Rufus Wainwright

Subject: Rufus Wainwright
From: akenaton
Date: 12 Mar 05 - 04:50 PM

Tired of singin' pullovers, straggly beards, bald heads, hemorroids, and singers with a range of up to one octave??

Catch Rufus Wainwright, tonight Saturday, 11:50pm channel 4 UK and prepare to be blown away...Ake

Subject: RE: Rufus Wainwright
From: GUEST,Sally
Date: 12 Mar 05 - 05:56 PM

Oooh. Thank you for letting me know this.

Rufus Wainwright is fab and I'd have missed this programme if I hadn't been looking at mudcat just an hour before.

Sal

Subject: RE: Rufus Wainwright
From: Alba
Date: 12 Mar 05 - 06:12 PM

I won't see the programme...boo hoo. No channel 4 here in Maine...
Rufus Wainwright is.....BRILLIANT!
Enjoy, all you Folks that can and as Ake says be prepared to blown away.
Best of Wishes
Jude

Subject: RE: Rufus Wainwright
From: GUEST,AJR
Date: 12 Mar 05 - 10:03 PM

Beg to differ. He's just your basic fashionably gay pop/cabaret singer. Aside from the distinguished credentials of his mother and the fact that his father accompanies his very clever rants on an acoustic guitar, what does Rufus's music have to do with folk?

Subject: RE: Rufus Wainwright
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Mar 05 - 12:29 AM

Saw him in Glasgow a few years back. He turned up to play a few things at a Kate n' Anna gig.
Sad to relate, he was not only bad but really embarrassingly bad.

His mum and aunt were great.

Subject: RE: Rufus Wainwright
From: Alba
Date: 13 Mar 05 - 05:43 AM

Well I guess neither of you Guests will be buying his CD's then!:>)

I really enjoyed his contribution to Kate and Anna McGarrigle's album "The McGarrigle Hour".

The again I don't suppose, like most savvy Musicians, that Wainwright cares too much if some People don't like his Music. He has been included on 8 or 9 Soundtracks including "The Avaitor" so I guess he is doing ok.
Bad nights on stage with the McGarrigles in Glasgow and all!
It would be a sad business if we all enjoyed the same thing:>)


As for what his Music has to do with Folk guestajr...well......some Folks here on the Mudcat have been known to listen, discuss and even on occassion..play other genres.....!!

So how was the TV prog Ake? Mortifying? Gay? Cabaretish...or was it good:>)

Best Wishes to all

Jude

Subject: RE: Rufus Wainwright
From: akenaton
Date: 13 Mar 05 - 10:46 AM

Firstly I would say that I find homosexuality hard to deal with ,and the "gay lifestyle" even more so.
That being said, Rufus, Loudon, Anna and Martha seem to inhabit a deep dark place, full of pain, twisted emotions and old sores.

Whether it is a good thing for people to put their entrails on display as this family do, is debatable,but no one on this earth with any sensitivity can call them "ordinary"

The two guests obviously know nothing of music or genius, because thats what Rufus Wainwrght is ...A musical genius.
leaving aside a voice with a range,quality and control the like of which I havn't heard in many years, Guest fails to mention that Rufus writes all his own material, and what material it is!!
I've made a study of folk and contemporary music for over 50 years and have never seen better writing.
I dont know what sort of ear our guests have ,but to me the folk influence of both Kate and Loudon, especially Loudon, come through very strongly.

One of the guests says that they attended a concert in Glasgow a couple of years ago where Rufus did not perform well.
I was at the last gig in the Royal concert hall where the McGarrigle sisters supported Rufus, and Rufus was the undisputed "Star of the show" the audiance were captivated and asked for numerous encores.


I havn't much time for the "new wave" folk music which seems to be in vouge right now, because most of it is just an experiment in volume and enthusiasm.
But I realise that in Rufus Wainwright we have access to a performer who is unlike any other on stage at this time.
An emotional timebomb maybe, but a musician to be listened to and appreciated as long as men and women have hearts beating in their breasts.

Dear Judith, You dont know how pleased it makes me that you of all my friends here, can find the genius in Rufus Wainwrights work.

You are not only one of the kindest people here, but also one of the most perceptive.
I hope you have come to terms with your loss, and I think you will find that your goodness will bring its own reward.

I'm going to hear both Rufus and Loudon in two separate shows in April. Arn't I the lucky one!!

