Wainwright was born in Rhinebeck, New York, USA, to folk singers Loudon Wainwright III and Kate McGarrigle (they divorced while he was a child). He began to play the piano at age six, and by age thirteen he was touring with his sister Martha Wainwright, mother Kate, and aunt Anna as the McGarrigle Sisters and Family.
His song I'm A-Runnin', which he performed in the movie Tommy Tricker and the Stamp Traveller (in which he also played a minor character), was nominated for the 1989 Genie Award for Best Original Song and earned him a nomination for the 1990 Juno Award for Most Promising Male Vocalist.
He lived in Montreal with his mother for most of his childhood and briefly attended McGill University, where he studied both classical and 'rock' piano. Some of his songs feature his mastery of French. Wainwright still maintains a residence in Canada.
He came out as gay while still a teen.
Wainwright became interested in opera throughout his adolescent years (for instance, his track Barcelona features lyrics of Giuseppe Verdi). He also became an enthusiast of such performers as Édith Piaf, Al Jolson and Judy Garland.
After having been a fixture on the Montreal club circuit, Wainwright cut a series of demo tapes, one of which found itself in the hands of DreamWorks executive Lenny Waronker. The label signed him and he released the self-titled Rufus Wainwright album in the spring of 1998. This album received much critical acclaim in Canada, and was recognized by Rolling Stone magazine as one of the best albums of the year. Wainwright's second album, Poses (2001), brought similar acclaim.
Wainwright's first main exposure to the American public came as an opener to singer Tori Amos in 2001 and 2002. He garnered praise for his performance and began touring as a main act shortly afterwards. He has frequently toured as the opener for Sting and co-headlined with Ben Folds and Guster in the summer of 2004. He still often performs with his sister Martha Wainwright (now herself an emerging artist) on backup vocals. Despite a growing cult following and critical acclaim, Wainwright has experienced only marginal commercial success in the United States.
In addition to being a pianist, Wainwright is a guitarist, often switching between the two instruments when performing live; however, his mastery of the guitar does not approach his talent with the piano within the Piano rock genre. While some of his most moving songs feature just Wainwright with his piano, many of his songs display complex layering and harmonies, occasionally comprising hundreds of individual parts. Wainwright is an avid opera fan, and the influences on his music are evident, as well as his love of Schubert 'Lieder'; his music has been described as "Popera" (Pop Opera) or "Baroque Pop." His lyrics are filled with allusions to opera, literature, pop culture, and, more recently, politics (in songs such as Gay Messiah and Waiting for a Dream). Wainwright is a recovering crystal meth addict and a rape survivor; he uses the press to bring awareness to these societal problems.
His talent has been widely recognized and praised by such artists as Elton John, Morrissey, John Mayer, and Sting, and he continues to influence artists like Keane, Alanis Morissette, Scissor Sisters, and Ben Folds.
Wainwright's Want Two, from which four songs were released as the EP Waiting for a Want, was released by DreamWorks/Geffen on November 16, 2004. It is a companion to the 2003 release Want One. His latest, a live iTunes Sessions EP entitled Alright Already, was released March 15, 2005. A DVD entitled All I Want, featuring a biographical documentary, music videos, and live performances, was released on both sides of the Atlantic in summer 2005. The same year was also notable for two major contributions as solo vocalist to a pair of important records: the Mercury Prize winning I am a Bird Now and At This Time.
The pair of Want albums was repackaged as Want for a late November 2005 release to coincide with the start of a British tour. The version of Want One is that which contains the two extra songs Es Mus Sein and Velvet Curtain Rag. The Want (Want One and Want Two combined) package in the UK has two new extra tracks: Chelsea Hotel No. 2 and In with the Ladies, which replace Coeur de Parisienne — Reprise d'Arletty and Quand Vous Mourez de Nos Amours from 2004's augmented edition.
Rufus' fifth studio album Release the Stars was released by Geffen on May 15, 2007. The album was executive produced by Neil Tennant of the Pet Shop Boys and featured Richard Thompson, Teddy Thompson, Martha Wainwright, Kate McGarrigle, Neil Tennant, Joan Wasser, Julianna Raye, Larry Mullins - pka Toby Dammit and Sian Phillips.[14]. It reached number 2 in the UK and debuted at number 23 in the USA. The first single of the album, "Going To A Town" was released on April 3, 2007 on the iTunes music store.
Rufus Does Judy at Carnegie Hall is his sixth album. It is a live recording of his June 2006 tribute concert to Judy Garland. Backed by a 36-piece orchestra under the conduction of Stephen Oremus, Wainwright recreated Garland's April 23, 1961 concert, often considered "the greatest night in show business history." After overcoming many personal problems, her comeback performance of 25+ American standards spawned the double album, "Judy at Carnegie Hall."
As well as Tommy Tricker and the Stamp Traveller, Wainwright has appeared in the films The Aviator and Heights. Rufus has music in the film Brokeback Mountain, for which he recorded The Maker Makes and King of the Road, as well as a minor cameo as a guitar player.
Wainwright released his sixth studio album All Days Are Nights: Songs For Lulu in March 2010. In stark contrast to the lush ornamentation of Release The Stars, the album is a simple voice and piano rendition of a song cycle that includes versions of three Shakespeare sonnets, and an excerpt from his 2009 opera Prima Donna.
