Mystery of Love

Mystery of Love

Sufjan Stevens

“Mystery of Love” is one of two songs written by Sufjan Stevens for the soundtrack of the 2017 film ‘Call Me By Your Name’. The film’s director, Luca Guadagnino, originally commissioned Stevens to write only one song, whereas Stevens wrote two (and remixed piano version of his previously released song, “Futile Devices.”)

On January 23, 2018, “Mystery of Love” was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song. Stevens also performed the song at the awards ceremony with St. Vincent, Moses Sumney, Chris Thile, and frequent collaborators Casey Foubert and James McAlister.

Guadagnino in an interview with 4:3 Film said:

I approached Sufjan and told him about the film and navigated him through the ideas that I had. It was quite a long process that ended up with him saying that he was happy to do not one song but two. But he also made us an arrangement of “Futile Devices” for piano, which was beautiful.

“Mystery of Love” was also featured in the trailer for the film.

It is probable that an earlier version of the song was intended for release either on Stevens' 2015 album, Carrie & Lowell, or his 2017 mixtape, The Greatest Gift. This is due to the abundant lyrical references to the state of Oregon, the state which became the dramatic backdrop and focus for Carrie & Lowell.