How is this guy not even bigger than he is? He's such a natural. I can't even think of another singer in the past couple of decades who's this gifted. Riveting voice, writing and performances.
Rufus Wainwright debuted in 1998. And, by then, the strong, solid songwriting of the 1980's was sacrificed for the rythmic, loop-based street-poetics of Hiphop music. Other thing is that Grunge, literally with it's dirty sweaters and gritty voices now represented a rejection of corporatized, highly-marketed and glossy 80's songs and videos. Nirvana's "Nevermind," a Grunge landmark album came out in 1991. By 1998, the public at large was not interested in an act from a Canadian singer who's sound was more akin to theater, Vaudville, and jazz. Though completely ignored by radio stations, a decade later accapella and folk-style singing made a comeback because from 2000 to 2010 everybody actually forgot what real singing really was. That was the decade of the whiny, cry-baby-sounding garage-bands. Literally, instead of singing, they actually whined! Nothing expresses the voice of entitlement like pop music of the 2000's. The voice as a natural, resonant instrument was further destroyed by the advent of auto-tune. The computer program that could slide isolated melodic lines to snap un-naturally to whatever key of choice. Amazingly, Cher's "Belive", the first usage of autotune on pop radio, came out in 1998--the very year of Rufus Wainwright's debut. (Autotune had an interesting, somewhat computerized effect, which I have nothing against. I'm just saying that it removed from the radio any grounded sense of resonant singing.) Ironically, it was television that saved the human singing voice (and Rufus Wainwright paved the way for this by keeping theater and jazz pop music alive till then). In 2006, during the complete death of singing, America's got talent (and other such competitions) appeared, and suddenly, people began to hear real singing again. These were live competitions, so the singer had to use his voice to the fullest because, besides a little added reverb, that's all he had. Slowly, singers began to quit singing from there little snotty noses. By the end of that decade, Glee came out (2009), which was a dramatic musical series of high school kids in a music program at school. With glee, if was finally OK to sing in a theater or folk style--meaning un-plugged, minimal accompaniment, and group harmony. Also, by the end of the 2000's, radio was being replaced by the internet. It now, suddenly didn't matter if you were hip to what was being presented on the radio at whatever given time. It finally became cool to NOT know what was popular at the time. Indeed, Rufus Wainwright WAS ahead of his time. The quality of his original music, plus critical acclaim, kept his music alive almost exclusively thru a cult status. Also, like Vince Clarke and Erasure in the 80's, Wainwright cleverly worked the gay sub-culture by identifying himself with being openly gay at a time when gayness was still an under-ground and taboo issue. His second album, Poses came out in 2001, and although his most financially successful release, it was make a decade of dark obscurity from the public eye and ear. His legacy is a large body of work that is both highly accessible, yet intellectually and harmonically challenging and provocative. Rufus Wainwright's legacy is that his music survived a pop-culture that never survived him.
i just want to thank my dad for playing this song for my whole life. cause now im 15 and have never found a song more compellingly written. i want to get better and be like this guy one day lol.dudes a literal fucking genius
A song no one ever seems to tire of. And every time he sings it is like he is performing it for the first time. As we all know by now, he is a true genius.
You've got my lost brother's soul My dear mother's eyes A brown horse's mane And my uncle's name You walked me down 14th Street For the doctor to meet after thoughts of the grave In the home of the brave and of the weak But why'd you have to break all my heart Couldn't you have saved a little bit of it? Why'd you have to break all my heart? Couldn't you have saved a minor part? I could have clipped and saved and planted in the garden Damn you guess I'll have to get a new one I'd love to sit and watch you drink With the reins to the world, gripping a smoke Vaguely missing link Don't ever change you hungry little bashful hound I got the sheep, poor little Bo Peep Has lost and filed for grounds. But why'd you have to break all my heart I could have ripped apart and thrown into the river Wonder if there's hearts that will deliver Don't ever change, don't ever worry Because I'm coming back home tomorrow To 14th Street where I won't hurry And where I'll learn how to save, not just borrow And they'll be rainbows and we will finally know
Rufus Wainwright songs are love letters and homages to the music from the 70s and 60s. He combines everything to make it new, yet something familiar and beloved, a familiar friends returning you missed for such a long time you never want to be parted form again. It's like the first time I heard Van Morrison or Carol King.
Im Spanish, sorry for my english: Find him, this extraordinary artist, was so difficult, and I don´t understand the reason why he isn´t more known; many popular singers can not be compared to the voice ande the talent he exhibits.
