Paul McCartney talks about Elvis Costello (Part 1)

Paul McCartney talks about Elvis Costello (Part 1)

[@macsnafu]

Paul McCartney: "Have you got any ideas?" Elvis Costello: "Have I got any ideas?" 50 million ideas come out.

[@stilltainted922]

i loved his Elvis Costello voice that he put on there

[@Shane-zx4ps]

@@seanemmettfullerton it’s an Irish ☘️ thing..

[@dalekelley]

I saw Elvis Costello writing ideas in a book on an episode of "2 and a Half Men." Seriously... He was getting ideas from Sean Penn. 😂

[@patrickbrownson1]

Hahaha Very accurate.

[@johnvender]

Anyone here who hasn't seen it, check out Elvis Costello doing Penny Lane in the White House with Paul's backing band and with Paul in the audience

[@stuartharrison165]

Yeah it's excellent , same for Dave Grohl doing Band On The Run .

[@keykrazy]

Came here from it, lol (And now i'm a-gonna go check out Foo Fighter Dave's rendition of BOtR!..

[@QuantumMechanic_88]

Saw the video with Elvis and it was awesome .

[@garymerritt3616]

Actually just saw it! Like five minutes ago. Excellant!

[@rebelno9737]

That was a bit rubbish..he wasn't hitting the notes..I like him as artist though

[@mistabook]

The thing about people with glasses is BRILLIANT. Speaking as someone with glasses, I'm sure he's right. It changes your outlook in ways that are hard to predict. Very Marshall McLuhan.

[@UncompressedWAVmusic]

Nice comments about Elvis Costello whom I also liked.

[@Grisostomo06]

McCartney's a great story teller.

[@alfching2499]

Always looks like he’s making it up as he goes along he’s got that am I telling the truth or not face

[@ferabra8939]

A pity they never really worked together again. I think they came up with great tunes. They really were a great team.

[@Psiberzerker]

Spike: The Beloved Entertainer.

[@manolokonosko2868]

McCartney may come off like a likable guy on TV but there's a good reason John Lennon and George Harrison, plus a long list of studio musicians and ex-Wings band members don't ever want to have anything to do with him again. Elvis Costello, Eric Stewart, and even Denny Laine got fed up with Sir Paul The Cheap. Yoko didn't break up The Beatles, Paul did.

[@rebelno9737]

@@manolokonosko2868 skimping on royalties?

[@Charleybones]

@@manolokonosko2868 interesting thought. I do recall hearing that the collaboration between Paul and Elvis did have some friction. Hard to believe it though as Elvis is a Liverpoodlian too, and the reverence that Elvis must have had for great songwriters, in particular ,melody master like Lennon and McCartney must be enormous. When I listen to the Spike album I don hear any Macca influence. It makes me wonder how much there actually was.

[@kevinobrien9626]

Neither guy takes shit, and both have fuck-you money. Most of Costello's collaborations seem one-and-done, come to think of it.

[@chairmanmajong]

If I have a criticism about Paul it’s that sometimes he can be ungenerous in his assessments of others in relation to himself. He gets defensive. Elvis Costello was unstinting in his praise of Paul and their collaboration was terrific, and I think it benefitted Paul a lot. I think Paul’s defensiveness is largely a reaction to how malicious Lennon was to him after the Beatles broke up. He savaged the work and contributions of his own best friend and key collaborator. And all of the critics followed his lead. It is only really in the last ten years that Paul has finally gotten his due and that the haters have largely been drowned out. But the injuries Lennon inflicted on McCartney left lifelong scars.

[@rattyeely]

Exactly, I honestly think this is why Paul didn't like working with Elvis Costello. Every criticism probably reminded him of John

[@stms4411]

I detect a certain snarky tone coming from Paul, as if he’s reticent to give Elvis credit. Not Sir Paul’s best look imho. There was something there that didn’t allow them to continue to collaborate- what a shame!

[@juliekostas7322]

2 wonderful legends!

[@boomerlady]

he looks so good here! So talented! My favorite is Let it Be

[@beestingza]

What an awesome tidbit. I need to look up their collaboration. I wasn't aware of it.

[@skullduggery3377]

my desert island elvis album: 'this years model'.

[@philrisotto8804]

Going to see Elvis in Worcester Massachusetts in March. Can't wait !!!

[@neboshman]

Not long now bro.

[@MrHowmer]

love you both. thank you. sat at a table next to elvis in a caf'e in chelsea , he was writing. he's special. cool. late lunch saturday afternoon.

[@totalrobot]

I thought he didn't want to go to Chelsea. Something stinks here.

