Synopsis

Rufus Wainwright performs "California" like a weary karaoke singer, delivering the song beneath the glow of a lyric monitor. The screen plays a stylized black-and-white film of Wainwright and his sister Martha in 1940s-inspired costumes, evoking old Hollywood glamour and manufactured romance. Intercut with these deliberately theatrical passages are more direct performances by Wainwright and his band, creating a contrast between nostalgic fantasy and the song's sharper, more conflicted view of California.

Factoids & Trivia

• "California" appeared on Wainwright's second studio album, *Poses*, released in 2001. It was also issued as a music video during the album's promotional cycle.

• The video's central device is an unusually literal take on karaoke: Wainwright follows the lyrics from a monitor while performing, turning the conventions of a standard sing-along into part of the visual concept.

• The black-and-white insert film features Wainwright alongside his sister Martha Wainwright, with both styled in 1940s-inspired clothing.

• The video alternates between the karaoke setup and footage of Wainwright performing with his band without the period-film framing. This split gives the clip two contrasting identities: an artificial Hollywood fantasy and a more exposed contemporary band performance.

• The video was later included among the music-video material associated with *House of Rufus*, Wainwright's archival collection.