View source for Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk

{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox song
| name     = Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk
| cover    =
| alt      =
| artist   = [[Rufus Wainwright]]
| album    = [[Poses (album)|Poses]]
| released = {{Start date|2001|06|05}}
| recorded =
| studio   =
| genre    = Pop
| length   = 4:44
| label    = [[DreamWorks Records|DreamWorks]]
| writer   = Rufus Wainwright
| producer = [[Pierre Marchand]]
}}

"'''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 (album)|Poses]]'' (2001).<ref name=Allmusic>{{cite web|accessdate=May 5, 2009|url={{Allmusic|class=song|id=t4776014|pure_url=yes}}|title=Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk|publisher=[[Allmusic]]|first=Matthew|last=Greenwald}}</ref> The song addresses decadence and desire, and has been called an "ode to subtle addictions and the way our compulsions rule our lives".<ref name=TheGuardian>{{cite web|accessdate=April 25, 2009|url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2001/jun/08/shopping.artsfeatures1|title=Come pose with me|date=June 8, 2001|first=John|last=Aizlewood|work=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref><ref name=PitchforkMedia>{{cite web|accessdate=April 24, 2009|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/8557-poses/|title=Rufus Wainwright – Poses|publisher=[[Pitchfork Media]]|date=October 7, 2001|first=Joe|last=Tangari}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web|accessdate=April 27, 2009|url=http://www.interscope.com/artist/media/default.aspx?mid=2056&aid=999|title=Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk|publisher=[[Interscope Records]]|date=December 20, 2001|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120224083249/http://www.interscope.com/artist/media/default.aspx?mid=2056&aid=999|archivedate=February 24, 2012}}</ref> 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 [[George Gershwin|Gershwin]]/[[Brian Wilson]] pop feels along with a strong sense of French [[cabaret]] [[show tune]]s", and called the shifts in [[Modulation (music)|modulation]] coupled with [[Consonance and dissonance|dissonant]] chords "intoxicating".<ref name=Allmusic/>

==Personnel==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
* [[Rufus Wainwright]] – vocals, piano, [[String section|string]] [[arrangement]]s
* Jeff Hill – [[Double bass|bass]]
* [[Jim Keltner]] – drums
* Yves Desrosiers – [[banjo]], guitar
* [[Pierre Marchand]] – string arrangements
* Stephanie Allard – violin
* Jean-Marc LeBlanc – violin
* Melanie Belair – violin
* Genevieve Beaudry – violin
{{col-break}}
* Julie Dupras – [[viola]]
* Wilma Hos – viola
* Veronique Potuin – viola
* Greg Hay – viola
* Carla Antoun – cello
* Christine Giguere – cello
* Jean Paquin – [[French horn]]
* Pierre Savoie – French horn
* Normand Forget – [[oboe]]
{{col-end}}

==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 (Rufus Wainwright DVD)|All I Want]]''.<ref name=Allmusic/> 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 album]]s: ''[[Live at the World Café: Handcrafted]]'' (2002),<ref>{{cite web|accessdate=November 16, 2008|url=http://shop.xponentialmusic.org/product/show/5722|title=Live at the World Cafe Volume 15, Handcrafted CD|publisher=[[WXPN]]}}</ref> ''107.1 KGSR Radio Austin – Broadcasts Vol.10'' (2002),<ref>{{cite web|accessdate=December 6, 2008|url=http://www.rufuswainwright.com/discography/detail.aspx/pid/1617|publisher=rufuswainwright.com|title=Discography – 107.1 KGSR Radio Austin-Broadcasts Vol.10|date=May 18, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081012030236/http://www.rufuswainwright.com/discography/detail.aspx/pid/1617|archive-date=October 12, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> ''[[Oh What A Feeling: A Vital Collection Of Canadian Muisc#2006 release|Oh What a Feeling 3]]'' (2006), and ''[[Northern Songs: Canada's Best and Brightest]]'' (2008).<ref name=Allmusic/> The reprise version appears on the [[The Last Kiss (2006 film)#Soundtrack|soundtrack to the film]] ''[[The Last Kiss (2006 film)|The Last Kiss]]'' (2006).<ref name=LastKiss>{{cite web|accessdate=May 5, 2009|url={{Allmusic|class=album|id=r845559|pure_url=yes}}|title=The Last Kiss – Original Soundtrack|publisher=Allmusic}}</ref> 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".<ref>{{cite web|accessdate=May 5, 2009|url={{Allmusic|class=album|id=r1262711|pure_url=yes}}|title=Yellow Lounge: Compiled by Rufus Wainwright|publisher=Allmusic}}</ref> A [[cover version]] by Djelem Project appears on their 2008 album, ''A Sky with No Clouds''.<ref>{{cite web|accessdate=May 5, 2009|url=http://www.orangemusic.net/en/djelem-project/a-sky-with-no-clouds.html|title=A Sky With No Clouds|publisher=Orange Music Inc|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090322110104/http://www.orangemusic.net/en/djelem-project/a-sky-with-no-clouds.html|archive-date=March 22, 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[{{Allmusic|class=song|id=t4776014|pure_url=yes}} Review] from [[Allmusic]]

{{Rufus Wainwright}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:2001 songs]]
[[Category:Rufus Wainwright songs]]
[[Category:Songs about tobacco]]
[[Category:Songs written by Rufus Wainwright]]