[@rattyeely]

Honestly a nightmare scenario what if he writes you into his song as some type of drunken philistine

[@simonsherratt1484]

​@@totalrobotunderrated comment

[@Buelligan88]

"Is it crap?" Hilarious!

[@sensey07]

Would have loved to be there when they were collaborating ... musical minds

[@robertward4785]

Elvis Costello is actually very similar to Lennon lyrically and not full of shit. I think he challenged McCartney big time. Not sure if he could handle that. Costello wished he wrote Blackbird but McCartney wished he penned Alison.

[@heliopolis]

I like Annie Nightingale, but that was a really mean question! He was very gracious, considering.

[@firstboyonthemoon8876]

At 0:05 she says, "say to you, that's crap". Paul is looking at her like, "i don't ever write crap so that issue never comes up, lady."

[@peterbland7227]

Veronica is an amazing song.

[@NITZANringo]

Holly shit, i have glasses, I'm practically John Lennon 🤯

[@burmashave]

To be Lennon, you'd probably start by realizing the difference between "holy" and "holly".

[@guymichel101]

Paul, I know what you mean about glasses. I mean I used to wear them for most of my life (stopped when Sight For Sore Eyes kept screwing up my prescription, or whatever), but they never made me feel more introverted-it was just one more chore to have to do to be in the world. I know it LOOKS like spex-wearers are more introverted/intelligent, but I can assure you: that's not true, that's just how it LOOKS when you need glasses for looking. But I feel the same w/o glasses as I did with em. Ask any glasses-wearer.

[@Katy-ye1zr]

hmm Let me ADJUST MY GLASSES while I look at this more closely. `@@`

[@billysequins]

Ah the good old iconoclastic Eighties...imagine an interviewer daring to suggest any of McCartneys Beatles songs were "crap" now

[@roxicastro1]

very edifying Paul

[@glennmartin9043]

As an Elvis fan, I hear how Paul was a positive influence. Great as he is, Elvis can be too wordy, and his melodies can get too convoluted.

[@CScott-zu5mv]

It’s a pity when someone puts great words over complex melodic melodies. That’s just the worst. Maybe Gregorian chants are more your speed.

[@glennmartin9043]

@@CScott-zu5mv It's also a pity when someone can't stop himself from being a snotty, condescending prick.

[@patriciofernandez2711]

Yeah as much as I love a lot of EC's stuff, he does tend to "over-write"

[@BeatlesCentricUniverse]

Nonsense. EC is a songwriting genius. One of the best EVER.

[@glennmartin9043]

@@BeatlesCentricUniverse With absolutely no faults?

[@mistermattmoose]

who is the interviewer?

[@magicmayhem4319]

What year is this?

[@aageseljegard8730]

My hero... 😎 but clearly less self assured here than he is today 🤔

[@pogtc12]

I'm a guy with specs and my last name is Costello

[@rattyeely]

And your first name is Pog? Awesome

[@runtsworth]

They are both great songwriters. They've both written great lyrics and music. They've both written some average stuff too. But all of it is no doubt better than anything you or I could come up with.

[@davidmathews2599]

Speak for yourself lad. I'm right up there with them in their finest hours. No big deal it's just what I do.

[@patriciofernandez2711]

Yeah I'm pretty good myself

[@bruceevans3476]

Nice.

[@mikeoleary1723]

McCartney is on some of the songs on Spike. The album has it moments but is not as strong as the albums that went before. Costello's first six albums are excellent.

[@jcBurton2094]

Oh no, Elvis. We don't need fifty million ideas.

[@vernpascal1531]

@@margaretbutera-morris929 Now Now..they are both incredible...

[@seananderson9346]

Re: comments on spectacles: There's a fine line between "stupid" and "clever".

[@davidr4523]

What year is this interview from? Late 80's I assume?

[@Danimal77]

They collaborated in 1987-1988 and the interview's from 1989.

[@mariannelaba1985]

so like 🍭 candy..

[@tonybates7870]

Maybe McCartney, at his peak, had the edge on Costello musically but Elvis' lyrics beat Paul's all day long.

[@lyndagomes7132]

I completely agree!

[@lyndagomes7132]

Tomy...did you ever work @ kfjc?

[@flamingpi2245]

Though I love the man, I’d have to say so

[@leoninocat5070]

Beat Let it be?hey jude?

[@carmenkoening7728]

Wasn't easier. you resonated with him. meaning John....So it was easier..

[@Mrcor916]

What the fuck is he talking about? He fingered his best album in decades thanks to his collaboration with Costello. He makes it sound as if it's the other way around.

[@rattyeely]

Elvis Costello had just come out of a flop era too...

