Going to a Town

Last updated

"Going to a Town"
Rufus Wainwright Going to a Town album cover.jpg
Single by Rufus Wainwright
from the album Release the Stars
ReleasedApril 3, 2007
Length4:06
Label Geffen
Songwriter(s) Rufus Wainwright
Producer(s) Rufus Wainwright
Rufus Wainwright singles chronology
"Hallelujah"
(2007)		"Going to a Town"
(2007)		"Rules and Regulations"
(2007)
Release the Stars track listing
  1. "Do I Disappoint You"
  2. "Going to a Town"
  3. "Tiergarten"
  4. "Nobody's Off the Hook"
  5. "Between My Legs"
  6. "Rules and Regulations"
  7. "Not Ready to Love"
  8. "Slideshow"
  9. "Tulsa"
  10. "Leaving for Paris N° 2"
  11. "Sanssouci"
  12. "Release the Stars"

"Going to a Town" is a song written and performed by Canadian-American singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright. It was the first single from the album Release the Stars , released on April 3, 2007, in the United States and on May 7 in the United Kingdom.

Contents

Music video

The music video for the song was directed by Sophie Muller, who also directed Wainwright's first music video ("April Fools"). The video premiered in April 2007, and Logo aired a 20-minute feature on the making of the video on April 27, 2007 (Making the Video: Going to a Town). The video begins with Wainwright as a D.H. Lawrence-like character, sitting alone at a table in an isolated room. As the video progresses, a large bouquet of roses appears and viewers see Wainwright with a bed cot. Three women emerge, dressed in black clothing and veils, visibly mourning the loss of their husbands. At times, their presence is abstract, digitally projected as if they exist only in Wainwright's character's mind. Other times, Wainwright is physically interacting with them within the same room.

Viewers then see images of the roses burning, the women crying, and catching Wainwright as he falls to the ground. With light cast upon him from a single window, they place a laurel wreath on his head. As his arms are spread out and straight across, and light is cast upon him as if by divine intervention, this image is clearly meant to symbolize a crucifixion.

In Making the Video, Wainwright discusses the various images and elements depicted in the music video. He states the song is "an emotional reaction to a lover you had a fight with", and is about "mourning" and "moving on to bigger and better things." The three women in the video represent three widows, an element he took from Mozart's The Magic Flute . One woman represents Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, another Frida Kahlo, and the third a more abstract, "fairy tale-like" woman from The Magic Flute. Later in the interview, Wainwright states the women represent The Three Graces. He claims the burning roses symbolize "purification by fire", representing the United States--"beautiful, but thorny." Admitting "Going to a Town" is more about birth than destruction, he believes Americans (at the time the video was made) need to "change things" and "make sacrifices". The laurel wreath, he says, also represents the US, which "dominates the planet but is in peril of losing democracy."

In the video, Wainwright wears a suit created by American fashion designer Marc Jacobs.

Track listing

US digital single
  1. "Going to a Town"
UK digital single
  1. "Going to a Town"
  2. "Low Grade Happiness"

Chart performance

In the UK, "Going to a Town" entered the UK Singles Chart on May 5, 2007, at number 68. The following week (May 26), the track reached its highest position at number 54. [1] [2] "Going to a Town" lasted on the chart for two weeks total, and failed to chart in any other countries.

Chart (2008)Peak
position
UK Singles (OCC) [1] 54

Personnel

Other appearances

George Michael version

"Going to a Town"
Going to a Town by George Michael.jpg
Promotional single by George Michael
from the album Symphonica
ReleasedApril 7, 2014 (2014-04-07)
Length4:45
Label Aegean
Songwriter(s) Rufus Wainwright
Producer(s)
George Michael singles chronology
"Let Her Down Easy"
(2014)		"Going to a Town"
(2014)		"Feeling Good"
(2014)
Music video
"Going to a Town" on YouTube

George Michael performed "Going to a Town" during his 2011–12 Symphonica Tour and included it on the deluxe edition of his Symphonica album in 2014. "Going to a Town" was sent to radio on April 7, 2014, and the music video for the song was released on April 15, 2014.

Track listing

  1. "Going to a Town" (radio edit) – 4:15
  2. "Going to a Town" (album version) – 4:45

Release history

CountryDateFormatLabelRef.
VariousApril 7, 2014 Contemporary hit radio Aegean [5]

Other cover versions

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mandy Patinkin</span> American actor and singer (born 1952)

Mandel Bruce Patinkin is an American actor and singer, known for his work in musical theatre, television, and film. As a critically acclaimed Broadway performer he has collaborated with Stephen Sondheim and Andrew Lloyd Webber. Patinkin's leading roles on stage and screen have received numerous accolades including a Tony Award, a Primetime Emmy Award as well as nominations for seven Drama Desk Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, and a Screen Actors Guild Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rufus Wainwright</span> Canadian singer-songwriter and composer

Rufus McGarrigle Wainwright 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 Robert Wilson.

