"Radio Radio" - Elvis Costello vs. Everything | New British Canon

[@TrashTheory]

So what did you think? What's your favourite Elvis Costello song? Comment down below! Trash Theory playlist - Spotify: tinyurl.com/yxp32pjf Apple Music: tinyurl.com/2p83px9m Deezer: tinyurl.com/y2mdp8h2 Also if you want to help support the channel, here's my patreon link: patreon.com/trashtheory

[@gazelle8431]

(I Dont Want To Go To) Chelsea

[@jeshkam]

”Oliver's Army” because the first time I heard it was in a movie called ”101” featuring my all-time favorite band Depeche Mode.

[@jesperchristensen4321]

Any song from the album 'Brutal Youth'.

[@Pannemat]

I Want You. It was there when I needed it.

[@michaelcullen5308]

Favourite Hour

[@rattyeely]

For anyone just learning about Elvis Costello from this video, his career expands far beyond his first few punk albums to cover almost every genre of American music. He's done everything from country to classical music to collabing with Paul McCartney. I definitely recommend checking out his music.

[@totalrobot]

First 4 albums Cant go wrong there

[@iancampbell7171]

I agree....this is but one orange slice in a jug of sangria. People : go forth and find Momofuku, National Ransom, Brutal Youth, King of America, When I Was Cruel, The Boy Named If, et al. Your ears will be overjoyed and you'll marvel at this connection of music to the traits of humanity, whether they be sugar or acid.

[@yanivbin7521]

@@totalrobot Imperial bedroom is probably the best one though, and it's later

[@k-matsu]

@@totalrobot Have to agree. To the OP, I know ..... his talent is obvious regardless of what TYPE of music he does. But the sheer power of the songs he still does in that old, punk-pop style [recent example: Monkey to Man] demonstrate that this is what he does best. The first four albums were so **in your face** that you had to wipe yourself off after listening to it. Ive always been of the opinion that truly great Rock & Roll erupts from the steaming loins of hopelessly horny musicians (not always men) who simply cannot find any way other than music, to release the exploding angst. Unfortunately, once Elvis started getting laid on a regular basis, his music started to go limp.

[@69birdboy]

Always felt Costello played at being tough and his music never backed it up

[@CassandraForAGlobalTroy]

I grew up with a typical teenager's dislike for their parent's favorite music, but Costello slipped through my filter and ended up being one of my own songwriting inspirations. His acid tongue and ability to choose just the right sharp word were and are inspirational.

[@jayburdification]

I had to rebel against Giuseppe Verdi and other boring operas. The only part I liked were the murders.

[@numberonedad]

i feel like i should like costello but for whatever reason find him endlessly annoying in a very middle-class way, musically and personality-wise. rather than loving homages his big hits sound like cheap imitations to me. oh well i guess he's not for everyone.

[@genghis2030]

"You take the broken pieces of another thrill and make a brand new toy." Nice one! You could make an endless documentary based on this premise.

[@pf7746]

He tells a good story where Dylan asked him "How could they do that to your song?" after hearing U2's Get on Your Boots. When U2 were on EC's chat show Spectacle, they did a mash up together of Get on Your Boots/Pump it Up/Subterranean Homesick Blues.

[@kobayashiMaroo]

there is a fine line between love and . . . sorry ladies and gentlemen . . . between stealing and homage, right Quentin T?

[@russellvossler9900]

In fact, a (seemingly) endless documentary IS being made out of this notion--"Everything is a Remix". This (below) is the latest complete version (2015) but it began in a KZbin of several parts starting in 2011, and its author, Kirby Ferguson, is at it again currently (2021-?). Why? Because it is excellent at explaining the true nature of all Art, going back to the beginning. It's how Art works. And because it's always relevant to keep the idea up-to-date. Costello was not just being gracious in saying this, he was being honest. Do yourself a favor and check this out, then watch the other iterations. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pHuzdoWQecusjcU

[@mcolville]

I'm glad you went with Radio, Radio after the poll. I was like "Come on, Radio, Radio is the correct answer!"

