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...").
Instant Pleasure
Rufus Wainwright Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just give me sex whenever I want it.
'Cause all I ask for is instant pleasure
Instant pleasure, instant pleasure.
You in the traffic for all eternity
How could that speed be where you want to be?
Said don't you really want instant pleasure
Think that all these folks get laid?
Do it cause their pain is great?
What you thinkin' anyways?
If drinkin' coffee's your idea of really cool
You can't expect no crazy chick to notice you
Just sittin' there dreamin' instant pleasure
Instant pleasure, instant pleasure
Instant pleasure, instant pleasure.
If you want someone a friend to be
Guess you'll have to win the lottery
But 'til then repeat after me.
I don't want somebody to love me
Just give me sex whenever I want it
'Cause all I ask for is instant pleasure
Instant pleasure, instant pleasure
Instant pleasure, instant pleasure
Instant pleasure, instant pleasure.
I don't want somebody to love me
I don't want somebody to love me.
The song "Instant Pleasure" by Rufus Wainwright is an exploration of the human desire for instant gratification rather than meaningful connections. The singer expresses a desire for sex without the commitment of love, and seems to view long-term relationships as tedious and unfulfilling. The repetition of the phrase "instant pleasure" emphasizes the focus on immediate satisfaction, while the lyric "You in the traffic for all eternity, how could that speed be where you want to be?" is a metaphor for the boredom and frustration of waiting for something that is not immediately available. The singer also questions the motivations of others who are seeking sex, suggesting that some may be doing so as a means of escaping emotional pain.
The chorus is particularly powerful, as it repeats the desire for "instant pleasure" multiple times, highlighting the singer's preoccupation with this singular goal. The repetition of the phrase also serves to emphasize the transience of pleasure, and the idea that it is fleeting and elusive. The final line, "I don't want somebody to love me," is a declaration of emotional independence, suggesting that the singer views love as a burden rather than a desired outcome.
Overall, "Instant Pleasure" is a song about the dangers of focusing solely on immediate gratification at the expense of deeper emotional connections. It is a warning against the tendency to prioritize pleasure over meaning, and encourages listeners to seek out more fulfilling relationships and experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't want somebody to love me
I am not looking for love and commitment
Just give me sex whenever I want it.
I am looking for physical pleasure on demand
'Cause all I ask for is instant pleasure
I am not interested in long-term fulfillment or happiness, just immediate gratification
Instant pleasure, instant pleasure.
I want my desires to be fulfilled immediately and without delay
You in the traffic for all eternity
You are stuck in a long and endless commute
How could that speed be where you want to be?
Why would you choose to be in a situation that brings you no joy or satisfaction?
Said don't you really want instant pleasure
Aren't you tired of being in this unfulfilling situation and seeking something more immediately satisfying?
Think that all these folks get laid?
Do you believe that all these people around you are having sexual encounters?
Do it 'cause their pain is great?
Are they engaging in sex to cope with emotional pain and emptiness?
What you thinkin' anyways?
What is going on in your mind and what motivates your behavior?
If drinkin' coffee's your idea of really cool
If you believe that drinking coffee is a desirable and attractive quality
You can't expect no crazy chick to notice you
You cannot expect an attractive and exciting woman to take notice of you
Just sittin' there dreamin' instant pleasure
Simply sitting and fantasizing about gratification without putting in effort or work
If you want someone a friend to be
If you desire someone to be your friend
Guess you'll have to win the lottery
You will need to be extremely lucky or fortunate to find someone who wants to be your friend
But 'til then repeat after me.
Until you find that person, just repeat after me.
Instant pleasure, instant pleasure
I continue to seek immediate gratification and pleasure
Instant pleasure, instant pleasure
This is my primary goal and desire
Instant pleasure, instant pleasure.
I will continue to seek gratification, even if it means sacrificing long-term happiness and fulfillment.
Lyrics © OLE MEDIA MANAGEMENT LP, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: SETH SWIRSKY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@isistendam1984
first: Why doesn't this have more likes.
second: WHY ISN'T THIS ON GOD DAMN SPOTIFY
just a little bit frustrating because this is a really good song!
@aemondthefearless9284
I remember the frustration of years of not being able to find this song, since first discovering it on Big Daddy... lol
@nicholasmartinez6410
Drinking coffee is your definition of really cool.
@sniima
LOVE this song, & you did such an amazing job pairing the lyrics with the snippets of film! Thank you! <3
@TheSkoobey
I was cruising around with 2 babes listening to this song freshman year of college. Yeahhh buddy.
@thinwhiteduke11
Touché! Haven't seen the movie myself, but the decadence of the period fits the song perfectly if you ask me. Love it!
@erikeena6
you did a wonderful job with this video... i always choose this one to just listen to the song, but i always find myself mesmerized by the video itself. me like.
@redheadsrock08
Happy Birthday lovely Rufus
@Jordaniz3r
WHY DOESNT THIS HAVE MORE VIEWS! this is amazing! I loved Marie Antoinette and you did and amazing job editing the clips together! I am seriously inspired!
@24g89
I just love the song