The Lulu figure of the title is said by Wainwright to be "the dark, brooding, dangerous woman that lives within all of us", similar to the Dark Lady character in Shakespeare's sonnets. The first part of the title comes from the final couplet of William Shakespeare's "Sonnet 43" ("All days are nights to see till I see thee...").
I Wonder What Became of Me
Rufus Wainwright Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
pianos makin music all the night
they push in pain just like it's rain
it's a sight to see
but i wonder what became of me
crowds go by, they're merry makin laughter in their eyes
and laughter's fine
life's sweet as honey
but still it's funny
i get this feeling that i can't analyse
it's like well maybe
when like a baby
see's a bubble burst before its eyes
i've had my threats
they've lit my cigarettes with dollar bills
but i can't begin (?)
for along the way
something went astray
and i can't explain
it's the same champagne
it's a sight to see
but i wonder what became of me
("...make it one for my baby, and one more for the road...")
The lyrics of Rufus Wainwright's "I Wonder What Became of Me" form a melancholic narrative about lost dreams and unfulfilled potential. The singer reflects on the bright lights and the music of the night, the crowds' laughter, and the sweetness of life. However, these observations only lead to the realization that the singer's life took a different turn. The lines "life's sweet as honey, but still it's funny, I get this feeling that I can't analyze," and "I've had my threats, they've lit my cigarettes with dollar bills, but I can't begin(?), for along the way, something went astray," emphasize the singer's sense of regret and unfulfilled destiny. The lyrics further reveal that the singer has achieved some level of success but feels like an outsider in the crowd despite being surrounded by the same champagne and bright lights.
The singer's contemplations are further exemplified by the song's title that repeats throughout the chorus, "but I wonder what became of me." The reference to the song "one for my baby, and one more for the road" at the end provides a fitting conclusion for the singer's story, suggesting that his longing for something different and his lost dreams have turned him into a lonely figure at the bar.
In conclusion, "I Wonder What Became of Me" is a profound commentary on how life can change and, more importantly, on how dreams and aspirations become lost in the process.
Line by Line Meaning
The lights are bright
The surroundings are bright and lively
pianos makin music all the night
Pianos playing music throughout the night
they push in pain just like it's rain
The music played is strong and intense
it's a sight to see
The scene is visually stunning
but i wonder what became of me
I wonder what happened to me and where I am now
crowds go by, they're merry makin laughter in their eyes
The crowd is filled with joy and laughter
and laughter's fine
Laughter is enjoyable
but i wonder what became of me
I wonder what happened to me and where I am now
life's sweet as honey
Life is enjoyable and pleasant
but still it's funny
It's strange how I feel
i get this feeling that i can't analyse
I have a feeling that I can't explain
it's like well maybe
It's hard to describe
when like a baby
Similar to when a baby
see's a bubble burst before its eyes
A baby's experience of seeing a bubble burst in front of its eyes
i've had my threats
I have faced danger
they've lit my cigarettes with dollar bills
My cigarettes are lit with dollar bills
but i can't begin (?)
I can't explain why this happened
for along the way
During my journey
something went astray
Something went wrong
and i can't explain
I can't give an explanation
it's the same champagne
The situation is identical to previous experiences
it's a sight to see
The scene is visually stunning
but i wonder what became of me
I wonder what happened to me and where I am now
"...make it one for my baby, and one more for the road..."
A reference to someone requesting drinks for themselves and their journey ahead
Lyrics © S.A. MUSIC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Marie Burnett
He's so special and different than any other musician. He gives me feelings of hope and love.
Dion St. Michael
Can’t put my finger on it but he manages to capture my soul when I see or hear him sing and play. He has always been my guilty pleasure in that I grew up singing, playing and listening to bluegrass, Americana and classic country music. No joke. Even went to one of his concerts and I was in awe for the entire evening. It was breath taking. Despite being a heterosexual man I fully admit to having a straight up guy crush on him if that makes sense! Lol
Your Inner Lawyer
@Dion St. Michael I can't listen sometimes bc it makes me bawl. I don't always feel like crying lol. When I saw CSNY on their very last tour I cried silently throughout the ENTIRE THING. It was an unforgettable event but I wish I could've composed myself lol.
Little Poots Vee Blogs
Montrealer here , i’ve seen him live several times and was in Montauk two weeks ago before his birthday show - would have loved to have been there … i literally planned the whole expensive Montauk trip all because he lives there. he is one of my favourite human beings on earth ❤❤❤
jamie wilson
had the pleasure of finally seeing him live in edinburgh a few months ago. Literally couldnt breath for the entirety of the show. Not often you get to be in the presence of greatness. I love this man so much.
Dion St. Michael
You completely described the night I went to see him live as well. Felt like I couldn’t breathe for the entire evening. It was truly magical. No joke. It will stay with me always.
Leif
Why do youbsay that? Was the air very thin lol. No seriously Why though I'm curious?
lexy67flc
When Rufus sings, it commands respect. You should sit still and enjoy it and just be in the moment and bask in the beauty of his voice.
Ash
One of those musicians with a voice that's even more sublime live.
jamarsu
I adore this man and his music. He's brilliant.