<i>Want One</i> 2003 studio album by Rufus Wainwright

Want One is the third studio album by the Canadian-American singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright, released through DreamWorks Records on September 23, 2003. The album was produced by Marius de Vries and mixed by Andy Bradfield, with Lenny Waronker as the executive in charge of production. Want One spawned two singles: "I Don't Know What It Is", which peaked at number 74 on the UK Singles Chart, and "Oh What a World". The album charted in three countries, reaching number 60 on the Billboard 200, number 130 in France, and number 77 in the Netherlands.

<i>Poses</i> (album) 2001 studio album by Rufus Wainwright

Poses is the second studio album by the American-Canadian singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright, released through DreamWorks Records in June 2001. The album was recorded, mixed, and produced by Pierre Marchand, with select tracks produced by Propellerheads' Alex Gifford ("Shadows"), Ethan Johns ("California"), Damian LeGassick, and Greg Wells.

<i>Rufus Wainwright</i> (album) 1998 studio album by Rufus Wainwright

Rufus Wainwright is the debut studio album by Canadian-American singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright, released in the United States on May 19, 1998, through DreamWorks Records. The album was produced by Jon Brion, with the exception of "In My Arms", which was produced and mixed by Pierre Marchand, and "Millbrook" and "Baby", which were produced by Brion and Van Dyke Parks. Lenny Waronker was the album's executive producer.

Guy Antony Chambers is an English songwriter, musician and record producer, best known for his work with Robbie Williams.

<i>Release the Stars</i> 2007 studio album by Rufus Wainwright

Release the Stars is the fifth studio album by Canadian-American singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright, released through Geffen Records on May 15, 2007. Pet Shop Boys' Neil Tennant was the executive producer; the album was mixed by Record producer Marius de Vries and Andy Bradfield. Wainwright's most commercially successful album to date, Release the Stars charted in 13 countries, reaching Top 10 positions in Denmark, Norway, and the United Kingdom, and was certified gold in Canada and the UK. The album generated three singles: "Going to a Town", which peaked at number 54 on the UK Singles Chart, "Rules and Regulations", and "Tiergarten".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Don't Know What It Is</span> 2004 single by Rufus Wainwright

"I Don't Know What It Is" is a single by Canadian-American singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright, released in a slim-line jewel case format on July 26, 2004. It is from his third studio album Want One (2003). In addition to the UK and Japanese versions of Want One, the song also appears on the bonus DVD that accompanies Want Two, All I Want (DVD), and Want, a repackaged UK double album that contains Want One and Want Two.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rufus Wainwright discography</span>

The discography of Rufus Wainwright, a Canadian-American singer-songwriter, consists of eleven studio albums, six live albums, three compilations, three extended plays (EPs), three video albums, nine singles, and nine music videos. Wainwright's self-titled debut album was released through DreamWorks Records in May 1998. Wainwright reached number 24 on Billboard's Top Heatseekers chart, and Rolling Stone named him 1998's Best New Artist. Wainwright's second album, Poses, was released through the same label in June 2001, resulting in a number one on the Heatseekers Chart and number 117 on the Billboard 200. With material recorded from the same session, Want One was released through DreamWorks in September 2003, and Want Two was released through Geffen Records in November 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oh What a World (song)</span> 2004 single by Rufus Wainwright

"Oh What a World" is a song written and performed by Canadian-American singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright. It was released as the second single from Wainwright's third studio album, Want One (2003), released digitally via iTunes and 7digital in the United Kingdom on November 8, 2004. Promotional copies were also distributed to radio stations in an attempt to increase awareness of the song and album. The song includes several arrangements from Maurice Ravel's Boléro.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rules and Regulations (song)</span> 2007 single by Rufus Wainwright

"Rules and Regulations" is a song written and performed by Canadian-American singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright. It was the second single from Wainwright's fifth studio album, Release the Stars, released digitally via iTunes in the UK on July 30, 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The One You Love (Rufus Wainwright song)</span> 2005 single by Rufus Wainwright

"The One You Love" is a song written and performed by Canadian-American singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright. It served as the first single from Wainwright's fourth studio album, Want Two, and was released digitally in the UK on February 28, 2005. Promotional singles distributed to radio stations contained both the album version and a radio edit.

