Music Blog

Feb Fab Faux Four #23

Nancy's Notes 🖊️🎶

WARNING: THIS BLOG WAS NOT CREATED FOR BEATLEMANIACS!
If you’re on the fence about the Beatles or if you just don’t like them,
this blog is for you. My goal is not to convert you; it’s to expose you
to the lesser-known Beatles songs we don’t hear day in and day out.
These great tunes will show you just how amazing the Beatles are.
Of course, if you are a Beatles fan, pull up a chair and enjoy the tunes!

© Misky

Welcome to the final week of Feb Fab Faux Four! Let the countdown begin!

Today I’m featuring a lovely ballad off their 1970 “Let It Be” album. John explained how the words of the first line came to him: “I was lying next to my first wife in bed and I was irritated and I was thinking. She must have been going on and on about something and she’d gone to sleep and I kept hearing these words over and over, flowing like an endless stream. I went downstairs and it turned into a sort of cosmic song rather than an irritated song, rather than “Why are you always mouthing off at me?” [The words] were purely inspirational and were given to me as boom! I don’t own it you know; it came through like that.“

This is “Across The Universe” by the Beatles.

🪲

With his remake from the “I Am Sam” soundtrack, this is Rufus Wainwright and “Across The Universe”

Truth be told, I don’t really know that much about Rufus Wainwright so I Googled him and found out that he is a Canadian-American singer, songwriter and composer. He has recorded eleven studio albums and numerous tracks on compilations and film soundtracks. He has also written two classical operas and set Shakespeare’s sonnets to music for a theatre piece by American director and playwright Robert Wilson. Up until today I had no songs by Wainwright on my playlist; now I have one.

I listened to a few covers of this piece, including Bowie’s and one by Wainwright with Moby and Sean Lennon. None of them came close to the original.

This solo piece was a shining star for me. I’m not quite ready to call it a draw so score one more for the Beatles.

What are your thoughts?

See you on the flip side. 😎

NAR©2024

PS – If any video won’t play for you, I’ve provided the name of the song and who did it so you can find it on YouTube. It’s a pain in the ass but it does happen from time to time. My apologies.

All text, graphics and videos are copyright for The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephant’s Trunk and The Rhythm Section and is not for use by anyone without permission. NAR © 2017-present.

39 thoughts on “Feb Fab Faux Four #23”

  4. What? You didn’t know Rufus? I am shocked and appalled, Nancy! 😉

    Seriously. I always through Rufus sounds so nonchalant when he sings. He annoyed the shit out of me until the song Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk and the one I really like is Out of the Game. There is a great video with Helena Bonham Carter. I won’t link it here coz it’s got nothing to do with what you are sharing here.

    So.. my vote? I’m stuck. I love both these versions.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Sorry I let you down so terribly, Dale, Rufus being part Canadian and all. It’s not like I never heard of him; I’m just not familiar with his work but somewhere in the back of my mind I remembered him singing Across the Universe. Well, you’ll be happy to know I listened to Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk which I thought was so very cool and Out of the Game with I absolutely loved!

      I’ve got this thing about 6º of separation and was surprised to read Rufus was born in Rhinebeck where my sister lives and was married in Montauk were hubs and I have vacationed every summer for at least 35 years. I love that weird stuff.

      This song is definitely a draw for me.

      Liked by 1 person

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      1. I’ll try to get over it. It will be hard 😉 And we’ll share him 😉
        Glad you enjoyed both songs. I love that.

        Wow. How cool is that? Love the 6 degrees thing, too.

        So glad.

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  5. Never heard this Wainright one before, but his dreamy cover fits the mood of the lyrics in a very pleasant way. I like the original and good to read the song origin story. I’m glad John alchemized irritation to pure gold. My favorite, more because I love David Bowie with John singing backup, is the the David Bowie version. The whole album it comes from is excellent.

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  10. One of my favourite Beatles songs. I much prefer theirs to Rufus’ cover – his voice has always seemed a little whiny to me. He’s the son of London Wainwright III and Kate McGarrigle, older brother of Martha Wainwright – I prefer all of them to him! For me the best cover of this one is by Fiona Apple.

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    1. Fiona was in the running but after listening a few times I crossed her off the list. She’s got no energy in her voice and I felt like yelling out “Give this girl a shot of Vitamin C, for heaven’s sake!”

      Funny, I think Rufus sounds a lot like Loudon and not at all whiny. You want to talk whiny? That’s Martha, my dear! 😉

      Always enjoy our exchanges, Clive.

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      1. As you said, hard to match the original!

        I think we’ll have to agree to disagree on the relative merits of the Wainwright tribe! And did I spot a clue to a future post in there…

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    2. l put Fiona in the comments too, but I really like Rufus he is so talented… I think he wins ….it’s good we all have diverse tastes.

      Rufus best then Fiona then the Beatles sadly Bowie made a bloop! 💜

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