Rufus Wainwright
What Can I Do
I just heard this Antony & The Johnsons song w/ Rufus on lead vocals for the first time today and I cannot stop listening. How could it have taken so long to discover this??? Does he ever play this live? (never did he on the occasions I've seen him).
Awright, so this is my plea to hear him play it in Toronto on June 11.
Awright, so this is my plea to hear him play it in Toronto on June 11.
Honestly...
... I think "What Can I Do?" has to be my favourite 'Rufus' song of all... even though Antony wrote it, not Rufus. It's nice to have a simple, short, sad and beautiful song from Rufus amidst all this RTS production... I won't get into that much here as another thread deals with that topic...
Anyway I can't believe it took me this long to hear the A&TJs record "I am a bird Now"... I'd been listening to Antony backing up on other artists' stuff for two years and never bothered to check his stuff out properly 'til now. So I'm just so thrilled about it all, and this NYC scene in general.
When I was a kid (I'm a little younger than my profile might suggest -- gotta keep the internet marketers guessing...) my parents played me Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel, etc. I don't know for sure, but I think (and hope) one day this scene (Rufus, Antony, Joan, Devendra Banhart et al) will take on that... it feels like it has the power to blossom into something huge. Rufus is always referring to "the public" and I suppose we'll see what they think!
Anyway I can't believe it took me this long to hear the A&TJs record "I am a bird Now"... I'd been listening to Antony backing up on other artists' stuff for two years and never bothered to check his stuff out properly 'til now. So I'm just so thrilled about it all, and this NYC scene in general.
When I was a kid (I'm a little younger than my profile might suggest -- gotta keep the internet marketers guessing...) my parents played me Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel, etc. I don't know for sure, but I think (and hope) one day this scene (Rufus, Antony, Joan, Devendra Banhart et al) will take on that... it feels like it has the power to blossom into something huge. Rufus is always referring to "the public" and I suppose we'll see what they think!
GREAT GREAT GREAT
This is one of my all-times fab song. When he says help me to live, while loosing his breath I just can't help feeling SAD, deeply sad. It's one of these songs that wake your deepest feelings. A masterpiece, and Rufus is essential in the way he sings it.
Antony's records (both) are osmething out of this world. Chilling and heartbreaking.
Antony's records (both) are osmething out of this world. Chilling and heartbreaking.
The beginning of everything!
It was with this song that I met Rufus! At first, I began reading the cd booklet, searching Thom Yorke among the credits. He wasn't there, obviously. In his place, an unknown name that I couldn't even pronounce. I forgot it, but this song, that voice kept haunting my mind for weeks, until I had to know more about him. After a brief search on the internet, I found some positive reviews about Poses. After just one listen it was love...
Re: Honestly...
{q a=[[fivecatguy]]}.
So I'm just so thrilled about it all, and this NYC scene in general.
...Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel, etc. I don't know for sure, but I think (and hope) one day this scene (Rufus, Antony, Joan, Devendra Banhart et al) will take on that... it feels like it has the power to blossom into something huge. Rufus is always referring to "the public" and I suppose we'll see what they think!
{/q}
The present NYC music scene is an underground version of the '60s scene.
You are completly right.
The best new artists are not getting air play.
I include Joanna Newsom (San Francisco), Priestbird, Gogol Bordello and SufjanStevens in this group, as well as the ones you mentioned.
But it is hard to judge success by popularity since most of "the public"
will never get to hear them.
The problem is with the corporate structure of the music business:
The absurd and shortsighted "sure-thing" and "bottom-line"mindset
of the money-grubbers who control the business.
And this mindset has infected all of the arts... at least in the USA.
In general, show business has become all business and no show.
The hopeful thing is that the internet allows wonderful music to be heard
even though there is such a blackout on the airwaves.
PS: Joan's intense, moody and magnificent new album, Real Life
only got 2 stars out of 5 (Release the Stars gets 3) in Rolling Stone
(Dreck-City rag it has become...yes?)
So I'm just so thrilled about it all, and this NYC scene in general.
...Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel, etc. I don't know for sure, but I think (and hope) one day this scene (Rufus, Antony, Joan, Devendra Banhart et al) will take on that... it feels like it has the power to blossom into something huge. Rufus is always referring to "the public" and I suppose we'll see what they think!
{/q}
The present NYC music scene is an underground version of the '60s scene.
You are completly right.
The best new artists are not getting air play.
I include Joanna Newsom (San Francisco), Priestbird, Gogol Bordello and SufjanStevens in this group, as well as the ones you mentioned.
