55. Bringing the sacred to the secular
A thank you to Sufjan Stevens for praising love and the divine.
Writing twice this week, to make up for lost time…!
suggested reading method
To best savour this artwork, please take a moment to eliminate distractions. Consider minimizing all other windows on your computer; putting other devices (phone, tv etc) aside; taking a deep breath, to the full extent of your lung capacity; and focusing solely on the “artwork” section.
Once you’ve processed that to your satisfaction, the rest of the post is optional reading, provided only to share my own impressions and reasons for choosing this piece.
artwork
Please note some of the (obscured) lingerie imagery in this lyric video may not be “safe for work.” However, the lyrics are completely clean.
“Genuflecting Ghost” by Sufjan Stevens, from his 2023 album Javelin.
interpretation
Sufjan Stevens is that rare artist who has remained an indie darling despite being openly Christian and making music with religious themes. In the mid-2000s, Stevens would demur in interviews, and say things like:
“I don't think music media is the real forum for theological discussions… I think I've said things and sung about things that probably weren't appropriate for this kind of forum. And I just feel like it's not my work or my place to be making claims and statements, because I often think it's misunderstood.”
And he’s right: like politics, any discussion of religion can be easily taken out of context. I don’t blame Stevens for wanting to keep press focused on the merits of his music.
At the same time, I think this song, and many of the tracks on Javelin, feel more like church music than indie folk. I mean this in the most complimentary way possible. Stevens repeats simple yet emotionally-charged phrases, and the backing choirs and instrumental swells bring to mind a hopeful, sacred community. I don’t believe the listener needs to follow any particular religion to appreciate the power in this. Besides, the love-object in the songs can be interpreted as a fellow human just as easily as God.
If you like this, also check out my next favourite tracks on the album: “My Red Little Fox” and “S*** Talk” (who knew a song with that name could be so jaw-droppingly beautiful?!) That Sufjan wrote, produced, mixed, and recorded this album largely by himself is incredible. This is one of those albums I almost don’t want to hear too many times, so that it retains the magic of the first, most moving listens!
context
Sufjan Stevens (b. 1975) is a prolific American-singer songwriter who has released over a dozen albums in his 23+ year career. These include albums dedicated to states in the US, like Michigan and Illinois; two compilations of covers and original Christmas tunes, Songs for Christmas and Silver & Gold; and an album exploring his grief around his mother’s death, Carrie & Lowell.
Stevens dedicated Javelin to his late partner, Evans Richardson IV, who sadly passed away earlier this year. While Stevens can’t yet tour this new record during his recovery from Guillain-Barré syndrome, he has been posting some optimistic updates on his Tumblr.
Did “Genuflecting Ghost” bring up any ideas, images, or emotions for you? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!
Wow, so unique, Rachel!