"Grey Gardens" by Rufus Wainwright

[thinwhiteduke11]

I <3 Rufus! This song is absolutely the reason that I chose Thomas Mann as the subject for my MA Thesis - I love Rufus - but I still feel unworthy - he is truly a genius xxx

[MrFefeleaga]

I love gay love, too :) If I weren't gay and I had been in that clip, i wouldn't have bent over the piano and sucked Rufus in with my staggering gaze. Love you, Rufus. I don't wtf you are doing playing this shit after or before featuring in Bob Wilson's plays :/

[katherinesparrow98]

wonderful song... i love it!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

[prolong4291]

Rufus hated the discipline from his parents, but the result was genius.

[auditoryarmory]

I love this album.

[MotherTeresa456]

I would find Issac very distracting if I was Rufus and he was staring at me like that, but who can blame him Rufus and his voice are a beaut x

[Ladytaeful]

Every time I watch this video I have to laugh at Isaac literally drooling over Rufus. He looks like he wants to eat him alive. Rufus, to his credit, pretty much ignores the host and just makes beautiful music. And the dog running around is icing on the cake. Rufus looks a bit rough around the edges here too - was this during his meth addiction days? I've seen the full video with the interview first and it's hilarious. Isaac clearly "digs" Rufus in more ways than one.

[moaosen]

Isaac is giving the classic queen look while watching this. Love it, although it is sort of awkward. <3<3<3

[danikuas]

lucy van pelt and Schroeder lol

[toribjork10]

jesus christ, isaac.... why don't you just curl up in rufus's lap? jeez, get out of his face.

[gorillabelly1]

What's the problem with the guy on the stool? He's the interviewer and is simply there to watch and appreciate Rufus. Clearly, he's enjoying the performance.

[yam1200]

love him

[kcd177]

this is so beautiful



[lucki801]

Isaac Mizrahi totally creeps me out in this for some reason, maybe he is just too close or big or something but it just throws me off.... but amazing song!

[broadwaycakes]

Who the hell is that random guy and why is he there..?

No offense but his presence kind of ruins the performance O.o

[gombligan69]

@broadwaycakes he is Isaac Mizrahi. This is his television show. He is the host who interviewed Rufus. I am sure Rufus probably didn't mind

[king5ley]

Who is the useless prick on the stool?

[thinwhiteduke11]

Looking at Rufus I feel like I know how Aschenbach must have felt when he first saw Tadzio, witnessing, "indeed startled, by the truly god-like beauty of this human creature"

[mimickick]

There are so many ludicrous details in this video... it's hilarious... but the song is one of his best, of course.

[79mjg]

I FELL IN LOVE WITH RUFUS... WHEN THIS CAME OUT ON TV.

[gorillabelly1]

The guy is fuckin' AMAZING!!!

[johngayable]

I love, love, love Ruphus. His voice is amazingly unusual !!!!!

[NightRoseK]

I didn't even know he was gay until a short time ago, yet I've loved his music for years. And knowing now that he's gay doesn't at all affect the way I see his music, or even him as an artist. He has amazing talent, and that's all that matters. <3

[deserterghost]

nice, but they are VERY BIG GAYS xD :)

[StoWhoFranz]

Magic

[hanniehol]

I only recently discovered Rufus, what a shame I've been without him for so long!!! I'm totally in love with his voice and his music

[wwonka52]

@hanniehol Isn't he awesome! i 've seen him twice, most recently last month in Albany , NY, 3rd row $58 ticket. worth every penny of it..

[Saranohthanks]

@wwonka52 I saw him in Albany, too! I think I was 4th or 5th row. Amazing concert. His costumes were rather interesting haha.

[millardwigstand]

amazing

[Feffe]

Enough with the gay remarks! Who gives a fuck who´s gay and who isn´t! It´s just music. Enjoy I say. Enjoy!

[daaddict555]

It's sickening how people relate sexual orientation to just about anything. Like people know if the biggest machos of R&R weren't in fact gay. The very ones they idolater.

