Elvis Costello's catalogue is a treasure trove for lyrics guys, because he's such a master of puns, rhymes, clever metaphors and songs of unconventional subjects. Here are some sample from his early catalogue: ●Welcome to the Working Week: Begining the first track of his first album with a line about wanking🤣.......Welcome to the world of EC as the Angry Young Man ●Alison: The Angry Young Man encounters his married old love, and tries to be not so bitter and sympathetic ●(Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes: "I said I'm so happy I could die, she said "drop dead" then left with another guy"......genius line ●Pump It Up: EC's "Subterranean Homesick Blues". Dylan wrote about this song in his book "Philosophy of Modern Song", and called him "Britain's Buddy Holly" ●Man Out Of Time: EC's "Like A Rolling Stone" ●I Want You: With the same title of a Dylan and a Beatles song, pushing the idea of obsessive love to the ugliest direction ●Love For Tender: Thematic puns of love as monetary transactions ●Everyday I Write The Book: Thematic puns of love as writing a book ●The Loved Ones: A masterclass of rhyming, with 'sarcastic' rhymes with 'elastic', 'theatrics', 'gymnastics' and 'matchsticks', and 'poison' rhymes with 'boys and girls'! ●Oliver's Army: ABBA's "Dancing Queen" style jangling piano set to an ironic recruitment commerical of the imperial armed force ●Sleep Of The Just: Who can made the situation of a solider watching the poster of his porn model sister on the wall of his barrack into a song? ●Shipbuilding: An anti-Falklands War song, with trumpet solo by Chet Baker ●Tramp the Dirt Down: An anti-Margaret Thatcher song, putting all the mean words to the meanest but most powerful woman in UK at that time
The Imperial Armed Force? Is that anything to do with Oliver Cromwell (the Oliver referenced in the title)? Yes, Elvis is an absolute master of lyrics. Gives Springsteen and Dylan a run for the money.
@@lauraallen55 Yes, the song is meant to be a comment on the Northern Ireland Troubles, but the lyrics doesn't mention Northern Ireland directly, instead making references to Hong Kong, Palestine and Johannesburg and so.
A Nick Lowe song. Elvis and his attractions transformed it to one of the best song ever recorded. This man is the real King. So underrated, my god.!!! Alléluia !!!!❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Love his version! What I see is people who "hate" are scared of change and focus on being "right" ~ the people I talk to who are open to change and are focused on a solution that addresses everyones needs ~ are rarely haters. I grew up in the 1960's and the message of the music had a huge influence on me ~ along with other things. I often wonder what messages music is sending out into the Universe today and what kids who are 10 years old and up, are going to carry inside of them, into the future.
Some other good songs by EC to check out are "Veronica" a song that he started writing that was inspired by his grandmother who had Alzheimer's and was co-written with Paul McCartney, another song to check out is "Pump It Up".Great Reaction!☮💜
Elvis Costello has made several amazing albums including my favorite country album, “Almost Blue “ all country classics done with British soul. Produced by legendary Nashville producer Billy Sherrill.
I sat next to Elvis Costello on an airplane flight many years ago, he was much taller IRL than I had envisioned…nice guy too! I just so happened to have a Rolling Stone magazine with me that he was on the cover of, talk about crazy serendipity! “Every Day I Write The Book” is another great one to react to :)
Performed by Elvis and the Attractions, but written and, this version produced, by Nick Lowe. Elivs and Nick Lowe were on the same record label (Radar) as my band's at the time it was recorded in 1978. They made it big. We didn't. Nick Lowe's version is great too. I have both.
Happy to see this! 😀 I love Elvis Costello! I first checked out his music after seeing him on the “Black & White Night” Roy Orbison concert with a ton of other well known musicians. Loved it! Always interesting! “Oliver’s Army” .. “Punch the clock” .. “King of thieves” .. “Charm School” .. “Alison” .. “Clowntime is over” Much much more! 😀 Thanks Shawn & requester!
