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Sufjan Stevens — Chicago
Album: Illinois
Avg rating:
7.1

Your rating:
Total ratings: 3830









Released: 2005
Length: 6:03
Plays (last 30 days): 3
I fell in love again
All things go, all things go
Drove to Chicago
All things know, all things know
We sold our clothes to the state
I don't mind, I don't mind
I made a lot of mistakes
In my mind, in my mind

You came to take us
All things go, all things go
To recreate us
All things grow, all things grow
We had our mindset
All things know, all things know
You had to find it
All things go, all things go

I drove to New York
In a van with my friend
We slept in parking lots
I don't mind, I don't mind
I was in love with the place
In my mind, in my mind
I made a lot of mistakes
In my mind, in my mind

You came to take us
All things go, all things go
To recreate us
All things grow, all things grow
We had our mindset
All things know, all things know
You had to find it
All things go, all things go

If I was crying
In the van with my friend
It was for freedom
From myself and from the land
I made a lot of mistakes
I made a lot of mistakes
I made a lot of mistakes
I made a lot of mistakes

You came to take us
All things go, all things go
To recreate us
All things grow, all things grow
We had our mindset
All things know, all things know
You had to find it
All things go, all things go

You came to take us
All things go, all things go
To recreate us
All things grow, all things grow
We had our mindset (I made a lot of mistakes)
All things know, all things know (I made a lot of mistakes)
You had to find it (I made a lot of mistakes)
All things go, all things go (I made a lot of mistakes)
Comments (459)add comment
What? There's going to be Broadway musical for Illinoise?
And I hope he is doing better since his diagnosis.
 dgavenda wrote:

Can't listen to this w/o thinking of Little Miss Sunshine.  Such a great song and movie too. 



...its also used in the soundtrack of the first season of "The Bear". Had it in my head for two weeks straight after watching the episode...
Can't listen to this w/o thinking of Little Miss Sunshine.  Such a great song and movie too. 
 Grayson wrote:

How many mistakes can a young lad make? 

...or lass; infinite

 annds wrote:

Falls under the category of: Don't know exactly why this one rings a bell, but it does. 



A touch of Snow Patrol, maybe?  No harm in that.
Not sure if it’s the app but I’ve got Patty Griffin and Robert Plant singing instead of Sufjan. Wouldn’t complain either way though; just an observation. :-)
wonderful tune from a truly brilliant album
 annds wrote:

Falls under the category of: Don't know exactly why this one rings a bell, but it does. 



I like to think it's the collective human psyche that he/we are tuning in to 😊
How many mistakes can a young lad make? 
 bahalana wrote:

My mom was a Northern Illinois girl, and I was born and mostly raised there outside of Chicago. For years I meant to share this album with her, I think she would've enjoyed it even if it was more "modern" than her tastes ran. There are some really delightful references to things only an Illinoian would get. Unfortunately I never did and she passed. Regrets Mom.



Condolences to you and family.  I found out the same way—we never have enough time.  
urk
 scrubbrush wrote:

Isn't the album name spelled wrong in the info section? The album is called "Illinoise" on the cover but RP shows "illinois"  



From Wikipedia:

Illinois (styled Sufjan Stevens Invites You to: Come on Feel the Illinoise on the cover; sometimes spelled as Illinoise)

There, clear as mud!
What a pleasant, uplifting song.
If his name was Bob Stevens, would this song be as interesting?
 scrubbrush wrote:

Isn't the album name spelled wrong in the info section? The album is called "Illinoise" on the cover but RP shows "illinois"  



Person 1: Hear that noise? 

Person 2: What noise?

Person 1: Illinoise!

