Top 50 Sufjan Stevens Songs

by Greg

So subjective, so difficult, so subject to change.  (If you see any songs you don’t have but would like to obtain, just post a comment with the titles & I’ll hook you up!)

  1. ‘Majesty Snowbird’ Live recording (2006)
  2. ‘Romulus’ Greetings From Michigan (2003)
  3. ‘John Wayne Gacy, Jr.’ Illinois (2005)
  4. ‘The Transfiguration’ Seven Swans (2004)
  5. ‘The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades Is Out To Get Us!’ Illinois (2005)
  6. ‘Wordsworth’s Ridge’ A Sun Came (2000, rereleased in 2001 & 2004)
  7. ‘Barn Owl, Night Killer’ PENultimate Lit: Music & Literature (2007)/‘The Owl and the Tanager’ All Delighted People EP (2010)
  8. ‘Pittsfield’ The Avalanche (2006)
  9. ‘Dumb I Sound’ A Sun Came (2000)
  10. ‘Sister Winter’ Peace! Songs For Christmas, Vol. V (2006)
  11. ‘Flint (For The Unemployed And Underpaid)’ Greetings From Michigan (2003)
  12. ‘Concerning the UFO Sighting Near Highland, Illinois’ Illinois (2005)
  13. ‘You Are The Blood’ Dark Was The Night (2009)
  14. ‘The Seer’s Tower’ Illinois (2005)
  15. ‘Come on! Feel the Illinoise!’ Illinois (2005)
  16. ‘Adlai Stevenson’ The Avalanche (2006)
  17. ‘Casimir Pulaski Day’ Illinois (2005)
  18. ‘The Mistress Witch from McClure (or, The Mind That Knows Itself)’ The Avalanche (2006)
  19. ‘A Sun Came’ Live at Calvin College (2004)
  20. ‘Chicago’ Illinois (2005)
  21. ‘Borderline’ B-side to “The Dress Looks Nice On You” (2004)
  22. ‘Jupiter Bad June’ Live at MusicNOW Festival (2007)
  23. ‘Movement III: Linear Tableau With Intersecting Surprise’ The BQE (2007, 2009)
  24. ‘Abraham’ Seven Swans (2004)
  25. ‘The Henney Buggy Band’ The Avalanche (2006)
  26. ‘Far Physician’s Son’ 8.21 Blue Bunny Compilation
  27. ‘Movement VI: Isorhythmic Night Dance With Interchanges’ The BQE (2009)
  28. ‘Detroit, Lift Up Your Weary Head! (Rebuild! Restore! Reconsider!)’ Greetings From Michigan (2003)
  29. ‘A Winner Needs A Wand’ A Sun Came (2000)
  30. ‘The Tallest Man, the Broadest Shoulders’ Illinois (2005)
  31. ‘All Good Naysayers, Speak Up! Or Forever Hold Your Peace!’ Greetings From Michigan (2003)
  32. ‘He Woke Me Up Again’ Seven Swans (2004)
  33. ‘Christmas In The Room’ Infinity Voyage: Songs For Christmas: Vol. VIII (2007)
  34. ‘Movement IV: Traffic Shock’ The BQE (2009)
  35. ‘Oh God, Where Are You Now? (In Pickeral Lake? Pigeon? Marquette? Mackinaw?)’ Greetings From Michigan (2003)
  36. ‘Redford (For Yia-Yia & Pappou)’ Greetings From Michigan (2003)
  37. ‘We Are What You Say’ A Sun Came (2000)
  38. ‘Sleeping Bear, Sault Saint Marie’ Greetings From Michigan (2003)
  39. ‘That was the Worst Christmas Ever!’ Hark! Songs For Christmas Volume 3 (2002)
  40. ‘The Child With The Star On His Head’ Infinity Voyage: Songs For Christmas: Vol. VIII (2007)
  41. ‘To Be Alone With You’ Seven Swans (2004)
  42. ‘All The Trees Of The Field Will Clap Their Hands’ Seven Swans (2004)
  43. ‘Decatur, or, Round of Applause for Your Stepmother!’ Illinois (2005)
  44. ‘Vito’s Ordination Song’ Greetings From Michigan (2003)
  45. ‘Damascus’ Seen • Unseen
  46. ‘Ya Leil’ A Sun Came (2000)
  47. ‘Year Of The Horse’ Enjoy Your Rabbit (2001)
  48. ‘For The Widows In Paradise, For The Fatherless In Ypsilanti’ Greetings From Michigan (2003)
  49. ‘What Goes On’ This Bird Has Flown (2005)
  50. ‘Year Of The Sheep’ Enjoy Your Rabbit (2001)