[@basedsouljah]

Hahaha literally same. I voted for this and was like aww man... maybe some other time... and saw this and im stoked as im typing this lmao

[@Indieguitarist2007]

Yea me too but hopefully he does making plans for Nigel soon

[@dockerdave]

@@nme87 Yep, I also voted for Making Plans For Nigel but it was really a coin toss

[@tiki_trash]

I voted for this one too!

[@apullcan]

ok but i hope he still does message in a bottle (which ACTUALLY won...)

[@nixonkutz3018]

Hard to believe - well, OK it isn't at all - that "Oliver's Army" was held in chart-check by "Tragedy" and "I Will Survive," two songs I could live the rest of my life without hearing ever again. These New British Canon videos are simply the best, good on ya, lad

[@RebeccaTurner-ny1xx]

It's entirely possible to love all three of those fine songs.

[@jeshkam]

Please do a Joe Jackson story. From punkish new wave, through elegant jazz pop to...anything he's up to these days. 😎

[@madophelia4322]

great shout! It's different for girls is the most perfect song hes written

[@sergiosaunier]

For me it's "Steppin' Out"!

[@christopherspatz5852]

Jackson's classy. David Lee Roth nailed it: Costello's snootty wanna bees today run NPR.

[@jackistvanffy7000]

Love Joe Jackson!!

[@Blinkerson55]

Look Sharp hit us hard! Then became the jazz. Pop crooner

[@erocrush]

I saw that SNL performance and was completely amazed. The Following Monday everyone else in my 7th grade class despised him. That’s when I realized I was a weirdo. “Watching the Detectives” literally changed my life.

[@yummyyum36719]

Yup. "Where's the guitar solo?" asked the usual snotty popular kids. "In the bass" I replied.

[@HalfHeartedFanatic]

I wrote down the lyrics to "Radio Radio" and gave them to my high school social studies teacher. He read them to the class.

[@TheWriteStuffWC]

I only had one friend who liked it so we saw him play on a jai alai court in Bridgeport, CT. He stood directly in front of us and it was the best!!!

[@Nono-hk3is]

"That's how rock & roll works: You take the broken pieces of another thrill And make a new toy. That's what I did." Hell yeah, Elvis.

[@chewyduck1355]

I bought Get Happy in 1980. I had never heard of Elvis Costello but I thought it was the coolest name ever and the album graphics were just amazing to me. I HATED the album on first listen but something kept me going back to it. I wore that album out. It is still one of my all time favorite records.

[@RyanMichero]

"Radio, Radio" was the correct answer. And that live performance with the Beastie Boys is a total banger.

[@chrisdrake447]

That was bloody marvellous! I was into US heavy metal at the time and really could not care less about Elvis Costello. However, I could not get out of my head the fact that the presenters on the LBC radio morning show (which my father insisted on listening to) kept having a dig at ‘Oliver’s Army’, trying to decipher and interpret the lyrics. If a pop song (rather than a punk song) had gotten such an establishment clique so indignant, perhaps I needed to diversify my musical interests. And it worked. Elvis C, and new wave, and punk and Motown and ska and rockabilly and yes, rock and metal, still make up my daily soundtrack. Thanks, Elvis!

[@JordanSeal]

Fantastic video, though the end left me wishing that modern chart-toppers would go after modern radio replacements with half the venom that Costello seemed to display about everything.

[@treehousekohtao]

It was explained at the end. In Elvis' day, radio was all powerful, now listeners control what gets played.

[@chasbodaniels1744]

@Neal Marshall Yep, listeners have long influenced what gets played by tuning out when a song they’re unfamiliar with gets played. The masses themselves caused broadcasters to cater to the widest (and lowest) common denominator. Creativity and expanded playlists proved fatal to ratings ….. …. so Elvis was right.