[@MitchelGant]

Most of Macca's 80's interveiws are a bit cringe-worthy in places. I don't suppose Paul would ever publicly admit to having writers-block (hence the collabaration with mr Costello).

[@garyushernotthatone2821]

The collab with Elvis was certainly not due to any writers block. There are sixty or seventy solo demos of Paul's between 85 and 89 and an entire unreleased album from 87.

[@garyushernotthatone2821]

Not to mention that of the 19 songs that came from the Flowers In The Dirt project, only four were co-written with Costello.

[@peterowen9183]

@@garyushernotthatone2821 Absolutely. But in addition to those four, there's another dozen or so songs from those writing sessions which emerged on other McCartney and Costello LPs in subsequent years. Neither of these people were suffering from writers' block!

[@L0REN0R2Z0RR0]

Rickenbacker 12 string in the background

[@danheilman7729]

Has he ever given a straight answer in his life?

[@billytrack]

Yes and no answers make for short interviews

[@sst3d]

Dan Heilman nope

[@jmm1000]

cant very well come out and say "frankly, im kind of a douche"

[@69realstar2]

No probably not the guys thru almost evrything super nova star like Paul Could go thru..but some times there are clues u pick up u know when he's sencere n he is play ex beatle paul.. I think he is Real good man at heart he still love the Beatles With heart n soul...

[@stefankahlmann]

As someone who's worn glasses or contacts my entire life, I do think my poor eyesight has affected the way I perceive the world ... and not just in that I have to squint at things when not wearing my correctives. While very common, it's still a handicap to be myopic. I wonder sometimes, if the word went totally primitive and I had no means of correcting my eyesight (either lost / didn't have my specs), I'd be at a distinct disadvantage against predators vs. someone with perfect vision.

[@Prancer1231]

I agree. I'm the same, and it definitely affects the way you see the world. And I also think it's true that people who wear glasses tend to be more introverted. Of course there are exceptions to everything, but in general.

[@JoryStultz1234]

What a poignant response. I agree whole heartedly and thank you for your passionate words.

[@stuartharrison165]

I always hoped he'd write a few tunes with Paul Weller .

[@dudleyburrow]

Weller = Over rated.

[@sratus]

That thing he said about people that wear glasses is monumental, next level, horseshit.

[@sup9542]

Yeah that was weird. Maybe he's noticed it particularly with rock stars who wear glasses, not just people in general. Maybe to wear glasses as a rock star you have to have a certain attitude of not caring what people think.

[@tomas6700]

This is the best comment I have seen (read) in a long time. And it was not necessary to say. What McCartney said.

[@monsieurcommissaire1628]

Yeah, you apparently never had to go through years of school wearing the infernal things.

[@jacomans9078]

It’s true

[@ryanschmit3948]

Anyone know what they wrote together?

[@shawnuel]

"Back On My Feet", the B-side of McCartney's 1987 single "Once Upon a Long Ago", later added as a bonus track on the 1993 re-issue of McCartney's Flowers in the Dirt. Costello's "Veronica" and "Pads, Paws and Claws" from his album Spike (1989). McCartney's "My Brave Face", "Don't Be Careless Love", "That Day Is Done" and the McCartney/Costello duet "You Want Her Too", all from McCartney's Flowers in the Dirt (1989). "So Like Candy" and "Playboy to a Man" from Costello's Mighty Like a Rose (1991). "The Lovers That Never Were" and "Mistress and Maid" from McCartney's Off the Ground (1993). "Shallow Grave" from Costello's All This Useless Beauty (1996).

[@janetaldrich7747]

Thanks for that list!

[@jonathansmith9235]

Paul was much better than John, and is kind, but bitter, at the same time. John was lacking in so many departments.

[@popvinnik]

Such as?

[@porflepopnecker4376]

Astro would call him "Relvis Rosterro."

[@Canalboyable]

A very extreme example. How about Give Ireland Back to the Irish v A Good Year For The Roses?

[@sensey07]

Good year for the Roses (first performed by George Jones) written by Jerry Chesnut kzbin.info/www/bejne/b37XlYynlrGYatk

[@mandolinorchid]

I did sense a similarity between John and Elvis....although I don't think it has anything to do with glasses (don't know where Paul got that idea). Rather than Elvis working with Paul, it would have been more interesting to see John and Elvis work together (pretty sure the timeline wouldn't allow for that, but it would have been great to see them do a song together had John not been taken so early).

