Added: 4 years ago
From: sufjanfans
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  • Ha Ha Ha ! That baldheaded guy in the lower left corner of the screen needs to keep his head lower at excellent concerts such as this ! Awesome Show ! Thanks Ken !

  • I got all sad when he said it was the last song... then i realized this is youtube.

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  • This is the most beautiful thing ever created how could a song ever surpass this in beauty especially in a live format? Fyi I am high.

  • I love Sufjan, I think he's a poetic genius with great music...but I can't help, but find his concert performances silly haha

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  • what I thought was going to be a boring saturday night has turned out to be a sufjanfest.. in anticipation of the gig of the year.. Sufjan in the Olympia. Cannot wait. I think I will need a stay in a mental hospital afterwards.

    Wow - what a musical genius. I would love to take a walk around inside his head. And he is so god dam hot!!! arhhhhhh.

  • If I were to single out one favourite person from all humanity.........

  • "And my very strange re-association storytelling..." That is a perfect way to describe his stories, haha. I love when he rambles!

  • Wow I REALLY wish the owner of this video would have cut out the talking in the beginning…don't get me wrong we all love Sufjan…but I in the mood for Chicago! The beginning should go! The beginning should go!

  • Great artist but a little silly.

  • extraordinarily talented artist

  • Thumbs up if Chiddy Bang brought you here

  • @Golde91

    Really? chiddy bang?! im sorry.

  • Gourgeous Vid ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

  • Wonderful music from a truly talented man.

  • You came to take us...all things go.

    To recreate us...all things go.

    I've made a lot of mistakes, i've made a lot of mistakes, i've made a lot of mistakes.

    Thank you God and Sufjan Stevens.

  • I would love to see him perform live before I die...

  • nice rainbow wings. )

  • he looks sooo gay

  • Wow, a standing ovation. He deserves that

  • Amazing, amazing <3

  • Sufjan is incredible

  • powerful performance

  • I don't know why you're getting down voted. You pretty much nailed it.

  • this song gets me everytime

  • after watching this video, I'll never be the same...

  • He is just magnificent.

  • Mohammedan wasnt a religon retard. its muslim. but i agree with you.

  • actually yes it was. Mohammeden is a term used to call the followers of Mohammed. So do your research before you call someone a retard.

  • hey autumn. :) and i defiantly agree.

  • who is this

  • will

  • me gustan sus nachas

  • hahaha a mi igual!

  • y tu como las tendràs? de donde eres?

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  • Those are some fantastic wings.

  • He's so odd, but you gotta love him. A true artist.

  • @kittenkraze13 He is so odd because he has fucking wings on and communicates with the audience genuinely? Gucci mane has an ice cream cone tattooed on his face, and lady gaga is bat shit crazy.

    P.S I know this comment is old as hell and your account is afk as hell. But Imma a gangsta nkka.

  • @IamAgrocerybag I'm not all that afk! ;)

  • If Sufjan plays in the UK, I'll die happy.

  • check out my cover of Casimir Pulaski Day/Chicago

    Nowhere near Sufjans level (who is?), but... hey... check it out

  • To all those who are attached to labels and definitions, here is a nice thought to ponder:

    "Buddha was not a Buddhist, Christ was not a Christian, and Mohammed was not a Mohammedan. They were bringers of new impulses of the Divine Message, which the multitude uses as toys to play with, and impostors use for power games."

  • does he truly fall under the genre "Christian Music"? because i have never thought that about his music... but i could be wrong

  • It upsets me that people jump to defining him as a "Christian musician" or his music as "Christian music." I think it is obvious to all listeners that we are experiencing much more than that. Why can't the music and the musician stand alone? It seems almost degrading to the work to impose upon it a label such as "Christian."

  • hmm. As a Christian, I would say this is the only meaningful way to engage or examine those characters. As people. Some of them were prophets, one of them was a God, but they are all people.

