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...").
Puttin On the Ritz
Rufus Wainwright Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why don't you go where fashion sits?
Puttin' on the ritz
Different gowns upon a bevy of high brows from down the levy, all misfits
Puttin' on the ritz
That's where each and every lulu-belle goes
Rubbin' elbows
Come let's mix, where Rockefeller's walk with sticks
And umbrellas in their mitts
Puttin' on the ritz
If you're blue, and you don't know where to go to
Why don't you go where fashion sits?
Different gowns upon a bevy of high brows from down the levy, all misfits
Puttin' on the ritz
That's where each and every lulu-belle goes
Every Sunday evening with her swell girls
Rubbin' elbows
Come let's mix, where Rockefeller's walk with sticks
And umbrellas in their mitts
Puttin' on the ritz, puttin' on the ritz
Puttin' on the ritz, puttin' on the ritz!
Rufus Wainwright's song "Puttin' On the Ritz" is a tribute to the lavishness and elegance of the early 20th century. The song invites those who are feeling blue and lost to join the fashionable crowd and "put on the ritz," or dress up in fancy clothing and participate in the high society scene.
The lyrics describe a gathering of affluent individuals, who are often considered misfits due to their unorthodox behavior, but they are able to find their place among each other on the dance floor. Wainwright references the "different gowns" and "high brows" of the attendees, which adds to the grandeur and exclusivity of the event. The "lulu-belles" and "swell girls" are a nod to the flapper culture that emerged in the 1920s, defined by its carefree attitude and jazz-infused music.
The chorus invites everyone to partake in this glamorous lifestyle, where even the wealthy Rockefeller family can be seen "puttin' on the ritz" with their umbrellas and walking sticks. The overarching theme is one of escapism, where individuals can leave their mundane lives behind and immerse themselves in a world of luxury and excess.
Overall, "Puttin' On the Ritz" is a celebration of the spectacle that was the Jazz Age, a time often associated with the glitz and glamour of the Great Gatsby era.
Line by Line Meaning
If you're blue, and you don't know where to go to
When you're feeling down and lost
Why don't you go where fashion sits?
Visit the place where people dress up and look their best
Puttin' on the ritz
Join the glamourous lifestyle
Different gowns upon a bevy of high brows from down the levy, all misfits
Various elegant dresses on sophisticated and wealthy misfits
That's where each and every lulu-belle goes
That's where all the fashionable women want to be
Every Sunday evening with her swell girls
Gathering with her close friends every Sunday evening
Rubbin' elbows
Socially interacting with important people
Come let's mix, where Rockefeller's walk with sticks
Let's merge with high society and rich personalities
And umbrellas in their mitts
Holding umbrellas to protect themselves from the weather
Puttin' on the ritz, puttin' on the ritz
Living a luxurious lifestyle
Puttin' on the ritz, puttin' on the ritz!
Emphasizing the luxurious lifestyle
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: IRVING BERLIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Paige Sisserman
everything Rufus sings is spectacular. he's just the best of the best..
Kunstforum Weisbrodt
What a surprise! One of my favorite jazz songs. Wonderful as always. It's right, it doesn't matter what you sings, your voice is always fabulous. Thanks for your music my dear.
veronique herve
Rufus at his best. I don't know what else he could do. The orchestration is fabulous, his voice is splendid and warm and, his jacket shines of thousand fires. Maybe he could do a wheel? I know he can ! That's entertainment !! THANK YOU ❤️❤️
Gabriela Tramontini
You are unique. Every cover you sing is different from other singers. Congratulations from Argentina.
Ariel Ky
Wow! That sequinned jacket is really putting on the ritz. Love the upbeat energy of this song.
TerraK
Great vocals and accompaniment. The illustrations are great too, bravo!👍
howl!!
brilliant as always rufus!!
Laurence Lebacq
J'adore cette chanson ❤🥰
Wesley Cartwright
Do you ever see a song title and you're like "YES, I'M IN FOR THAT". Man, excellent as always and have been listening for 20+ years
alanhenderson53
Great! Can't wait to get the whole CD -