[@cuebj]

@@chasbodaniels1744 except in UK, we did have some good radio that played non-mainstream stuff and had big audiences - John Peel being the most obvious example. I had a radiocassette recorder plugged into an electromechanical plug to record those shows and play them back during the day - made for more interesting breakfast radio than Tony Blackburn or Dave Lee Travis

[@yummyyum36719]

The irony of the of a video that chronicles the Attractions blowing up 1970s commercial pop being interrupted by KZbin commercials is not lost upon me. Great upload. Well done.

[@bobbenson6825]

I was fortunate enough to see the "Radio Radio" performance when that SNL episode was first broadcast. I'd already seen two of his live shows at that point, he and his bands have always been killer live performers. So many great songs on those first albums and he never let up making more of them.

[@kaed_f]

Lemme make sure I got this, you watched a widely broadcast TV show 40 years ago that is still widely available today. Good shit m8.

[@patriciofernandez2711]

@@kaed_f He's saying that he's fortunate he got to see a landmark musical moment right as it was happening. You're being a prick.

[@OwenGilmoreOG]

Me too! I also loved Devo’s SNL performance. Smoked a joint and it totally tripped me out

[@goodun2974]

@@patriciofernandez2711 , the modern term for the era before every home had a VCR, and before the Internet was even dreamed of,, is "appointment TV". We stayed up to watch live performances because we had no expectation that they'd ever be seen again on any media format.

[@kaed_f]

@@goodun2974 I'm sorry if this again sounds like I'm being a dick but do you think people don't know this? Haha technology marches on get this people had to hand write books before the printing press but you don't hear my monk hermit nephew boasting about his time writing bibles in the 12th century

[@Bodyknowledge77]

Elvis...I was in Wholefoods Market in Manhattan years ago with my ex-gf and I spotted Mr Costello accompanied by two people while shopping. Soon after we heard a polite "pardon me" from the man himself. Elvis and his crew needed to get through. Me and me ex gave each other an eye popping amused gaze. We parted like the sea for a guy we grew up seeing and hearing on MTV. I got much love in particular for "Everyday I Write The Book" btw..

[@jackprather3471]

Costello has been my favorite since early in my college years. As you pointed out, he had the seething energy of punk, but with roots in a variety of pop forms, and it made his records much less predictable than many of his contemporaries. To this day you never know exactly what you're going to get from a new Elvis Costello album. With a gun to my head, my favorite track of his is probably "Watching the Detectives," but there are so many others that I admire deeply, including "Sneaky Feelings" "Let Me Tell You About Her" "The Crooked Line" "Let Him Dangle" "Shipbuilding" "Chelsea" and "Under Lime"

[@vernpascal1531]

Hell those guys back in the late seventies Weller,Costello, Parker and Jackson. Nobody has come close to their body of work since.

[@driverbwm]

My Aim is True and This Years Model came out around the time I was finishing Senior High School. I was so tired of the late 70’s rock and Disco scenes, I just grabbed onto EC and others of the time. I remember to time with great affection. Lipstick Vogue and Watching the Detective were my favorites. Thanks for this video.

[@andrewaiken7854]

I was 12 years old and saw Elvis do that on SNL .Didn't really know what was going on but I thought "this guy is talking over the show, this is awesome"! I've been a fan ever since

[@evenbet9603]

Hard to deny Elvis Costello the appellation of genius. Of course he had influences but his work is unique. Absolutely my favorite artist.

[@Bat_Boy]

“Drunken talk isn’t meant to be printed in the paper.” - Ray Charles responding to the notorious pub encounter. Ray is a class act.

[@CJ-ft9yo]

No way - stays in the pub

[@crispybug]

I saw that SNL performance as I was was in New York visiting my elder brother who had moved there a year previously It was my first time on a plane, I had just turned 16, and New York was in equal measure exciting, terrifying and weird. I was, and remain, a big fan of Mr Costello and I found real comfort in seeing him play whilst I was in my most fish out of water moment

[@pauld2810]

Video shared! My favorite Costello lyrics: "Days of Dutch courage, just three French letters, and a German sense of humour."