  • The most artistic Christian musician I've heard since Terry Taylor.

  • i believe it transcends that loaded label

  • It transcends the expectations people have of the label, yes, but the fact is, he is a Christian and he is a musician, and the former informs and molds the latter.

    He's one of the most "artistic" musicians there is, actually interested in creating things that are rooted in actual occurrences and history outside of himself (as opposed to the self-absorbed me-music of so many artists), and the way he relates these things in his music is amazing. But he is a Christian musician.

  • he at least has the good sense not to talk about his faith in public forums, not to preach, which defines more popular example from that genre. It also seems the way he approches some biblical characters and mythology is would be considered blasphemous by

  • What do you think would be considered blasphemous? I can't think of anything off of the top of my head.

  • i got cut off, might be considered blasphemous by the fundamentalist more popular in the genre.

    ex: well singing as jesus for one- which he does on occasion-as in the widows of paradise, and examining motives of characters such as jesus an abraham,

    He examines characters as people, and empathizes with them, not as gods or prophets.

    well that is my own two cents on the matter.

  • Or possibly, rather to include the examination as people is the only meaningful way. To restrict it to the physical would create as many problems as restricting it to the spiritual. But the aim of art is the humanity. The divinity is the aim of theology.

  • yeah, basically, what i think is that he is a devout christian, but there is a difference between being a christian musician and playing christian music. i know there are some elements of his songs that have to do with christianity, but it isn't really gospel music. him being a devout christian and a musician is just like him being an orthodox jew and being a musician--religious man, not music.

  • His Christianity informs and pervades his music. Listen to anything off of Seven Swans (especially and obviously , to "Oh God, Where Are You Now (In Pickerel Lake? Pigeon? Mackinaw?)" on Michigan or "Casimir Pulaski Day" on Illinois, or even "Chicago." Who do you think he could be singing to when he says "You came to take us, to recreate us"? Listen to "The Seer's Tower." Does Sufjan write secular songs? Yes ("Jacksonville", for one). But his Christianity cannot be separated from his music.

  • i totally agree with you, but i still don't consider his music to be gospel or christian rock, i just think that he incorporates elements of christianity into his music

  • Oh, so you're talking stylistically rather than lyrically, then? His music is definitely not Gospel or C-rock (which isn't really a style). I just figured that if someone is a practicing Christian and they include elements of Christianity in their music, it makes them a Christian musician.

    Arguing about words profits nothing, and now that I see that's what we were doing, I respectfully bow out.

    Thanks for an interesting discussion.

  • you too, sorry if i came off disrespectful

  • beautiful! amazing! this is probably one of my favorite songs by him. he's wonderful. you can tell he has so much passion in what he does. thanks for posting this! :D

  • "Put Sufjan Stevens on.

    And we'll play your favorite song.

    Chicago bursts to life.

    And your sweet smile remembers you."

    Hands Open - Snow Patrol.

    Ever since i heard that verse I've wondered who Sufjan Stevens is. He must be good if he inspired the singer of my fave band to name drop him in a song...

    He is. This song is absolutely awesome.

  • I'd go gay for Sufjan Stevens.

  • ROFL! wow... i guess he is pretty hot..

  • me too.

  • honey, i am gay for sufjan, any time he wants

  • whaaaaa i love you sufjan

  • i luv it!

  • he's odd, but very incredible... the best kind of people.

  • Sufjan is one of the BEST...he's the real deal!!!

  • Nice song very unique meaing if i think im right. used this song for a project. I do prefer PianoIsTheRemedy's cover to this version though I havent heard the studio yet.

  • i fucking love this song:)

  • Lovely video, thank you for sharing.

  • the intro is way better than the studio version

  • I love this video, but is there a reason why he is wearing those wings? They seemed to be getting in the way...

  • Maybe always dreamed of being one of those great native american folk characters .

  • It's because he's an angel

  • Why does it matter? He wants to wear them.

