Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk

"Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk" is a song written and performed by the Canadian–American singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright. It appears as the opening track on his second studio album, Poses (2001).[1] The song addresses decadence and desire, and has been called an "ode to subtle addictions and the way our compulsions rule our lives".[2][3]

"Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk"
Song by Rufus Wainwright
from the album Poses
ReleasedJune 5, 2001 (2001-06-05)
GenrePop
Length4:44
LabelDreamWorks
Songwriter(s)Rufus Wainwright
Producer(s)Pierre Marchand

A reprise version of the song appears as the last track on the album.

Music video

The music video for the track, directed by Giles Dunning and released by DreamWorks in 2001, features Wainwright performing the song at a piano inside a warehouse, and scenes of him walking around New York City.[4] The audio track of the video is actually the reprise version, with the added percussion backing.

Reception

In his review for Allmusic, Matthew Greenwald wrote that the song "combines classic Gershwin/Brian Wilson pop feels along with a strong sense of French cabaret show tunes", and called the shifts in modulation coupled with dissonant chords "intoxicating".[1]

Personnel

Appearances

Apart from being the opening and closing track on Poses, a live performance of "Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk" from Central Park SummerStage appeared on Wainwright's 2005 music DVD, All I Want.[1] Wainwright also performs the song on the 2001 DVD Circuit 9. "Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk" appears on the soundtrack to the Italian film Caos Calmo, as well as the following compilation albums: Live at the World Café: Handcrafted (2002),[5] 107.1 KGSR Radio Austin – Broadcasts Vol.10 (2002),[6] Oh What a Feeling 3 (2006), and Northern Songs: Canada's Best and Brightest (2008).[1] The reprise version appears on the soundtrack to the film The Last Kiss (2006).[7] It also appeared in the How I Met Your Mother season 5 episode "Last Cigarette Ever".

Covers

On Yellow Lounge: Compiled by Rufus Wainwright, a 2007 compilation album of Wainwright's favorite classical pieces, the Fauré Quartet performs instrumental versions of Wainwright's songs "Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk" and "Hometown Waltz".[8] A cover version by Djelem Project appears on their 2008 album, A Sky with No Clouds.[9]

References
  1. Greenwald, Matthew. "Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk". Allmusic. Retrieved May 5, 2009.
  2. Aizlewood, John (June 8, 2001). "Come pose with me". The Guardian. Retrieved April 25, 2009.
  3. Tangari, Joe (October 7, 2001). "Rufus Wainwright – Poses". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved April 24, 2009.
  4. "Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk". Interscope Records. December 20, 2001. Archived from the original on February 24, 2012. Retrieved April 27, 2009.
  5. "Live at the World Cafe Volume 15, Handcrafted CD". WXPN. Retrieved November 16, 2008.
  6. "Discography – 107.1 KGSR Radio Austin-Broadcasts Vol.10". rufuswainwright.com. May 18, 2007. Archived from the original on October 12, 2008. Retrieved December 6, 2008.
  7. "The Last Kiss – Original Soundtrack". Allmusic. Retrieved May 5, 2009.
  8. "Yellow Lounge: Compiled by Rufus Wainwright". Allmusic. Retrieved May 5, 2009.
  9. "A Sky With No Clouds". Orange Music Inc. Archived from the original on March 22, 2009. Retrieved May 5, 2009.
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