[@jon-paulfilkins7820]

Could never quite understand 'Man out of Time' was on about, but its lyrics painted a picture of being out of place but having to carry on.

[@MirlitronOne]

"Shall I push on the brake to get out of her clutches, can I speak double-Dutch to a real double Duchess?"

[@kandigloss6438]

As an American that heard Elvis Costello on the radio a lot growing up but didn't understand the meaning of the very British lyrical content this video was very interesting.

[@johnsowerby7182]

It's interesting in light of the Olivia Rodrigo comment to think back to the fact that Costello started with a folk group. Folk musicians are far more open to people taking someone else's work and putting their own spin on it. It's part of the actual folk tradition

[@yummyyum36719]

Plus he still wants to promote Pump it Up. What better way than to have a modern pop star pinch it.

[@secularZoo]

True. I know a bunch of local folk rock musicians and they love covers. If I hear "Wagon Wheel" one more time I swear....!

[@Breezewax]

Elvis Costello is one of these artists that has flown by my radar, but I've never actually sat and listened to. Thank you for another great video. I would love to see a vid about Labbi Siffre. I think he's an incredible British songwriter deserving of a place alongside the likes of Bowie and The Beatles. Sadly it wasn't to be, and I never hear him talked about. Most people don't even know 'It Must Be Love' is his song and the Madness version was a cover!

[@chrisdelisle3954]

Favorite Elvis Costello song? Impossible to say. More than likely, it's one of the following: "Running Out Of Angels," "Big Boys," "No Action," "Busy Bodies," "Party Girl," "Riot Act," "Strict time," "Beyond Belief," "Man Out of Time," "Brilliant Mistake," "I Hope You're Happy Now" or "The Other End of The Telescope." Or possibly "London's Brilliant Parade" or "Hurry Down Doomsday (The Bugs Are Taking Over)." Beautiful video. I love how you put all of this together.

[@brianoneil9662]

My favorite Elvis song is "New Lace Sleeves." I just love how well he uses his voice in that one

[@Nono-hk3is]

Thank you for reminding me how much I love Elvis Costello.

[@TedTheTree]

"Accident's will happen" is one of my favourite Costello tracks;

[@markgatland977]

Brilliant video, as always...I fell into Elvis through the 'Girls! Girls! Girls!' double compilation CD put out a good few years ago. One of those artists who I still regularly listen to, "The Boy Named If" , his current album, is a stormer. An old band I was in, Commander Swift, had a crack at 'Lipstick Vogue' which is a brilliant song, and as a bass player you realize what a monster Bruce Thomas is

[@apenaseu6777]

I think elvis costello popularized the jazzmaster guitar, at least for me, this guitar has become very iconic, and in my opinion it is a very beautiful guitar

[@chris_troiano]

Sean Nelson (Harvey Danger) adores Elvis Costello and the influence comes through in so so many things Sean is known for - fashion, stage presence, lyrics, etc. I knew this, but I can really see how deep his inspirations ran after watching this video.

[@deannilvalli6579]

Insightful and well made as ever, this channel is gold. And a video about Elvis Costello.... platinum! You could easily make a documentary video about every album and never get bored. The man is a genius.

[@christopherbarney8424]

I honestly love the man so much, it's damn near impossible to name a favorite song. But having said that, give me " There's a story in your voice" off of the Delivery man.

[@tombodensick4437]

Costello, Springsteen and Neil Young...greatest songwriters of the 70's

[@ethanprince356]

12:42 Due to the animosity about God Save The Queen, it was listed as #2 on the singles charts in 1977 when it clearly beat Rod Stewart to the top - the Beeb didn’t want a song shaming England to be #1 because it would probably damage their reputation

[@TheWriteStuffWC]

When I was a kid, I was introduced to punk from shows like SNL-Elvis Costello, Talking Heads, Devo, etc. And I still love them all-just saw Elvis in NJ a couple months ago!

