Oh What a World

Rufus Wainwright

About Oh What a World

"Oh What a World" is a song written and performed by Canadian-American singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright. It was released as the second single from Wainwright's third studio album, Want One (2003), released digitally via iTunes and 7digital in the United Kingdom on November 8, 2004. Promotional copies were also distributed to radio stations in an attempt to increase awareness of the song and album. The song includes several arrangements from Maurice Ravel's Boléro. "Oh What a World" also appears on Rufus Wainwright: Live at the Fillmore, the bonus DVD that accompanies Want Two (2004), the repackaged double album released in the UK simply titled Want, and the 2005 compilation album Acoustic 05. The song contains an interpolation of Maurice Ravel's Boléro, which premiered in 1928. 


Year:
2003
4:23
233 
#3

 Become A Better Singer In Only 30 Days, With Easy Video Lessons!

Men reading fashion magazines
Oh what a world it seems we live in
Straight men, oh what a world we live in

Why am I always on a plane or a fast train
Oh what a world my parents gave me
Always traveling but not in love

Still I think I'm doing fine
"Life is Beautiful" on the New York Times

 The easy, fast & fun way to learn how to sing: 30DaySinger.com


Rufus Wainwright

Rufus McGarrigle Wainwright (born July 22, 1973) is an American-Canadian singer-songwriter and composer. He has recorded seven albums of original music and numerous tracks on compilations and film soundtracks. He has also written a classical opera and set Shakespeare sonnets to music for a theater piece by Robert Wilson. more »

2 fans

Written by: Maurice Joseph Ravel, Rufus Wainwright

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Song Background
"Oh What a World" is a track from the fourth studio album, "Want One," by Rufus Wainwright, a Canadian-American singer and songwriter.
Inspiration & Composition
The song was inspired by Wainwright's experiences and observations about the world translated through his melodramatic pop opera style. - Wainwright combined elements of opera with a pop sound to create "Oh What a World," integrating orchestral elements such as horns and strings.
Unique Aspect
The composition incorporates the theme from "Ravel's Boléro" in its opening, which bleeds into the remainder of the song, thus creating a unique operatic pop experience.
Album Information
"Want One," the album featuring "Oh What a World," was released in 2003 and produced by Marius de Vries, who had worked with artists like Madonna and David Bowie. The album was well received and charted in multiple countries.
Song Context
Some interpret the track as a commentary on material culture and the state of the world. Others believe it reflects Wainwright's personal narrative, which includes his experiences with addiction.
Critical Acclaim
Critics often highlight the theatricality and grandeur of "Oh What a World," praising Wainwright's use of classical instrumentation and innovative arrangements.
Live Performances
When performed live, "Oh What a World" routinely exhibits a sense of sequence and orchestration, as complete with Wainwright's emotive power on stage, often matched with elaborate sets.
Award Nominations
Rufus Wainwright's album, "Want One," including the song "Oh What a World," received a nomination for a Juno Award in Canada, further affirming its significance within Wainwright's discography.
Personal Meditation
Wainwright has mentioned in interviews that this song was a personal meditation on the complex beauty and irony of life, reflecting his attitudes towards the rush of life.
Vinyl Release
In 2020, a limited-edition, double-LP vinyl of "Want One" was released to commemorate the album's 17th anniversary, bringing songs like "Oh What a World" back into the spotlight.

Discuss the Oh What a World Lyrics with the community:

0 Comments

    Citation

    Use the citation below to add these lyrics to your bibliography:

    Style:MLAChicagoAPA

    "Oh What a World Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 25 Apr. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/6461887/Rufus+Wainwright/Oh+What+a+World>.

    Missing lyrics by Rufus Wainwright?

    Know any other songs by Rufus Wainwright? Don't keep it to yourself!

    Watch the song video

    Oh What a World

    352.1K
    3,209     0

    Browse Lyrics.com

    Quiz

    Are you a music master?

    »
    Which artist has won the most GRAMMYs in history?
    A Georg Solti
    B John Alldis
    C Alexander Faris
    D John Wilson

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Chrome

    Get instant explanation for any lyrics that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Firefox

    Get instant explanation for any acronym or abbreviation that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Rufus Wainwright tracks

    On Radio Right Now

    Loading...

    Powered by OnRad.io


    Think you know music? Test your MusicIQ here!