My dad used to love that joke. So this seems to be an old dad joke. Miss you dad.
I own the 1st version of the album cover with Superman flying, then retired after Stevens’ label, Asthmatic Kitty, opted to remove Superman from future pressings after its lawyers met with DC Comics.
I'd love to hear more Sufjan on RP.
this was in the opening credits of a Netflix show and I can't recall the name
I chose to not buy this CD with Superman flying across the scene. Probably should have done so, since it was recalled due to copyright issues. Stupid stuff runs the world.
 juditsd wrote:

is it really necessary to say everything 2timess it really necessary to say everything 2timess it really necessary to say everything 2timess it really necessary to say everything 2timess it really necessary to say everything 2timess it really necessary to say everything 2timess it really necessary to say everything 2timess it really necessary to say everything 2times??  :)



Nothing's necessary, nothing's necessary
But some things are fun, but some things are fun
We can choose to have fun, we can choose to have fun
Isn't the album name spelled wrong in the info section? The album is called "Illinoise" on the cover but RP shows "illinois"  
My mom was a Northern Illinois girl, and I was born and mostly raised there outside of Chicago. For years I meant to share this album with her, I think she would've enjoyed it even if it was more "modern" than her tastes ran. There are some really delightful references to things only an Illinoian would get. Unfortunately I never did and she passed. Regrets Mom.
 Queue wrote:

I really don't know why, but I like this...



Are you making a mistake?
 lizardking wrote:

Props, Skid_Mark, well stated "I don't like it" comment.  I think I'm in the "I get it" crew now, still takes a certain mood to want to hear it, like right now.  LLRP!!


Well done RP listeners! A fine example of how to have a reasonable discussion without offending anyone.  
I like that he doesn't plough the same furrow, but this one's a miss for me.
 vandal wrote:
I heard this song again
it still blows, it still blows  
drove me to drinking
it still blows, it still blows  
I sold my soul not to hear it
I lost my mind, lost my mind
this song is a mistake
it hurts my mind, hurts my mind

Disagree entirely with the sentiment, but great post!
A nursery rhyme
 bangon wrote:


Where is this clip from?  If it's from a movie I would like to see it. 
 
For real? It's Animal House. A modern classic to a certain generation.
OMG  

That my young one is from Animal House.

See it now.
 sfyi2001 wrote:

                  

 

Where is this clip from?  If it's from a movie I would like to see it. 
 sfyi2001 wrote:

 
Agree 100%
As with all things, this too will go.
The production and writing on this song is just amazing.  Amazing.
 kevrey wrote:
A little repetitive, repetitive, repetitive...
 

You might almost think he intended that.
 Randomax wrote:
He's got a great christmas album........played all season around my hood........all original too, no cheesy covers.

 

Unless you count the appearance of Love Will Tear Us Apart inside Christmas Unicorn.  
Strong Songs Podcast has a great analysis of this song and why it works so well:

https://strongsongspodcast.com...
Hello Polyphonic Spree.
Interesting that St. Vincent played with both Sufjan Stevens and the Spree.
And that Bill often plays Secret Machines, yet another band lifted up by Polyphonic Spree.
Yay for Dallas and the Deep Ellum sound of nearly thirty years ago and of Deep Ellum some sixty years before that which has nothing to do with Sufjan Stevens but what the heck , worth a mention.
tune!
I really don't know why, but I like this...
now the theme for "The Politician"
Falls under the category of: Don't know exactly why this one rings a bell, but it does. 
 Skid_Mark wrote:


Thanks.  No offense taken, my comment was intentionally over the top.

It's not the lyrics as much as his "sound" that bothers me about this tune, and almost everything else I've heard from him.  

I have no doubt that he's talented, there's just something that really bugs me about his music.  Maybe I'll "get it" sometime in the future, but for now, I'll pass.

 
 
Props, Skid_Mark, well stated "I don't like it" comment.  I think I'm in the "I get it" crew now, still takes a certain mood to want to hear it, like right now.  LLRP!!
Sounds like a missing song from Godspell...
 ankanpaul024 wrote:
8
 
I'll go +1 and join you there....Sufjan's music is growing on me, he seems like an interesting cat....Long Live RP!!
8
He's got a great christmas album........played all season around my hood........all original too, no cheesy covers.

Coldplay?? I dislike coldplay.....
bUBLE gUM kA ka!
Drivel
A little repetitive, repetitive, repetitive...
 sfyi2001 wrote:


 

this is, sir/maam, sfy, pure genius. i've still laughing as i type this. ha!
 westslope wrote:
So what are lyrics about?

The song came a little too early to be an ode to Barack Obama. 

 
pizza.  wonderful chicago pizza!  wudditsabout
So what are lyrics about?

The song came a little too early to be an ode to Barack Obama. 

                  

 kylieh wrote:
Love this whole album...
 