[@basedsouljah]

Oh my god im so happy you chose Radio Radio instead of the more popular vote (cant remember what it was) but I am so beyond pleased. You are a Man of the People. We love you.

[@simplenough]

It was the Police

[@pleasantvalleypickerca7681]

"The Attractions" One of the greatest backing bands of all time! "This Years Model" is my favorite album of all time!!!

[@kevinmorriss]

He still puts on a great show. Although I lean towards Elvis's more rock sensibility material and I'm generally not a fan of his crooning Bacharch era material, I think Shipbuilding is his best song. A masterpiece of wordsmithing and acidic social commentary with the added bonus of a moving swan song trumpet performance.

[@lisawalker8014]

I was watching that night when they played radio radio on SNL and I've never forgotten it if I had to choose a favorite for all time I guess it would be peace love and understanding but he's had so many great ones over the years yeah he's naughty is f*** but nobody will ever be greater than Elvis Costello and the attractions KZbin's voice synthesis is crap so I meant snotty not naughty but you get the idea

[@pf7746]

@@lisawalker8014 Interesting that Bucolicaholic chooses a song that Costello only wrote the words to (and which he considers a Robert Wyatt song as Wyatt performed it originally, and arguably better), and that you choose a song written by Nick Lowe that Costello made famous! All goes to show how the best music often emerges from collaborations and reinterpretations! For me, I'd go with Beyond Belief.

[@rogink]

Is it worth it? A new winter coat and shoes for the wife ... and a bicycle on the boy's birthday. Beautiful, haunting song. But of course it was really Robert Wyatt's song. "Pump it up" for is the ultimate feel good song. So brilliant to have had an icon who could write both songs.

[@constructionbootgazer]

Lipstick Vogue gets my vote for his best song. Ridiculous bass line and drumming and those lyrics cut like a hot wire.

[@lastofthe4horsemen279]

Absolutely Shipbuilding

[@stephenpalmer9375]

What a great video. Costello has always been an artist I have enjoyed, but the various levels of context here made for a really focussed documentary that goes beyond the straightforward history. Bravo sir!

[@davepitt11]

Elvis and John Hiatt are my favorite song crafters of all time. Lyrics, melody, craftsmanship... Great job as always on the video.

[@chasbodaniels1744]

Good taste, sir.

[@kevtruth]

Me too. Costello and Hiatt

[@patiopatiopatio]

Been waiting forever for you to do an Elvis Costello one of these! Also Armed Forces is an absolute masterpiece.

[@benjaminarmstrong7047]

It was perfect timing. This bored teenager, gagging on Disco, Bee Gees and Eagles reached over and turned off the radio and started my own record collection.

[@Nestor123057]

Thanks for the clarification of the incident on SNL. I'm old enough to remember the live performance. I always thought the anger was due to something having to do with the BBC and Leone Greene not wanting to upset them. I didn't realize it was more of an ego thing like Sullivan with the Doors.

[@ram0166]

Elvis figured out the truth about SNL pretty quick.

[@MatthewOfLondon]

As a little boy I can actually remember (I think) Radio One using the "Radio Radio" bit as a jingle inbetween the DJ's talking. Honestly I am no child genius but even at ten I knew this song was taking the piss out of them before they did. Great video btw ❤

[@OldSkoolWax]

I'm from Belfast and in the 60s my Dad moved to London for work. Islington I think. He said he got called a 'white N****' pretty regularly in pubs and work sites (he was a navvy). It was a regular insult bt the Sassenachs back then towards Irish. Context is everything. I'm sure the term is alien to Americans.

[@SerenityAutumn]

Very alien! Or at least they don't teach us about that in our schools.