  • This is the 'Majesty snowbird' tour. He's the majesty songbird and the other musicians are the magical butterfly brigade. So he says at the start of the 'majesty snowbird' song... ;-)

  • the wings are the best part of sufjan besides the voice

  • he is a perfect human

  • Is there such a thing?

  • Im in love with Sufjan Stevens and his music. Chicago its my favorite one.

  • Moron.

  • I would love to know what you consider 'sophisticated' music. Perhaps the ever so talented Linkin Park? Or maybe Avril Lavigne?

  • Long live ignorance of great music! listen to it cause you like it. not cause no one else does. ruleoforder does have a point. we are sheep. sheep with really good taste in music. =)

  • Sl8rade. You have a great point! =]

  • Very nice

  • best part is

    if i was crying...in the van...with my friend...it was for freedom...from myself and from the land...i've made a lot of mistakes.....

  • i cired when he said that. it is indeed the best part.

  • aww I knoww! I lovve sufjyy!

    When will he start playing again or release a new cd??

  • I wonder what he's saying from 4:10-20...?

  • beautiful!!!!

    i love this song

  • beautifully epic.

  • how DARE YOU.

    :'(

  • Wow in one sentence you exposed homophobia, hate, and ignorance...

    What do you do for an encore? Makes babies, then hit them with a wrench?

  • i lol'd

  • haha i could not agree with you more. you are hilarious.

  • lol

  • Of course your trucks bigger, you red neck loser. Too bad you dick is smaller.

  • good stuff sufjan

    i reacon he could cure that

  • i heard there was a reason to his wings, something having to do with the tour, does anyone know?

    i think there cool, just wondering whats up with them?

  • oh what a great version! Is there anything that man can't do?

  • cure aids i presume

  • and fly

  • what has he got wings for then, stupid >:D

  • It's the benediction.

  • rofl awe!...this song reminds me of Little Miss Sunshine =]

  • me too :) i love the movie and song!

  • hehe!

    Yay!

    ^_~

  • a bit faster then i know it but it still works 5/5

  • i love his uniform and wings.

  • Buenísima canción

  • NOt only keep the wings... get better ones like those in REM's "Losing My Religion" video... Icarus lives!

  • he is just to lovely

  • who cares if he wears wings iit is his musical signature apparently and he still makes great music so the wings can stay as long as he keeps makin them hits

  • what an angel he is

    luv that tune

  • Man, if he wants to wear wings, then wear wings he shall. Chicago rocks no matter what.

  • He's So Cute!

  • Sufjan is so polite.

  • haha, you can tell he's losing his voice. He must have been singing for a while.

  • haha i did a coffee house show once, and after 5 songs my voice was toast.

    these guys condition their vocal chords to extremeties.

    its no doubt he had a long journey on that show

  • Cool! Great footage!

  • i do really enjoy sufjans music... but i totally agree with 815oceanic815

  • and it felt like once upon a time. great time great line, scheme, ryme.god is good.

  • I really dig this song and totally love this album, but when it all comes down to it...I think that Stevens goes by the gimmicks a little too much.

  • what's wrong with make a gimmick of things; especially in his case?

  • I just think the music needs to speak for itself sometimes....I feel that musical artists (especially exceptionally talented ones like Stevens) end up making themselves look like Gallagher or Carrot-Top when it comes to their performance art....Anyhow, I think he is still brilliant, moving, and relevant as an artist still, but I am very sorry for comparing Stevens to Carrot-Top, but I think you get my drift.

  • i see what you're saying, almost in a prop-gag kind of way.

    well, sometimes it can be fun, you know? but i see what you're saying. he has more to offer than cheesy dress up shows and what not.

  • close your eyes then... or better yet, just play the record (that speaks for itself- and theres no akward costumes!). do you like zappa, beefheart, genesis, danielson family? their live shows would make you cringe!!

  • stupid indie douches can't enjoy a modest quirk

  • what?

