Rufus, how can we all thank you for this music? I'm a 67-year-old fan who has awful things happen to me over the past 12 years. I've lost everyone I've loved to terrible deaths. It's like the world has vanished. But then last month I stumbled onto your music, totally out of the blue, and I feel so blessed. You speak to eternal truths with such depth, such honesty, such insight and such beauty. God bless you for being you. I feel I can breathe again.
beautiful words Wayne. I am sorry for your loss. Rufus brings me words during pain and at night when no other siren can . Caves and mountains darkness and hurt his music shines through. I have played this one regularly in times of sadness and total joy. in fact this song is total joy and triumph
This, in my opinion, is the single greatest song ever written. The lyrics are absolutely genius, the melody is beautiful and the way it crescendos into the penultimate phrase and then decrescendos. Absolute masterpiece!
This is my favorite Rufus song, and perhaps one of my favorite songs ever. Really wish it would come back to the live setting. It's criminal to shelf this song.
I don't think he's comfortable performing it any more. Many have those moments of life, and the power of this song is in it's emotion and honesty, where we can't entirely revisit.
@@Wicked583 he is doing a retrospective right now - singing albums cover to cover in his living room- he performing Want 1 this week! Check out his instagram / website. First two album play throughs have been amazing!
The layers of emotion in this song are so deep and intense that a few seconds into it, I felt a silent, convulsing sob rising in my chest. Powerful. This guy is genius.
Thank you for the bitter knowledge Guardian angels who left me stranded It was worth it, feeling abandoned Makes one hardened but what has happened to love You got me writing lyrics on postcards Then in the evening looking at the stars But the brightest of the planets is Mars Then what has happened to love So I will opt for the big white limo Vanity fairgrounds and rebel angels You can't be trusted with feathers so hollow Your heaven's inventions, steel eyed vampires of love You see over me, I'll never know What you have shown to other eyes Go or go ahead and surprise me Say you've lead the way to a mirage Go or go ahead and just try me Nowhere's now here smelling of junipers Fell off the hay bales, I'm over the rainbows But oh Medusa kiss me and crucify This unholy notion of the mythic power of love Look in her eyes, look in her eyes Forget about the ones that are crying Look in her eyes, look in her eyes Forget about the ones that are crying Go or go ahead
My favorite song of Rufus'. It just conveys his emotions and struggles in a way I've never heard any other lyricist describe. His words are poetry. Seriously.
Me too! Was already looking forward to it when he started his crystal meth story. Hey, why hasn't Rufus been host+musical guest on SNL? He'd be perfect! If you're still checking back here for replies, pass it on! Crazy thing is: I was literally just about to watch last night's SNL, and just had to watch this Rufus Wainwright clip that popped up, so I did a bit of a double take when I saw this comment :-) What I was going to post before that was This is such a great song, and that "look in her eyes" part is real goosebump stuff. Went and got the "Want 1" CD immediately after seeing RW on Letterman, and then got the "All I Want" DVD when that came out - where I think this performance was on the bonus disc? It's an awesome performance with the big band, and I must admit I felt *slightly* cheated when I later saw him live with just a four-piece band. Got me an autographed "Want 2", though, so it was a good night all told. I just have a particular fondness for the grandiose arrangements, with backing singers and the whole deal. I like lots of what he's done since (very much including the latest one - go check it out everyone!) but "Want 1" is still my go-to Rufus record. It's got a lot of the tender, croonery stuff, but it's also got some honest-to-god Epic Rock energy to it, like U2 meets Queen or something. Maybe "Gay Meat Loaf"? No, that sounds disgusting and bigoted. But songs like this, "Beautiful Child", "14th Street" and "I Don't Know Where It Is" have a certain kind of bombastic swagger that I haven't really heard enough of on the subsequent albums. Anyway, if your're still reading this, Melissa*, I'm going to watch the latest SNL now, and I'm looking forward to seeing you share the screen with mad billionaire spaceman Elon Musk. :-) * I obviously presume not, as I'm responding to a comment from 12 years ago. In fact I'd be mortified if she were. Nevertheless, the odd coincidence of having SNL cued up and her naming my favourite bit of the song, combined with the great music I hadn't heard in a while, just inspired me to ramble a bit. Does that make me a stalker now? I guess that's for the courts to decide, but I'm taking my chances.
The irony. I spent hours looking through the Radiohead catalog because I was CONVINCED it had to be them. How stunning and poignant this work of art is.
Labored my son in an amazing home birth to this song. One of my best memories is my husband and I singing this to each other as I made way for our baby. Love Rufus. Love this tune.
Dia, You've got to be full of love to listen to this while you labored your son. Hope the little prince absorbed it on his way into this world and hope he is full of love and life....
I have always loved this song, had a terrifying reaction to meth last Friday and almost died... Scariest moment of my life without a doubt, sobered me right up... This song gained more meaning since then. Don't try it if you haven't and try to stop if you have... Your life means too much...peace
This is one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard in my life. I can barely listen to it without crying. It's really a sad song if you listen. But I adore Rufus anyway so I suppose I am partial. I also love "Barcelona" and his version of "Agnus Dei" Ahhhh Rufus we love you!!