[@reggiechamberlain-king7633]

It is interesting how that line has misunderstood in reports of EC's decision: this video suggests it was directed at an Irish immigrant; the BBC took EC's story about his granda the wrong way round and reported that the slur was directed at a British solider. While I understand EC's decision and think it wise, I will admit that, hearing it as child in Belfast during the Troubles, it felt like a rare instance of an outsider understanding the situation in which we lived - dehumanised by British soliders; at risk of being shot dead by scared young men sent abroad with itchy fingers. Certainly, for me, this song about British colonialism identified connections - and raised a class consciousness - between traumatised post-colonial people everywhere.

[@geoffgero6081]

Elvis Costello's early music is just incredible! I didn't know a lot of this story though, thanks for telling it in such an engaging way

[@aestroai8012]

i love this channel. You dive so deep into the backstories of these stars. Now I have a laundry list of tracks to look up.

[@cgraviss]

"Your mind is made up, but your mouth is undone" is one of the best lines ever

[@amherst88]

Nice job -- as far as I'm concerned This Year's Model is one of the best records ever made (& those of us who were young when it came out know from whence he speaks) . . . it still holds all the venom.

[@adambarker3130]

Yes, the first two venom-filled albums never get old for me. Then my list of favorites jumps to "King of America", which is great in a different way.

[@johnglenn30csardas]

Agreed. Lip Service has one of the greatest melodic bass lines ever and what a hook.

[@graniteman62]

Elvis Costello is for sure most influential music from my late teen years. He is the god of new wave. His first few albums are classics. Some of his later not so much. Graham Parker, The knack, Psychedelic furs, Rough Trade etc. The bong

[@charlesthebrick5251]

My dad did lighting for Elvis Costello. Thanks for making this video :)

[@thegeecyproject]

I was hoping you’d mention Rogue Traders’ “Voodoo Child” sampling “Pump It Up” alongside Olivia Rodrigo. That was really my first exposure to Costello’s music! Also, I was not aware of the connection between Costello and Huey Lewis. It really adds a new layer to Patrick Bateman’s line in American Psycho about how “he’s been compared to Elvis Costello, but Huey has a more bitter and cynical sense of humour”.

[@gardenboydon]

I love your channel so much. You give your viewers such delightful documentaries! Thank you!

[@jimpalmer2981]

This was a terrific recap of EC's early years, attitude, aesthetic and context. Many thanks for all the hard work you put into this. Gave me a new appreciation for one of my favorites of all time.

[@marcus8176]

As an american with an eclectic taste in a lot of music I always had trouble appreciating Elvis Costello, this video finally did it for me, and as a long time viewer this is why I stay subscribed excellent content m8

[@pleasantvalleypickerca7681]

Favorite song? Wow way too many great ones. A few that I love album openers "No Action" 2 minutes of intense F you anger! "Accidents will happen" best opening lyric line ever "Oh I just don't know where to begin". Truly one of the most intelligent song writers in Rock 'n' Roll.

[@DrawtheCurtains]

Man, your videos are so fantastic. I was lucky enough to see Costello in Phoenix back in November; he still sounds great!

[@curtandoscar]

His early videos - goddamit I love them all.

[@johnmazza9432]

Awesome documentary. Elvis has always been one of my favorites along with The Clash. Recently, I'm also discovering Blondie's Parallel Lines which is an amazing record even though it is simple pop music. Got to remember that early Beatles was also simple pop music.

[@andrewfinlaison2950]

Favourite song......Radio, Radio ! I'm an ageing but loyal Costello fan, saw him on the Stiffs tour in the late 70's, and just recorded a cover of "Radio", at home with my son playing drums and some friends helping out with bass and keys. It's very amateurish, but going through the process makes you realize how good Elvis and the band were. So many great elements in this song. I love so many of his songs but this is top of my list. Red Shoes would be 2nd......takes me back to uni days and hearing My Aim is True for the first time. Indelible memories. That Stiffs concert in '77 at Lancaster uni a musical highlight for me.

[@engurland]

Man Out of Time and The Long Honeymoon are lyrical perfection for me.

