I really do fear that I'm dying I really do fear that I'm dead I saw it in your eyes what I'm looking for I saw it in your eyes what will make me live. Rufus Wainwright More Quotes by Rufus Wainwright More Quotes From Rufus Wainwright I'm very fit on tour. I try to eat well, try to sleep. But it's still rock n' roll. Rufus Wainwright rocks sleep trying I definitely was always expected and encouraged to be a songwriter from a very young age, ... But really it's because, as a child, I thought I was Judy Garland. And when I started out, I was a little nuts. I thought I was a classic, legendary superstar when only 10 people knew who I was. I feel in some ways that my confidence is misinterpreted as arrogance, which is understandable. But I've also always thought that false modesty is evil. Rufus Wainwright evil nuts children I've developed a bit of a fascination with John Denver. I always thought he was kind of tacky and somewhat revolting and had a kind of simplistic weirdness, but on second listen, he actually did have an incredible voice, and the blatant naiveté of his work is straight-edge, in a way. Rufus Wainwright tacky fascination voice I love being not cool. Rufus Wainwright love-is I should write a musical. That is probably one of the final areas that I should pay attention to, because it does kind of involve everything. It's got theatre, it's got young, pretty people... And it's got money! Rufus Wainwright musical writing people I definitely consider 'Poses' - the whole album in fact - to be kind of a miracle. Like the last breath of that moment when decadence is healthy, 'Poses' encapsulates that feeling. It's a kind of song and a kind of album that I'll never be able to repeat. Rufus Wainwright healthy miracle song There is actually a great book called Prima Donna by Rupert -Christiansen that deconstructs the myth. In fact, many of the women who were prima donnas were feminists and incredible forces for their time. Rufus Wainwright feminist book facts I think we could all be a bit more elitist. Rufus Wainwright elitist bits thinking I think I've done a pretty fantastic job, but of course I want to sell millions of records. Rufus Wainwright done jobs thinking Life is a game and true love is a trophy. Rufus Wainwright true-love love-is life You had to be an over-the-top, demanding, dramatic figure in order to progress as a woman in Europe over the last few hundred years. Now people say, "You're being such a prima donna," meaning you're being hard to deal with or crazy. It's a bit sexist. Rufus Wainwright crazy order years I think my mother, more than anyone, knew the importance of inspiration. If it was occurring, you had to use it. Rufus Wainwright inspiration mother thinking I have managed to eke out a good and substantial existence. I'm not shoveling gold bricks or anything, but I do very, very well. Rufus Wainwright bricks existence gold For better or worse, I've always been curious musically. Whether it's opera or Judy Garland or pop, I've deliberately sought those things out. I've never wanted to do the same things over and over. Some think I've accomplished what I set out to do, and others consider me a dilettante. Rufus Wainwright curious opera thinking I was keenly aware that I didn't want to draw on too many typically doomed aspects of the fated singer. Whether it's Judy Garland or Norma Desmond, there is this tragic quality to older women that one can revel in, and you want it to be more three-dimensional than that. So it was important for the character to be strong and resilient, because there are so many victims in opera. Rufus Wainwright important strong character I basically have needed to go to the piano and give voice periodically to, you know - I'm always afraid to describe it as a kind of therapeutic process, but nevertheless it was a type of unloading that had to occur due to my personal life with my mother's health or just my professional trials and tribulations. Rufus Wainwright piano voice mother Life is the longest death in California. Rufus Wainwright california life-is I was in the forest jumping around daffodils while everyone was high on heroin. Rufus Wainwright boots jumping forests I don't know if it will be my big comeback, but I think it is a statement - that I am a self-sustaining, vibrant, long-term artist, and I'm not going away! And if you don't give me credit, then the musical gods will! Rufus Wainwright artist self thinking All these poses of classical torture ruined my mind like a snake in the orchard. I did go from wanting to be someone, now I'm drunk and wearing flip-flops on Fifth Avenue. Rufus Wainwright snakes media art