[unc112]

20 people clearly don't know what talent is

[BennoFletcherBorges]

truly the one of the finest musical geniuses of our time...so rare, so inspired...no wonder commercial music has not embraced him...how sad

[iamthepinkylifter]

a real songwriter, a true artist.

[foxfoot]

just why is talentless old issac there?

[GrammyCathrine]

@tagurit2 your comment cracked me up! That is so hilarious! I just saw Rufus at Carnegie Hall and he was fantastic!

[DizzyDior12]

Lol, what's with the dog?!

Rufus is amazing. Simply lovely. <3

[janotosinnumeros]

Hahaha I loved the dog in the video

[SupernalOne]

RW's muse/love interest at the piano is pretty chunky!

[johnm6069]

This is like the Gayest thing Iv'e ever seen, but it was still terrific. Not because it was gay, but because it was good

[dstewart28]

i had this album back in the day.

[deagla2]

Resist the NWO ;)

[dstewart28]

@mijnkruiwagenenik it's issac mizrahi's dog lol

[SupernalOne]

Never heard RW before, but my sister had a couple of tickets to his show in Bethesda MD last Saturday evening - needless to say i was blown away - what amazing music, such gorgeous piano, what a full sweet emotional voice - his music was gorgeous, rapturous, entrancing, and RW himself was straightforward and self-effacing, the nicest guy - sister Martha sang a pop-punk-folk number & something Piaf-esque, and duets with R - my eyes were opened, what lovely talented people! I highly recommend!

[l0lercaust]

@SupernalOne excuse me this is youtube, you're supposed to say OMG RUFUS WAINWRIGHT IS BETTER THAN EVERYONE and then make a joke about miley cirus, justin bieber, or the jonas brothers and make fun of the people who 'disliked' the video.

take your maturity somewhere else!

Glad to hear someone else is also just discovering him with similar appriciation

[SupernalOne]

@l0lercaust

LOL -- thanks for the advice, I'll try to be more immature in future XD

[L33tImagination]

@l0lercaust excuse me this is youtube, it's up to the commenter how they comment. SupernalOne's comment is probably his normal vocab. If you have something against it I would recommend meditation. (If you have something against meditation I would recommend looking up what it actually means)

I love all of RW's work, and this is no exception. Although it did sound like he struggled at 1:25.

[thinwhiteduke11]

@L33tImagination LOL - did you ever miss the point!

[ytcarol]

@L33tImagination If you read the comment more closely, you will see that it was entirely tongue in cheek. The commenter was actually appreciating Supernalone's remarks, not criticizing them -- didn't you read at the end where he said "glad to hear someone else appreciates him" ? And yes, my brother, Supernalone, does have an good vocabulary! ;-D

[L33tImagination]

@ytcarol I look back and realise this now. I do apologize to l0lercaust. I'd been seeing a lot of bossing about around me so reading "supposed to" tipped me off the iceberg I guess :P

[ytcarol]

@L33tImagination  Cool

[thinwhiteduke11]

@l0lercaust OMG Rufus is GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD and is better than everyone else in the whole world!! Miley Cirus sucks! All u tools who dislike the video should piss off etc etc etc - How did I do?

I too am discovering him with much awe and appreciation. Loved your coment ;-)

[thinwhiteduke11]

@SupernalOne I'm very envious - would love to see him live x

[lostismyconstent]

oh what i would give to be the guy leaning against that piano...

[Ravisante5000]

I saw him in concert the other night...what a brilliant talent.And funny too!Oh,and his sister is massively talented too.

[ytcarol]

So beautiful. Isaac looked like he was in love. Why did Rufus wear a T with holes in it? Oh well, it's a perfect song, perfectly sung, so who cares? Thanks for posting it.

[mrfabulocity]

Of course Isaac was sitting there since it's his show. I saw Rufus at the Hollywood bowl and he was horrible.

[nanaloekle]

him? geezer? really?? its Isaac Mizrahi! fucking youtube civilians... god... for all it's good. the internet is filled with such boring people...

[turdfacesaywhaaaa]

Issac kinda ruined it for me.

