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...").
Peach Trees
Rufus Wainwright Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Or being held in one's opium gaze
Under the peach trees
There I'll sit and wait
Is true love a long walk through Bryant park
Or being held in the month of May
Under the peach trees
Cause I'm so tired of waiting in restaurants
Reading the critics and comics alone
With a waiter with a face made for currency
Like a coin in ancient Rome
And I really do wish you were here next to me
Cause I'm going to see James Dean
There I will be
Under the peach trees with him
In this song, Rufus Wainwright is exploring the concept of true love and the various forms it can take. He begins by questioning whether true love is simply a romanticized idea, such as a trip to Chinatown or being lost in someone's opium-infused gaze, or if it is something deeper and more profound. He sings about sitting under the peach trees, waiting for this love to come and find him, yet he is tired of waiting in restaurants and reading reviews and comics by himself. Despite the loneliness, he still holds out hope for that kind of love and dreams about being with someone, like being under the peach trees with James Dean.
The lyrics in this song are open to interpretation, and listeners can take away different meanings depending on their own experiences and beliefs. Some may see it as a commentary on the search for love in a society that prioritizes commercialism and superficiality, while others may view it as a yearning for a deeper connection and intimacy in a disconnected world. The imagery of the peach trees, which are blooming during the month of May, can represent renewal and growth, as well as the fleeting nature of life and love.
Line by Line Meaning
Is true love a trip to Chinatown
Does experiencing authentic Chinese culture represent true love?
Or being held in one's opium gaze
Or is it about being so entranced by one's lover that everything else fades away?
Under the peach trees
Perhaps it is about finding love in a place that represents new beginnings and fresh starts.
There I'll sit and wait
The artist is waiting for someone to come and join them on this journey towards true love.
Is true love a long walk through Bryant park
Or is it about a leisurely stroll through a beautiful park?
Or being held in the month of May
Maybe it is about the promise of spring and new growth, much like the peach trees mentioned before.
There I will be, will be until you come and get me
The singer will be waiting patiently until their ideal partner arrives.
Cause I'm so tired of waiting in restaurants
The artist is tired of being alone in public, waiting for someone to share that time with.
Reading the critics and comics alone
The artist is trying to pass the time, but it's not very fulfilling, given their current state.
With a waiter with a face made for currency
The artist is surrounded by people, yet they feel detached and alone.
Like a coin in ancient Rome
They feel like an object, or something that is easily replaced or forgotten.
And I really do wish you were here next to me
The artist longs for companionship, and someone who can help them make sense of everything.
Cause I'm going to see James Dean
They're seeking solace and inspiration from an American icon, someone who represents youthful rebellion and resistance.
There I will be
The singer is determined to find what they are looking for, and will travel to great lengths to do so.
Under the peach trees with him
They hope to find someone who is both a disruptive influence and a source of comfort, much like the peach trees themselves.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RUFUS WAINWRIGHT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind