Elvis Costello Countdown
- docinwestchester
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Re: Elvis Costello Countdown
The next 10 are up:
http://www.elviscostello.com/news/5050-vision/394
“There’s a merry song that starts in “I” and ends in “You”, as many famous pop songs do”
81. This Year’s Girl
82. Harry Worth
83. You Little Fool
84. I’ll Wear It Proudly
85. Tart
86. Toledo
87. You Tripped At Every Step
88. This House Is Empty Now
89. Just A Memory
90. Favourite Hour
http://www.elviscostello.com/news/5050-vision/394
“There’s a merry song that starts in “I” and ends in “You”, as many famous pop songs do”
81. This Year’s Girl
82. Harry Worth
83. You Little Fool
84. I’ll Wear It Proudly
85. Tart
86. Toledo
87. You Tripped At Every Step
88. This House Is Empty Now
89. Just A Memory
90. Favourite Hour
- Otis Westinghouse
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Re: Elvis Costello Countdown
What fun! Presumably the list of the people who run the site? Nice selections so far with some good inclusions omitted by CK, e.g. Tart (which I'll be singing tomorrow as I listen to the silver trumpets trilling in the Arabic streets of Seville).
There's more to life than books, you know, but not much more
Re: Elvis Costello Countdown
I assume this is Costello himself making the list, right?
Re: Elvis Costello Countdown
I wonder if he's spinning a wheel or rolling some dice to make his selections. I'm sure "he" is having a bit of fun, whether "he" is EC or not.
- docinwestchester
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Re: Elvis Costello Countdown
It does look very random, doesn't it?migdd wrote:I wonder if he's spinning a wheel or rolling some dice to make his selections. I'm sure "he" is having a bit of fun, whether "he" is EC or not.
Or is there some sort of secret pattern that we should try to figure out?
- Jack of All Parades
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Re: Elvis Costello Countdown
What I am liking is the fact that a song like "Basement Kiss" is given some notice along with the likes of "I'll Wear it Proudly". Good fun whomever is compiling this alternative list and a seeminly worthy alternative to CK's choices.Otis Westinghouse wrote:What fun! Presumably the list of the people who run the site? Nice selections so far with some good inclusions omitted by CK, e.g. Tart (which I'll be singing tomorrow as I listen to the silver trumpets trilling in the Arabic streets of Seville).
"....there's a merry song that starts in 'I' and ends in 'You', as many famous pop songs do....'
Re: Elvis Costello Countdown
I'm stunned that anyone thinks this could be someone other than EC making this alternative list.
A) he loves making lists of songs (see the two mammoth Vanity Fair pieces he penned)
B) most of the text that's ever been posted to his official site has been written by him (all that "Moon Conway" stuff, etc.)
C) can you imagine him allowing some webmaster to post something like this without explanation, including unreleased song titles, etc.?
A) he loves making lists of songs (see the two mammoth Vanity Fair pieces he penned)
B) most of the text that's ever been posted to his official site has been written by him (all that "Moon Conway" stuff, etc.)
C) can you imagine him allowing some webmaster to post something like this without explanation, including unreleased song titles, etc.?
- Jack of All Parades
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Re: Elvis Costello Countdown
Well I am willing to entertain the notion that these selections are penned by EC, directly. The catholic character of the first twenty certainly hints at such a possibility.
"....there's a merry song that starts in 'I' and ends in 'You', as many famous pop songs do....'
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Re: Elvis Costello Countdown
Let me just say that, if it is EC compiling this alternative list, it's the best honor I could ever receive, so I'm going to pretend it's him even if it isn't.
- Otis Westinghouse
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Re: Elvis Costello Countdown
As my son would say, over-reaction alert! It's not like he hasn't got quite a lot of other things to be doing with his time.cwr wrote:I'm stunned that anyone thinks this could be someone other than EC making this alternative list.
Well, not 'some webmaster', but someone who's responsible for web content on his site and knows all his work, of course, why not? Entirely plausible, and quite a bit more than it being him himself, I'd say, without wanting to take from your sense of being honoured, CK!cwr wrote:C) can you imagine him allowing some webmaster to post something like this without explanation, including unreleased song titles, etc.?
There's more to life than books, you know, but not much more
- And No Coffee Table
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Re: Elvis Costello Countdown
Who, other than Elvis, had ever heard of "No Star" prior to the publication of this list?Otis Westinghouse wrote:Well, not 'some webmaster', but someone who's responsible for web content on his site and knows all his work, of course, why not?
I agree with cwr. There is no doubt in my mind that the list is EC's.
Re: Elvis Costello Countdown
Based on the fact that Costello has never allowed anyone to write liner notes for a CD of his (and in fact I believe once rejected MAIT reissue liner notes written by Greil Marcus, unless I'm misremembering), and all the text on his website (with the exception of official press releases or news items) has always been written by Costello himself, I think it's almost entirely implausible that EC would let someone start writing a countdown of 'Best' songs by him that included joking references to unreleased songs.
He certainly wouldn't allow it to be tweeted and posted on Facebook. Unless he's suddenly changed completely after decades of sort of always insisting on being in control of things like this.
Also, how is this an overreaction?
