Damsel in Distress (song)

"Damsel in Distress"
"Damsel in Distress"
Single by Rufus Wainwright
from the album Unfollow the Rules
Released	February 27, 2020
Length	4:42
Label	BMG
Songwriter(s)	Rufus Wainwright
Rufus Wainwright singles chronology

"Damsel in Distress" is a song by Rufus Wainwright. On February 27, 2020,^[1] the song was released as the second single for his ninth studio album Unfollow the Rules, released by BMG in April 2020.

Composition

Wainwright wrote the song to honor Joni Mitchell.^[2] He said, "My husband and I now live in Laurel Canyon. I wasn't that familiar with Joni's music but Jörn [Weisbrodt] became obsessed and took me on a journey into her music. We ended up hanging out with her and I get now why she's one of the greats. So it's part Laurel Canyon, part a song about a personal relationship that I'm trying to come to terms with, but mostly my Mitchell virginity being broken."^[3]

Music video

The song's animated music video features "a woman in bellbottoms sauntering through landscapes with the song's lyrics displayed in the clouds".^[3]

Track listing

Stream^[4]

"Damsel in Distress" – 4:42
"Trouble in Paradise" – 3:05

References

^ Moore, Sam (February 27, 2020). "Rufus Wainwright announces new album 'Unfollow The Rules' and shares 'Damsel In Distress'". NME. Archived from the original on January 24, 2022. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
^ Minsker, Evan (February 27, 2020). "Rufus Wainwright Announces New Album Unfollow the Rules, Shares New Song". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on February 27, 2020. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
^ ^a ^b Martoccio, Angie (February 27, 2020). "Rufus Wainwright Pays Homage to Joni Mitchell in 'Damsel in Distress'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on February 27, 2020. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
^ "Damsel in Distress / Trouble In Paradise". Spotify. Archived from the original on February 27, 2020. Retrieved February 28, 2020.

External links

[1] Moore, Sam (February 27, 2020). "Rufus Wainwright announces new album 'Unfollow The Rules' and shares 'Damsel In Distress'". NME. Archived from the original on January 24, 2022. Retrieved February 27, 2020.

[2] Minsker, Evan (February 27, 2020). "Rufus Wainwright Announces New Album Unfollow the Rules, Shares New Song". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on February 27, 2020. Retrieved February 27, 2020.

[Martoccio-3] Martoccio, Angie (February 27, 2020). "Rufus Wainwright Pays Homage to Joni Mitchell in 'Damsel in Distress'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on February 27, 2020. Retrieved February 27, 2020.

[4] "Damsel in Distress / Trouble In Paradise". Spotify. Archived from the original on February 27, 2020. Retrieved February 28, 2020.

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v t e Rufus Wainwright
Awards and nominations Discography Songs
Studio albums	Rufus Wainwright Poses Want One Want Two Release the Stars All Days Are Nights: Songs for Lulu Out of the Game Take All My Loves: 9 Shakespeare Sonnets Unfollow the Rules Folkocracy
Live albums	Rufus Does Judy at Carnegie Hall Milwaukee at Last!!! Live from the Artists Den Amsterdam Sinfonietta Live Rufus Does Judy at Capitol Studios
Compilations	Want House of Rufus Vibrate: The Best of Rufus Wainwright Unfollow the Rules: The Paramour Sessions
EPs	Waiting for a Want Alright, Already: Live in Montréal Tiergarten Technopera / Solitude of Heart / Do It to the Music (with Ampersounds)
Video albums	All I Want Rufus! Rufus! Rufus! Does Judy! Judy! Judy!: Live from the London Palladium Milwaukee at Last!!!
Singles	"I Don't Know What It Is" "Oh What a World" "Across the Universe" "The One You Love" "Hallelujah" "Going to a Town" "Rules and Regulations" "Tiergarten" "Me and Liza" "Sword of Damocles" "Trouble in Paradise" "Damsel in Distress" "Peaceful Afternoon" "Alone Time"
Other songs	"April Fools" "Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk" "One Man Guy" "Dinner at Eight" "The Art Teacher" "Gay Messiah" "Sanssouci"
Concerts	Odd Man Out Tour Out of the Game Tour The Best of Rufus Wainwright If I Loved You: Gentlemen Prefer Broadway All These Poses Anniversary Tour
Operas	Prima Donna album Prima Donna: A Symphonic Visual Concert Hadrian
Related	Blackoutsabbath Dream Requiem Opening Night (musical) Stuyvesant family Loudon Wainwright III Kate McGarrigle Martha Wainwright Jörn Weisbrodt Road Trip Elegies
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