Top 10 Rufus Wainwright Songs

Rufus Wainwright Songs

Feature Photo: Ben Houdijk / Shutterstock.com

Our Top 10 Rufus Wainwright Songs list will look at a singer, songwriter and composer who has been in the business since 1998. He has recorded several albums throughout his career. He has written two operas. He is a member of the LGBTQ+ community. Several of his singles have charted on the UK singles charts. Some of the singles are “I Don’t Know What It Is,” “Hallelujah,” “Going to a Town” and “Out of the Game.” He has won 10 awards and counting and has been nominated for 36 awards to date. He sold over 480,000 albums worldwide.

Rufus McGarrigle Wainwright was born on July 22, 1973. Music was in his blood. His family is involved in music in one way or another. He played piano when he was six. When he was 13, he toured with his family. They were in a group called the McGarrigle Sisters and Family. He was in the group with his mother, sister and aunt. When he was 14, he appeared in Tommy Tricker and the Stamp Traveller. He was nominated for a Genie Award for Best Original Song. In 1990, he was nominated for a Juno Award for Promising Male Vocalist of the Year. He became interested in opera early in life and it influenced his music. He studied classical music. Rufus Wainwright identified as gay when he was a teenager. When he was a teenager, he was assaulted after picking up someone at a bar. The attack had a profound effect on him.

In May 1998, he released his self-titled album. It features the singles “April Fools,” “Foolish Love,” “My Arms” and “Beauty Mark.” Poses was released in June 2001. The album peaked at number 117 on Billboard 200. It features the singles “Shadows,” “One Man Guy,” “Poses” and “Greek Song.” Want One was released in September 2003. The album peaked at number 60 on Billboard 200. It features the singles “I Don’t Know What It Is,” “Oh What a World,” “Beautiful Child” and “Pretty Things.” Want Two was released in November 2004. The album peaked at number 103 on Billboard 200 and number 21 on the UK charts. It features the singles “The One You Love,” “This Love Affair,” “Crumb by Crumb” and “Waiting for a Dream.” Release the Stars was released in May 2007. The album peaked at number two on the UK charts and number 23 on Billboard 200. It features the singles “Going to a Town,” “Rules and Regulations,” “Tier Garten” and “Not Ready to Love.”

All Days Are Nights: Songs for Lulu was released in March 2010. The album peaked at number 21 on the UK charts. It features the singles “Who Are You New York?,” “Martha,” “True Loves” and “The Dream.” Out of the Game was released in April 2012. It peaked at number five on the UK charts and 35 on Billboard 200. It features the singles “Out of the Game,” “Jericho,” “Perfect Man” and “Candles.” Prima Donna was released in September 2015. It features the single “Overture.” Unfollow the Rules was released in July 2020. The album peaked at number 27 on the UK charts and number 46 on Billboard 200. It features the singles “Trouble in Paradise,” “Damsel in Distress,” “Peaceful Afternoon” and “Alone Time.” Folkocracy was released in June 2023. It features the singles “Alone,” “Heading for Home,” “Harvest” and “Black Gold.”

Rufus Wainwright was destined to become a star since music runs in his family. He was able to become a singer in his own right. His life wasn’t always easy, but he survived. He is a talented singer who should be a bigger star. Our Top 10 Rufus Wainwright Songs list will give us a chance to put his songs in the spotlight.

# 10 – The One You Love

The 10th song on our Top 10 Rufus Wainwright Songs list is “The One You Love” from the Want Two album. “The One You Love” was released in February 2005. This song is about a man who is struggling to make his relationship work. He is trying to explain how he feels through words. He talks about his mind being filled with pictures and memories. It makes it hard for him to sleep. He asks his partner if he can remember how he looks when he cries. He wants to show his partner that he can be vulnerable. He is trying to tell him how he feels. He wants to say it in a nice way. He knows nothing he says can make up for the things he has done.

The narrator wants to know if he is the only person his partner loves. He implies something has been going on between them. He wants to try and make things work before their relationship is done. He wants to make love to his partner before it is too late. He feels like they are going through the motions. He sees himself walking away from the relationship.

This song tells a story about a man who is trying hard to hold on to his relationship. He is having trouble showing how he feels so he wants to express it through his words. If you are in a problematic relationship and you are doing whatever you can to hold on to it, this song will speak to you. Rufus Wainwright is singing your song. It may make you yearn for a better connection with your partner.

