Wainwright's poetry

[vaneramos]

It's National Poetry Month in Canada, too, and I have a couple things planned. First I'll say something about Rufus Wainwright, and inspiration.

Several years ago I only knew him as the singer covering Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" on the Shrek soundtrack. Then willowing set me onto "What a World", and I became a fan. Even moreso when I realized he was gay and Canadian.

My daughters are hooked, too. We watched the DVD that comes with the Want Two album. When the band performs "What a World" they appear on stage in Wicked Witch of the West costumes, and gradually melt onto the stage. It didn't get it.

Brenna explained, "In the movie, the Wicked Witch says, ‘What a world!'"

Here is the point: he is one of the best poets writing song lyrics today. He also loves Schubert's Lieder, so his heart's in the right place.

I'll offer lyrics to two songs. "Vibrate" is about sexual obsession. It's relevant to mention here that he's a recovering crystal meth addict. Imagine a slow, wistful tango.

"Pretty things" is more of a genuine love song with a poignant sense of longing. Hearing it, I dream of writing something half as beautiful.

Vibrate

My phone's on vibrate for you
Electroclash is karaoke to
I try to dance to Britney Spears
I guess I'm getting on in years

My phone's on vibrate for you
God knows what all these new drugs do
I guess to have no more fears
But still I always end up in tears

My phone's on vibrate for you
But still I never ever feel from you
Pinocchio's now a boy who wants to turn
Back into a toy
So call me, call me in the morning
Call me in the night, so call me
Call me anytime you like
My phone's on vibrate for you, for you


Pretty things

Pretty things, so what if I like pretty things
Pretty lies, so what if I like pretty lies
From where you are
To where I am now
I need these pretty things
Around the planets of my face
Everything's a sign of my astrology
From where you are
To where I am now
Is its own galaxy
Be a star and fall down somewhere next to me
And make it past your color TV
This time will pass and with it will me
And all these pretty things
And don't say you don't notice them

Comments

[missprune.livejournal.com]

Another LJ friend of mine, named kyana, is a huge fan of Rufus. For the longest time, I thought he was one of her sons (that's how out of the loop I am, musically these days) She posts glorious photos of him now and then in her journal.

[justapostcard.livejournal.com]

"Be a star and fall down somewhere next to me" --

this is one of my favorite lines ever.

[capitalcor.livejournal.com]

I might paint this if you don't mind. I love the pattern of it.

[willowing.livejournal.com]

aw the rufus - i admire him a lot :) x

[halation.livejournal.com]

OMG i love him is this a new album??? i have to find out.
a long time ago he opened for tori amos (or was it ani difranco?) at a show i went to & i loved it. i think i saw him do his own show once too but now i'm wondering if i'm imagining all this.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Yes, I know kyana and her photos of Rufus! He does look like he could be one of her sons.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

And mine. The meaning of the whole song hangs on that line, and it's incredibly beautiful.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

The pattern actually reminds me of your recent work. I would be honoured.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Yes, thank you, thank you, Tam. Discovering his albums has added so much to my enjoyment of music the past year.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

He has four albums now. These songs are both from my favourite, Want One, which came out in 2003. The last one, Want Two, was published in 2004. Wikipedia says, "Wainwright's first main exposure to the American public came as an opener to singer Tori Amos in 2001 and 2002."