Me and Liza explained

Me and Liza
Cover:Rufus Wainwright - Me and Liza.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Rufus Wainwright
Genre:Pop rock
Label:Universal

"Me and Liza" is a song by American-Canadian singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright for his greatest hits album, (2014); it appears as the third track on the album's standard issue, serving as its lead single.[1] 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.

Background and composition

"Me and Liza" is about Wainwright's relationship with Liza Minnelli,[2] who was reportedly upset by his 2006 tribute concerts to her mother,[3] [4] American actress and singer Judy Garland.[5] Wainwright re-created Garland's concert album Judy at Carnegie Hall (1961), later releasing his own live album Rufus Does Judy at Carnegie Hall (2007).[6] Wainwright said of the song: "I have to be very diplomatic with the track. Let's just say it's about legend and arson. It's very playful. A playful jab. Oh, and you know, possibly a hit?"[7] In a March 2014 interview published by Radio Times, Wainwright went into more detail:

Chris Coplan of Consequence of Sound described the song as a "sultry, Bowie-esque pop-rock ballad".[8] The song begins with a bass drum and cymbal rhythm, accompanied by acoustic guitar; David Whiteway of Renowned for Sound wrote that the song's beginning is "saturated in a sense of hesitance and tenseness, a parallel to how his relationship with Liza stood at the time".[5] As a driving bass line emerges, lyrically Wainwright references his father's "connection" to Minnelli years ago. The chorus describes the "perils" that come with fame and being members of well-known families.[5] Wainwright sings that he and "Liza" are now friends, that he looks forward to their next reunion, and that they will be "famous til the day that [they] die".[5] An "uplifting" horn section accompanies the final chorus. Whiteway noted that "Rufus leaves it until the final lines of the song to correct the inherent syntax errors, singing "Liza and I" as his iconic vocals fade out."[5]

Promotion

On January 12, 2014, BBC Radio 2's Weekend Wogan premiered "Me and Liza", the lead single for .[9] [10] Wainwright's official website made the song available for streaming, via an embedded YouTube video, around the same time.[9] Universal Music UK also made it available to stream on SoundCloud.[11] The single was officially released on January 20, 2014.[12] [13]

"Me and Liza" was heavily promoted in the United Kingdom. On January 17, BBC London 94.9 included the song on its "Three Track Review".[14] Weekend Wogan aired the track again, one week following its premiere.[15] It also aired on BBC Radio Wales,[16] Graham Norton's BBC Radio 2 program,[17] and BBC Radio 6.[18] In Canada, the single was included in new music rotations for CBC's radio networks and streams from January 29 – February 9, including the CBC Radio 2 roster and the "Adult Alternative" and "Canadian Songwriter" streams.[19] Rock 95, an independent radio station based in Central Ontario, included "Me and Liza" on its "New Rock Hour" program.[20] The Chilean radio station Duna 98.7 highlighted the song on their website.[21] An official lyric video was released for the song on February 24, 2014.[22] [23]

Reception and charts

Clash Robin Murray called "Me and Liza" a "glamorous show tune, harking back to the glory days of the West End".[24] Contactmusic.com said the song "kicks off with an understated almost bare driving beat before Rufus's trademark vocal comes sweeping over the top, building into a sumptuous, soaring chorus and climactic end".[25] Gigwise's Andrew Trendell wrote that the track has an "addictive bassline and confident swagger", and categorized it as one of the "poppier tones" on the album.[26] David Smyth of the London Evening Standard called the song "perky" in his round-up of the week's "best new music".[27] David Whiteway of Renowned for Sound awarded "Me and Liza" four out of five stars and said that, "set amongst the cream of his 16 year, 7 studio album career", the song could "reaffirm [Wainwright's] status as one of the great songwriters of his generation."[5]

In Belgium (Flanders), "Me and Liza" entered the Ultratop singles chart at number 98 and reached a peak position of number 59.[28] [29] For the week of January 24, 2014, the song entered CBC Radio 2's "Top 20" chart at number 20.[30] The following week, Wainwright's rank on the chart increased by eight positions to number 12; he was named the "hot shooter" for having the greatest leap.[31] In the two weeks following, "Me and Liza" jumped to number four, then fell two positions to number six.[32]

