View Full Version : Rufus Wainwright
Have recently discovered Rufus and find his music (and particularly the way it's arranged, amazing.) I don't know why, but i just imagine Stevie's voice with Rufus's music. Hope they can somehow get to work together
Stevie really needs some of these grandiose productions to suit her fantastic voice!
Amy Y
10-02-2004, 03:46 PM
I love Rufus, and yeah, I think that mixing the two voices would be very interesting to hear.
MacMan
10-02-2004, 04:39 PM
Yeah, he's definately and interesting singer.... He's somewhat monotonal as well as Stevie so they may fit together well.
They're voices would be really cool together.
Nixxxed
10-02-2004, 05:11 PM
I've been wanting to start this thread for ages, and I'm glad to see that you did!!!
I love all three of his albums, and I scoured Audiogalaxy before it got squashed by the RIAA for demos, outtakes, etc. He is also very like Stevie in that he has about 5 times as many unrecorded songs and one-off live covers. Also, one of my fave songs of his (and Stevie's) is called "Beautiful Child"...
Here's a good resource, for those of you who may not have discovered it:
http://db.etree.org/rwa
I think it's primarily live shows, but every once in a while someone will put a website with all of the soundtrack and unreleased material. Enjoy! Unfortunately, I've missed him the last 2 times he's been in Houston (once opening on piano for Tori Amos and once headlining with his own band). :distress: But that's okay -- he's going to be around for quite some time, mark my words. There is a reason Elton John called him "the best songwriter out there right now." :thumbsup:
sparky
10-02-2004, 05:27 PM
I have really tried to like this guy's music. Bought an album, heard the others and went to a show. Some of the music itself is very beautifully written, and highly sophisticated. I just cannot stand his voice. Sounds incredibly affected and like he's keening underwater. But, many of my friends adore him. I bet I'd like the songs more if people covered them !
Nixxxed
10-02-2004, 11:15 PM
I just cannot stand his voice.
It's an acquired taste, for sure. :laugh: I fell in love with "April Fools" and bought his first album, and I couldn't even listen to it. Then, I read the lyric booklet (which I never do until I've learned music by ear) and read some interviews and decided to give it a second chance.
Affected? I find his voice very "real" and emotional, but overly nasal at times. Sure, not perfect, but hey -- that's style, right?
Joss Stone -- now THAT's affected. (My apologies to those of you who like her... :xoxo: )
There is a reason Elton John called him "the best songwriter out there right now." :thumbsup:
WOW! I didn't know Elton John had said that. I would die happy if he said that to me. (I would anyways :)) What a complement!
Gazza
10-03-2004, 10:36 AM
He's somebody who I think Lindsey would like more. Just for that wall of sound on so many of his songs.
Josh2003
10-03-2004, 03:18 PM
I adore Rufus Wainwright. And I met him :-)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/jtwill84/Denison/Rufus%20Wainwright/HPIM0167.jpg
He's going to be at my school next weekend with Ben Folds...looking forward to it A LOT.
Nixxxed
10-03-2004, 09:35 PM
I adore Rufus Wainwright. And I met him :-)
He's going to be at my school next weekend with Ben Folds...looking forward to it A LOT.
What a great picture!!! And I COULDN'T be more jealous. He's someone I'd like to hang out with and get to know. On the other hand, if I met one of the Mac, I'd probably just freak out, run away, and go cry in the bathroom. :D
Josh2003
10-04-2004, 01:13 AM
Ah good-o. When I saw this thread I knew that picture would be coming out sooner or later.
hahaha...you know me too well, my dear ;-)
dontlookdown
10-04-2004, 01:45 AM
he's the real thing. a talent like this only comes around just so often.
i remember hearing him do a cover of Neil Young's "Harvest" and it blew me away.
His debut record - produced by Jon Brion, is a masterpiece.
I also like his second - Poses.
His recent one didn't go over as well for me.
But I think he is an incredibly gifted singer. I love singing with him - adding my own harmony to his voice when I'm driving around LA...