Elvis' voice and the band were perfectly raw for this tune. Costello's a true talent. Nick Lowe, the songwriter, also had a great career with a good number of songs I'm sure you'd enjoy
Great songwriter from a musical Liverpool family. His Dad had a local variety show. Paul McCartney collaborated on a later album. The star making machine labeled the first record as punk, but he is more of a throwback. His wife is a torch singer. Worked with Burt Bacharach and a lot f people
Hit Armed Forces...Trust...Get Happy etc etc...He has worked with Paul Mc/Roy Orbison/Bacharach/Squeeze/George Jones-Country...etc... From the 80's-2000 have seen him with the Attractions and solo 10+ times
Love me some EC. Someone has already listed his older hits, but he's got some gems on his newer stuff too. The Delivery Man and Another Episode of Blonde are not to be missed.
Holds up , he is a fantastic musician who has had an interesting career. He had a great tv show that was music centric. The first couple albums just to cool, but have about 8-10 in my collection over the years, all good
A few scenes of this video were shot when visiting Vancouver, B.C. Canada (Native toteoms, first beach scene with ships and beach and mountains behind) The concert, hotel hall, unsure,....I have visited Vancouver several times, so I know. -tour in 1979, making early videos!
Lowe married Jonny Cash's stepdaughter Carlene Carter and wrote a song for Jonny titled "The Beast in Me." That's worth checking out. 🎶 "The beast in me / Is caged by frail and fragile bars." 🎶
I know this is a music reaction channel Shawn, and love the Elvis Costello and the Attractions song and video (had not heard that one before), was that Vancouver in the video?. I am Transgender and live in the UK, and can assure you, there is a LOT of hatred towards folks like me, lies being told right, left and centre. Sorry to get heavy Shawn, LOVE your channel by the way.
I know most people here are going to tell you to check out more Elvis Costello, and so you should...I say check out more Nick Lowe, who wrote this and so many more great songs...
Hi Shawn, As you can tell by the date, this is the 50th anniversary of the song. Great reaction to this classic. Elvis did have the biggest hit with it. There are two other versions of note for your edification and anyone reading this who’s interested. During Lockdown, Sharon Van Etten recorded her version with a much more soulful arrangement. With Josh Homme. Of note is the old man in the backyard with his dog and guitar. Spoiler! That’s Nick. th-cam.com/video/SvIBsyLePtQ/w-d-xo.htmlsi=cNRewKX3Oq_ksucF Maybe the biggest version of the song was when it was used to close a fundraising concert. It was an all-star sing a long led by The Boss. th-cam.com/video/szAMOyTe1IY/w-d-xo.htmlsi=n8O3jFKJTa1Y5hMS There ya go. Tons of greatness surrounded this song that is still relevant today, 50 years later. Joe
The original version is better. You should check out Brinsley Schwartz they were ace and the main guy (Nick Lowe) produced this album I believe. They don't get enough love. I loved Costello but ADORE Brinsley.
Elvis is a phenomenal songwriter and performer. A good original song to do next would be Every Day I Write The Book.
I love so many of his songs. Everyday I Write the Book is another MTV classic video. ❤
Elvis Costello is like a combo of Buddy Holly and Bob Dylan for the Punk/New Wave era.
Dude, YES!
Costello the best writer since Dylan
Elvis Costello's catalogue is a treasure trove for lyrics guys, because he's such a master of puns, rhymes, clever metaphors and songs of unconventional subjects. Here are some sample from his early catalogue:
●Welcome to the Working Week: Begining the first track of his first album with a line about wanking🤣.......Welcome to the world of EC as the Angry Young Man
●Alison: The Angry Young Man encounters his married old love, and tries to be not so bitter and sympathetic
●(Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes: "I said I'm so happy I could die, she said "drop dead" then left with another guy"......genius line
●Pump It Up: EC's "Subterranean Homesick Blues". Dylan wrote about this song in his book "Philosophy of Modern Song", and called him "Britain's Buddy Holly"
●Man Out Of Time: EC's "Like A Rolling Stone"
●I Want You: With the same title of a Dylan and a Beatles song, pushing the idea of obsessive love to the ugliest direction
●Love For Tender: Thematic puns of love as monetary transactions
●Everyday I Write The Book: Thematic puns of love as writing a book
●The Loved Ones: A masterclass of rhyming, with 'sarcastic' rhymes with 'elastic', 'theatrics', 'gymnastics' and 'matchsticks', and 'poison' rhymes with 'boys and girls'!
