Elvis Costello Quotes

• The battle with the bottle is nothing so novel.

  Elvis Costello

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  Tags in Music

• The songs weren’t theirs any more. They were everybody’s.

  Elvis Costello

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• Some music that I don’t take to in modern orchestral stuff just seems to be trying to do something with an orchestra that Jimi Hendrix could do so much better with an electric guitar and a fuzzbox. Why create a hideous sound with violas when they were made to sound melodious and agreeable?

  Elvis Costello

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• There is something kind of absurd about people who live in such a comfortable, cushioned, spoiled society tattooing themselves and piercing themselves to make them appear tribal.

  Elvis Costello

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• It would be like comparing blancmange and mustard gas.

  Elvis Costello

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• You need a platform upon which to release an orchestral record, otherwise it’s just going to be an obscurity.

  Elvis Costello

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  Tags in Yourself, Orchestral, Record, Obscurity

• You have to face the fact that I have no reputation as a composer; I have my reputation as a songwriter and a performer-and that opportunity came this summer, when I was invited to perform at the Lincoln Centre festival in New York… three nights.

  Elvis Costello

  Topics in Opportunity

  Tags in Composer, Reputation

• Well, T Bone’s had a remarkable career as a producer since the time that we first worked together. He was dividing his time between recording and producing when we first met, and touring. We toured together and we were great friends.

  Elvis Costello

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Person, Remarkable, Career

• Well, I’ve had a lot of different experiences in music over the years. And not everything you do can satisfy everybody’s idealised version of you.

  Elvis Costello

  Topics in Experience

  Tags in Different, Music

• Very similar experience happened last year when we released this album, North. It was on Deutsche Grammophon, it was very, very honest. It was the most honest record I’ve ever written.

  Elvis Costello

  Topics in Experience

  Tags in Honest

• These are the sort of things that push you on in music – the curiosity, a passion for new ideas.

  Elvis Costello

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  Tags in Music, Curiosity, Ideas

• There’s no such thing as an original sin.

  Elvis Costello

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  Tags in Original, Sin

• There are many critics who have an idealised version of where my strengths lie.

  Elvis Costello

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  Tags in Critics, Strengths

• Sometimes I write notes that I have difficulty singing.

  Elvis Costello

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Difficulty, Singing

• Really the only thing holding a lot of records together is the personality of the singer, and the will to write all of these different things.

  Elvis Costello

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Personality, Singer, Things

• Obviously the people that I admired, like the Beatles, were really into rock’n’roll, but it was already a little past rock’n’roll when I started listening and making my own choices about music.

  Elvis Costello

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in People, Listening, Music

• Obviously I got known for some other songs early on, and some of those were rock’n’roll songs. Some of them were melodic pop songs. And I’ve done lots of different things, as you know, but every so often I get drawn back.

  Elvis Costello

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Songs, Different, Type

• My ultimate vocation in life is to be an irritant.

  Elvis Costello

  Topics in Life

  Tags in Ultimate, Vocation

• Mention Hubert Sumlin, as well, because Hubert’s a great man, and again, you know, I don’t play the guitar very good, but when I’m playing this kind of music, I always have him in my mind. I wish I could play like Hubert.

  Elvis Costello

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Person, Great, Guitarist

• Maybe I just never learned my harmony part, because what everybody says sounds odd to them sounds perfectly natural to me.

  Elvis Costello

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Self, Harmony, Everybody

Elvis Costello (33)

Birth:	25th August, 1954
Nationality:	British
Profession:	Lyricist, Musician, Record Producer, Singer

About

Elvis Costello was born in Paddington, London, UK. Declan Patrick MacManus, better known by his stage name Elvis Costello, is an English musician, singer-songwriter and record producer. He began his career as part of London's pub rock scene in the early 1970s. His critically acclaimed debut album, My Aim Is True, was recorded in 1977. His second album, This Year's Model, was released in 1978. His third album, Armed Forces, was released in 1979, and features his most successful single "Oliver's Army". He has won multiple awards in his career, including a Grammy Award, and has twice been nominated for the Brit Award.

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Births

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• 1972 - Jonny Lee Miller
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Deaths

• 1954 - Lionel Barrymore
• 1958 - Tyrone Power
• 1982 - Vinoba Bhave
• 1917 - Oswald J. Chambers
• 1998 - Stokely Carmichael