[@ferabra8939]

+Margo Gadet Actually, I think Lennon heard and liked Elvis Costello. He even quoted one of his songs in an interview before passing. He said "I still believe in love peace and understanding as Elvis Costello says". It could have happened in 1980, when Lennon was alive and recording. However, I disagree with you. Costello and Lennon would have brought to the table too much cynicism and acid wit. That, or one of them should have assumed another role. No contrast, no shadows and light. Which is why they were so great writing with McCartney.

[@ohpopshop]

+Fer Abra Minor fussy detail: that's actually a Nick Lowe song, but Elvis' cover of it (produced by Nick Lowe, no less) was a hit in 1978.

[@ferabra8939]

ohpopshop I didn't say Costello wrote the song. I know it's by Nick Lowe, but thanks. If as you mention, it was a hit in 1978, the timing is correct. Lennon heard it and quoted it in 1980. Makes sense.

[@ohpopshop]

Oh, yeah, I know, it was just the wording was ambiguous and could be read that way. Sorry, I work as a writer and editor so I get fussy about language :-). Anyway, no worries!

[@dragankostic26]

it brang ci nisizam to Yu

[@gilbertopicinich1607]

and what did John write on his own Pauly Paul?

[@Crisstti]

What's your point? he simply brought up one example. They were talking about HIS songwriting, so he brought up a song of his.

[@hw343434]

John wrote masterworks on his own; “Strawberry Fields Forever”, “Revolution”, “All You Need is Love”, “Come Together”, “I am the Walrus”, “Dear Prudence”, “Ticket to Ride”, “Help”, “Imagine”, “Jealous Guy”, etc etc etc

[@hamlettelmah441]

So between Paul and Elvis who's gott the better numchucks skills?

[@pauljackson2409]

Wow! That's deep. John Lennon and Elvis Costello have similarities, they both wore specs. Obviously not the smart one in the Beatles was he?

[@shawnuel]

Paul Jackson He is plenty smart. He is not very eloquent as a speaker, though. And sure, like all of us, he says some stupid things

[@marleyvonhoffstein3193]

@@shawnuel Yeah, we all say stupid things, but generalising about people who wear specs, when over half the world population wear specs? That is stupid on an epic scale.

[@catullusisdead]

I love it when millionaires mow each other’s lawns. Big fan.

[@dindadadindoh]

You are rambling Paul.

[@cygnusfloyd]

He's probably high.

[@kevinbill9574]

He's the William Shatner of rock

[@bwcampbell7333]

By the way I wear glasses not contacts and YES I am superior!!! Thanks Paul!! ;p

[@Sp-lv5jx]

When you got a winning formula why would you shy away from it not want to sound like it if it's Beatle like

[@ClueSign]

Paul's accent is much more American since he married Nancy -- random observation.

[@MrDaiseymay]

+ClueSign I think the opposite . To me he sounds more scouse in his old age.

[@ClueSign]

Philip Croft To my American ears, 'scouse sounds a bit like Brooklyn, so maybe it's a bit of both.

[@rebeccas9047]

It's funny how much grey Paul had in his hair in 1989 but he has none now.

[@Castallantel]

What? People with glasses...ummmm...I guess I should be an amazing songwriter then..

[@thewkovacs316]

did paul know that elvis' dad once opened for the beatles?

[@rudyredcat425]

Veronica

[@phantomstratocaster]

what dos Whimpey know?

[@marleyvonhoffstein3193]

That stuff about people who wear glasses - such absolute twaddle. Just his mouth moving but the brain is not engaged. Either he's high or he's so used to people listening respectfully to every word he says that he thinks he doesn't have to make sense any more. I've noticed this with a lot of famous musicians - brilliant in their own field, but in every other aspect of human behaviour pretty much hopeless. That's how compartmentalised musical talent is, I guess.

[@timarnold1634]

God Paul you are great. I know, you told me so. Arse.

[@bwcampbell7333]

The percentage of people who wear glasses is high but most have contacts...I think he was just comparing Declan to John in that way...

[@UncompressedWAVmusic]

I loved the Beatles and also Paul and John Lennon's each of their solo LPS. I never thought of who was better as they were definitely together or separate favorites of mine. I think it's not appropriate to trash either Paul or John and it's in bad taste.

[@treetopjones737]

Yep. Apples & oranges.

[@Beatnikzombie]

You know what makes someone come off like an idiot? Using of when they should use off.

[@burpo]

This is a strange interview. Guys with specs...?

[@pankow55]

He's stoned

[@GreenshieldKnight]

When isn't he?

[@doyoumind9356]

The Beatles were really good

[@mfmazurek]

Once the question was quite common, "Lennon or McCartney?" This is a perfect example of why my answer was without fail "Lennon."

[@Edward1312]

When toadies are forever telling you how good you are you end up starting to believe it.

