Comments on: Wainwright does Garland in Carnegie Hall (postlude) http://rogerbourland.com/blog/2006/06/16/wainwright-does-garland-in-carnegie-hall-postlude/ Roger Bourland writes about music and life Tue, 06 Jan 2009 08:00:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: meetmeinstlouis http://rogerbourland.com/blog/2006/06/16/wainwright-does-garland-in-carnegie-hall-postlude/#comment-5242 meetmeinstlouis Fri, 28 Jul 2006 21:48:05 +0000 http://rogerbourland.com/blog/2006/06/16/wainwright-does-garland-in-carnegie-hall-postlude/#comment-5242 Check out Judy Garland's new memoir "Heartbreaker" at http://www.judygarlandheartbreaker.com Check out Judy Garland’s new memoir “Heartbreaker” at http://www.judygarlandheartbreaker.com

]]> By: Alberto http://rogerbourland.com/blog/2006/06/16/wainwright-does-garland-in-carnegie-hall-postlude/#comment-554 Alberto Tue, 20 Jun 2006 22:55:52 +0000 http://rogerbourland.com/blog/2006/06/16/wainwright-does-garland-in-carnegie-hall-postlude/#comment-554 Dear Roger, I bumped into your comments on Rufus's concert as I was looking for reviews of the event, and I just thought I'd drop you an email. Judy Garland was indeed an addict at the time of her legendary Carnegie Hall concert (in fact, she was an addict since adolescence due to drugs legally prescribed by MGM 'doctors'), but she fought craving prior to the concert fearing drugs might make her lose her voice or her self-control, and withdrawal symptoms kept her awake for an astounding thirty-six hours before she actually started singing. Sorry if I sound exacting or facetious, but I don't like seeing Judy's drug addiction, which I see as a really serious matter during her life, discussed so lightly when the facts are inaccurate. Good luck with your Wainwright project! All best, Alberto Dear Roger,

I bumped into your comments on Rufus’s concert as I was looking for reviews of the event, and I just thought I’d drop you an email. Judy Garland was indeed an addict at the time of her legendary Carnegie Hall concert (in fact, she was an addict since adolescence due to drugs legally prescribed by MGM ‘doctors’), but she fought craving prior to the concert fearing drugs might make her lose her voice or her self-control, and withdrawal symptoms kept her awake for an astounding thirty-six hours before she actually started singing.

Sorry if I sound exacting or facetious, but I don’t like seeing Judy’s drug addiction, which I see as a really serious matter during her life, discussed so lightly when the facts are inaccurate.

Good luck with your Wainwright project!

All best,

Alberto

]]> By: Roger Bourland http://rogerbourland.com/blog/2006/06/16/wainwright-does-garland-in-carnegie-hall-postlude/#comment-542 Roger Bourland Sat, 17 Jun 2006 18:43:33 +0000 http://rogerbourland.com/blog/2006/06/16/wainwright-does-garland-in-carnegie-hall-postlude/#comment-542 Thanks for your remarks jc. I hear you on all counts, I couched it in more gentle terms, something I've had to learn as a teacher of composition. I wonder whether Rufus has a vocal coach? If not, he should have one. Rufus has always been an awkward mover. Many find it adorable, but at home he isn't. If he really wants to, he may get better. I'd just as soon he write more music instead. Thanks for your remarks jc. I hear you on all counts, I couched it in more gentle terms, something I’ve had to learn as a teacher of composition.

I wonder whether Rufus has a vocal coach? If not, he should have one.

Rufus has always been an awkward mover. Many find it adorable, but at home he isn’t. If he really wants to, he may get better. I’d just as soon he write more music instead.

