Ten For Today: St. Joseph, Levitating
13th Floor Elevators, Jesse Winchester, Dr. Hook, Sir Doug & The Texas Tornados, Journey, Stephen Dees, Floaters, Hawkwind, Iggy Pop
If you have been here a while, you know that I am a secular Catholic, which means I am angry with the Church, but fascinated by its stories. Case in point: Today is the Feast of Saint Joseph of Cupertino (1603-1663). This Joseph is not the A-lister Joseph, carpenter, earthly father of Jesus, and patron saint of workers. The latter Joseph is a strong, quiet, dignified figure, while the former was seen by many as being a few fries short of a Happy Meal, as he was given to floating through the air in prayerful ecstasy. He had a very tough early life, and was said to be “remarkably unclever, but prone to miraculous levitation.” His tendency to slip into trances all the time made him a bad student and a clumsy worker, knocking over and breaking things as he performed assigned tasks. The mere mention of Jesus, Mary, or St. Francis os Assissi would send him hurtling into the air. He of course became very famous because of this, and people came from all around to see him. Everyone knew who he was. I think I would have liked him. He sounds like fun.
To love something so much that it makes you fly is an interesting concept and a neat party trick, and I sure wish I could do it. Joseph had a special gift.
J of C eventually became a friar and a saint, patron of aviators and astronauts, and in his honor, here are Ten For Today.
Just like St. Joseph, the 13th Floor Elevators had levitation in 1967. Well, maybe not JUST like St. Joseph.
To levitate, one of course must defy gravity. This beauty is from 1974.
This is from 1975. I feel like it’s possible St. Joseph might have missed an opportunity to start a 17th-century dance craze.
This is a great song, from 1976. I love the little “Tomorrow Never Knows” echo in it.
This is Journey in 1977, before they came to represent all that is wrong with rock music. “Don't need no feathers, I don't need no twine.” Nor did J of C.
This is from 1977. Stephen Dees is best known as a session player for the likes of Hall & Oates and Todd Rundgren. This SOUNDS like a love song, but I prefer to think it was actually written for the flying friar. Also, it’s excellent.
This Detroit band released this single in 1979, a couple of years after their big hit, which was called “Float On.” It sounds like they spent a lot of time suspended in air and on water.
Even if you were a space alien dropped on this planet yesterday, you would have been able to guess that these guys would have a song about levitation. This is from 1980. I am very disappointed that no feet left the ground for the filming of this video. MISSED OPPORTUNITY.
If only this 2001 song had been written during St. Joseph’s time! It could have been his theme song.
Finally, here’s a grown-up Iggy Pop in 2019, levitating.
Reading about J of C sort of reminded me of my old friend Billy Ruane, who was decidedly NOT a saint, and most definitely was not “unclever,” but he was given to floating in the air in MUSICAL ecstasy. The mere mention of his favorite bands would send him hurtling into the air. He of course became very famous because of this, and people came from all around to see him. Everyone knew who he was. The film referenced in the linked post is playing this weekend at the Newburyport Film Festival. If you’re local, you might be interested. I have some minor quibbles with it, but overall I thought it was well done.
That’s it! Have the best day. Be kind to everyone you meet. I won’t be levitating today, but I’d certainly support your exploring it. I hope that you have, in your life, been or seen someone so overcome by some kind of spirit that they have levitated, either for realz or metaphorically.
Joyce