is heavily protected by Sony Music Publishing. You’ll likely get a copyright claim, but usually, they allow the video to stay up in exchange for ad revenue.
- Watch the "behind the scenes" rehearsal. There are clips available of Adam Levine working with Matt on this specific song. It’s a masterclass in how to strip a song down to its bones before building it back up for a TV audience.
The legacy of Take Me to Church from The Voice isn't just about a guy with a hat and a guitar. It’s about the moment reality TV stopped trying to find the next "American Idol" and started looking for real artists who could handle heavy, complex material. It’s a performance that stands the test of time because it didn't try to be perfect—it just tried to be real.
If you're looking for that specific video, it’s still widely available on official The Voice social channels. Watching it back, you can see the exact moment the audience realizes they aren't just watching a contestant; they’re watching a professional. That’s the bar every singer since has had to clear.
To get the most out of your vocal practice or your deep dive into reality TV history, compare Matt’s version directly with Hozier’s live performance at the 2015 Grammys. Notice the differences in the arrangement—one is built for a dark room, the other for a stadium. Both are essential listening for anyone who takes vocal performance seriously.