It’s his birthday today.
Yes. It was a millionaire who spouted that line. And I love that millionaire, don’t get me wrong, but I do not love the lyrics of that beloved song.
I saw Elvis Costello in concert three times. I was HEAVY into him for a good five or six years. I’ve kind of fallen off, but his music still means a lot to me. My boyfriend and I were obsessed. We discussed his music, we listened to Spike and King of America over and over again.
My brother wrote two pieces about Elvis Costello, which I’ll re-post: I love my brother’s writing!
The first is a review – plus a memoir-type essay – of King of America, which my brother put on his 50 Best Albums list.
The second is the description of going to see Elvis in concert, with my boyfriend, the one I just mentioned above. It’s a funny story, but a profound one too. “I Want You” – mentioned in the piece – is such a great insight – both lyrics and sound – into the mindset of a terrifying psychopath stalker. The Beatles have a couple too. Uhm, “Run For Your Life”? You listen to “I Want You” and you definitely should “run for your life”.
Thank you so much for stopping by. If you like what I do, and if you feel inclined to support my work, here’s a link to my Venmo account. And I’ve launched a Substack, Sheila Variations 2.0, if you’d like to subscribe.
Imagine no possessions… that would erase about a quarter of the episodes of Supernatural.
Oh wait, not that kind of possession.
I think Veronica is my favorite song of his. Or maybe Alison. Bitter, clever, wordy. Empathetic without being sentimental. Masterful songwriter. I wore out My Aim is True and This Years model in college. I’ve only seen him once, the Long Beach Arena back in 1979.
I have a similar relationship with him that you and Brendan have – nothing but good things to say though I don’t listen to him deeply any more. Really, just Veronica and Alison. I only have his first two albums and a couple of singles. I wonder why that is, that I don’t follow him like I do Dylan or Tom Petty or Sturgill Simpson. He’s in that stratosphere. Some much of a muchness where the taste of a couple of albums is enough?
I liked that Julien in LoFi dressed as Elvis Costello for the Halloween party, and Alison (!) didn’t recognize him. Another low key reference/riff/joke/prompt by Liz Riggs?
Elvis was dismissive of the version of Alison that Linda Ronstadt sang, though he remarked that he enjoyed spending the money that her version earned for him. He doesn’t seem like a “yes and” kind of guy. And he doesn’t have to be.
I mean, he was banned from appearing on Saturday Night Live after he went rogue on his first appearance. My favorite part of that story was him being like “I don’t have a problem with SNL – I just didn’t want to sing the song the label wanted me to sing.”
so it’s rebellious – but it’s not like Sinead O’Connor rebellious.
I think the ban was eventually lifted – but it’s one of those famous SNL moments where you are reminded about the “live” part of Saturday Night Live.
I knew that they were annoyed with Dan Aykroyd and his “I’m just a janitor” schtick, but I just learned that they were inspired to switch songs by the Jimi Hendrix Experience not wanting to play Hey Joe on the Lulu Show and have Lulu join them on the last verse.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p032vp1d
I would have likes to hear Lulu sing “I’m going way down south to Mexico, where I can be free” but Jimi, Noel, and Mitch weren’t up for that.
not too many people have been banned from the show – but yeah, if you “disobeyed” orders – like EC did – you felt the wrath!
Exactly: he said *imagine* no possessions. He didn’t say renounce them or get rid of them or even give them to the poor; just imagine. Why people love to zero in on that lyric is beyond me.
Keep up the good work!
“Imagine no possessions.”
“Okay!” [Imagines it] “No thank you!”
and I don’t zero in on just that line. I think the whole thing is suspect. lol still love the song, though!
But you know what I mean: people kind of point to that line and snicker, as if to say “what a hypocrite.” And I don’t think it’s merited.
The line, or actually logic, from that song that I most find fault with is that with no countries there would remain ‘nothing to kill or die for.’ I’m pretty sure that we humans, as resourceful as we are, would still find plenty of other reasons…
Have a good weekend!