He owes it all to me?
*May 15, 2007
Nearly two years ago, I met Rufus Wainwright. I don't talk about it a whole lot because while it was a defining moment for me, it was also one of my most embarrassing moments. See, I'd never met a famous person before, much less someone whose songs I sing at the top of my lungs on a regular basis, someone I drove from Siloam Springs, Arkansas to Lawrence, Kansas to see perform on a weeknight, someone I drove from Dallas, Texas to Tulsa, Oklahoma to see a second time.
After that Tulsa concert, my brother and I wandered outside with the rest of the fans leaving the Brady Theatre. It was raining, and people were scattering across the road and the parking lot. My brother Jordan and I, however, walked at a leisurely pace so that we could discuss our favorite moments from the concert. Then, I saw him. Rufus. Hanging out a side door of the Brady. Smoking a cigarette.
As we got closer, I said, "Rufus?" I couldn't believe it was him. He said, "Yes?" And without introducing myself or complimenting his show or telling him how much his music means to me, I just asked him if I could have a picture. I'd dreamed of meeting Rufus before, and in my dreams I could never seem to be able to find a camera to document it. The only thing I could think about was thwarting my dream self. My memory card was completely full with pictures of the concert, so I fumbled with my camera, trying to delete enough blurry shots that it would let me take just one more picture. As I fumbled, Jordan made small talk with Rufus. Jordan told him it was a fantastic show, and that he's really incredibly talented. All the things I would say if my brain were functioning normally.
Finally, I got my camera working and had my brother take a picture of Rufus and me. It was sprinkling then, and his arm was sticky from the humidity and from the heat of the concert. We were both drenched. After I got my picture, I thanked Rufus, and he told me no prob. He flicked his cigarette away and shut the door.
My brother tormented me about this moment relentlessly, and he still likes to bring it up now, years later, almost every time I see him. Of course now it's turned into a caricature of itself. My brother swears up and down that I asked "Rufus? Is that you?" and he says it in a decrepit old lady voice when he retells the story to anyone who'll listen. He knows it embarrasses the hell out of me. I was completely star struck, absolutely speechless and foolish, and I let my brother make fun of me for it because I deserve it.
Today, Rufus' fifth album came out, Release the Stars. I've been anticipating it so hotly that I actually had dreams about it last night. I was at Borders the second it opened this morning. When I got back to my office, I ripped the CD onto my computer and have been listening to it and loving it all day.
The ninth track is a song called "Tulsa." I've been eager to hear it, though I made myself wait through the first eight tracks. When I finally got to it, I heard this line:
"And who would have thought that I'd owe it all to Tulsa/ And that poor girl who waited in the rain for hours to meet me (not you, baby)/ Who once she hears this song won't live it down completely."
I've spent most of the day going back and forth about it. I don't know, though. Do you think he could be talking about me?
Because I definitely know that I won't ever be able to live it down completely.
OMG, it had to be you. YOU! My new best friend! You're famous!
Sort of.
The way I see it, you have two options:
(1) Hunt him down during his next tour and ask, hoping that he remembers you (but then again: you're hot. he would.)
or
(2) Spend the rest of your life relishing in the mystery of it all.
- Posted by chirky | May 15, 2007 5:24 PM
I just checked. The next time he'll be in town is August 10th at the Nokia theater.
You're welcome, though I suspect that you already knew his tour schedule.
- Posted by chirky | May 15, 2007 5:28 PM
Um, that's totally you. How could it not be? And in my opinion, a lifetime of embarassment is totally worth being immortalized in song. How many other people can say that they made such an impression that they made it into that person's next album? At least you weren't forgettable, right?
- Posted by Emily T. | May 15, 2007 6:54 PM
He kind of looks surprised ... or stoned .. or like he wants to show you his teeth.
~Jef
- Posted by Edge | May 15, 2007 7:07 PM
OMG! I love it! I'm kind of proud, like an old mother cat. What we need to do is go through all his old tour schedules (does he even publish them on his Web site?) and figure out how many freaking times he's been to Tulsa and then call the National Weather Service and figure out how many times he has been to Tulsa while it was raining and then...nevermind. I'm a freak. Yay!
Or maybe you're the "not you baby" ? Either way, it's pretty cool.
