Going to a Town

Last night, before Rufus played this song during the encore, he said, “Black lives matter” (to the applause of the audience, of course). It really made me think about the song differently, particularly the lyric, “I’m so tired of you, America.”

The universe is conspiring to keep me from Rufus Wainwright

Two years ago, I missed Rufus Wainwright’s show on October 5th. A few days later, I remembered the show being sometime in October. Hopefully, it won’t have already passed. I mean, the probability is on my side. But alas, I was wrong, and having neglected to write it in my agenda earlier, I missed it. As a longtime fan — I grew up on his music — I was so crushed at having missed my chance to see him.

Earlier this year, I found out that Mr. Wainwright was to be coming to Vancouver again, and promptly bought my ticket well in advance. I tacked it to my bulletin board. I made a note of it on my agenda. I was totally set to go.

Fast forward to tonight. It’s 7:30pm and I’m reading up on some articles on Snowpiercer (I watched it earlier today) and opened up my agenda to make a note of something for later this week. I flipped over the page from last week to this week to see, in my huge scrawl, RUFUS WAINWRIGHT 8PM VOGUE.

I stared at the date. I whipped my head to my computer to look at the time. Then back to my agenda.

Is today… Wait, it’s today? IT’S TODAY?!?! FUUUUUUUUCCCCCKKKKKKKKKKK!

I ran to the bus stop. I ran off the bus to the skytrain station. I ran off the skytrain station to the venue (needless to say, my legs were giving out on me, especially having done a one-hour bootcamp class yesterday). And got there at 8:20. I missed his first song (and presumably, his intro).

But man, it was an awesome show.

Why must the universe almost make me miss my favourite gay musician? Again?!

“The Maker Makes” — Rufus Wainwright

I can’t remember if I’ve posted this song already, but in case I did, here it is again!  First heard this in Brokeback Mountain, and I didn’t really get it.  I do now, though.  It’s steeped in such melancholy, especially since it’s sung by the wonderful Rufus Wainwright, and I do love my sad songs…