Kate McGarrigle, 1946-2010
"Canadian folk and roots music singer Kate McGarrigle, best known for her work with her sister, Anna, as the McGarrigle Sisters, has died at age 63." McGarrigle, mother of musicians Rufus and Martha Wainwright, succumbed to a rare form of cancer. The clip above, an animated version of "The Log Driver's Waltz," is something like a second Canadian national anthem.
NO.
This saddens me so. I love them both. Supreme melodists and lyricists. Here is one of Kate's:
My horoscope reads don't talk to strangers
Talk dark and handsome or short bald and plain
My soothsayer says to sit tight
And wait for my stars to get rearranged
So don't talk to me
Don't bother me
'Cause I'm just waiting for my heavens to change
Move over Moon
Get out of Uranus
This house is anxious
For the sun to come in
'Cause it's on the rise
It's on the rise
It's time for my new day to begin
So move over Moon
This saddens me greatly. Joni Mitchell and Buffy Ste-Marie knew the McGarrigles; Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris knew the McGarrigles. They sang in English and French, and they never got too famous. Bob Dylan was a fan of hers.
A rememberance, and clips from her last performance at the Royal Albert Hall, December, 2009. Here.
I contend you have made up everything in this story Balk. Including this mythical place you call "Canada."
Why do none of the death notices mention her husband? I take it they're divorced but was it a bad breakup so he's just not mentioned at all?
Vanity Fair piece which explains this, here.
They've definitely performed together since their divorce, but I at least never think about him when I'm thinking about the McGarrigle/Wainwright clan. It does seem kind of strange that he's not mentioned, but I never noticed that he wasn't until now.
The McGarrigle/Wainwright extended clan has suffered more than its share of untimely deaths lately, sadly … just about this time last year, Sloan Wainwright's husband Goerge (Rufus and Martha's uncle) also died of a form of cancer. He was only in his 50s.
I keep coming back here and getting sad all over again.
One of my favourite K & A songs (a fan vid):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sn7B1YQxp_c&feature=related
Wait, that's not the first Canadian national anthem? I have less trouble remembering all of the words…
I know! This used to be on like TVO or CBC right when they started broadcasting at 6 AM or something. When, on a Saturday, you'd already eaten 3 bowls of Froot Loops and were waiting for the cartoons to start. Easily my first contact with any of the Wainwright/McGarrigle clan.
TVO played it a lot. I love TVO.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Il4Z8s00Txo
Yup, it was on CBC first thing. And it was, unfortunately, the only cartoon worth watching on CBC Saturday mornings. Growing up without cable sucked.
I've always thought of the Tragically Hip's 'New Orleans is Sinking' as Canada's second national anthem. Or else humming the theme to Hockey Night in Canada.
All I know is that if you slip this song in as a set-closer you get a LOT of love from the room.
Shit. Heartbreak. I wish I could find "Go, Leave" on YouTube or somewhere right now. The saddest hearbreak song ever written. Fuckfuckfuckfuckfuck. Not fair.
This'll have to do.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kc_oTvcrlg0