Track listing

  1. "Me and Liza" – 3:21

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Rufus Wainwright: Me and Liza. AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. February 10, 2014. October 2, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231002144055/https://www.allmusic.com/song/me-and-liza-mt0048421131. live.
  2. Web site: Tom Power's picks: Rufus Wainwright, Tinariwen and Blue Highway. February 8, 2014. February 7, 2014. CBC News. February 20, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140220095249/http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/tom-power-s-picks-rufus-wainwright-tinariwen-and-blue-highway-1.2526279. live.
  3. Q&A: Rufus Wainwright on Judy Garland's Enduring Appeal. January 25, 2014. James. Kaplan. April 4, 2011. Vanity Fair. 0733-8899. Condé Nast. February 2, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140202110725/http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2011/05/rufus-wainwright-qa-201105. live.
  4. Web site: Liza Minnelli – Rufus Wainwright Has a Dig at Liza Minnelli Onstage in Texas. 15 October 2012. January 25, 2014. Contactmusic.com. 2 February 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140202112859/http://www.contactmusic.com/news/rufus-wainwright-has-a-dig-at-liza-minnelli-onstage-in-texas_3326307. live.
  5. Web site: Single Review: Rufus Wainwright – 'Me and Liza'. January 25, 2014. January 20, 2014. David. Whiteway. Renowned for Sound. February 1, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140201221043/http://renownedforsound.com/index.php/single-review-rufus-wainwright-me-liza/. live.
  6. Web site: January 25, 2014. Rufus Does Judy at Carnegie Hall. Rovi Corporation. AllMusic. October 2, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231002144056/https://www.allmusic.com/album/rufus-does-judy-at-carnegie-hall-mw0000490405. live.
  7. The World According to Rufus. January 2014. 428. January 14, 2014. 58–63. 0950-6101. Gay Times. Millivres Prowler Group. https://web.archive.org/web/20140202182509/http://www.gaytimes.co.uk/Magazine/InThisIssue-articleid-9985-sectionid-817.html. February 2, 2014. dead.
  8. Web site: Rufus Wainwright announces best-of collection, stream new song "Me and Liza". Chris. Coplan. January 13, 2014. January 13, 2014. Consequence of Sound. January 16, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140116023909/http://consequenceofsound.net/2014/01/rufus-wainwright-announces-best-of-collection-stream-new-song-me-and-liza/. live.
  9. Web site: Me and Liza Premiere This Sunday. January 10, 2014. RufusWainwright.com. January 8, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20131216105708/http://www.rufuswainwright.com/news/index.html#meandliza. December 16, 2013. dead.
  10. Web site: BBC Radio 2: With Eddi Reader and Gregory Porter: Music Played. January 15, 2014. BBC Radio 2. January 12, 2014. January 15, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140115112409/http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03rm4dd. live.
  11. Web site: Rufus Wainwright – Me and Liza. January 10, 2014. January 13, 2014. SoundCloud. February 3, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140203050716/https://soundcloud.com/universal-music-uk/rufus-wainwright-me-and-liza/s-5vc7R. live.
  12. Web site: Rufus Wainwright confirms new single. January 11, 2014. January 10, 2014. Entertainment Focus. Little Pip Digital. Pip. Ellwood. February 3, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140203164400/http://www.entertainment-focus.com/music-section/music-news/rufus-wainwright-confirms-new-single/. live.
  13. Web site: Me and Liza Available at iTunes Now!. January 20, 2014. January 22, 2014. RufusWainwright.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20131216105708/http://www.rufuswainwright.com/news/index.html#meandlizaitunes. December 16, 2013. dead.
  14. Web site: Taxidermy, Tim Rice, Robert Lonsdale and The Three Track Review. January 17, 2014. January 21, 2014. BBC. January 21, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140121103655/http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01nt8k4. live.
  15. Web site: Chris Norman and the Stephen Ward cast. January 19, 2014. January 21, 2014. BBC. January 27, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140127124140/http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03rm4lm. live.
  16. Web site: Bethan Elfyn: 25/01/2014. February 6, 2014. BBC Radio Wales. January 25, 2014. October 2, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231002144058/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03sqw82. live.