The song (and the arrangement) leaves me speechless. It is perfect and heartbreaking and somber and celebratory all at once. If there were a Pulitzer Prize for songs, this would have won it.
This song has became one of my favorite songs ever. Forever grateful that it was featured on Handsome Devil it was amazingly used I was cheering and nearly crying LOL
@@tbaumgar1 I really don't know if he's as popular as he deserves. I'm from Argentina and discovered him in 2018 (he performed in Buenos Aires in 2013 and 2016 and I didn't know about him...shame on me!). Since then, I'm his inconditional fan. Can't stop listening to him and his marvellous songs. And in 2021 his voice is better than ever. His virtual retrospective is awesome!
Currently on a family road trip. Driving from his Houston to Florida to take the wife and kids to Disney. I hadn't heard this song in years... i don't know why I started humming it... I forgot how good this song was!
This is one of my favorite Rufus song. So thankful the guardian angels saved Rufus for us in the world. Hopefully, he will continue to pay it forward for the remainder of his life. 🥰
One of my favourites of Rufus! Listen to it every day! But then, I listen to most of his songs every day! Will never tire of his music! So talented and beautiful! LOVE RUFUS!!!
I was in the gym tonight and this came in shuffle. It took a minute to remember it but I damn near started crying right in the middle of the gym. I couldn’t turn it off. This song brings out so much emotion - not only the lyrics but the way it sounds. Incredible.
Rufus your amazing I’m sooo glad you’re found your way back to show us who you really are ,the world would be a very sad place without you, voice of an angel and handsome,what more could we ask for 💕💕💕
My favourite song by Rufus I think. And this is a live version ?!?!?! Wow The song just builds and builds in power till you think you will explode. Though his April Fools Day with Martha (Irish TV) is a close second favourite.
I discovered Rufus through RU-vid by chance 10 days ago, got so impressed with his music and I'm going to see him in concert in 12 days :-) He is amazing artist! I can simply say BRAVO! I wish world could have more people like him.
Rufus is one of those few artists who can bring a range of generations to fall in love with him and his work. This song gives me goosebumps everytime -Thank you Rufus!
Rufus is the best vocalist and melodist alive today. Orchestration! How perfectly tuned the frequencies are! Auffffff!!!! That's 7 years in the playlist. ♥️ from Russia
Rufus is one of the most talented artists I can think of. Live music is so often a dissappointement. It is rare that a performer sounds this great live. WTG Rufus. Now sing us some new stuff!
What an incredible, incredible song. I remember getting this album and traveling to Vermont from Cape Cod in December. On the way home, while this was playing, at the really intense part at the end "Go or go ahead and surprise me", I slid on some ice on the highway and totaled the car. This is one of the top 20 songs of all time.
My favourite song...ever? Not sure, but one of the most beautiful, uplifting songs I´ve ever heard. There´s something very spiritual about it, but maybe that´s just the way I interpret the lyrics (and the soaring refrain). Thanks, Rufus!
Hard to follow this , extremely amazing lyrics to die for from one of the worlds top musicians. So good to catch up with Rufus here after a long stretch of mediocre music in the worlds' music industry. I honestly don't think that we will ever see the likes of this guy again in our lifetimes..I sadly regret the loss of my hero Scott Walker but thanks to u tube we can all catch up with the Wainrights and the Scott Walkers of this world that truly give and have always given superb top class music. This song always brings a lump to my throat as indeed so does 'Joanna' from my early hero , Scott Walker
Some of us have been there. And by there, I mean on Folsom street after a three day binge. First time I saw the video, I wanted to applaud his honesty.
HANDSOME DEVIL, the gay themed/rugby/ Prep School film brought me here as well and this song is so appropriate to the entire theme of the film with problems we must face head on.
So powerfu. I really loved this song, because is a desperate claim for help because he is just about to give up and he's looking for two: the angels or medusa, so he's demanding them to go or go ahead and help/kill him. But at the end he is asking to be saved by his angels and surprise him with a beautiful life he can witness with his eyes. I LOVE THIS SONG.
this performance is better than his studio version Elton John encouraged him to go to rehab. This song is basically telling us that: everyone needs support. I love this song dearly Thanks for this bitter knowlege Rufus!
I love this song so much and was worried that it might not work live. But i was wrong. It's so much more destabilized and destructive-sounding, and it's so powerful but in a different way from the studio version, which is a lot cleaner. This version really highlights the destructive side of the song, and I must say I am blown away.
God never stranded you..you just had to listen to the small voices ..that made your music great... full of feeling and love and emotion you made other ppl stand up and take notice ;)
feeling the energy and emotion that surge through the entire venue is amazing. i feel it every time i listen to this song so i can't imagine actually being there for this video, what a performance 😌
Une chanson bouleversante! Je l'ai écoutée religieusement des dizaines de fois... Une de mes préférées de Rufus! Merci pour ce chef d'oeuvre né de la souffrance.
