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Rufus Wainwright 'Bans' Audience Clapping During Live Shows
- Posted on Apr 22nd 2010 10:25AM by Luke Slater
There may well be little applause for Rufus Wainwright on his current European tour. No, not because his performances are ear-achingly bad, but because the audience are under strict orders not to clap. The reason for this? Well, it's all part of the act, apparently.A message to punters on his website reads, "Rufus has asked us to pass on this message to everyone attending his shows on the tour. The first part of the program will be performed as a song cycle with visuals by Douglas Gordon. During the first set, Rufus has asked that you please do not applaud until after he has left the stage."
The statement finishes, "His exit is part of the piece. After a brief intermission, Rufus will return for the second part of the show during which you may applaud to your heart's content."
The singer-songwriter is currently on the UK and Ireland leg of the tour, which finishes at the Ipswich Regent Theatre on April 29. Wainwright then returns to the UK for a celebration of his late mother Kate McGarrigle at London's Southbank Centre on June 12, as part of the Meltdown festival, this year curated by Richard Thompson. He then plays dates at London's Kenwood House on July 3, and at the Brighton Centre on July 4.
It's certainly an unusual request to those who might usually show their appreciation audibly, though the flamboyant North American isn't the first musician to indulge in such a strange practice.
Magnetic Fields frontman Stephin Merritt famously asks gig-goers not to applaud in a conventional way, but to instead show their gratitude by clicking their fingers. This is because of a medical condition that he suffers from, known as hyperacusis, which amplifies any loud sound into deafening white noise in his left ear. You can imagine the sort of pain a rapturous reception might induce. Ouch.
- Filed under: Concerts and Tours, News, UK
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Add a Comment
Gary McIntyre
Rufus.....another Morrissey-wanna-be. I could not think of a voice more annoying than his and the cast of Lost are a lot happier they didn't have Rufus singing on the soundtrack!
April 23 2010 at 9:38 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Jim Wise
Some great well-reasoned comments here.Rufus is making a name for himself good for him.We should not let the yahoos get us down. Cheers to all even the Yahoos
April 23 2010 at 5:32 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Jhin
Uhm, apparently people haven't been bothered to read the entire article... or bothered to understand the article. One or the other. Both, maybe.
The first half of the concert is essentially one really, long song... like Dream Theater - Change of Seasons, or David Bowie - Station to Station, so there's no reason to clap until he's finished the piece. The second half of the concert, he says "applaud to your hearts content"
Sooo, it's just the first half of the concert, not the entire thing.
The title "Rufus Wainwright 'Bans' Audience Clapping" is a misleading title, because he didn't really ban it. Just asked the audience WHO ARE ACTUALLY GOING to keep quiet for half an hour of the show or so.
Really, not that hard.
Sam
For me i think clapping is part of the experience! As well as singing along. Depending on the music/location obviously. It would be a very strange experience for example to see bon jovi and be told not to sing along to living on a prayer.
I dont particularily like wainwright as has been said previously he's a bit up himself, but I can understand why he wants people not to clap.
HOWEVER I don't think I agree with him. You applaud to show appreciation of that moment or that song. If you withold applause it seems he wants you to applaud and show appreciation for hte whole movement, something whcih you may not like in its entirety. In the end people who go see him will probably end up forgetting his no clapping rule anyway.
bubba
i had a dog named rufus
April 23 2010 at 3:28 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
keven cashman
clap on , clap off
April 23 2010 at 3:08 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
cobb
I don't know Wainwright nor am I a big fan of classical music.but I do understand the concept and the reason for no clapping until the whole piece is played.clapping is fine at the proper place and time in a concert.but some people just don't get it.I don't go to a concert to hear other people clap and make noise while the band is playing. if you want to clap after the song is over thats great.but nobody wants to pay to hear some drunk scream and yelling because they're so stoned they don't know which end is sticking up in the air.if you like a band enough to buy a ticket(at todays prices) then you should listen to them instead of trying to drown them out.
Tracy
This sounds like a young whippersnapper with a huge ego already and wants to be a diva. He better be thankful people go to his concerts. By the way, I never heard of him.
April 23 2010 at 1:18 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
GEORGE
RUFUS IS AN ARROGANT, EGOTISTICAL TRASH HEAP.
April 23 2010 at 1:15 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Wilson
I find it hard to take this seriously. I have no idea who this clown is, but if his performance reflects the standards of modern popular "culture," it would probably be more appropriate to laugh than to clap.
April 23 2010 at 1:02 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
45 Comments