Less Issac, more Rufus. =]

[luv2spin31]

The whole Wainwright family is talented, but i have to say, 'instant pleasure' is a helluva song

[comercio76]

he is not a talented singer!!!

[tigertremp]

I'm a straight man, but this song makes me melt.

[schlo5398]

I love this song! This is the second time I've listened to it and I can already see myself listening to it over and over!

[scottchristopherband]

Issac is a lil creepy sitting that close!

[ni2cris]

 Rufus as Always 

But why was that other

Guy sitting there

[txkuntryboy]

I like his studio material, but with no machines to filter his voice, hes way too nasal, sings out out of his nose. No hate.

[petesemaj]

how much does that geezer fancy him?!

[infamouslo]

This whole scene is just so damn gay. It's marvelous.

[Lettuceandtomatoes]

Pet that dog!!! Rufus is adorable.

[KristinaBrooker1]

REACT

Pen is position opinion (RANK)

[Coldspark]

Rufus, you're a beautiful man. =)

[ritter89]

Mizrahi looks like he's falling in love, lol......my favorite rufus tune

[gregboy59]

GONG him

[Tadziogb]

Tadzio's my name

[InkWellShadow]

haha

[toofargone09]

I love Rufus Wainwright's music and Isaac Mizrahi's clothes, but Isaac's creeping me out just sitting there at the piano staring intently. I wonder what was going through Rufus' mind.

[AlejandraRafa]

I love Rufus, I love the song, I love the dog, I love the holes in his shirt :-)

Not so sure about the other guy sitting there though :P

[neldarh]

i love this version WAAAAY better than the album version. it has so much more soul, like you can really feel it,

especially from 2:29 onward.

*sigh* it is like heaven. :)

[mrthundercrack]

his voice sounds mopey and slurred.

[samsamba08]

Well, "Poses" is a classic...an incredible record, and one of my all time favorite pop albums. But you can totally hear that he isn't a "trained voice". His version of "Halleluja" must be the most annoying version I've ever heard, and only because of his voice - which is of VERY acquired taste.

[Teresa7087]

I have to completely disagree with you. I think his rendition of Hallelujah is the best one I've heard. Also, the composer, Leonard Cohen, has stated he prefers Rufus' version to all others. That is high praise indeed. I think his voice is amazing. And unlike so many singers, he writes all of his own material except songs he covers from others. A truly unique talent.

[AlejandraRafa]

I think Leonard Cohen considers K.D.Lang's version as the definitive one.

Anyway, I love Rufus' so I'm not saying this to argue.

[jmortiz271]

Heaven Sent!

[Hathor2006]

Great musician, but the voice is really not good, maybe by today's lower standards. But not by the standard of standards of yesteryear, the songs that he actually loves from the past. I do like his arrangement, but imagine this voice getting a record deal when music was actually good. Dylan, same. But he was Jewish and knew the right people, and that's a fact.

[thecupdidit]

im addicted to this man and reli wish he wasnt gay but I HATE HIM NOT OPENING HIS MOUTH! THE WORLD WOULD WAKE UP TO ALL HIS MUSIC IF HE CORRECTED THAT ONE TINY THING! SOOO ANNOYING! X

[raGARRY]

if anybody knows the chords to this song can they please let me know?!x

[1292mcguire]

Brillant talent. He's clearly one of the greats of our time. Producing timeless music. Love this song!

[PeteLloydPete]

Great.

[michaelmouse1]

The dog's latest album "Mexican Hairless" just went platinum.

It's available on the Golden Retriever label. He doesn't actually play an instrument ,per se, but he's good with a bone.

any more questions?

[tHomB1974]

This is great, I saw a guy called Vorn Doolette in Oz, who reminds me heaps of Rufus

[FNTM3rd]

this is the very clip of the first time I'd heard Rufus-on the Isaac Mizrahi show. Been a fan ever since...

[dreamingthrough]

Love Rufus! Love the dog wandering around in the back too. :)

[fifthdaughter]

I've never heard this song before, it's beautiful!!

[skyemcleod1]

gorgeous, amazing song. love Rufus.

[gufok]

fucking song! geez! great!

