I saw Rufus Wainwright singing on stage in 1984, with Martha and their dad, at one of those free concerts the GLC used to put on. You couldn’t tell at the time that he was going to be a huge star, but I mention seeing him then occasionally when I want my cool students to think that I am not quite as uncool as I usually like to seem. But now Want One
is the featured album on Stuart Maconie’s show. Frankly, I still find it a bit nerve-wracking to hear a voice that is almost Loudon’s singing songs like Rufus’s, and it prevents me from being a true fan. If, though, there’s anyone here who hasn’t yet heard him, he’s brilliant.
{ 9 comments }
Belle Waring 04.18.05 at 9:00 am
he’s my cousin. just a random fact about life.
Harry 04.18.05 at 9:06 am
Wow.
Wow.
Sorry, nearly at a loss for words. But not quite. Here’s something else I do every time a teach a class. I ask the students who has heard of Loudon Wainwright III, and then berate them (gently) for not knowing their own country’s culture properly (because none of them have). Several student have, subsequently, thanked me for turning them on to him.
Still, wow.
Laura 04.18.05 at 9:16 am
I’m a big fan, too, Harry. And you’re related, Belle? How cool.
Chris 04.18.05 at 10:40 am
The Steve Earle site I posted about yesterday is still down, but when it is up again check out the February 5th 2005 show, guest is Martha W.
Amardeep 04.18.05 at 3:43 pm
My favorite Rufus W. songs: “Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk.” And “California.”
That was the poppier Rufus. The newer songs are a little to esoteric for me, I’m afraid.
Uncle Kvetch 04.18.05 at 4:48 pm
That was the poppier Rufus.
I hear ya, Amardeep. (I’d add “April Fool’s” from the first album as another terrific little pop ditty.) He’s capable of great, hooky pop, but on the last 2 albums he seems to be devoting himself almost exclusively to sweeping, melodramatic ballads–a sound that I find much less interesting, and much less suited to his voice.
maurinsky 04.19.05 at 8:13 am
I saw Rufus last summer (in concert with Ben Folds and Guster), and he was delightful – I felt like we were chatting over a cup of tea. I had heard of him before that, but I didn’t buy a CD of his until after the concert.
I know that I broke out in a grin when I heard “Oh What A World” for the first time, though.
Yehudit 04.23.05 at 12:47 am
I saw him singing with his mom and aunt about 15 years ago in Philadelphia. I still prefer them to Loudon.
Yehudit 04.23.05 at 12:50 am
PS Best of all was the free Tribute to Leonard Cohen concert in Brooklyn 2 summers ago, which included Kate, Anna, Rufus, Martha, Linda and Teddy Thompson, Nick Cave, one of Cohen’s former backup singers, and many others I can’t remember right now. Martha did an incredible slide guitar version of “Tower of Song.”
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