Check out his work on "The McGarrigle Hour" album w/ the rest of his family
Moony
10-04-2004, 02:56 PM
I didn't really know of Rufus Wainwright til my younger brother was playing his Shrek 1 soundtrack and "Hallelujah" came on. I was blown away by the voice. (And the little bastard lost the CD so now I'm going to have to go buy that stupid soundtrack for that one song! :mad: )
Rufus is a very gifted songwriter, and I think his voice is amazing. I've only got his more recent CD, Want One, and it is incredible. It's too bad he doesn't get more exposure, because I think a lot of people would really like his music.
Great to see so many positive comments about Rufus. Didn't know he was that popular (deservedly so!).
Just got tickets to see him in Liverpool in November, so can't wait for that.
He also has a new CD out soon (hope it's more of the same, as I love his other albums - particularly Poses)
Also, check out the Innocence Missions new CD coming out soon.
I can't believe I found this thread! It's weird that it's in the "Rumours" section, but anyway I just wanted to say I LOVE, love, love Rufus. My favorites are the self-titled and Want One. I love his voice and I like the fact that he's somewhat pretentious, but in a good way. His music is beautiful, his arrangements are amazing, and I dig his voice.
That's all I wanted to say...and also I knew of him initially because of Sean Lennon, who I also love, but then I really got into Rufus separately and it's just great. I recommend him, but I'm thinking he's not for everyone.
catinthedark
04-26-2005, 11:31 PM
I didn't really know of Rufus Wainwright til my younger brother was playing his Shrek 1 soundtrack and "Hallelujah" came on. I was blown away by the voice. (And the little bastard lost the CD so now I'm going to have to go buy that stupid soundtrack for that one song! :mad: )
Can't believe I'm gonna do this to my hometown boy, Rufus, but if you want THE essential version of Hallelujah, you need Jeff Buckley's. It's on his album "Grace." He way outdid Leonard Cohen on his composition.
PS I do love Rufus, too! And his mom and aunt (The McGarrigles), and his sister (Martha Wainwright). Frighteningly brilliant songwriters, all of them.
Moony
04-27-2005, 01:25 AM
Can't believe I'm gonna do this to my hometown boy, Rufus, but if you want THE essential version of Hallelujah, you need Jeff Buckley's. It's on his album "Grace." He way outdid Leonard Cohen on his composition.
PS I do love Rufus, too! And his mom and aunt (The McGarrigles), and his sister (Martha Wainwright). Frighteningly brilliant songwriters, all of them.
:nod: I own Grace, it's one of my favorite CD's.
deribish
04-27-2005, 11:05 AM
OK -- if you like Rufus -- then you gottan check out his sister Martha. I can't desciber her voice good enough -- but it's high, thin and super powerful. It's a true force! when she sings (especially back up for Rufus) images of a very young Stevie always come to mind. He back up parts always go all over the place -- and she sings them so that they last loner than the lead vocal.
Nixxxed
04-27-2005, 01:32 PM
Can't believe I'm gonna do this to my hometown boy, Rufus, but if you want THE essential version of Hallelujah, you need Jeff Buckley's. It's on his album "Grace." He way outdid Leonard Cohen on his composition.
PS I do love Rufus, too! And his mom and aunt (The McGarrigles), and his sister (Martha Wainwright). Frighteningly brilliant songwriters, all of them.
Rufus loved Jeff too. The song "Memphis Skyline" on Rufus' latest CD (Want two) was written about Jeff and his death...
http://rufuswainwright.com/about/features.asp?assetid=1056065&count=1&artistid=496&title=Rufus+in+The+Daily+Telegraph+%28Sydney%2C+Australia%29
One of the album's more personal tracks, 'Memphis Skyline', mourns the death of another groundbreaking tunesmith, Jeff Buckley.
"I had a real opera-style relationship to him," Wainwright explains. "Firstly, I only met him once and I had hated him for years before then because I was jealous of his success. And his hair.
"Meeting him was a pivotal moment in my life in terms of releasing that jealousy and envy and harbouring bad feelings toward another artist - which is all pretty futile.