This song is relatable to couples who are just starting out or have been together for years. Rufus Wainwright does a good job combining different themes around love. He uses metaphors to explain his relationship. He sounds like he is hurt because his relationship is on the verge of ending. This is a well-produced pop song. The music has an old school pop sound. The music is guitar and drum laden. Rufus Wainwright sounds melancholic which is the right emotion for the subject of the song. He sounds raw and passionate. The background vocalist does a great job supporting him.

# 9 – This Love Affair

The ninth song on our Top 10 Rufus Wainwright Songs list is “This Love Affair” from the Want Two album. “This Love Affair” was released in 2004. This song is about a man who is struggling to get out of a bad relationship. He is confused because he can’t live with or without his partner. He isn’t sure how long their love will last. He doesn’t know what he is doing but he knows he is walking away from the relationship. He wanted to make the relationship work, but it is not possible. He wants to find the courage to break free from the toxic relationship. They have been through a lot together. He would rather be with him, but he must walk away.

This is a heartbreaking song about a man who must walk away from a relationship that no longer works. He is upset because he still loves his partner. He would rather be with his partner, but it is time to leave. This is a song that encourages you to know when to let go of something that isn’t working. No matter how hard you try to make it work, some things can’t be fixed. It is a poignant look at the journey of a relationship that has faced different obstacles. Anyone who has ever had a broken heart will be able to decipher the lyrics.

The piano laden ballad will touch your heart. The somber music fits with the theme of the song. Rufus Wainwright sounds emotional. He makes you believe that he is torn between staying or leaving a relationship. You can feel how helpless he feels. You can hear his training in classical music in his voice. He starts the song softly and gets louder as the song progresses. The song is short, but he gets to the point.

# 8 – I Don’t Know What It Is

The eighth song on our Top 10 Rufus Wainwright Songs list is “I Don’t Know What It Is” from the Want One album. “I Don’t Know What It Is” was released in July 2004. This song is about him enjoying being alive and the mysteries of life. He is not sure what he is doing or where he is going, but he knows he needs to take action. He needs to move in some direction to have a purpose in life. He likes the idea of the unknown. He wants something more than his routine. He wants to try something new because his normal life is boring.

As the song progresses, the narrator realizes he needs to take more chances in life. He feels it is time to take a step into the unknown. He is not sure what will happen if he takes the step, but he must break away from his normal routine. He is tired of being stuck in a rut and needs more from life. He wants to get on a train and travel to an unknown destination. He hopes the destination will lead him to something exciting. He wants to experience living life.

This song tells a story about taking chances in life. He is tired of his mundane life and wants to do something about it. The song teaches you not to be afraid to try new things. If you feel like you are in a rut, this song will encourage you to get out of it. This song is something we all need to hear if we want a break from our normal routine. It may get tedious doing the same things over and over, so this song is the inspiration we need to do something different. This type of subject has been covered before, but it never gets old.

The instrumentation is exquisite. It is soft and melodic. You can listen to this music when you need to relax. It will calm you down if you are feeling stressed out. Rufus Wainwright’s vocals are soothing and comforting. The music builds up to a crescendo as he gets to the bridge. He sings the song in a way that makes you believe you can make a change in your life. His voice is beautiful and daring. He gives the song a dramatic build-up before he comes to the climactic ending.

# 7 – Dinner at Eight

The seventh song on our list is “Dinner at Eight” from the Want One album. “Dinner at Eight” was released in 2003. The song is about a confrontation he had with his father. His father was huge to him, but he plans to bring him down with something small. Our narrator is determined to break his father down to the lowest point. He wants to see what his father is worth to him. In the next verse, he talks about having dinner that started off well.

Everyone was happy before they made a toast to each other. They ended up arguing over a magazine article. He told his father that he got him back in magazines. His father wasn’t happy about that. In the third verse, he questions his father’s decisions. The narrator thought about the arguments they used to have with each other. His father made him leave the house even though his father was the one in the wrong. His father was also the one who left the family. Our narrator was ready to fight if his father wanted to do it. He refused to run away from the situation.

“Dinner at Eight” is a dramatic song about a fight between a father and son. It talks about the complex relationship between family members. There aren’t too many songs about families that have problems like the ones he describes in the song. This song proves that all families aren’t perfect. It is a realistic tale about family drama. This song is relatable to anyone who has a dysfunctional family. Even if you don’t have a dysfunctional family, you can empathize with the plight of the narrator. Rufus Wainwright gets an A+ for originality. Singers don’t usually air their family’s dirty laundry in songs, but he took a chance and did it. He keeps the instrumentation simple, which gives listeners a chance to focus on the stirring lyrics. You can hear the pain in Rufus Wainwright’s voice as he sings the lyrics. His performance is touching. If you are having family drama, it may bring a tear to your eye.

