Rufus Wainwright
August 2009
Wainwright performs in PA | Photo by WP
“There’s really nobody out there like me,” says Canadian-American singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright.
Perhaps this statement stands to reason why the mainstream music community, especially in America, has yet to acknowledge Wainwright’s presence, much less embrace him as a contributing member.
Blending a variety of styles including folk, pop, and opera, Wainwright, incidentally, does have a considerable American following.
Despite earning Grammy nominations and high praise from the legendary Sir Elton John, dubbing him, “the greatest songwriter on the planet,” chances are, the Average Joe will have no clue about such an extremely talented and versatile performer.
Those who have heard of him, probably only recognize his covers on film soundtracks, including Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” from Shrek, and the Beatles’ “Across the Universe” from I Am Sam, with a Kewpie-like Dakota Fanning as the star of the music video.
Since 1998, Wainwright has released two DVDs and six albums, the latest being a tribute to Judy Garland,
Rufus Does Judy at Carnegie Hall.
“I am such a big Judy Garland fan that I was even mad at myself for doing it,” said Wainwright, joking, “It was just sort of this gay spasm that I had while cameras were rolling.”
Currently on tour and promoting his first opera, the French “Prima Donna,” which premiered across the pond in July, Wainwright seems constantly in motion.
To balance his hectic lifestyle, Wainwright announced with innate charm and his oft humorous honesty,
“I basically spend a lot of money.”
He added, “I just believe in enjoying the fruits of your labor…you need as many massages and oysters and fancy shirts to even you out ‘cause it’s so exhausting.”
Exhausting, yes, especially since Wainwright describes his daily life as a constant source of inspiration for his work, leaving him little time to stop and smell the roses.
“I seem to have developed my songwriting and music-making to a point where it’s akin to a bodily function,” he said, elaborating, “It’s like a muscle that I’ve trained very well. My body might be average, but my songwriting is very muscular.”
In detailing his typical concert, Wainwright professes his admiration for artists who are repeatedly witty or entertaining on stage.
“I find that fascinating. I’ve never been able to do it, so my whole thing is that every show you go to is completely different from the next.”
Wainwright might be an eclectic, acquired taste, but one audiences should definitely sample.
Links: Official Site | Facebook | Twitter
Perhaps this statement stands to reason why the mainstream music community, especially in America, has yet to acknowledge Wainwright’s presence, much less embrace him as a contributing member.
Blending a variety of styles including folk, pop, and opera, Wainwright, incidentally, does have a considerable American following.
Despite earning Grammy nominations and high praise from the legendary Sir Elton John, dubbing him, “the greatest songwriter on the planet,” chances are, the Average Joe will have no clue about such an extremely talented and versatile performer.
Those who have heard of him, probably only recognize his covers on film soundtracks, including Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” from Shrek, and the Beatles’ “Across the Universe” from I Am Sam, with a Kewpie-like Dakota Fanning as the star of the music video.
Since 1998, Wainwright has released two DVDs and six albums, the latest being a tribute to Judy Garland,
Rufus Does Judy at Carnegie Hall.
“I am such a big Judy Garland fan that I was even mad at myself for doing it,” said Wainwright, joking, “It was just sort of this gay spasm that I had while cameras were rolling.”
Currently on tour and promoting his first opera, the French “Prima Donna,” which premiered across the pond in July, Wainwright seems constantly in motion.
To balance his hectic lifestyle, Wainwright announced with innate charm and his oft humorous honesty,
“I basically spend a lot of money.”
He added, “I just believe in enjoying the fruits of your labor…you need as many massages and oysters and fancy shirts to even you out ‘cause it’s so exhausting.”
Exhausting, yes, especially since Wainwright describes his daily life as a constant source of inspiration for his work, leaving him little time to stop and smell the roses.
“I seem to have developed my songwriting and music-making to a point where it’s akin to a bodily function,” he said, elaborating, “It’s like a muscle that I’ve trained very well. My body might be average, but my songwriting is very muscular.”
In detailing his typical concert, Wainwright professes his admiration for artists who are repeatedly witty or entertaining on stage.
“I find that fascinating. I’ve never been able to do it, so my whole thing is that every show you go to is completely different from the next.”
Wainwright might be an eclectic, acquired taste, but one audiences should definitely sample.
Links: Official Site | Facebook | Twitter
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