But it is hard to judge success by popularity since most of "the public"
will never get to hear them.
The problem is with the corporate structure of the music business:
The absurd and shortsighted "sure-thing" and "bottom-line"mindset
of the money-grubbers who control the business.
And this mindset has infected all of the arts... at least in the USA.
In general, show business has become all business and no show.
The hopeful thing is that the internet allows wonderful music to be heard
even though there is such a blackout on the airwaves.
PS: Joan's intense, moody and magnificent new album, Real Life
only got 2 stars out of 5 (Release the Stars gets 3) in Rolling Stone
(Dreck-City rag it has become...yes?)
Re: Re: Honestly...
{q a=[[Shadowing]]}{q a=[[fivecatguy]]}.
So I'm just so thrilled about it all, and this NYC scene in general.
...Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel, etc. I don't know for sure, but I think (and hope) one day this scene (Rufus, Antony, Joan, Devendra Banhart et al) will take on that... it feels like it has the power to blossom into something huge. Rufus is always referring to "the public" and I suppose we'll see what they think!
{/q}
The present NYC music scene is an underground version of the '60s scene.
You are completly right.
The best new artists are not getting air play.
I include Joanna Newsom (San Francisco), Priestbird, Gogol Bordello and SufjanStevens in this group, as well as the ones you mentioned.
But it is hard to judge success by popularity since most of "the public"
will never get to hear them.
The problem is with the corporate structure of the music business:
The absurd and shortsighted "sure-thing" and "bottom-line"mindset
of the money-grubbers who control the business.
And this mindset has infected all of the arts... at least in the USA.
In general, show business has become all business and no show.
The hopeful thing is that the internet allows wonderful music to be heard
even though there is such a blackout on the airwaves.
PS: Joan's intense, moody and magnificent new album, Real Life
only got 2 stars out of 5 (Release the Stars gets 3) in Rolling Stone
(Dreck-City rag it has become...yes?){/q}
I have to agree with you with the other artists you suggest... except I don't know Priestbird or Bordello (but I'll be checking 'em out!).
Also, I read some reviews of the JAPW record about a week ago. And I think it was Rolling Stone (not certain and too lazy to go check) that called the album "Starbucks-ready" and further remarked that Joan did not shine to her full potential (as a fiddle player, etc) on this record. Sadly I have to agree. It's a good record, but not as good as say, The Milk-Eyed Mender. And it could've been.
Alas, this entire scene is just so great to have in music today. Rufus of course is my favourite of them all.
So I'm just so thrilled about it all, and this NYC scene in general.
...Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel, etc. I don't know for sure, but I think (and hope) one day this scene (Rufus, Antony, Joan, Devendra Banhart et al) will take on that... it feels like it has the power to blossom into something huge. Rufus is always referring to "the public" and I suppose we'll see what they think!
{/q}
The present NYC music scene is an underground version of the '60s scene.
You are completly right.
The best new artists are not getting air play.
I include Joanna Newsom (San Francisco), Priestbird, Gogol Bordello and SufjanStevens in this group, as well as the ones you mentioned.
But it is hard to judge success by popularity since most of "the public"
will never get to hear them.
The problem is with the corporate structure of the music business:
The absurd and shortsighted "sure-thing" and "bottom-line"mindset
of the money-grubbers who control the business.
And this mindset has infected all of the arts... at least in the USA.
In general, show business has become all business and no show.
The hopeful thing is that the internet allows wonderful music to be heard
even though there is such a blackout on the airwaves.
PS: Joan's intense, moody and magnificent new album, Real Life
only got 2 stars out of 5 (Release the Stars gets 3) in Rolling Stone
(Dreck-City rag it has become...yes?){/q}
I have to agree with you with the other artists you suggest... except I don't know Priestbird or Bordello (but I'll be checking 'em out!).
Also, I read some reviews of the JAPW record about a week ago. And I think it was Rolling Stone (not certain and too lazy to go check) that called the album "Starbucks-ready" and further remarked that Joan did not shine to her full potential (as a fiddle player, etc) on this record. Sadly I have to agree. It's a good record, but not as good as say, The Milk-Eyed Mender. And it could've been.
Alas, this entire scene is just so great to have in music today. Rufus of course is my favourite of them all.
What Can I Do?
I stumbled across 'What Can I Do?' by accident when looking up songs by Rufus and fell in love with it the moment I listened to it. The lyrics are so poignant and beautiful and sad and, even though it's a short recording Rufus' voice is at it's most beautiful for the whole song. It is definitely one of my favourite Rufus songs of all time but it's upsetting to see it forgotten so often!