[clovrmay]

Nailed it. the ending was def shaky but the beginning and middle was tight. Luv Rufus... luv luv Grey gardens.

[Garantija]

what's that other guy sitting there???

[FASHIONCONSPIRACY]

Garantija: that is fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi; he loss his fame but has made a comeback; I wasn't aware that he had a show, what he is known for is fashion...hope that was helpful !...great post...5*

[onacruise]

what year was this?

[allaboutdmagic]

One of my favourite Rufus songs, could be the Death in Venice reference, could be the sweet way he sings it...

[djbethell]

I think Rufus's music is so sublime but I can only listen to one or two tracks now and again and then after that is just bores me and fries my brain. I get the same thing with Nina Simone who I also adore. Why is that? (And no nasty comments from fanantic fans please!), D x

[knicknase]

maybe that's because it's so sublime. after 1-2 tracks your mind has to handle it before it can receive new sounds and words. it seems boring because you just don't want to hear any more sophisticated songs. so perhaps something in the capacity area... anyway, i'm just guessing

[Chanj92]

i love this song...

[Nefelejcs4]

Beautiful song! And the pianist boy is so handsome and sweet!!

[soshedancessss]

hahaha ...i love that random dog.

:D

[jordansonny1]

what does Tadzio mean?

[meramay29]

Tadzio is one of the main character in Thomas Mann's Death in Venice. A beautiful boy who becomes the love interest of an elderly aristocrat Gustav von Auschenbach. Rufus has spoken about Grey Gardens as a blending of Thomas Mann's Death in Venice and the Maysles brother's documentary of Edith and Edie Beale in Grey Gardens.

[jordansonny1]

thank you :)

[plazmatyk]

Tadzio is a Polish name. It's short for Tadeusz (Thadeus). It's the name of one of the characters in Thomas Mann's novella Death In Venice. Gustav Von Ashenbach (the main character, an old famous writer) falls in love with Tadzio's beauty and eventually dies in Venice. Quite a good book. Interestingly, Tadzio was a real person - Mann has a lot in common with Ashenbach.

[jordansonny1]

thank you :)

[Rainhands22]

There is a song that sounds very similar to this but is sang by someone different. If anyone knows the name please reply.

[y2james]

That's kind of vague...

[HansHottest]

You have to get you ears checked, one nail from this guy is better than your pity self.

I just head this guy a week ago and im so jaleous of his talent

[caroline3286]

Anybody else excited about new 'Milwaukee at Last' Live Performance Boxset?

I pre-ordered mine from the new Rufus Wainwright Universal Webstore.

xx

[sues689]

Yes- Have also pre-ordered- due for release in Sept. I love Rufus' Judy DVD so will be fab to see any new performance. What star quality he has....love him!

[xoxoalexi]

please do it!

[skulla]

I'd like to see a tutorial please.

In London at the moment we have these pianos that have been left along the streets as part of an art project and I think it would be brilliant if I could roll up to one of these and start playing this.

[bloodiedXangel]

Oh please do!! I would love to be able to play something by Rufus. But I'm terrible at playing piano, despite 5 years of lessons...

[Johnnynoknees]

Pretty new to him but this is excellent by anyones standards. If you don't appreciate it then you are probably dead (RIP).

Proper Soulful Pop. How rare is that these days...

[mzj2404]

has anyone else done this song recently cos i have heard a different version but cant remember who done it......great song bye the way

[0pacella0]

i actually love this song.

[lucozadebigal]

all his songs sound the same :s

[schroeder666]

I don't mind someone not being into him, but that's a retarded statement. He obviously has a wide stylistic range, whether you like the songs or not.

[calangodoido]

sure...all his songs sound the same, and you're tasteless.

[lucozadebigal]

you misunderstand me, i didny say i didnt like him :) i think he is a musical genius in all fairness, but the few tracks iv listened to sounded very samy, so a slight prejudice on my part i admit,,,sorry :(

[godsgift69er]

this one is a good one tho ... even if it sounds the same its the best of the ones that do sound the same..i think

[69Mozzer69]

then don't listen! I think it's beautiful

[benbratt35]

How? Surely the children were brought up in an atmosphere of music and performance. If anything they bring the nature/nurture debate to mind. If the children had been given up for adoption then you might have a point.