[@donaldwebb]

what do you mean by this comment? Mccartney and Costello are both good, but yeh once you get a bit of success more success piles on and piles on and some of it in the end is undeserved. People gaping at you with wide eyes mainly because of your previous successes... Still both very talented , but at some point both were basically given a license to print money .

[@gato7908]

@@donaldwebb ultimately they both know what worked and what was crap because the people decide that

[@chairmanmajong]

Gross comment

[@jesusbuddhacultcom8130]

Costello was a Beatles mega fan when he was 10 years old. Not quite a meeting of equals

[@ram0166]

Wonderful Christmastime and Freedom are what happens when McCartney writes songs by himself.

[@chairmanmajong]

Yeah, and Yesterday, Let it Be, The Long and Winding Road, Here There and Everywhere, For No One, etc- all the terrible songs McCartney wrote on his own.

[@rattyeely]

Wonderful Christmastime is one of the most popular Christmas songs of all time, no matter what you think about it

[@simonperry8569]

The early rocky demo of My Brave Face with Costello singing was really good. Then McCartney slowed it down and applied slick, 80s pop production to it, making it bland and plodding. A shame, as it was a good tune. I think they were both too long in the tooth for a partnership by that point. These things work best with a male and female vocal with different styles who bounce off each other and do different parts.

[@cjwaywell]

A lot of your stuff has been crap Paul I wish i'd of been there to guide you then we'd of have a few more band on the run albums out there.

[@RealScarlett33]

Beatle Bill alert.

[@danneumann3274]

So You are one of us, those who know

[@marktaylor4218]

both got specs ............................ haaaaaaa

[@gleannmhuire]

People with specks ????

[@dkurau]

Shame they couldn't find someone who speaks English for the interview.

[@mariannelaba1985]

elvis sulky girl...

[@rattyeely]

Song of all time

[@RonWylie-gk5lc]

I love Paul very much and always will but the "they both have glasses" thing is insulting to both of those fantastic artists

[@MultiJoe84]

He didn’t mean it as an insult, as he tried to explain

[@BigDogCountry]

Is she high? Take off the sunglasses.

[@Raelspark]

This is not the real Paul? This is the replacement?

[@FrankieParadiso4evah]

Yes, call him Faul and he'll look up.

[@scottandrewbrass1931]

Oh look! 2 complete cunts for the price of one.

[@rattyeely]

No matter what you believe, this is the Paul that did the collaboration with Elvis Costello, which is the main thing that matters here

[@chrisnewman7281]

Paul McCartney never likes to hear that his music crap even when it is crap. just ask Hugh Padgham

[@jeandenbelg]

EGO

[@mandolinorchid]

Paul is all about that ego...

[@dp6876]

+Heavy Early Paul admits that EC had to help him with the lyrics. It was always McCartney's weakness.

[@frank35341]

paul jelous of john

[@chriswhittle5075]

No offense to any giant John fans, but in the interview he seemed a tad condescending to me? Is it just me? Depicting Elvis as a glasses-wearing geek with a book-bag? Maybe it's just me. Just a tad.

[@MuhammadFarukh]

I think you confused Paul with John. That's Paul in the interview.

[@pvtrichter88]

+Muhammad Farrukh he just doesn't want to call ELVIS a specky-eyed git!!

[@MuhammadFarukh]

pvtrichter88 What are you on about? I think you meant to reply to the initial comment not me bud

[@pvtrichter88]

Muhammad Farrukh oh my bad !! I believe your right need to focus here evening M8!!

[@MuhammadFarukh]

+pvtrichter88 No problem. It's a little misunderstanding haha

[@manolokonosko2868]

It is an open secret that McCartney treated Costello like shit, even to the point of yelling at him in the studio, in front of all the other musicians and studio staff. As a result, "Flowers In The Dirt" ended up being nothing more than a mediocre, on the verge of crap - "Give My Regards To Broadstreet" territory - album,, while Costello's "Spike" was a much better listen.

[@rattyeely]

Why would Paul yell at Elvis I would think it would be the other way around

[@manolokonosko2868]

@@rattyeely It's documented that Paul being the know it all boss as you have probably witnessed on the "Get Back" , was resented by Elvis Costello, who had quite a following and a reputation for being a great songwriter. I don't particularly like his voice, but his songs are good. SO, Elvis didn't bow down or kneel before Paul, and didn't want to be treated as a "junior" partner, the same as Paul had done with George Harrison. You can guess how the rest of it went.

[@ieronimo18]

Sadly, the majority of Paul's post-Beatles catalog is pure rubbish.

[@tedphilo]

Elvis is fab and groovy, McCartney isn't!!!