  17. Web site: Graham Norton: With guests Russell Tovey and James Fleet. January 25, 2014. January 29, 2014. BBC. January 29, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140129160231/http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03s63rm. live.
  18. Web site: Beaty Heart, King Tubby, Husky, Coves and Alton Ellis. February 2, 2014. February 6, 2014. BBC Radio 6. February 13, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140213092723/http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03tcf99. live.
  19. Web site: Rufus Wainwright to Bastille: new adds on CBC Music (Jan.27- Feb. 9, 2014) . January 28, 2014 . January 28, 2014 . Mary-Anne . Korosi . . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160301002442/http://music.cbc.ca/ . March 1, 2016 .
  20. Web site: Ross. Craig. New Rock Hour Setlist Jan 19/14. Rock 95. February 8, 2014. Barrie, Central Ontario. January 2014. dead. https://archive.today/20140208221241/http://www.rock95.com/announcers-blogs/new-rock-hour/new-rock-hour/2014/01/17/new-rock-hour-setlist-jan-19-14. February 8, 2014.
  21. Web site: Rufus Wainwright – Me and Liza. es. February 8, 2014. Radio Duna. Providencia, Santiago de Chile. Javiera. Hernández. February 7, 2014. February 22, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140222032037/http://www.duna.cl/musica/2014/02/07/rufus-wainwright-me-and-liza/. live.
  22. Web site: Rufus Wainwright – Me and Liza. YouTube. February 24, 2014. February 24, 2014. February 26, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140226002002/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hag4cOSfaaQ&gl=US&hl=en. live.
  23. Web site: Me and Liza Lyric Video Premiere on Facebook. February 24, 2014. February 24, 2014. RufusWainwright.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20150924092618/http://www.rufuswainwright.com/me-and-liza-lyric-video-premiere-on-facebook/. September 24, 2015. dead.
  24. Listen: Rufus Wainwright – Me and Liza. January 13, 2014. January 13, 2014. Clash. Robin. Murray. 1743-0801. January 14, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140114150708/http://www.clashmusic.com/news/listen-rufus-wainwright-me-and-liza. live.
  25. Web site: Rufus Wainwright Releases New Single 'Me and Liza' January 20th 2014. January 15, 2014. January 2014. Contactmusic.com. February 2, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140202113646/http://www.contactmusic.com/press/rufus-wainwright-releases-new-single-me-and-liza-january-20th-2014-listen. live.
  26. Web site: Listen: Rufus Wainwright unveils new single 'Me and Liza'. January 13, 2014. January 13, 2014. Andrew. Trendell. Gigwise. Giant Digital. January 14, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140114131801/http://www.gigwise.com/news/87560/listen-rufus-wainwright-unveils-new-single-me-and-liza. live.
  27. News: Listen to this week's best new music. January 24, 2014. January 27, 2014. David. Smyth. January 26, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140126224336/http://www.standard.co.uk/goingout/music/listen-to-this-weeks-best-new-music-9081015.html. live.
  28. Web site: 100 ULTRATIP: 01/02/2014. UltraTop.be. nl. March 7, 2014. April 5, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140405214934/http://www.ultratop.be/nl/weekchart.asp?cat=st&year=2014&date=20140201. live.
  29. Web site: Rufus Wainwright – Me and Liza. March 19, 2014. UltraTop.be. nl. July 20, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140720075754/http://www.ultratop.be/nl/song/12e910/Rufus-Wainwright-Me-And-Liza. live.
  30. Web site: Radio 2 Top 20: Broken Bells groove on up to top spot . January 24, 2014 . January 29, 2014 . Garvia . Bailey . CBC . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160301002442/http://music.cbc.ca/ . March 1, 2016 .
  31. Web site: Radio 2 Top 20: Rufus Wainwright's royal ascent up the chart . January 31, 2014 . January 31, 2014 . Garvia . Bailey . CBC . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160301002442/http://music.cbc.ca/ . March 1, 2016 .
  32. Web site: Radio 2 Top 20: Blue Rodeo are back in the saddle and back on the top 20 . Garvia . Bailey . CBC . February 14, 2014 . February 18, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160301002442/http://music.cbc.ca/ . March 1, 2016 .
  33. Web site: Me and Liza. Amazon. February 3, 2014. January 26, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140126081709/http://www.amazon.com/Me-And-Liza/dp/B00HSQ1CJC?. live.

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