[cherryberry369]

i tot agree i dont think isaac should be in the shot either

[fuzzyprism]

Love this song. There's an interesting dynamic in the video as Isaac focuses his attention on Rufus, yet Rufus keeps his eyes closed or down. No interpretation implied, just sayin'.

[skyemcleod1]

Personally, I don't know why Isaac HAD to be in the shot with Rufus. Just keep the camera on Rufus, man! Oh, well...

[skyemcleod1]

I love this so much-it's just stunning. Gorgeous song and singer!!!

(even though I don't like Isaac M.sitting there much!) thanbkx so much for this.

[michelformika]

David Spade.............is that you singing??

[jewish1972]

debia educarse 1 poco la voz y tb. hacer pesas

[FSharp98012]

While this resonates somewhat with the plight of the Edith Bouvier Beales, Tadzio (and Gustav von Aschenbach) appear in Thomas Mann's Death in Venice. A feverish ache to reclaim lost youth. A young lover and an empty garden. Amour apres coup; talk about love in a time of cholera!

[isabelalaaa]

his voice.. it's so beautiful

[HeMaPaWe]

This is about Edith Bouvier Beale and her daughter Little Edie Bouvier Beale. They have a tragic but infinitely interesting relationship. There was a movie made about them in the 70's called "Grey Gardens". They were the cousins of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis.

[Piiiistache]

Who ?

[plutodrvv]

we/re all trying to get our grey gardens green...

[nowirehangers10]

Can anyone tell me what language he is singing in? Can't understand a word.

[peachbot]

it's a language only the really fucking awesome can understand

sorry ;(

[nowirehangers10]

OMG -I wasn't being sarcastic, I honestly though he was singing in a foreign language. Only found this searching "Grey Gardens", never heard him before!

[aaciseric]

He does slur his works a little bit, I always have to look up the lyrics to his songs, though I think the way the sings is great (even if I can't understand him half of the time lol).

[ddviolinist]

shut up

[plutodrvv]

To be fair I don't think it was meant as an insult. I love Stevie Nicks and part of her mystique and talent is her phrasing and slurring of words. Similarly Rufus, who I adore, at times slurs lyrics for style and effect. A turly exhaustive analysis of a song includes an exploration of lyrics. Combined each adds a layer of meaning both are important for understanding and savoring a song to its core.

[pancharito]

is this the song about the crazy rich girl who threw shit at her mom like a monkey? or the crazy rich girl who skinned her mom and wore her like a jacket? or the crazy rich girl who stared at the 3D picture until she became part of the picture?

[timmchap35]

lolol

[SharpieInkball]

Haha...The dog. Just at the beginning, when Rufus is still playing but also looking at the dog? So adorable.

[GANGARENE]

The young actor who played the character of "Tadsio" (?) was indeed a very beautiful young man...sad film....

[sellyanna]

lol

[cornizzle36]

This is my favourite rendition of Grey Gardens. I absolutely adore Rufus.

[GraceAdler999]

Mitzi is so in love with Rufus...

Way beyond your league Mitzi...way beyond.

[unc112]

You know how I know you're gay. You watched this video :)

Love Rufus

[nora0726]

I watched this show and I loved this show. I know for a face that I am not gay.

[lukeashmoore]

I once saw two guys kissing in a park. that was the gayest thing i saw untill i watched this.

[sneakyman149]

you dont get it, the man dont have to concentrate, it comes natural, his art flows from him naturally. do your homework

[stevebarry]

i just watched a video of a 100 man only orgy, and this video was way more gay.

nice rendition.

[2dboy]

I love Rufus, and I love Grey Gardens! Big and Little Edie broke my heart.

[skylineiiigtr]

how can he concentrate with that dope right in his face... he's pissing me off.

[GraceAdler999]

hahah...you're right

[melego]

Mizrahi wants to ravage him.lol.

[hianksiety]

GOD, no kidding! I thought I was the only one who noticed that :)