The TV programme was very good, but not brilliant, concentrating a little too much on Rufus's background and lifestyle, rather than his voice and material.
I fear all will not end well with Rufus, as he appears an addictive personality in more ways than one.   But while we have him we should cherish the gift he brings.   Very best to you ...Ake

Subject: RE: Rufus Wainwright
From: stevep
Date: 13 Mar 05 - 01:00 PM

I think Rufus Wainwright is one of those "love him or baffled by him" types. Personally I think his music is strange but great - don't know too much about his personality.

"Want Two" is a featured CD on TheAcousticStage.net from tomorrow.

Subject: RE: Rufus Wainwright
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Mar 05 - 11:06 PM

Ake
No son, he didn't get no encores at the show I saw. Polite (almost)silence greeted him.
It were a few years ago now so I guess he has developed and now seems to have matured into a genius.

Good luck to him.

Subject: RE: Rufus Wainwright
From: Spot
Date: 14 Mar 05 - 05:46 PM

Hello everybody...
                   Rufus Wainwright - Hmmmm...I first saw him on the "Transatlantic Sessions" some years ago and was intrigued..I thought...he's a puff but he can sing.Turns out I was right!! He looked very "spaced out" to me.I don't like that!Drugs and stuff is total anathema to me!!(I saw my son messed up - tough for us both!!) He looked very effeminate - I dont like that either. But I do appreciate his musicality and his voice is something else. I dont like the type of stuff he writes but it is bloody good!! I saw the programme and have to admit I was impressed by his openness..for all I canna deal with camp/queer/call it what you will, etc, I did warm to the guy... He's a very yes/no sorta guy for me but I might buy a CD for the hell of it! I like a lot of McGarrigle stuff, too, but I find them a tad "odd" too....Hmmmm..... dunno...

Subject: RE: Rufus Wainwright
From: Spot
Date: 14 Mar 05 - 05:48 PM

Hello again...
                  Forgot to say
                               Regards to all...Spot

Subject: RE: Rufus Wainwright
From: Lanfranc
Date: 14 Mar 05 - 06:36 PM

He definitely has something in a camp, spaced out way, and he can write an interesting song and sing it well. The thing is, I can't imagine myself (or maybe anyone else) taking the trouble to learn any of the songs that I have heard him sing to date, which makes it hard for me to consider them as "folk" songs.

It's not homophobia - I fear him not, nor yet his lifestyle. Just not my choice of material. Doesn't mean it's not good, though.

Alan

Subject: RE: Rufus Wainwright
From: GUEST,Murkeych#
Date: 14 Mar 05 - 10:24 PM

The homophobia and heterosexism on this board really pisses me off (referring to Akenaton and Spot, not you Alan). Whether or not you can deal with people having different sexualities to you makes no difference to the quality or otherwise of their music. 'he's a puff but he can sing' is totally offensive, and I doubt you would dream of saying, 'he's black but he can sing'!

I don't wish to kick off a big argument, but I can't leave such blatent prejudice uncommented on.

On the matter of Rufus Wainwright, I am a fan, although it did take me a few list

Subject: RE: Rufus Wainwright
From: GUEST,MurkeyChris
Date: 14 Mar 05 - 10:26 PM

Hey that post isn't finished!

...it did take me quite a few listens but one time it just clicked and I loved it. Not very folky though!

Chris

Subject: RE: Rufus Wainwright
From: Spot
Date: 15 Mar 05 - 02:46 AM

MChris...
            Hold on...it wasn't my intention to be offensive with my statement - merely a personal observation.Regarding the Homophobia and Heterosexism you speak of ...I could well be lesbian for all you know!! Would that alter your opinion? I feel you jumped on a single item of my post and almost ignored the rest which I felt was mainly positive re Rufus the person!! I have to say I mostly agree with Akenaton....Apologies for my choice of words if you feel they're due.
         Regrds to all....Spot :-)

Subject: RE: Rufus Wainwright
From: akenaton
Date: 15 Mar 05 - 04:15 AM

I have spoken to people who support Rufus Wainwright more because they see him as a "gay icon" than for the quality of his music.
I just wanted to make my position clear that I have no axe to grind from a sexual/political standpoint.

I too am a fan, as should have been clear from my post,(and from Spots' post). I think Rufus is a massive talent which as usual is accompanied by a massive ego.
I am uneasy about the promotion of "gay culture" or drug abuse, be it from Elton John, George Micheal, or Rufus, but this does not stop me from admiring the music these people produce.