# 6 – Instant Pleasure

“Instant Pleasure” is from the Big Daddy soundtrack. “Instant Pleasure” was released in 1999. This song is about physical intimacy without commitment. He talks about wanting to have sex without being in a committed relationship. He doesn’t want to be bothered with a long-term relationship. He wants instant pleasure. He gets bored when he has to wait for something he can’t get right away. The song also covers something deeper than instant gratification.

Our narrator wonders why other people want to have sex without love. He wonders if they do that to hide from their pain. It is easier for people to have multiple partners than to deal with the emotional baggage that comes with being in a relationship. He doesn’t want anyone to love him. In his opinion, love is a burden. He would rather have meaningless encounters. He doesn’t have to worry about getting hurt if he doesn’t stay with anyone.

This song tells a story about a man who doesn’t want to be emotionally attached to anyone. He wants to have physical intimacy. The song is a message to listeners not to take relationships lightly. He feels it is better to have meaningful relationships. If you are someone who is afraid of commitment, this song will teach you to change your ways. This song is written for the movie, but it is a stand-alone track.

You don’t have to watch the movie to appreciate the message in the song. The guitar driven song has folk and rock beat. The drums give the song tempo. It will have you tapping your foot to the beat. The hand claps will invite you to clap along to the beat. There is a musical pause that will give you a chance to enjoy the music. The chorus is catchy and easy to remember. Rufus Wainwright doesn’t use his classical training in this song. He doesn’t do any power singing, but it wasn’t needed.

# 5 – Foolish Love

The next song on our Top 10 Rufus Wainwright Songs list is “Foolish Love” from his self-titled album. “Foolish Love” was released in 1998. The song is about a love that is overwhelming. He starts the song letting his partner know that he doesn’t want to feel helpless. He doesn’t want to smell him and lose his senses. He is afraid to be vulnerable. He is scared to fall in love because love ends badly.

He is miserable because love won’t last. He intends to walk around without caring about anything. He has no intention of letting his guard down again. He wants to go to a place where he will see people he knows. The narrator refuses to show signs of weakness. He is willing to do all of that because of foolish love. He doesn’t want to open his heart up again so he will be around wolves in sheep’s clothing.

This is a haunting ballad that explores love and heartbreak. He is afraid to take a chance on love because he knows it will fall apart. This song is for anyone who is skeptical about falling in love. If you are afraid to fall in love because the relationship won’t work, this is the track you should listen to. The is a melodic piano-driven track. The instrumentation is simple and meaningful. The focus is solely on Rufus Wainwright’s vocals. He utilizes his classical training in this song. He belts at different points in the song. His voice is gorgeous. We can listen to it all day. The lyrics read like poetry. This is a song you can listen to and not get tired of hearing it. This song is sure to please Rufus Wainwright fans. If you weren’t a fan of his before, you may become one after listening to this haunting song.

# 4 – Crumb by Crumb

“Crumb by Crumb” is from the Want Two album. “Crumb by Crumb” was released in 2005. The song is about a man who is hoping to find love. He opens the song wondering if he will ever believe in love. He also wants to know if he can find someone to believe in. He has tried to find love before, but he wasn’t successful. Every time he tried, he was disappointed. Despite his disappointment, he is drawn to someone he hopes will make him happy.

As the song progresses, he feels like he is not himself. He feels as if he is hiding something. His partner is able to see through his mask and wants to help him open up more. Our narrator put up a wall to keep from being hurt. He has kept his emotions locked deep inside of himself. He is finally ready to explore his feelings. Opening up won’t be easy for him. It will be a slow process for him to let his feelings out.

“Crumb by Crumb” is a song about wanting a connection while being true to yourself. It teaches you that finding love requires taking a leap of faith. You must let down your guard and show your emotions to your partner. It explores themes of heartbreak and pain from a past relationship. Rufus Wainwright uses a lot of imagery and metaphors to describe the pain he feels about expressing his emotions. He is a skillful writer who knows how to describe love. He doesn’t rely on cookie-cutter lyrics to talk about love.