<i>All Days Are Nights: Songs for Lulu</i> 2010 studio album by Rufus Wainwright

All Days Are Nights: Songs for Lulu is the sixth studio album by Canadian-American singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright, first released in Canada through Decca Records on March 23, 2010. The album was produced by Wainwright, and mixed by Marchand, who produced Wainwright's second album, Poses (2001).

<i>Out of the Game</i> 2012 studio album by Rufus Wainwright

Out of the Game is the seventh studio album by singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright, released in Australia, the United Kingdom and Canada in April 2012 and in the United States on May 1, 2012 through Decca Records/Polydor Records. The album was produced by Mark Ronson. Recording sessions began in May 2011. Guest musicians include his sister Martha Wainwright, Thomas "Doveman" Bartlett, drummer Andy Burrows, guitarist Nels Cline, members of the Dap-Kings, Sean Lennon, the alternative rock band Wilco, Miike Snow's Andrew Wyatt and Yeah Yeah Yeahs guitarist Nick Zinner.

<i>Vibrate: The Best of Rufus Wainwright</i> 2014 greatest hits album by Rufus Wainwright

Vibrate: The Best of Rufus Wainwright, sometimes referred to simply as Vibrate: The Best Of, is the greatest hits album by American-Canadian singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright, released on February 28, 2014 in Australia and Ireland by Universal Music Enterprises and in other nations subsequently. The standard issue of the album includes eighteen songs from six of Wainwright's studio releases, including his self-titled debut album (1998), Poses (2001), Want One (2003), Want Two (2004), Release the Stars (2007) and Out of the Game (2012), plus soundtrack contributions and one previously unreleased track. The deluxe version includes a bonus disc with sixteen rare and unreleased recordings, both live and studio recorded. Featured are "Chic and Pointless", previously unreleased and produced by Guy Chambers, and "WWIII", a song that was co-written by Chambers and had not been released in a physical form until Vibrate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Me and Liza</span> 2014 single by Rufus Wainwright

"Me and Liza" is a song by American-Canadian singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright for his greatest hits album, Vibrate: The Best of Rufus Wainwright (2014); it appears as the third track on the album's standard issue, serving as its lead single. The song is about Wainwright's relationship with Liza Minnelli, who was reportedly upset by his 2006 tribute concerts to her mother, Judy Garland. It premiered on BBC Radio 2's Weekend Wogan on January 12, 2014 and was officially released on January 20. "Me and Liza" reached a peak position of number 59 on Belgium's Ultratop singles chart.

<i>Unfollow the Rules</i> 2020 studio album by Rufus Wainwright

Unfollow the Rules is a studio album by Rufus Wainwright, released on July 10, 2020. It marks Wainwright's ninth of original material, his first since Out of the Game (2012), and his first under BMG. The album was produced by Mitchell Froom, and other contributors include Matt Chamberlain, Jim Keltner, and Blake Mills.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trouble in Paradise (Rufus Wainwright song)</span> 2019 single by Rufus Wainwright

"Trouble in Paradise" is a song by American-Canadian singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright, released on October 24, 2019, as the lead single of his upcoming studio album, slated for release by BMG in 2020. The track was produced by Mitchell Froom. A music video directed by Mia Donovan was released to promote the song on November 5, 2019.

<i>Children and Art</i> (album) 2019 studio album by Mandy Patinkin

Children and Art is an album by Mandy Patinkin, released by Nonesuch Records on October 25, 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Damsel in Distress (song)</span> 2020 single by Rufus Wainwright

"Damsel in Distress" is a song by Rufus Wainwright. On February 27, 2020, the song was released as the second single for his ninth studio album Unfollow the Rules, released by BMG in April 2020.

References

  1. 1 2 "Rufus Wainwright: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  2. ↑ Roach, Martin (2008). The Virgin Book of British Hit Singles. Virgin Books. p. 422. ISBN   978-0-7535-1537-2.
  3. ↑ Lodge, Guy. "Venice Film Review: 'Tom at the Farm'". variety us edition. Retrieved November 30, 2015.
  4. ↑ "George Michael – Going to a Town". Discogs . Retrieved November 8, 2017.
  5. ↑ "George Michael 'Going To A Town' debuts today". music-news.com. April 7, 2014. Retrieved November 8, 2017.
  6. ↑ Mandy Patinkin (April 2, 2018), Mandy Patinkin – Going to a Town (Official Audio) , retrieved May 3, 2018
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.