Polunin is a Russian ballet dancer. He was the youngest male dancer for the Royal Ballet in Britain. He’s recently gotten into controversy due to his pro-Russian war stances and performances. Fred Astaire is a wildly famous and iconic swing and ballroom dancer from the 30s and 40s. If you know the song “Cheek to Cheek”, that’s him. He was known for dancing with a fellow actress, Ginger Rogers. Atlas, I believe, is a reference to the Greek myth. Atlas holds up the sky. Thus, when he moves, the whole earth moves with him.
To add to the Atlas reference, Hozier sings; "Honey, you, you're Atlas in his sleepin' ". This makes a point that despite the wild fame and talented artistic expression of Polunin and Fred Astaire, Hozier says of the subject that they are more alike to the movements only Atlas DREAMS he could do were he not holding up the heavens for eternity; wild, uncontrolled, free!
A lot of people are explaining who Polunin and Astair are but I just wanted to give my interpretation of the meaning of the lines. He says "You're less Polunin leaping or Fred Astair in sequins, honey, you, you're Atlas and he's sleeping. And when you move, I'm moved." To me this says that her movements are purely natural and primal, instinctive. They arent a polished, artful performance. They're second nature, like your body rising and falling as you sleep. Atlas held the world on his shoulders, so as his chest rose and fell in sleep so too the mortals would feel the movement. That's just my take anyway :P
Sergei Poulnin did an iconic video of himself dancing to Take Me to Church. Hozier saw it and not only mentioned him in the lyrics, he asked him to dance in the official video for Movement. Fred Astaire was a very famous early dancer in Hollywood films. Singing in the Rain is probably the most recognizable clip.
Fred Astaire wasn't in Singin In The Rain, that was absolute icon Gene Kelly. Astaire was more generally known as a stunning technical dancer though and has had a longer legacy (along with his frequent partner Ginger Rogers) and that's what the reference is to here. Hozier's lyrics are basically saying (I think) that the person he's addressing doesn't have the polish or showy style lf Polunin or Astaire but is instead a powerful Titan (Atlas) even at rest. Atlas holds the world on his back, and his every movement moves it, just like the subject of this song.
I LOVE this song. His voice, the lyrics....the message. The video is very well done too. This dude is underrated imo (nice to see you react to more songs of his!)
polunin was the dancer for the music video of this song!! fred astaire was also a famous dancer i think. (and im pretty sure it should be "in sequence" and not "in sequins")
Weirdly, it is sequins. The cd has the lyrics. Maddening because I don’t think Astaire really ever wore sequins and SEQUENCE. It was right there! I think the man is messing with our heads.