●Oliver's Army: ABBA's "Dancing Queen" style jangling piano set to an ironic recruitment commerical of the imperial armed force
●Sleep Of The Just: Who can made the situation of a solider watching the poster of his porn model sister on the wall of his barrack into a song?
●Shipbuilding: An anti-Falklands War song, with trumpet solo by Chet Baker
●Tramp the Dirt Down: An anti-Margaret Thatcher song, putting all the mean words to the meanest but most powerful woman in UK at that time
The Imperial Armed Force? Is that anything to do with Oliver Cromwell (the Oliver referenced in the title)?
Yes, Elvis is an absolute master of lyrics. Gives Springsteen and Dylan a run for the money.
@@lauraallen55 Yes, the song is meant to be a comment on the Northern Ireland Troubles, but the lyrics doesn't mention Northern Ireland directly, instead making references to Hong Kong, Palestine and Johannesburg and so.
@@YeungSze Yes, I know it was meant as a commentary on that. Thanks. :)
More please
Elvis Costello has some great songs. Check out Alisson, I Want You, Oliver's Army...
Such a great artist. Love this song and so many others. A fave I didn't see mentioned is Watching The Detectives.
Also Accidents wil Happen!
One of my favorite songs by one of my favorite artists! Thank you!😽🎶
"Shipbuilding" is my favorite and a song for our time.
That’s a great song!
I’ll be seeing Elvis in a few weeks with Daryl Hall opening the show. It will be about my 20th time seeing Elvis live. He is worth a deep dive. ✌️♥️🎶
A Nick Lowe song. Elvis and his attractions transformed it to one of the best song ever recorded. This man is the real King. So underrated, my god.!!! Alléluia !!!!❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Such a rabbit hole to explore- rock, pop, country, lounge, jazzy-- he’s amazing. And some deep meaningful lyrics- wowza
Love his version! What I see is people who "hate" are scared of change and focus on being "right" ~ the people I talk to who are open to change and are focused on a solution that addresses everyones needs ~ are rarely haters. I grew up in the 1960's and the message of the music had a huge influence on me ~ along with other things. I often wonder what messages music is sending out into the Universe today and what kids who are 10 years old and up, are going to carry inside of them, into the future.
Some other good songs by EC to check out are "Veronica" a song that he started writing that was inspired by his grandmother who had Alzheimer's and was co-written with Paul McCartney, another song to check out is "Pump It Up".Great Reaction!☮💜
Pump It Up does not get the play it deserves.
Elvis Costello has made several amazing albums including my favorite country album, “Almost Blue “ all country classics done with British soul. Produced by legendary Nashville producer Billy Sherrill.
That’s a beautiful album! I love it too! 😀
I sat next to Elvis Costello on an airplane flight many years ago, he was much taller IRL than I had envisioned…nice guy too! I just so happened to have a Rolling Stone magazine with me that he was on the cover of, talk about crazy serendipity! “Every Day I Write The Book” is another great one to react to :)
Bruce Springsteen was touring England around 1977 and was asked if any English musician impressed him and he said Elvis Costello .
One of my favourite Elvis Costello and the attractions tracks. Saw him at the Royal Albert Hall in London many moons ago, brilliant live.
Performed by Elvis and the Attractions, but written and, this version produced, by Nick Lowe. Elivs and Nick Lowe were on the same record label (Radar) as my band's at the time it was recorded in 1978. They made it big. We didn't. Nick Lowe's version is great too. I have both.