Me too. Very me too.
 {#Yes}luismond wrote:
nice {#Neutral}

 


nice {#Neutral}
Bill says the last song, Hozier — Like Real People Do, appears to be about zombies and he follows up with a Sufjan song that isn't They Are Night Zombies!! They Are Neighbors!! They Have Come Back From The Dead!! Ahhhh!? Missed opportunity! ;P
Love this whole album...
 Agreed...really good

WonderLizard wrote:
Gotye - Somebody That I Used to Know
Xavier Rudd - Mana
Alison Brown Quartet - Mambo Banjo
Sufjan Stevens - Chicago

Brilliant set. One of the many, many reasons I listen to RP.

 

Turn it up!  Quintessential RP track.

What a character:
Sufjan Stevens performing, July 2016
 Steely_D wrote:
I have no idea why this song triggers a visceral sadness, but I just accept it...

You know St. Vincent played guitar with this guy? 

 
Most songs on Illinois elicit a visceral sadness.  It might be that Sufjan admits to crying in almost every song (or, in this song, suggests that he might be crying)
Some Sufjan! Nicely done Bill. Keep on surprising me, I'll always listen. I've turned on so many of my friends to this.
Reminds me of Elbow
 copymonkey wrote:

No offense, but I think you've got bad read on this. Consider words like irony and nuance. An artist should always be searching. If you listen to Sufjan's latest, you'll see he's still looking for answers, and expressing that in a very powerful way.

 

Thanks.  No offense taken, my comment was intentionally over the top.

It's not the lyrics as much as his "sound" that bothers me about this tune, and almost everything else I've heard from him.  

I have no doubt that he's talented, there's just something that really bugs me about his music.  Maybe I'll "get it" sometime in the future, but for now, I'll pass.

 
Dear Sufjan,

Stay away from the South & West Sides if you're going to Chicago...It's a friggin' WAR ZONE THESE DAYS! 
" If I could get my shit together,
I could write commercial jingles." 
 chyk5 wrote:

Well said! This kid is immensely talented.

  In my mind, in my mind...

He's gonna' be YUGE!

 copymonkey wrote:

No offense, but I think you've got bad read on this. Consider words like irony and nuance. An artist should always be searching. If you listen to Sufjan's latest, you'll see he's still looking for answers, and expressing that in a very powerful way.

 
Well said! This kid is immensely talented.
 Skid_Mark wrote:
This song makes me think of megachurches, insipid lyrics on gigantic screens, and people with arms raised, giving it up for Jesus.

No offense intended if that's anyone's thing, but everything I've heard from this guy sounds a little too much like watered down wussy "contemporary" Christian music to me.
 

 
No offense, but I think you've got bad read on this. Consider words like irony and nuance. An artist should always be searching. If you listen to Sufjan's latest, you'll see he's still looking for answers, and expressing that in a very powerful way.
I suppose he's abandoned his "fifty states" project, which I once calculated, at his rate of production, would have taken us to some time after 2090. Still, it was a pretty good idea.
This song makes me think of megachurches, insipid lyrics on gigantic screens, and people with arms raised, giving it up for Jesus.

No offense intended if that's anyone's thing, but everything I've heard from this guy sounds a little too much like watered down wussy "contemporary" Christian music to me.
 
 Steely_D wrote:
I have no idea why this song triggers a visceral sadness, but I just accept it...

You know St. Vincent played guitar with this guy? 

 
Many, many of his tracks do the same for me. It's not dark though, just a soft and peaceful sadness. Enjoy the motion in your soul as much as I am...
is it really necessary to say everything 2timess it really necessary to say everything 2timess it really necessary to say everything 2timess it really necessary to say everything 2timess it really necessary to say everything 2timess it really necessary to say everything 2timess it really necessary to say everything 2timess it really necessary to say everything 2times??  :)
Nope, still sucks.
Blissful! Love Sufian...
{#Crown}
 Mattan wrote:
Funny guy: https://blogs.walkerart.org/walkerseen/2014/02/19/valentines-message-im-your-man-love-sufjan/
 
That is really cool. :)
Love this song.  Also love Chitty Bang's hip hop cover as well.
Funny guy: https://blogs.walkerart.org/walkerseen/2014/02/19/valentines-message-im-your-man-love-sufjan/
Love those horns!! Almost sounds like a Dandy Warhols song....


