UC San Diego Daily Guardian, October 8, 1980: Difference between revisions
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If positive record reviews translated into album sales, Elvis Costello would be wealthier today than Billy Joel, Queen and Olivia Newton-John combined. Since he first appeared on the nascent New Wave rock scene in 1977, he has garnered countless praise-filled write-ups as singer, songwriter and performer. But Costello has never come up with a hit record of his own in this country. "What gives?" you might ask. | If positive record reviews translated into album sales, Elvis Costello would be wealthier today than Billy Joel, Queen and Olivia Newton-John combined. Since he first appeared on the nascent New Wave rock scene in 1977, he has garnered countless praise-filled write-ups as singer, songwriter and performer. But Costello has never come up with a hit record of his own in this country. "What gives?" you might ask. | ||
Pinpointing the reason Elvis the Second hasn't hit it really big is difficult, but here's one possibility — he's simply too paradoxical and confusing to the public to be embraced as a star. Fans like to peg their favorites, and most of the newer rock talents are easily pigeonholed — Deborah Harry as punk sexpot, Devo as junior mad scientists, the Talking Heads as incipient psychos. Identifying Costello's musical identity isn't so easy. | Pinpointing the reason Elvis the Second hasn't hit it ''really'' big is difficult, but here's one possibility — he's simply too paradoxical and confusing to the public to be embraced as a star. Fans like to peg their favorites, and most of the newer rock talents are easily pigeonholed — Deborah Harry as punk sexpot, Devo as junior mad scientists, the Talking Heads as incipient psychos. Identifying Costello's musical identity isn't so easy. | ||
He was first promoted as rock's new Angry Young Man, full of bile and misanthropy. The label seemed to stick. But Costello never exploited his trademark nastiness in the most commercially successful ways. He has avoided becoming a cartoon of himself, which generally is the way for a rock musician to win the biggest audiences. | He was first promoted as rock's new Angry Young Man, full of bile and misanthropy. The label seemed to stick. But Costello never exploited his trademark nastiness in the most commercially successful ways. He has avoided becoming a cartoon of himself, which generally is the way for a rock musician to win the biggest audiences. |
Revision as of 04:31, 29 January 2016
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