- Posted by Katy | May 15, 2007 7:15 PM
P.S. I just read that this song is written about Brandon Flowers of The Killers, whom Rufus met while in Tulsa. This is a link for the picture they took together that night, Brandon wearing the white suit.
http://photos1.blogger.com/photoInclude/blogger/2658/962/1600/rufus1.jpg
- Posted by Emily T. | May 15, 2007 7:25 PM
It is my personal opinion that Mr. Wainwright is not fond of smiling in pictures. Maybe it's too EMO to smile. Maybe he's just embarrassed about his tongue ring. Maybe he just doesn't like putting forth the energy that is required to move all of those 43 muscles to smile in a picture.
Did you know? It takes 43 muscles in the face to smile, and only 12 to frown. But it doesn't take any to just sit there with a dumb look on your face.
And with that, my work is done here. ;-)
...beccalynn
- Posted by ...BeccaLynn | May 15, 2007 8:01 PM
It's about you. I refuse to believe otherwise. And I think "not you baby" is referring to his boyfriend from Germany that he's been dating for the last two years.
- Posted by Ry | May 15, 2007 9:09 PM
If the song is written for Brandon Flowers of The Killers, then this elusive Tulsa girl meeting DEFINITELY happened on the night of that concert. Because The Killers were playing down the street at Cain's Ballroom that night.
I think the "you" in the line "(not you, baby)" must be Brandon Flowers. Because if this Tulsa girl is anything like me, she totally was all about Rufus and NOT The Killers that night. As my brother and I waited to get into the concert in the rain, we made fun of all The Killers fans lining up outside Cain's. Poor, misled, radio-listening souls in their self-consciously cool punk rock attire.
- Posted by Spring | May 15, 2007 11:10 PM
IT'S YOU! That is the most awesome thing I've heard in a long time.
- Posted by molly | May 16, 2007 8:57 AM
I would have to say that the girl is definintely you. How cool is that?!?! Now you have something really good to say in Two Truths and a Lie. Instead of the orgasm thing :). But I guess that's probably changed now that you're married.
- Posted by Ann | May 16, 2007 9:15 AM
Oh my god is right! I think it is about you! That is crazy! What does your brother think? That is sooooo exciting! yeah!
- Posted by MK | May 16, 2007 10:05 AM
Yes, yes. We all know about Brandon. But here's the REAL story: When Brandon and Rufus met in the bar that night, Rufus was totally telling Brandon about that girl (you! you!) he met. And Brandon was all: "Dude. You should write a song about meeting her."
See? My theory totally works, right?
- Posted by chirky | May 16, 2007 10:13 AM
I had to check back because I realized I sound completely psycho in my whole let's-call-the-national-weather-service! thing.
I would also like to point out that I, in fact, did the driving to Lawrence. Remember the guy at McDonalds who said we had nice feet?
- Posted by Katy | May 16, 2007 11:39 AM
That's so freakin' cool.
I say leave the whole issue a mystery. No matter what anyone else says, you'll can always secretly relish that it was you.
- Posted by Deborah | May 16, 2007 11:59 AM
Ah. A friend emailed me a link to this essay.
The past and soon-to-be present student of literature would remind you that, even if the song is indeed about you among all the girls in Tulsa on all the rainy nights, the speaker of a piece and the author of a piece are quite distinct individuals.
The present fan of music reminds herself, however, that she's always believed a few lines of a song by some friends' band to be an obvious homage to her own awesomeness, in the parlance of our times.
I say, never try to find out and persist in whatever sunny belief cheers you most.
- Posted by Lee Ella | May 16, 2007 2:33 PM
that IS ridiculously cool. Spring, you are in an effing song!
- Posted by Kim | May 16, 2007 2:41 PM
What a great story.
- Posted by wordgirl | May 16, 2007 2:51 PM
Dude, it's so you. How awesome!
Let's see if your brother makes fun of you NOW!
- Posted by my life is brilliant | May 16, 2007 11:38 PM
I happen to like the Killers.
- Posted by Sarah | May 17, 2007 9:06 AM
That's hilarious, Spring. I remember when you posted about that concert! Was it that long ago??? Geez.
I was hoping that these headbands wouldn't be quite as temple-restricting. I hate headbands for that reason, too. They aren't worth the headache ... but they're so darned cute!
- Posted by Katie | May 17, 2007 9:10 AM