He will use imagery and fairy tale references to describe love. The lyrics are introspective and emotional. The lyrics may have you in your feelings especially if you have doubted finding love in your life. The imagery and metaphors may not have made sense in someone else’s hands, but they are pure gold in Rufus Wainwright’s hands. The music will take your breath away. It has an old-school sound. It is soft and tender. You can get lost listening to it.

# 3 – Harvester of Hearts

Coming in at number three on our list is “Harvester of Hearts” is from the Want One album. “Harvester of Hearts” was released in 2003. The song is about a man who wants to be loved and accepted. He believes that if a couple wants to be together, they should be free to do so. He wants to take a chance and approach the person he loves. He is not sure what his love interest would do if he expressed how he felt about him. He is not sure if he will get an answer from him. Our narrator knows his shortcomings. He knows he doesn’t have much to offer a partner. He hopes the love interest will accept him anyway. Our narrator feels everyone should be able to express how they feel to the people they love. He feels anyone should be able to love who they want even if he isn’t the person they choose.

“Harvester of Hearts” is a beautiful song that tells a story about a man who feels that everyone should be allowed to express how they feel about people. Everyone should be free to love who they want. The lyrics are deep and personal. They speak of the pain of a broken heart eloquently. The ballad is melancholic. The music features the piano with occasional strings and rhythm. The simple instrumentation gives the song a bigger impact. It allows you to embrace the music as well as his big vocals. Rufus Wainwright doesn’t hold back. He pulls out all the stops on this song. It is easy to see that this song means a lot to him. He sings this as if it affects him personally. He emotes the lyrics effortlessly. His vocals are like Thom Yorke’s. This song showcases how great of a singer Rufus Wainwright is.

# 2 – April Fools

“April Fools” is from the self-titled album. “April Fools” was released in 1998. This song is about a love that ends badly. He falls in love one minute and it ends six weeks later. He compares the relationship to Murphy’s Law. He feels if something is going to go wrong it will. He talks about the rollercoaster of his relationship. He did everything he could to make the relationship work, but he failed. He feels worthless even though he is a good man. The narrator feels as if his life resembles a joke or a prank.

He is not sure what to believe anymore because his relationship didn’t last. Every time he tries to believe in love, it doesn’t work out. He continues to ride a rollercoaster of emotions when it concerns love. He tried his best to be a smooth talker when he saw someone new. Unfortunately, it didn’t lead to love. He searched everywhere for love, but he couldn’t find it.

This song tells a story about a man who has trouble finding love. He does everything he can to find it, but it doesn’t work out. He fails at love, but he refuses to give up. He s an optimist that wants to find love. This song teaches you not to give up on finding love. If you have trouble finding love, this song may inspire you to keep pursuing it. The music has a retro sound.

The music is upbeat despite the subject. It may put a smile on your face as you are listening to it. The arrangement is excellent. The music sounds rich without being overbearing. It may have you bopping your head to the beat. Rufus Wainwright delivers vocally. He sings with the emotion needed to convey his message. The chorus will hook you immediately. This song is one you will have on repeat so you can hear it again. This is an underrated track that deserves to be heard.

# 1 – Hallelujah

The number one song on our Top 10 Rufus Wainwright Songs list is “Hallelujah” from the Shrek soundtrack. “Hallelujah” was released in 2007. This song is about love, faith and loss. Despite the power of music, it may not be enough for everyone. He talks about a romantic encounter that ends in betrayal. He goes into detail about a relationship he had that ended. He is heartbroken because he lost his partner. He feels lonely because he is not intimate with his partner anymore. He misses the closeness he had with the person he loved. He turns to spirituality to get over the pain of the relationship. He turns to God because he is struggling to get over his relationship. He is hoping he can find another meaningful relationship. He continues to talk about the pain he is in and the hope that he can get over the loss.

This song tells a story about mourning, regret and hope. He talks about a broken love and the aftermath of it. This is a cover of Leonard Cohen’s song. “Hallelujah” is a meditation song that can help you heal from a broken heart. This comforting song is one we can all appreciate. The song lets you know that life and hope may not always work out the way you want it to, but it is worth fighting for.

The title may imply that it is a gospel song, but it is more spiritually based. Rufus Wainwright’s interpretation is different from the original. Rufus Wainwright’s is stripped down while the original has more instrumentation. Rufus Wainwright’s only contains the piano. Rufus Wainwright sings this in his upper register. He utilizes his classical training in this song. His enunciation is spot-on. You can understand everything he is saying in the song. He will make you feel his vocals. He made this song his own.

Top 10 Rufus Wainwright Songs article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2023

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