How is it that no one told me there was Rufus out in the world? Now I discover at an advanced age and must play catch-up. How is it I love Rufus so much? At least the young Rufus. My goodness
Jeff Hill is the bassist. he's great. plays with The Chris Robinson Brotherhood now, but played with Rufus for ten years, been touring non-stop pretty much and recording non-stop with a number of well known acts and his own bands.
This is a song for when the bar is closing and the party's over, but you can still go back to your daily toils knowing that things are maybe not so bad.
Just blissful. Rufus was blessed with artistic genes and has certainly taken full advantage of them. Stunning. It's not just the precise playing, but his ability to convey so much emotion in his vocal that makes him such a treasure.
Rufus can sing circles around virtually everyone in popular music today. He's so absurdly talented. I know there are some truly incredible popular singers today who might be better than Rufus, but there aren't MANY. The only one I can think of immediately who has as much vocal talent and also sings equally interesting music is Kimbra, whom I also love. Sure, Josh Groban, Adele, Celine Dion, and so forth are great singers, but I don't care for the music they choose to sing. It's boring.
Rufus what is the video where there's a middle-aged German man alongside his wife singing exuberantly to either 14th street or another song? Bravo Mr. Wainwright this one is a performance of the decade
Elton said "he is one of the best songwriters and singers ever" or words very close to that ! I've seen Elton once in late 80"s and Rufus 3 times so far.... Do it.
This concert originally aired on direct tv. Can't find any footage now! Where's the rest? Can't understand why anyone would post one song and nothing else! Please help me! where can I find this concert! It clearly exists.
This came with the Want Two CD - you can get it here on Amazon. www.amazon.com/Want-Two-Rufus-Wainwright/dp/B0007TURAM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1471226582&sr=8-2&keywords=want+2+rufus+cd
Thom Yorke!??? Ricardo, you are insane ... Anyway .. Rufus, Awesome! Love this song, and love you! But what's with the breathing? Weird way to take breathes ... not very discreet man! Sounds like you are inhaling something, like an asthma inhaler, or a joint! again, mad love tho ...
How is this guy not even bigger than he is? He's such a natural. I can't even think of another singer in the past couple of decades who's this gifted. Riveting voice, writing and performances.
Love Rufus beautiful handsome gorgeous voice I'm just mad abt him love his smile
It makes no sense. If it were the 70s he’d be huge!
i completely agree and you've put it so well- his ability to orchestrate and realise this music is actually incredible. Completely one of a kind
Rufus Wainwright debuted in 1998. And, by then, the strong, solid songwriting of the 1980's was sacrificed for the rythmic, loop-based street-poetics of Hiphop music. Other thing is that Grunge, literally with it's dirty sweaters and gritty voices now represented a rejection of corporatized, highly-marketed and glossy 80's songs and videos. Nirvana's "Nevermind," a Grunge landmark album came out in 1991. By 1998, the public at large was not interested in an act from a Canadian singer who's sound was more akin to theater, Vaudville, and jazz. Though completely ignored by radio stations, a decade later accapella and folk-style singing made a comeback because from 2000 to 2010 everybody actually forgot what real singing really was. That was the decade of the whiny, cry-baby-sounding garage-bands. Literally, instead of singing, they actually whined! Nothing expresses the voice of entitlement like pop music of the 2000's. The voice as a natural, resonant instrument was further destroyed by the advent of auto-tune. The computer program that could slide isolated melodic lines to snap un-naturally to whatever key of choice. Amazingly, Cher's "Belive", the first usage of autotune on pop radio, came out in 1998--the very year of Rufus Wainwright's debut. (Autotune had an interesting, somewhat computerized effect, which I have nothing against. I'm just saying that it removed from the radio any grounded sense of resonant singing.) Ironically, it was television that saved the human singing voice (and Rufus Wainwright paved the way for this by keeping theater and jazz pop music alive till then). In 2006, during the complete death of singing, America's got talent (and other such competitions) appeared, and suddenly, people began to hear real singing again. These were live competitions, so the singer had to use his voice to the fullest because, besides a little added reverb, that's all he had. Slowly, singers began to quit singing from there little snotty noses. By the end of that decade, Glee came out (2009), which was a dramatic musical series of high school kids in a music program at school. With glee, if was finally OK to sing in a theater or folk style--meaning un-plugged, minimal accompaniment, and group harmony. Also, by the end of the 2000's, radio was being replaced by the internet. It now, suddenly didn't matter if you were hip to what was being presented on the radio at whatever given time. It finally became cool to NOT know what was popular at the time. Indeed, Rufus Wainwright WAS ahead of his time. The quality of his original music, plus critical acclaim, kept his music alive almost exclusively thru a cult status. Also, like Vince Clarke and Erasure in the 80's, Wainwright cleverly worked the gay sub-culture by identifying himself with being openly gay at a time when gayness was still an under-ground and taboo issue. His second album, Poses came out in 2001, and although his most financially successful release, it was make a decade of dark obscurity from the public eye and ear. His legacy is a large body of work that is both highly accessible, yet intellectually and harmonically challenging and provocative. Rufus Wainwright's legacy is that his music survived a pop-culture that never survived him.