]]> By: jcpete14 http://rogerbourland.com/blog/2006/06/16/wainwright-does-garland-in-carnegie-hall-postlude/#comment-541 jcpete14 Sat, 17 Jun 2006 17:09:04 +0000 http://rogerbourland.com/blog/2006/06/16/wainwright-does-garland-in-carnegie-hall-postlude/#comment-541 As a huge Rufus fan, I couldn't wait for this concert. I have seen him perform his own music at least a half dozen times. The Judy Carnegie concert is legendary...what an ingenious pairing. I attended the second night and within 2 minutes knew Rufus was over his head. You gotta love the guy for doing this show, but ultimately he failed for several reasons. First and foremost, his voice does not have the trained capacity to give a performance of this varied dimension. Don't get me wrong, I love his voice and believe it is one of the most unique vocal sounds in the last 50 years. But the matereial demanded his one voice to be several instruments and the result was that he sang almost every number in the same way. With the wonderful exception of the song he sang in Judy's original key, the lack of tonall variety turned an expectant hall into a humidor. One need only witness the audience repsonse when Martha and Ms Luft broke the stale air with some spark and drama. Which gets to my second point. Why didn't Rufus take the time to hire a choreogarpher. Not since Linda Rondstadt has a performer appeared so awkward physically. Fortunately his quick wit and gay banter lightened the cumbersome mood set by his unrehearsed "dance" and body movements. I suppose I desperately wanted more. A once in a lifetime expereince. It was fine, but not spectacular. I wish he would have waited for 10 years when maturity may have helped him realize that the little things are important: knowing players names, knowing song list, not repeating a song for the encore (San Fran). The Audience was waiting to explode, but settled for appreciative applause and the most tepid of standing ovations. As a huge Rufus fan, I couldn’t wait for this concert. I have seen him perform his own music at least a half dozen times. The Judy Carnegie concert is legendary…what an ingenious pairing.
I attended the second night and within 2 minutes knew Rufus was over his head. You gotta love the guy for doing this show, but ultimately he failed for several reasons. First and foremost, his voice does not have the trained capacity to give a performance of this varied dimension. Don’t get me wrong, I love his voice and believe it is one of the most unique vocal sounds in the last 50 years. But the matereial demanded his one voice to be several instruments and the result was that he sang almost every number in the same way. With the wonderful exception of the song he sang in Judy’s original key, the lack of tonall variety turned an expectant hall into a humidor. One need only witness the audience repsonse when Martha and Ms Luft broke the stale air with some spark and drama. Which gets to my second point. Why didn’t Rufus take the time to hire a choreogarpher. Not since Linda Rondstadt has a performer appeared so awkward physically. Fortunately his quick wit and gay banter lightened the cumbersome mood set by his unrehearsed “dance” and body movements.
I suppose I desperately wanted more. A once in a lifetime expereince. It was fine, but not spectacular. I wish he would have waited for 10 years when maturity may have helped him realize that the little things are important: knowing players names, knowing song list, not repeating a song for the encore (San Fran).
The Audience was waiting to explode, but settled for appreciative applause and the most tepid of standing ovations.

]]> By: pucks_soul http://rogerbourland.com/blog/2006/06/16/wainwright-does-garland-in-carnegie-hall-postlude/#comment-539 pucks_soul Sat, 17 Jun 2006 12:55:06 +0000 http://rogerbourland.com/blog/2006/06/16/wainwright-does-garland-in-carnegie-hall-postlude/#comment-539 I too, especially on the second night, was well aware that the world came close to losing Rufus, losing his light and phenomonal soul. I felt priviledged to be in his presence, not in a god like way but the way you feel when someone has touched you profoundly and that the only thing eminating from you when in his presence is pure love and respect. This was my first live concert and I could not think of anywhere else I would rather have seen him, what a beatiful venue to showcase his rare talent in. He was in great voice and I too am anxious to see where his path is leading and what he will produce next. WOW! and thank you Roger for your reviews of the show, I was so in awe that most of the details did not seep into my brain, my only regret was not getting to meet you. Jules I too, especially on the second night, was well aware that the world came close to losing Rufus, losing his light and phenomonal soul. I felt priviledged to be in his presence, not in a god like way but the way you feel when someone has touched you profoundly and that the only thing eminating from you when in his presence is pure love and respect. This was my first live concert and I could not think of anywhere else I would rather have seen him, what a beatiful venue to showcase his rare talent in. He was in great voice and I too am anxious to see where his path is leading and what he will produce next. WOW! and thank you Roger for your reviews of the show, I was so in awe that most of the details did not seep into my brain, my only regret was not getting to meet you.
Jules

]]>