Linda Thompson Sings Rufus Wainwright's Beauty

My song of the week is Linda Thompson's version of Rufus Wainwright's "Beauty." I was listening the other day and thought, "Hey, maybe I'm not a Dad Rock Prisoner after all. I mean, it's a Rufus Wainwright song." A quick visit to Wikipedia, however, revealed that not only is he 41 years old, but he's also a Gay Dad. Shit. I love the part that goes "I'm smoking again in the morning." What a perfect way to signal being all undone. I'll just add that Linda Thompson is a great, great singer: Amazing tone, and you can feel it. Nice background singing by Antony, and a perfect string arrangement. Actually, Antony's vocals aren't really backing, since what they do is interweave with Linda's, a performance strategy demanding much empathy and intuition on the part of both singers.

Beauty, you make me sad
All you beautiful babies been had
Who'll be able to love you for
What you, what you really are?

Beauty, what is your face?
What has it given the human race?
All that it has given me is a longing for
People and things I could never afford

Ah, beauty, now that the walls of Troy are tumbling down
And poor Oscar Wilde's verdict is out
And the Hope diamond's up for auction

And what about Michael Jackson?
And I'm smoking again
In the morning looking at

Beauty, look at me
You who did line the apple once offered Eve
I fear you line the world we see
Filled with goodness only hidden by

Beauty, you make me sad
You make me sad

You make me sad