@@Acoustic-Rabbit-Hole you know you wrote one of the best comments ever on CZcams, right?
Amazingly precise, well done
Man, he has been great forever, and going strong, as beautiful, strong and talented as ever as I write this. What a gift to the world.
So glad he's young, cause we have many more years to have our ears and souls blessed!
He's such a great artist. I love how intense he looks when he sings, he's really into it. Plus, he's so handsome !!!!!!
i just want to thank my dad for playing this song for my whole life. cause now im 15 and have never found a song more compellingly written. i want to get better and be like this guy one day lol.dudes a literal fucking genius
I'm 17 and bro I literally can't stop listening to this song????? he's a fucking genius!!
A song no one ever seems to tire of. And every time he sings it is like he is performing it for the first time. As we all know by now, he is a true genius.
You've got my lost brother's soul
My dear mother's eyes
A brown horse's mane
And my uncle's name
You walked me down 14th Street
For the doctor to meet after thoughts of the grave
In the home of the brave and of the weak
But why'd you have to break all my heart
Couldn't you have saved a little bit of it?
Why'd you have to break all my heart?
Couldn't you have saved a minor part?
I could have clipped and saved and planted in the garden
Damn you guess I'll have to get a new one
I'd love to sit and watch you drink
With the reins to the world, gripping a smoke
Vaguely missing link
Don't ever change you hungry little bashful hound
I got the sheep, poor little Bo Peep
Has lost and filed for grounds.
But why'd you have to break all my heart
I could have ripped apart and thrown into the river
Wonder if there's hearts that will deliver
Don't ever change, don't ever worry
Because I'm coming back home tomorrow
To 14th Street where I won't hurry
And where I'll learn how to save, not just borrow
And they'll be rainbows and we will finally know
L
Love you and miss you
Thank you thank you heavensent Kevin ❤
I wish I could meet him just to tell him how much of a genius i think he is
Breaks my heart and rebuilds on every note... couldn't love more
Rufus Wainwright songs are love letters and homages to the music from the 70s and 60s. He combines everything to make it new, yet something familiar and beloved, a familiar friends returning you missed for such a long time you never want to be parted form again. It's like the first time I heard Van Morrison or Carol King.
Im Spanish, sorry for my english: Find him, this extraordinary artist, was so difficult, and I don´t understand the reason why he isn´t more known; many popular singers can not be compared to the voice ande the talent he exhibits.
Pretty much TRUE to the core
😊ahora viene a Valencia ya sabes...
How is it that no one told me there was Rufus out in the world? Now I discover at an advanced age and must play catch-up.
How is it I love Rufus so much? At least the young Rufus. My goodness
The bass in this song is out of control!!!!
Jeff Hill is the bassist. he's great. plays with The Chris Robinson Brotherhood now, but played with Rufus for ten years, been touring non-stop pretty much and recording non-stop with a number of well known acts and his own bands.
I can't decide between April Fools, The Consort, 14th Street, A Peaceful Afternoon, Danny Boy.. can you play them all at my funeral?!?!
I'm only 17 and I've been through so many musical phases already but I'm so glad I stumbled on this genius. Luv u Rufus!!!
Great. Here's a cookie.
Good for you!!!
Goosebumps as soon as first note/memory hit ❤
one of my definite go to artists for tears, laughs and general entertainment. He is one of the most under appreciated talents. Thanks Rufus.
So great
I love the pomp in this song. I sometimes weary of hearing his voice, but i always come back because his talent is so damn impressive.
Want one and two are my favourite albums. I could listen to these two albums forever. This is pure emotive. Genius.
The Best !!!!
I wish I could meet him just to tell him how much of a genius i think he is.
This is a song for when the bar is closing and the party's over, but you can still go back to your daily toils knowing that things are maybe not so bad.
I dont think it gets any better than this!!
The most talented composer and Singer of our times Rufus!
Matt Johnson on drums!!!
came after him! all hail matt johnson! 🙌🏼
The Greatest EVER.. please contact Will Gamble
Wish I could like this video more than once. Brilliant performance and writing.
