In the end Rufus talks about his alter ego Bella van Herzgold, the main character of the opera he was writing back then. Hilarious!!! -Video Upload powered by www.TunesToTube.com
If this was 1996, he was 33 years old, and his debut album would come out two years later. What's amazing to me (in addition to the sold parlor-piano playing) is his melodic phrasing. It's very original singing, even then. And the vocal tricks he uses (short flickers of vibrato, gentle, nuanced "portamento" pitch-bending) shows very mature technique. A nice RU-vid find that reveals Wainwrights strong talents what would soon lead to his breakthrough debut recording. // Miss Angelika, do you know if this is Rufus's own composition? I looked up the lyrics, but found none, so i'm thinking this might be his own song here.
It must be his own composition, I couldn't find any other information either. It sounds like a song Rufus would compose, the lyrics are also very "Rufusy" ;-) Back then he was actually 23 years old...
My God, we are the same age. It's funny you reply today. I literally just finished posting a very unique bootleg I made of him from when was living in NYC for music school. He sings it it French (Berlioz aria?), and there are a couple other bootlegs of this, but i think that day was very special. I almost think my recording should go into his cannon! For those interested, to check it out! Thanks for the reply and info! - _The Acoustic Rabbit Hole_
