Do you consider Elvis Costello to be a poet for our generation? What turn of phrase of his do you admire most?

Question

Please name the song or songs and be as detailed as you like

Answer 1

I consider Elvis Costello to be much more than a poet. He is perhaps the (relatively) mainstream equivalent to the unparallelled Frank Zappa, as they have both experimented with a wide variety of genres such as big band, rock & roll, motown, country, etc. The only genre that I believe Costello has not done that Zappa had ventured in was that of computer music/electronica. Lyrically, he does hit upon the odd bit of pleasance in his diction, stresses, and meter. From the aforementioned song "Watching The Detectives," for example, the lyric "She's filing her nails as they're dragging the lake" doesn't only paint a great scene of sleazy film-noir 1950's imagery, but also has a great rhythmic flow to it.

Answer 2

Oliver's army--'and I would rather be anywhere else than here today'
I saw Elvis Costello for free in Sheffield in the late 70s, during the steelworkers strike.
My boyfriend (later my husband), was given the tickets by a friend and I borrowed my friend's hacking jacket (they were all the rage).
I've always admired Costello's versatility, and he wrote some great songs, and continues to do so!

Answer 3

No.Elvis likes Elvis..that's why he wants to be loved so badly.. ".....so we can tramp the dirt down."...was a good line in dead Thatcherism,maybe "Pills and Soap" that's just hated revenge and I concur entirely..pity about that bomb."Shipbuilding",the Falklands War,is an average song...Who is this dawn Costello anyway?I much prefer Abbott when he says to the Wolfman "it's okay,I'm a bit of a wolf myself."Pump it up indeed.

Answer 4

Love the song Every Day I Write The Book! Deeper lyrics in that one song than in 50 cents entire life!

Answer 5

I like his single, "Watching The Detectives".

Answer 6

No i don't