24 thoughts on “Top 50 Sufjan Stevens Songs”

  1. So sorry I’ve been MIA – technically I’m just MIE…

    This is a ridiculous list. You ought to be ashamed of yourself for composing it.

    Reply

  2. Oh really? Well as much as it was a fool’s errand, I enjoyed myself all the same. I am addicted to lists, what can I say? I thought of doing the same for The Smiths/Morrissey and Radiohead as well. Or would that be equally ignominious??

    On a related note: any chance you’ll list your Theoroes for the reading audience? I’d certainly be interested…

    Reply

  4. [audio src="http://dl.dropbox.com/u/4102454/Sufjan%20Songs/20%20Far%20Physician%27s%20Son.m4a" /]

    [audio src="http://dl.dropbox.com/u/4102454/Sufjan%20Songs/02%20A%20Sun%20Came.m4a" /]

    [audio src="http://dl.dropbox.com/u/4102454/Sufjan%20Songs/Jupiter%20Bad%20June%20%28Live%29.mp3" /]

    Reply

  7. I’m addicted to lists too and I think your list is perfect. Majesty snowbird is beautiful. The only problem with this list is I it’s missing They Are Night Zombies!! They Are Neighbors!! They Have Come Back From The Dead!! Ahhhh! (LOL Sufjan, you joker.)
    Not only does it have the best title but it’s also lovely. 🙂
    Would you be able to tell me where to find Wordsworth’s Ridge/A Sun Came?
    😀

    Reply

    1. I’m not sure what my issue is with “Night Zombies”–R & B is one of my least favorite genres & this song has that kind of bass line, which annoys me.

      Also, I take S.S. much too seriously…to a fault. I should laugh with him more…

      Finally, both of the songs you asked about are on Sufjan’s first release “A Sun Came.” An intoxicatingly original/eclectic record (albeit including one of my other least favorite Stevens songs: “Super Sexy Woman” which is also R & B-esque…).

      Reply

  8. I agree with Majesty Songbird. A beaut, to be sure. But ones you didin’t include that I am so absolutely in love with are “The Lord God Bird” and “The Sleeping Red Wolves”.

    Reply

  9. That is strange I didn’t include “The Lord God Bird” as I do like it quite a bit (more than some other songs on the list).

    Where is “The Sleeping Red Wolves” found?

    PS I always accidentally call it “songbird” as well! I was just mentioning that to Elijah the other day!

    Reply

  12. Do you have the “Seen/Unseen” compilation? I would love a flac/lossless copy of Damascus. I can’t find the cd for purchase anywhere

    Reply

      1. That’s awesome! Do you think I could have it in flac as well? It’s one of my favorite Sufjan songs, and I’ve been listening to a 96kbps version for 7 years now.

        (Er, could you delete my previous comment, please? Autofill used my full name. Sorry for spamming you.)

      2. Hey there! I was searching for a good quality version of this song too as the one that’s been kicking around the net all these years is less than stellar. Were you ever able to rip this? Thanks in advance!

  14. I just looked for the vinyl arrangement of Romulus all over the internet. It is nowhere to be found. I am in great need of hearing this arrangement. If you could help, I would be deeply indebted!

    Also, glad to see Majesty Snowbird at the top. Truly beautiful!

    Reply

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