C'est superbe tout simplement !
One of Rufus best songs ever!
my favourite male artist of all time
Yes, its a fantastic blend of music styles. Love the man and his overwhelming talent.
You simply fall in love with his music...
He's so good live, especially with a full band
I always love to hear him sing this along with many many others!
Just blissful. Rufus was blessed with artistic genes and has certainly taken full advantage of them. Stunning. It's not just the precise playing, but his ability to convey so much emotion in his vocal that makes him such a treasure.
rufus wainwright...we love you
This has always been my favourite Rufus song.
I imagine a girl walking a road towards me, leaves falling in autumn and this song.
This song will never die.
that bass player is great
Rufus can sing circles around virtually everyone in popular music today. He's so absurdly talented.
I know there are some truly incredible popular singers today who might be better than Rufus, but there aren't MANY. The only one I can think of immediately who has as much vocal talent and also sings equally interesting music is Kimbra, whom I also love.
Sure, Josh Groban, Adele, Celine Dion, and so forth are great singers, but I don't care for the music they choose to sing. It's boring.
Love you, Rufus!!!
Dancing in the aisles to this one at Hammersmith Apollo 18 Nov 2012! :) Amazing night!!!
I saw him live in Malaga.. best concert ever.. floated out of the place.
I am hear Rufus songs every fri minuters.love so much his voice!💐
The arrangements are so grandiose and over the top here, love it! His mom and aunt were my neighbors when i was a young kid.
Genio...
Un monstruo de artista! Piel de gallina al escucharlo! ❤️
A genius at work with his masterpiece….
Extraordinary Singer and performer! Incredible sweet Person! Amazing Rufus
love the bass line
I love this song.
Rufus what is the video where there's a middle-aged German man alongside his wife singing exuberantly to either 14th street or another song? Bravo Mr. Wainwright this one is a performance of the decade
Maybe the but whose to say
I ask because I share in the same exuberance
He's a beast.
I’ll always care Rufus! Let me know when you play in New Yirk again? Please
Para mim, um dos melhores compositores da atualidade! Obrigado!
Não via um artista assim á muito tempo.
Bella canción un Genio 🇦🇷❤✈
Love Rufus! Love this song! Can't stop playing it!
Gives me chills everytime
Whoa, is that Matt Johnson on the drums? If it is, Rufus has a good taste in drummers, as did Jeff Buckley.
thats him! love his drumming!
expressive voice
🔥😍 Magnificent!!!! 👌💖 I love it!!!🥰
Severely underrated song.
i just love rufus!!
I have always loved the face he makes at 3:12.
TEMAZO!!!!!!!!
love!!
So sorry I broke your heart baby but I miss and Love You! WG
Un divino!!! me encanta su mùsica.
this songs so good i love it soooooo frekin much :)
.............be still my heart!
Goddamnit Rufus, why'd you have to perform in LA 2 DAYS before I arrive? Why, my love, why!!
Wel een lekker nummertje
love song T____T
He is new Elton John, maybe, better then him.
Elton said "he is one of the best songwriters and singers ever" or words very close to that ! I've seen Elton once in late 80"s and Rufus 3 times so far.... Do it.
Totally better than Elton as Elton does NOT WRITE LYRICS
@ve6eta I guess many famous movies and plays started like this
😘
1:01 I could have clipped and saved and planted in the garden .....
who is his bass player in this performance? Anyone know? And is he Rufus' studio bass player/regular touring bass player?
]
ahy- found him. Jeff Hill.
@IuTiubTM thanks
This concert originally aired on direct tv. Can't find any footage now! Where's the rest? Can't understand why anyone would post one song and nothing else! Please help me! where can I find this concert! It clearly exists.
I think it was live at the Fillmore
This came with the Want Two CD - you can get it here on Amazon. www.amazon.com/Want-Two-Rufus-Wainwright/dp/B0007TURAM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1471226582&sr=8-2&keywords=want+2+rufus+cd
Thom Yorke!??? Ricardo, you are insane ...
Anyway .. Rufus, Awesome! Love this song, and love you!
But what's with the breathing? Weird way to take breathes ... not very discreet man!
Sounds like you are inhaling something, like an asthma inhaler, or a joint!
again, mad love tho ...
boy*
shiiitttt
I can't understand his lyrics.
there was an apparent train wreck on
the music is nice... but cmon, his voice is just the same as Thom Yorke!
Ricardo Pereira Thom voice sounds like everyone ever. The secret? Just don’t care about anything. Rufus is the same way.
Is it my hearing or he sings like lazy?