Queer The Music: Jake Shears On The Songs That Changed Lives

7 - 'Going To A Town' by Rufus Wainwright


Listen Later

For our last episode of this current series we celebrate the brilliant 'Going To A Town' by singer, songwriter Rufus Wainwright. The song, which was the first single from Rufus’s 2007 album 'Release the Stars', has garnered huge critical acclaim and has been covered by artists from George Michael to Lily Allen however its critique of the United States and the war in Iraq provoked strong negative reactions in audiences and when he performed it he says “I would sing it often and get booed”.

Listen to Jake and Rufus' insightful conversation where they cover the meaning and making of the song, it's reception, what it means to be a gay artist, his influences and his encounter with George Michael.

Rufus' first musical of John Cassavetes’ 'Opening Night' opens on the 26th of March at the Gielgud Theatre in London - it is directed by Ivo van Hove and stars Sheridan Smith.


Thank you to our sponsors...

Factor’s delicious, ready-to-eat meals make eating better every day easy. Head to factormeals.com/queerthemusic50 and use code queerthemusic50 to get 50% off.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Queer The Music: Jake Shears On The Songs That Changed LivesBy Mercury Studios

  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8

4.8

42 ratings


More shows like Queer The Music: Jake Shears On The Songs That Changed Lives

View all
Desert Island Discs by BBC Radio 4

Desert Island Discs

2,007 Listeners

THE ADAM BUXTON PODCAST by ADAM BUXTON

THE ADAM BUXTON PODCAST

1,150 Listeners

Table Manners with Jessie and Lennie Ware by Jessie Ware

Table Manners with Jessie and Lennie Ware

1,534 Listeners

How To Fail With Elizabeth Day by Elizabeth Day and Sony Music Entertainment

How To Fail With Elizabeth Day

1,194 Listeners

Off Menu with Ed Gamble and James Acaster by Plosive

Off Menu with Ed Gamble and James Acaster

2,746 Listeners

Alan Carr's 'Life's a Beach' by Keep It Light Media / Travesty Media

Alan Carr's 'Life's a Beach'

519 Listeners

Dish by Cold Glass Productions

Dish

518 Listeners

Rylan: How to Be... by BBC Sounds

Rylan: How to Be...

84 Listeners

Rosebud with Gyles Brandreth by Gyles Brandreth / Plain Jaine Media

Rosebud with Gyles Brandreth

501 Listeners

Sidetracked with Annie and Nick by BBC Sounds

Sidetracked with Annie and Nick

50 Listeners

The Rest Is Entertainment by Goalhanger

The Rest Is Entertainment

897 Listeners

The Louis Theroux Podcast by Spotify Studios

The Louis Theroux Podcast

262 Listeners

Miss Me? by BBC Sounds

Miss Me?

271 Listeners

Strangers on a Bench by Tom Rosenthal

Strangers on a Bench

662 Listeners

Mad, Sad and Bad with Paloma Faith by JamPot Productions

Mad, Sad and Bad with Paloma Faith

93 Listeners