[@kettlezone]

When are you doing one of these on the magnificent XTC, bro? See also Talk Talk. :)

[@tmamone83]

My mother raised me on Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe, and Dave Edmunds. Oh BTW, I don't know if you take suggestions, but I'd love to see you do a video on "O Superman."

[@chasbodaniels1744]

Coolest Mom ever!

[@rabbitfishtv]

Superb video!! My favourite Costello songs are “Tokyo Storm Warning,” “The Birds Will Still Be Singing,” “The Sharpest Thorn,” and “Fallen.”

[@eddiez1247]

I love The Weakerthans so much. Glad to see them mentioned here.

[@steven2212]

A British treasure and one of a kind. Bravo Elvis.

[@saltyc]

Probably my all-time favorite artist. Thanks for doing this. I learned a few things I didn't know. The news of The News blew me mind!

[@markstiggs4471]

A very good essay on this song. I was a teenager watching SNL the night Elvis and the Attractions performed the song. I was galvanized and became a fan for life of this great songwriter. I think you understand the zeitgeist of that time, which (since I was a teenager) was formative to me. I became a professional musician.

[@michaelbonanno7476]

I really like how you showed the influences of past music and/or lyrics. You must have done a lot of work to do this video! Thank you for connecting those dots!

[@DukesMusic84]

My father loved Elvis Costello when he first came to the US during the punk era. Definitely made quite the impression on SNL, which was then a brand new show.

[@caseforsong]

Superb video. And that ending phrase... was Costello's level. Congratulations!

[@romankotas448]

Oh cool, I voted for this song

[@meshellepulsifer6837]

me too

[@aclockworkreview]

Me too

[@TheFancyman99]

Yooooo thank you for making this Elvis Costello is literally my favourite

[@rb-kd4ry]

This is ABSOLETLY AMAZING. WELL DONE.

[@michaelcraig745]

So many great songs, some ofmy faves are Pump it Up, Watching the Detectives, and Alison.

[@jaschul]

"Man Out of Time." Brilliant final line on your part, BTW.

[@DonaldTurner]

so good, man. thanks for this. you do some truly excellent work. and as for elvis, I loved the hell out of his early days. Joe Jackson too. but then their anger fades, and with it, the themes and riffs, that I loved them for in the first place.

[@cuebj]

Sad. They grow up and learn to channel anger plus sadness, joy, complexities of life and love but, it seems, you don't. John Lennon was similar. He remained an angst ridden young teenager till just two years before he died and discovered that Silly Love Songs are the glue in family life with babies, small children

[@WolfandCatUnite]

Mind blown, thank you for a great video. Great artist.

[@popgunandy]

I've loved Elvis Costello since his first album...thanks for this video. I find his evolution as a songwriter fascinating; Hard to believe the guy who wrote Allison also penned Everyday I Write the Book...such versatility is rare, as is his ability to create dissipate but lyrical turns of phrase. Get Happy might be my favorite album.

[@patriciofernandez2711]

This was a joy to watch, I'm a massive EC fan and I can tell you did your research and commented on it very eloquently

[@staceyanderson3634]

This was so great! Exactly what I wanted to see. Learned a lot and loved every minute. I had to watch the vid for Veronica after watching and have a little cry for my own sweet granny. But I think "Watching the Detectives" and "Alison" are my faves. Definitely planning to do some deeper dives in his catalogue tho.

[@johnmelville9300]

Beyond Belief, singing the lyrics today. Special shout for Little Fool that video played so much on MTV as I had no idea who Elvis Costello was at 5 but I really loved that song.

[@roguetoken5640]

Pleeeease make a video on Madchester! The Happy Mondays, The Stone Roses, The Charlatans, The Farm, Paris Angels, so many great bands!

[@akimlaberge-touat362]

Did you watch 24 hours party people?

[@roguetoken5640]

@@akimlaberge-touat362 yup. Love it. There's also a Shaun Ryder biofilm in the works, called Twistin' My Melon.