Ha. I like this set:

Andrew Bird - Pulaski At Night
Sufjan Stevens - Chicago

I'm wondering if the next one might be from Chicago Transit Authority? Or maybe Great Lakes Swimmers?

This is kind of fun. Bill, you have a great job. Enjoy yourself! 
Phenomenal song. Sufjan may have made a lot of mistakes, but this song wasn't one of them. 
 Bultaco wrote:
 WonderLizard wrote:
Gotye - Somebody That I Used to Know
Xavier Rudd - Mana
Alison Brown Quartet - Mambo Banjo
Sufjan Stevens - Chicago

Brilliant set. One of the many, many reasons I listen to RP.


I guess it's on tape.........forever. Same set tonight.

Not a criticism, Bill, believe me!

Michael 

 
Same set - will the brilliance ever fade?
Gif of people encased in balls, bouncing

Sufjan, we have a ball just for you...
 WonderLizard wrote:
Gotye - Somebody That I Used to Know
Xavier Rudd - Mana
Alison Brown Quartet - Mambo Banjo
Sufjan Stevens - Chicago

Brilliant set. One of the many, many reasons I listen to RP.

 
I guess it's on tape.........forever. Same set tonight.

Not a criticism, Bill, believe me!

Michael 
Thanks for the PSD feature, RP.
This entire album is a solid 10.
I liked this song enough when I heard it that I immediately went to check out the rest of the album and some earlier ones. Yeah ... never again. I do still like this though.
 Steely_D wrote:
I have no idea why this song triggers a visceral sadness, but I just accept it...

 
I feel the same, and i like it...
 KaraokeVox wrote:
interesting take on blues...not the same ol black voice mimick
 
Wait...what?
Love this transition.  - Chicagoan
 
Gotye - Somebody That I Used to Know
Xavier Rudd - Mana
Alison Brown Quartet - Mambo Banjo
Sufjan Stevens - Chicago

Brilliant set. One of the many, many reasons I listen to RP.
I have no idea why this song triggers a visceral sadness, but I just accept it...

You know St. Vincent played guitar with this guy? 
interesting take on blues...not the same ol black voice mimick
Does not correspond to the city -- should not be called "Chicago"
You have made a lot of mistakes... One of them being making this song. 
 ScottN wrote:
PSD.. comes close to earning my only "1". 
*bump*
No likey.
Never heard this before - love it
*sigh*

...another could'a-been-decent song wrecked by the inability of the vocalist to carry a melodic tune.

-- Is singing a lost art?  I wouldn't think so, because the back-up chorus is OK.

4.
BIG MISTAKE - Mister Stevens!
PSD.. comes close to earning my only "1".
Very good! 
Now I'm going to go listen to the WHOLE album.... just that good
 
I'm sorry, but Sufjan just does not put me in the mood: 

Charles Addams cartoon: Addams family pouring boiling oil on Christmas carols
I've mad aolt of mistakes.






lol
{#Heartkiss}    Love this song.   A Lot.
Love this song!
When this came out and I was hearing him on RP it was a magical time for me and many people in Tokyo; I can never forget it -- Thanks!
 justin4kick wrote:
I had to check instantly what my rating was for this song. Oh I see a 9. What a good taste I have. {#Wink}

 
In the exact same boat! It had been a while, and it was nice to hear this one again.
 vandal wrote:
Was already in a sour mood - this just pushed me over the top.  When the pizza guy gets here, I'm siccing the dogs on him. . . 

 
Hah !   Hah !   Hah !   Hah !  

Thanks vandal!  That made me laugh out loud.   Sufi guy sours my mood too, but I just hit the  Pizzas Still Delivered  button.

I find his voice slightly annoying, but this is an amazing song. Great production.
I had to check instantly what my rating was for this song. Oh I see a 9. What a good taste I have. {#Wink}
Too bad there is not a zero.

Everybody in my churches loves this song...
 
 bpkengor wrote:

how many would that be?    {#Notworthy}

 
Do you count romeotuna reincarnation, lazarus, too?
I'll be there, although, may be because it's morning when this is a night tune, I wouldn't give the same rate. Doesn't matter, I like it anyway
I never get tired of this song
Love it! >>>8