I feel Spot has got you right on the button Chris, in that you coldn't wait to jump in with your pathetic accusations of homophobia and "hetrosexism"(whatever that means), I must have been a latent hetrosexist for years and never known it :0)

I ,like Spot, would usually offer an apology , but I feel you don't deserve one ...Ake

Subject: RE: Rufus Wainwright
From: GUEST,The Beast of Farlington
Date: 15 Mar 05 - 10:33 AM

Hey Spot

I'm not personally offended by your comment but your intention has nothing to do with whether people will be offended or not. That's no defence socially, in employment or in a court! It's a pretty dangerous word to use and expect everyone to be OK with it.

But back to Rufus. Someone recommended 'Want One' to me, so I bought it. Conclusion; Great voice, great musician, great arranger but...(here it comes)...for me the whole is less than the sum of all the parts. The songwriting doesn't gel for me and after several listens I still couldn't differentiate much of the material.

But hey, he's talented. Just not my cup of tea.

Subject: RE: Rufus Wainwright
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 15 Mar 05 - 11:23 AM

Rufus Wainwright is not the Anti-Christ. He's just annoying. He's almost as annoying as Tori Amos.

Subject: RE: Rufus Wainwright
From: Cool Beans
Date: 15 Mar 05 - 02:57 PM

In the 1990 Canadian children's movie "Tommy Tricker and the Stamp Traveler" there's a chase scene in a shopping mall. In the middle of the mall there is a stage and on that stage is a kid singing a song called "I'll Keep A-Running" and that kid is Rufus Wainwright, age 13 or so. I believe he also wrote the song.

This is a pretty obscure fact, although I did mention it in my 1996 book "VideoHound's Family Video Guide" (never updated and now sadly out of print).

If you go to a Rufus Wainwright concert, yell out for "I'll Keep A-Running" and see what happens. (I have no idea.)

Subject: RE: Rufus Wainwright
From: Linda Kelly
Date: 15 Mar 05 - 04:24 PM

I have never heard of him before tonite when someone insisted I heard the CD -I really liked it!

Subject: RE: Rufus Wainwright
From: SINSULL
Date: 25 Nov 07 - 02:49 PM

I just put up a link to YouTube - Rufus Wainwright singing "Macushla". Brought a tear to my eye - beautifully done. And it is one song that is usually done with so much emoting that you either laugh or gag.

Subject: RE: Rufus Wainwright
From: Jeri
Date: 25 Nov 07 - 03:22 PM

Mary, what thread is the link in?

Subject: RE: Rufus Wainwright
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 25 Nov 07 - 03:22 PM

Saw him at Manchester Apollo. He is one of the most creative writers, arrangers and performers around today. He has nothing to do with "Folk Music, it doesn't matter. You either enjoy what he does or you don't, that's it, not fussed me self - now The Imagined Village - that's something else!

Subject: RE: Rufus Wainwright
From: TRUBRIT
Date: 25 Nov 07 - 03:44 PM

I did not know who he was til I received the Leonard Cohen video of "I'm your man ' for Christas a couple of years ago.......I think he / it is wonderul AND you have Teddy Thompson doing a lovely version of a Coehn classic (not sureofthe title but the chorus is 'Tongiht we'll be fine....."

Subject: RE: Rufus Wainwright
From: SINSULL
Date: 25 Nov 07 - 04:00 PM

Here, Jeri:
Folklore: can someone please give me a translation

Subject: RE: Rufus Wainwright
From: Jeri
Date: 25 Nov 07 - 04:17 PM

Thanks, Mary. Downloading now.

Subject: RE: Rufus Wainwright
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 26 Nov 07 - 05:04 AM

Where's "here"? All I can see is a blank space and I wanna a link too and I clicked everywhere and where is it, wahhhhhhh...

Subject: RE: Rufus Wainwright
From: GUEST,Matt Milton
Date: 26 Nov 07 - 05:47 AM

Well, I am personally offended by comments like Akenaton's

"Firstly I would say that I find homosexuality hard to deal with ,and the "gay lifestyle" even more so"

and by Spot's "I thought...he's a puff but he can sing.Turns out I was right!!" If I was a moderator, I'd have banned you from this board by now.

What are your real names, you bigoted cowards?