  • is he wearing wings? good lord i'm in love.

  • He's one of the best songwriters, it's obvious <3

    Sufjan is 33 today, age of Christ.

  • "Age of Christ"... do people ever think before they speak in order to realize just how creepy they sound? I'm a Christian, but do you Bible thumpers really think that Jesus or even Sufjan would want that comparison to be made? You've been brainwashed...

  • hm, i've no idea it could sound creepy, perhaps because im orthodox, for me it sounds normal =/

  • sufjan is absolutely amazing!His music is so interesting,something which is really missing in modern music.

  • I want him to come to my school. That would be so awesome.

  • when is Sufjan going to be coming out with some new material? i'm itching for some new SS!

  • all things go all things go, legend

  • Jocento: the fact that you said 'flaming' proves that you are not even worthwhile of a comment.

  • This man knows how to make real music. He takes historical events and facts and makes it into beautiful music. What could be better?

  • Yes and Delicious for it! MMMMMMMMM...

  • You seem like a real likable person...

  • How is this guy still doing small shows? He's better than 99 percent of the crap music that comes out today and THEY'RE making millions. Talent OBVIOUSLY isn't valued anymore.

  • I have to agree. I'm not sure why he's so 'underground' still. He should be super duper mainstream indie.

  • i'm pretty glad he's not!!

    And i think his music is by far too subtile to be mainstream!

  • maybe it would destroy him and his music,there were a lot of great bands like that!but you are obviously right!he should deserve the so called fame!

  • You have a point.

    But this isn't exactly a "small show".

  • I agree It seems that real music isn't popular any more, which is why Sufjan Stevens isn't popular. All my friends say I like "hippie" music because i like a lot of classic rock. That is what real music sounded like. Its hard to do that now a days without being called gay. I don't understand why (c)rap is so popular. All you do is add suggestive dialouge, don't sing and *POOF* a billion dollars. Soulja Boy, T-Pain, Flo Rida, take note, this is real music.

  • i agree with you.

    i had a 'debate' with my friend. he seemed to believe that if a band was known by more people then that meant somehow that band was better.

    by that logic however since more people have heard of Britney Spears she's clearly 'better' than anything Sufjan could ever put out.

    lame.

  • Thanks my friend. Mainstream music has become cluttered and crappy (Jonas Brothers) ever since about 2001. Bands like Weezer and Radiohead aren't getting the same press they were 15 years ago, and that's sad. TRL, start playing music and not crap.

  • yeah, sufjan is huge, many people do know of his music. And you shouldnt judge all modern music based upon what TRL throws at us. People who actually love music do NOT listen to Soulja Boy and such, thats just stuff that people have fun with. To find actual music people do look underneath the surface, so i havnt lost hope in modern music yet =]

    sufjan is amazing, by the way

  • I agree, what I was getting at is that people think since the song isn't about shooting people on the block, rape, or the fact that you can't dance to it makes it bad. I'm 14, and I have heard alot, and artists like Sufjan don't get played as much. The top 40 station seems to be concerned w/ just giving people absolute crap most of the time that we've lost sight of what bands like Weezer, RHCP, and Radiohead have to offer. I'm not saying rap is bad, I'm saying we need to take a brake from it

  • i dont think we need a break from RAP but we need more variety, so the same monotonous tunes stop being played over and over. a little club, concious, gangsta, and oldschool would freshen things up.

  • Speaking of voting and the NRA, did anyone notice that Sufjan is a wicked singer?

  • Good point Markbaluk, its about the music, not whether or not he is gay.

  • But if he is YUM!

  • Jesus, I'm sorry for sticking up for Sufjan, won't do it anymore. Enjoy your NRA memberships.

  • This is coming from the meathead that said he was going to punch me on the other Sufjan Chicago link. Yes im talkin to you ayazyam. And I belong to the NRA. and he said gays werent people or something like that.