[@akimlaberge-touat362]

@@roguetoken5640 is it good?

[@roguetoken5640]

@@akimlaberge-touat362 Twisting My Melon isn't out yet, I havent seen any updates on it for a year or two now. 24 Hour Party People is a great movie.

[@roguetoken5640]

@@TheAdArchive his last two videos were the origins of punk and grunge. Both are very well documented. So I'm not sure what your point is. Madchester/Baggy/Grebo have all but been forgotten about by the greater public, while that sound is still wildly influential. I think a TT video on the scene would be great!

[@risboturbide9396]

Great video. All my respect to Declan McManus... Definitely one of the best songwriter/lyricist ever. Cheers 🍻🍻

[@pcno2832]

The message of "Radio Radio" became even more relevant in the USA in the next few years after the song came out. In July of 1979, the "disco demolition" riot at Comiskey Park made headlines across the country and during the next year, mainstream rock stations not only banned anything that could be called "disco" (some of which did deserve to go), they also quietly shunned most punk and new-wave, pushing the stale "Kick Ass Rock and Roll" format that later morphed into "Classic Rock". Even acts like the Clash became scarce on U.S. radio during 1980 and 1981, being confined to alternative and college stations. That freeze started to thaw in 1982 and 1983, but by that time New Wave was throwing shade on what was left of Punk, so the USA missed out on the most exciting phase of British Punk and the genre only crept back into the mainstream in dribs and drabs, with Twisted Sister's "We're not gonna take it." being one of the first big mainstream quasi-punk hits thinly disguised as Heavy Metal. Of course, now, even "Classic Rock" stations play some of the Punk standards that their fore-bearers shunned, but I still remember the early 1980s as an era when everything on mainstream radio was lame.

[@jld593]

Very true. That was my experience and thoughts about AOR (which aged into Classic Rock). Nice write up.

[@jenhalbert3001]

I know all the songs you quoted, but I really think the one that grabs me the most is radio, radio.

[@rini6]

Love Elvis. His attitude was everything. And he’s still good. He’s always been the real king for me. 💖

[@RockStory-Steve-Randall]

Great video! Massive work here for a ton of interesting stuff about Costello and his first years.

[@vincentp149]

Goon Squad. Five Gears in Reverse. Another great upload. Saw Elvis Costello at the Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles in 1999. That show still ranks in the top five concerts I've ever been to.

[@MarkSentMe]

The whole "Trust" and "Taking Liberties" albums are my favourites.

[@jameslewis8227]

All of Elvis’ songs are my favorite song... He’s been an international treasure forever, regardless of the pH level of his tongue.

[@trystero1729]

I absolutely love this song; possibly my favorite Elvis track. I wish there was a little more music as cynical and witty as those first few Attractions records.

[@captainsunshine3d]

not really similar in sound but if you like that cynical/witty attitude i'd definitely recommend the band bomb the music industry!

[@gabe_s_videos]

There's plenty of cynical music out there right now, but not a lot of it is very popular. Or if it is, the people making it aren't as willing to bite the hands that feed them, or if they do it'll be on their own platform, not someone else's.

[@paulgmarriott]

Red Shoes. I happened to have a pair of red shoes - by Zapata, if memory serves - in the mid-70s. Which, of course, I wore to the Live Stiffs Tour performance at Birmingham Town Hall in '77. Great gig and, significantly, introduced me to the fabulous Ian Dury... Gawd rest the diamond geezer's soul.

[@juankiroga8470]

My favorite artist so far. Hard to choose just one song, but maybe is Shipbuilding

[@hugh-johnfleming289]

I did get to see him, all the contempt, back in the '70s and it was fun. Good, quick, tight set. And again decades later when he was so generous and affable, like playing songs with family. Costello provided contrasts/contradictions in everything.

[@rudeboyjohn3483]

FYI: He also produced The Specials breakout self-titled album