Who was your band?
Elvis was such an in your face ‘punk’ back in his younger days 🙏🙏🙏💯👍
His range of styles is extraordinary. For example, his live duet with Burt Bacharach singing "God Give Me Strength" hardly seems like the same person.
Happy to see this! 😀 I love Elvis Costello! I first checked out his music after seeing him on the “Black & White Night” Roy Orbison concert with a ton of other well known musicians. Loved it! Always interesting! “Oliver’s Army” .. “Punch the clock” .. “King of thieves” .. “Charm School” .. “Alison” .. “Clowntime is over” Much much more! 😀 Thanks Shawn & requester!
Elvis' voice and the band were perfectly raw for this tune. Costello's a true talent. Nick Lowe, the songwriter, also had a great career with a good number of songs I'm sure you'd enjoy
Great songwriter from a musical Liverpool family. His Dad had a local variety show. Paul McCartney collaborated on a later album. The star making machine labeled the first record as punk, but he is more of a throwback. His wife is a torch singer. Worked with Burt Bacharach and a lot f people
Nice reaction, and everyone thought Elvis was dead.
Hit Armed Forces...Trust...Get Happy etc etc...He has worked with Paul Mc/Roy Orbison/Bacharach/Squeeze/George Jones-Country...etc... From the 80's-2000 have seen him with the Attractions and solo 10+ times
Love me some EC. Someone has already listed his older hits, but he's got some gems on his newer stuff too. The Delivery Man and Another Episode of Blonde are not to be missed.
Holds up , he is a fantastic musician who has had an interesting career. He had a great tv show that was music centric. The first couple albums just to cool, but have about 8-10 in my collection over the years, all good
A few scenes of this video were shot when visiting Vancouver, B.C. Canada (Native toteoms, first beach scene with ships and beach and mountains behind) The concert, hotel hall, unsure,....I have visited Vancouver several times, so I know. -tour in 1979, making early videos!
Lowe married Jonny Cash's stepdaughter Carlene Carter and wrote a song for Jonny titled "The Beast in Me." That's worth checking out. 🎶 "The beast in me / Is caged by frail and fragile bars." 🎶
Niccceee ☘️🇺🇲
I know this is a music reaction channel Shawn, and love the Elvis Costello and the Attractions song and video (had not heard that one before), was that Vancouver in the video?. I am Transgender and live in the UK, and can assure you, there is a LOT of hatred towards folks like me, lies being told right, left and centre. Sorry to get heavy Shawn, LOVE your channel by the way.
This is originally 1973 I think. We thought about it all the time.
Written by Nick Lowe! 😎
I know most people here are going to tell you to check out more Elvis Costello, and so you should...I say check out more Nick Lowe, who wrote this and so many more great songs...
Hi Shawn,
As you can tell by the date, this is the 50th anniversary of the song. Great reaction to this classic. Elvis did have the biggest hit with it. There are two other versions of note for your edification and anyone reading this who’s interested.
During Lockdown, Sharon Van Etten recorded her version with a much more soulful arrangement. With Josh Homme. Of note is the old man in the backyard with his dog and guitar. Spoiler! That’s Nick.
th-cam.com/video/SvIBsyLePtQ/w-d-xo.htmlsi=cNRewKX3Oq_ksucF
Maybe the biggest version of the song was when it was used to close a fundraising concert. It was an all-star sing a long led by The Boss.
th-cam.com/video/szAMOyTe1IY/w-d-xo.htmlsi=n8O3jFKJTa1Y5hMS
There ya go. Tons of greatness surrounded this song that is still relevant today, 50 years later.
Joe
The original version is better. You should check out Brinsley Schwartz they were ace and the main guy (Nick Lowe) produced this album I believe. They don't get enough love.
I loved Costello but ADORE Brinsley.
Costello went on to marry Canadian jazz pianist Diana Krall who is worthy of a reaction. Go figure.