Subject: RE: Rufus Wainwright
From: Jeri
Date: 26 Nov 07 - 06:40 AM

Bonnie, it's here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SND0gcpbW50

I agree with SINSULL - his singing of the song blew me away. You don't have to emote when you have a voice like that!

Subject: RE: Rufus Wainwright
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 26 Nov 07 - 06:57 AM

Thanks so much Jeri (and Mary) - that song is one of my longstanding favourites and I agree, he makes a beautiful job of it.

Mary, in this thread* Phillipa explains the Irish words in the lyrics, and the whole song is posted there:

* http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=9595#1153884

If people want to have a fight over the gay/anti-gay issue can they PLEASE start a thread in the BS section and not do it here? Please???

Subject: RE: Rufus Wainwright
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 26 Nov 07 - 07:24 AM

Bonnie,

"If people want to have a fight over the gay/anti-gay issue can they PLEASE start a thread in the BS section and not do it here? Please???"

The problem is that people sometimes make prejudiced comments in otherwise interesting posts. Many of us feel the need to be challenged as they appear. Maybe we would be more effective if we could be accurate and polite but maybe not?

Subject: RE: Rufus Wainwright
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 26 Nov 07 - 07:30 AM

Just trying to prevent thread-hijack. Guess it's not going to work.

Subject: RE: Rufus Wainwright
From: Spot
Date: 26 Nov 07 - 07:52 AM

Matt Milton

             I was right - he can sing and extremely well...I don't believe I have implied otherwise...   Banned? For what?

                      Regards to all..... Spot

Subject: RE: Rufus Wainwright
From: LeTenebreux
Date: 26 Nov 07 - 08:13 AM

I've really only listened to two RW songs. One was his cover of Leonard Cohen's song "Hallelujah" (Needless to say, RW has a much prettier voice than LC). The other, perhaps somewhat less well known, is his rendition, together with David Byrne of a duet from the opera The Pearl Fishers.

Subject: RE: Rufus Wainwright
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 26 Nov 07 - 08:20 AM

Where did he do the Pearl Fishers duet? It's gorgeous, and I'd love to hear how it sounds with less operatic voices. Is it recorded anywhere or was it on a live broadcast?

BTW, does anyone have the exact title of that duet? I think it's something like Au Fond du Temps (or, O Fond...?) but I've only ever heard it spoken aloud, and don't have French so I can't make a better guess than the above. Will be grateful for any help -

Subject: RE: Rufus Wainwright
From: GUEST,Matt Milton
Date: 26 Nov 07 - 09:29 AM

Spot – your reply was thoroughly disingenuous. You're now trying to pretend this is all about someone some aspersion cast on RW's singing abilities. What rot! Don't try to wriggle out of it. Can I just remind you what you said?

"I thought...he's a puff but he can sing"

Can I just repeat it again so that nobody reading this thread can miss the point?

"I thought...he's a puff but he can sing"

As far as thread hijacking goes, I'll agree it's a shame some people have dragged it down to this level – but frankly to have let this kind of thing stand unchallenged would be far more shameful. (And anyway, it's hardly irrelevant to the thread to challenge someone over homophobic comments made regarding the subject of that thread!)

Subject: RE: Rufus Wainwright
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 26 Nov 07 - 09:32 AM

Your quite correct Matt

Subject: RE: Rufus Wainwright
From: Skivee
Date: 26 Nov 07 - 04:48 PM

Back to the main subject:
I've only seen him play a few times on TV. I liked what I heard a lot...a marvelously complex song about a schoolgirl with a crush on her art teacher comes to mind.
I mentioned it to a friend, and his take was that RW is a stylish bit of fluff. Opinions vary.
I think that he will mature into a truely wonderful performer.

Subject: RE: Rufus Wainwright
From: akenaton
Date: 26 Nov 07 - 08:26 PM

Is it possible for someone to hi-jack their own thread?
I started this over two years ago, to bring Rufus to the attention of those who perhaps had not heard of him.
Your opinions Mr Milton are of no interest to me, as I have defended my views against much more formidable opponents on this forum.

I stand by everything that I have written on this thread, I have collected almost everything recorded by Rufus and consider myself one of his biggest fans.
Now do us all a favour and get back under your stone...Ake

Subject: RE: Rufus Wainwright
From: TRUBRIT
Date: 26 Nov 07 - 09:40 PM

....And his cover of Hallelujah - which is what he did on the cohen DVD - was awesome....