I love Sufjan Stevens in general but there has always been something about this particular song that really gets me. He humanizes Gacy in the beginning of the song by showing us that he was an innocent child who was traumatized. When he says "oh my God are you one of them?" he shows us that his victims are just as real as us, and then at the end when he states "And in my best behavior I am really just like him. Look beneath the floorboards for the secrets I have hid" he reminds us that he too is a sinner who has dirty secrets just like everyone else. Everyone in the narrative is humanized. Everyone has good and evil in them is the message I get from this song, and no one is without sin or the possibility of redemption.
I know he was a heartless monster who never showed remorse his acts, but when I hear Sufjan sing about him, I cant help but feel sad for John Wayne Gacy and his tragedy of a life
I love the softness, the quiet tragedy of the song. The way he manages to humanize someone we see as a monster, treating him with empathy but not forgiveness, it's breathtaking. I wonder at what painful secrets he has that has given such wisdom.
Reading about John Wayne Gacy on the internet: Oh, that's sad. Hearing this song: Excuse me while I go cry in a corner. To the intellectuals searching the stars for what true art is, this comment is for you.
@natattack96 I guess you might describe us gays as particularly empathetic, but that's not why people think Sufjan's gay/bi. Predatory Wasp and Futile Devices both detail his loves with guys that haven't ended up so well.
My hand would be shaking too if I were this close to Sufjan
Hahaha
Same but for different reasons. 😈
I love Sufjan Stevens in general but there has always been something about this particular song that really gets me. He humanizes Gacy in the beginning of the song by showing us that he was an innocent child who was traumatized. When he says "oh my God are you one of them?" he shows us that his victims are just as real as us, and then at the end when he states "And in my best behavior I am really just like him. Look beneath the floorboards for the secrets I have hid" he reminds us that he too is a sinner who has dirty secrets just like everyone else. Everyone in the narrative is humanized. Everyone has good and evil in them is the message I get from this song, and no one is without sin or the possibility of redemption.
you are the worlds most shakey camera person lol but I love this song
I know he was a heartless monster who never showed remorse his acts, but when I hear Sufjan sing about him, I cant help but feel sad for John Wayne Gacy and his tragedy of a life
If you "know" this then you only know the half of it...
How the FUCK have I never seen this video before? This song on organ is absolutely bone chilling and beautiful. Absolutely unreal. I have chills.
this is easily the best version of this song i have heard
agreed...so raw and emotional
How is his voice so deep when he speaks, but so beautiful when he sings...
Dan Sullivan, deep does not equal bad when it comes to voices
Training.
god damn he can just provoke the soul
I love the softness, the quiet tragedy of the song. The way he manages to humanize someone we see as a monster, treating him with empathy but not forgiveness, it's breathtaking. I wonder at what painful secrets he has that has given such wisdom.
Sufjan is the best!!
I love how his voice squeaks a little. It is adorable. This is a great performance.
I wish it ended that way on the album
oh please guide us, shepherd of youtube. let us drink from the infinite well of your musical knowledge.
It's a haunting song, I think the pump organ makes it more-so.
this part
A true original.
I bet he fuckin loves all the coughing in the audience
didn't say he wasn't did i? this is still a version of it.
Reading about John Wayne Gacy on the internet: Oh, that's sad.
Hearing this song: Excuse me while I go cry in a corner.
To the intellectuals searching the stars for what true art is, this comment is for you.
I love this man :°°
thanks for the video!
wave after wave of shivers
That's Bryce Dessner of The National on guitar
got it, thanks man.
love love
I like the shakyness of the video it really adds to the song imo
love
amazing how he basically doesnt need anything to perform amazingly. Just a "random" organ and a mic.
did Michael J. Fox record this?
chefchris fuck you
bit late but good god hold your camera straight man
he's the one who wrote the song.
I'm so traumatized by earthquakes here in SoCal that watching this makes my hands sweat.
@natattack96 I guess you might describe us gays as particularly empathetic, but that's not why people think Sufjan's gay/bi. Predatory Wasp and Futile Devices both detail his loves with guys that haven't ended up so well.
what instrument is this?
@CardPiranha Ha, that's what I was getting at.
why is it always so quite at his concerts?
Peter Doherty sings with this much expression. Maybe Elliot Smith. I love it.
@ruleoforder What shepherd do you follow?
what does the tempo have to do with the noise level in the room?
its funny, i like this song.
whats funny though--
well, you know.
@chefchris Ruuuuude. But probably.
this was recorded on a calculator wasnt it
Haha. It's nauseating to try and watch with the shakiness.
didn't say he wasn't did i? this is still a version of it.