He certainly wouldn't allow it to be tweeted and posted on Facebook. Unless he's suddenly changed completely after decades of sort of always insisting on being in control of things like this.
Also, how is this an overreaction?
- the_platypus
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Re: Elvis Costello Countdown
Calm down, cwr, you're out of control!cwr wrote:Also, how is this an overreaction?
- And No Coffee Table
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Re: Elvis Costello Countdown
The countdown continues...
http://www.elviscostello.com/news/5050-vision/394
“It's strange to finally find myself so tongue-tied”
71. Black And White World
72. Heart Shaped Bruise
73. Dr Watson, I Presume
74. Big Tears
75. Pump It Up
76. Black Sails In The Sunset
77. Someone Took The Words Away
78. Poisoned Rose
79. All These Strangers
80. Human Hands
http://www.elviscostello.com/news/5050-vision/394
“It's strange to finally find myself so tongue-tied”
71. Black And White World
72. Heart Shaped Bruise
73. Dr Watson, I Presume
74. Big Tears
75. Pump It Up
76. Black Sails In The Sunset
77. Someone Took The Words Away
78. Poisoned Rose
79. All These Strangers
80. Human Hands
- Jack of All Parades
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Re: Elvis Costello Countdown
Hooray for "Human Hands" and the superb "Dr. Watson, I Presume" and the great photo from his KOA photo shoot.
"....there's a merry song that starts in 'I' and ends in 'You', as many famous pop songs do....'
- verbal gymnastics
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Re: Elvis Costello Countdown
I agree with the thought that this is EC having some fun. There are no explanations, no logic to the selections (which appear to just be random) and no proof that No Star exists (and could be Elvis' mischievous humour) although I can wait to be proved wrong about this one!
Who’s this kid with his mumbo jumbo?
- docinwestchester
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Re: Elvis Costello Countdown
It would be great to get a little CK-style analysis of each song.
C'mon Elvis, give us a taste!
C'mon Elvis, give us a taste!
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Re: Elvis Costello Countdown
Neither can it be satisfactorily proven that "No Star" does not exist.verbal gymnastics wrote:I agree with the thought that this is EC having some fun. There are no explanations, no logic to the selections (which appear to just be random) and no proof that No Star exists (and could be Elvis' mischievous humour) although I can wait to be proved wrong about this one!
and anyway 2 negatives make a positive so it must be true.
- verbal gymnastics
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Re: Elvis Costello Countdown
I hate double negatives - if you don't know what I don't mean
Who’s this kid with his mumbo jumbo?
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Re: Elvis Costello Countdown
The next ones are up: http://www.elviscostello.com/#/news/5050-vision/394
“Fill up that empty space in your heart, listen up when the herald says, “Hark”
61. I’m In The Mood Again
62. A Voice In The Dark
63. Veronica
64. What's Her Name Today?
65. For The Stars
66. She Handed Me A Mirror
67. Dirty Rotten Shame
68. Ghost Train
69. Episode Of Blonde
70. Party Girl
“Fill up that empty space in your heart, listen up when the herald says, “Hark”
61. I’m In The Mood Again
62. A Voice In The Dark
63. Veronica
64. What's Her Name Today?
65. For The Stars
66. She Handed Me A Mirror
67. Dirty Rotten Shame
68. Ghost Train
69. Episode Of Blonde
70. Party Girl
Since you put me down, it seems i've been very gloomy. You may laugh but pretty girls look right through me.
- Jack of All Parades
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Re: Elvis Costello Countdown
Well 'I have to admit its getting better..........' as a fellow Liverpool songster wrote many years ago. Tickled by the inclusion of "For the Stars" and "I'm In the Mood Again" and yet further love for National Ransom in the form of its final song. Our mystery counter list compiler is a 'closet romantic' in his/her secret heart I suspect.
P.S.- a big hooray for that old chestnut- "Ghost Train"
P.S.- a big hooray for that old chestnut- "Ghost Train"
"....there's a merry song that starts in 'I' and ends in 'You', as many famous pop songs do....'
Re: Elvis Costello Countdown
When the EC list is done, I plan to make an iTunes playlist. Anyone else? It will be fun to hear the songs in juxtaposition to each other.
- Otis Westinghouse
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Re: Elvis Costello Countdown
Yes, to complement my CK one. Fun stuff.
There's more to life than books, you know, but not much more
- And No Coffee Table
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Re: Elvis Costello Countdown
http://www.elviscostello.com/news/5050-vision/394
“They're so tired of shooting protest singers that they hardly mention us”
51. All The Rage
52. Tokyo Storm Warning
53. That Day Is Done
54. Still
55. So Like Candy
56. Accidents Will Happen
57. Brilliant Mistake
58. Lipstick Vogue
59. New Amsterdam
60. American Without Tears
“They're so tired of shooting protest singers that they hardly mention us”
51. All The Rage
52. Tokyo Storm Warning
53. That Day Is Done
54. Still
55. So Like Candy
56. Accidents Will Happen
57. Brilliant Mistake
58. Lipstick Vogue
59. New Amsterdam
60. American Without Tears
Re: Elvis Costello Countdown
Looking forward to the top 10.