"And then he died a month later. A lot of people compared us when my first album came out and certain hardcore Buckley fans hated my guts, thinking I was trying to usurp his throne."
catinthedark
04-27-2005, 09:57 PM
Rufus loved Jeff too. The song "Memphis Skyline" on Rufus' latest CD (Want two) was written about Jeff and his death...
http://rufuswainwright.com/about/features.asp?assetid=1056065&count=1&artistid=496&title=Rufus+in+The+Daily+Telegraph+%28Sydney%2C+Australia%29
Thanks! I didn't know that! I will check it out.
Thanks! I didn't know that! I will check it out.
Great to see my original thread is taking flight!!
Rufus is amazing - have been to see him Live twice since I started this thread, and he has never disappointed (apart from the wearing of sequined thong and high heels for An old whore's diet!! - didn't really understand that, but it brought the house down nevertheless!!)
I'm going to see him again in a couple of weeks in York UK and I can't wait (to hear him sing things like Peach Trees and Dinner at Eight is an honour!)
His music reminds me of when I first started to like FleetwoodMac & Stevie in 1976. I have never tired of hearing Stevie sing her classic songs and the same bears true for Rufus!
I also agree with the comment about Martha, I love her bv's on Rufus' music and recently bought her CD (She is playing a small pub in Newcastle soon, so I'll probably go see her too!)
Dave
The Tower
04-29-2005, 02:27 PM
I worship Rufus. I worship Jeff B. Jeff B. does have the definitive Leonard Cohen "Hallelujah" (k.d. lang just covered it on her Hymns of the 49th Parallel and it was dead as Bob Dole below the waist).
"April Fools" is one of the most infectious, joyous, catchy songs I have ever heard. I'm so envious of his songwriting style.
His voice is a unique instrument and quite the acquired taste, but if you can get into it, it's heartache at its finest-
"I drink from the bottle, weeping...
Why don't you last???
Why... can't.... you last...????"
Nixxxed
04-30-2005, 01:40 PM
Rufus is amazing - have been to see him Live twice since I started this thread, and he has never disappointed (apart from the wearing of sequined thong and high heels for An old whore's diet!! - didn't really understand that, but it brought the house down nevertheless!!)
Way to rub it in, dude. :mad: ;) :laugh: :xoxo:
He hasn't even toured the States yet for Want(two). And being the dumbass I am, I missed him on his last TWO stops in Houston. :distress:
A sequined thong and high heels you say??? *FAINT* :nod:
My fave part of the Fillmore DVD included with my copy of Want(two) was "Oh What A World", where everyone onstage wore witch's hats and capes. And given "Old Whore's Diet"'s subject matter, I'm surprised he didn't just go onstage nude. (You've heard the story of him writing "Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk", right???)
I'm so jealous because I have never seen him live. Saw the DVD that came with Want Two and I think my fave peformances are 14th Street and I Don't Know What It Is.
I'm actually not that crazy about his Hallelujah. I'm in full agreement: Jeff's is the definitive. After hearing his, I'm even embarrassed by the original (and Leonard is one of my favorite artists ever).
Nixxxed
04-30-2005, 03:09 PM
I'm so jealous because I have never seen him live. Saw the DVD that came with Want Two and I think my fave peformances are 14th Street and I Don't Know What It Is.
I'm actually not that crazy about his Hallelujah. I'm in full agreement: Jeff's is the definitive. After hearing his, I'm even embarrassed by the original (and Leonard is one of my favorite artists ever).
I hate that they cut out the between-songs stage banter on the DVD. Especially when a few songs start with the audience laughing, and you just know you've missed something good. :laugh:
Gazza
05-02-2005, 09:53 PM
In his late teens, Wainwright fell in love with a drug addict. Which leads us, in a roundabout way, to Fleetwood Mac. "I was into opera at the time and I totally missed that Kurt Cobain boat," says Wainwright, whose drug-drenched boyfriend liked Nirvana as well as Sonic Youth and the Butthole Surfers. After hanging out with him and hearing all that stuff, I had to go home and listen to Fleetwood Mac's Rumors because I just felt so tainted by it all. Luckily we could meet halfway at Wagner."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/homeentertainment/story/0,12830,1210829,00.html
trackaghost
05-03-2005, 04:35 AM
Thank you for that!
I just knew Rufus was a Fleetwood Mac fan!
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