The Elvis Costello Lyrics Test!

John · Post by **John** » Sat Nov 19, 2005 5:02 am

Hi there whar

Not sure if you were shocked by my score or my comment.
The comment of course is just a joke, although before the days of lyrics on the album sleeves (Imperial Bedroom was the first for EC) it wasn't always too easy to work out what young Declan was singing.

anjabro · Post by **anjabro** » Sat Nov 19, 2005 7:29 am

68

I was sure I had a full house there...bugger.

Jackson Monk · Post by **Jackson Monk** » Sat Nov 19, 2005 7:48 am

Not sure why, but the page keeps coming up 'cannot find server' for me. I'm sure i would have got them all right.....

jillbeast · Post by **jillbeast** » Sat Nov 19, 2005 5:30 pm

That was pretty challenging...I tried to go quickly and couldn't really hear some of them in my head...that concerns me

Still 64/69 isn't so bad...I expected I'd do better.

Jill

Otis Westinghouse · Post by **Otis Westinghouse** » Sat Nov 19, 2005 9:09 pm

I take the prize for by far the lowest score:

Punch The Clock
You scored 41 lyrical acumen!
Way better than average. You've probably even heard "Party Party".

They still seemed pretty pleased with me, but no, I never have heard Party, Party!

This, coupled with my continuing refusal to play any of his records these days means I should be officially excommunicated. I tend to never look at lyric sheets unless I'm really vexed by an unknown word, which I guess doesn't help. Wish it finished with a tour of what the correct answers were for ones I got wrong.

Otis Westinghouse · Post by **Otis Westinghouse** » Sat Nov 19, 2005 9:47 pm

I did, however, do better in the 'Should I let you fuck me?' test:

'The Lover
You scored 81% In My Panties!
You have some pussy in Alabama if you can figure out how to get to it. Your dick is aching for me you know it is. Message me and lets talk further.'

(We are all over 18, aren't we?)

Well, the test name was near the top of the list and I was intrigued as to what it might contain. It's intended for straight men. I wonder if Spooky knows/is a neighbour of its creator?!?

selfmademug · Post by **selfmademug** » Sat Nov 19, 2005 10:15 pm

I got a 52. What can I say; the ones I know, I know.

mood swung · Post by **mood swung** » Sat Nov 19, 2005 10:21 pm

I got 47, Otis got 41 and SMM got 52.

Ok, I'm not putting myself in the same league as these other two, but, um,...eschatologists, beware.

so lacklustre · Post by **so lacklustre** » Sun Nov 20, 2005 5:35 am

I'm keeping shtoom.

miss buenos aires · Post by **miss buenos aires** » Sun Nov 20, 2005 8:24 am

mood swung wrote:I got 47, Otis got 41 and SMM got 52.

Ok, I'm not putting myself in the same league as these other two, but, um,...eschatologists, beware.

Some people are on the verge of being excommunicated from the secret board elite. I mean, not that we--I mean they--have been holding meetings or anything. I mean, I wouldn't know anything about it.

Uncomplicated · Post by **Uncomplicated** » Sun Nov 20, 2005 11:01 am

66/69 for me.....darn!

One of the great pleasures for me in being an Elvis fan is. Suddendly really hearing what he is singing in a song and thinking........oh.....ok......that's what he said.....I get it now! I guess I will always be catching up.....

That was fun!

Unc

noiseradio · Post by **noiseradio** » Sun Nov 20, 2005 6:06 pm

69/69

But then I do this for a living, so it's not really fair.

RinghioStarr · Post by **RinghioStarr** » Mon Nov 21, 2005 3:21 pm

65/69.

bobster · Post by **bobster** » Thu Nov 24, 2005 1:52 am

57. I'm a piker compared to most of you guys (and stunned how many of the lyrics I plain didn't recognize).

MistakenForLilies · Post by **MistakenForLilies** » Sun Nov 27, 2005 7:22 pm

68/69
Just realized I missed the one for Episode of Blonde.

Didn't recognize the first part of the line!

Otis Westinghouse · Post by **Otis Westinghouse** » Sun Nov 27, 2005 7:37 pm

I'm still in shock. I decided I would retake and report back, thinking I'd at least make the 50s. I actually got an even worse score!!! I was consciously answering many of them differently to the first time and I guess I went too far. There are lots that are familiar but I'm just not sure. Time to embark on 'project listen to and read every EC lyric ever and then try again'. It really is a bum pain that you don't get feedback and can't see the answers - I could do it the slow way, I guess!

I do feel like I shouldn't be here. Would Zebrasnake have scored higher than me? I've been a fan for 27 years, got all his records and several bootlegs, seen him c. 10 times - is my memory going? Can it really be that I've paid so little attention to his lyrics? Doesn't seem that way to me.

Sadly no-one else has reported back after trying the other test that I tried!

randrew · Post by **randrew** » Sun Nov 27, 2005 9:10 pm

Hello everyone.

I just wanted to thank all of you for taking the test, and I'm glad you're enjoying it.

I am concerned about the bad lyric from "Battered Old Bird". I'll fix that.

Also, sorry I can't report what you all missed. Wish I could.

Who Shot Sam? · Post by **Who Shot Sam?** » Sun Nov 27, 2005 11:53 pm

Thanks for the quiz. It was good fun - and rather challenging. Welcome to the board!

pophead2k · Post by **pophead2k** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 2:16 am

A relatively dismal 63

El Vez · Post by **El Vez** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 8:15 am

Still haven't taken this one (too afraid that I will be banished by The Elders) but apparently I have high score on How Much Do You Love Andrew McCarthy.

Otis Westinghouse · Post by **Otis Westinghouse** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 5:22 pm

Come on, ElV - I haven't been evicted yet - please get under 50 and make me feel a little less isolated! It occurred to me today that in many EC songs I've never figured out what he was saying and since getting the lyric sheets with the reissues, have done nothing to remedy it. is there a Bowie lyrics test I can make myself feel better about?

King Hoarse · Post by **King Hoarse** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 7:01 pm

100%, but can't for the life of me remember in which song fishermen look for their nets. Anyone?

MistakenForLilies · Post by **MistakenForLilies** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 9:27 pm

King Hoarse wrote:100%, but can't for the life of me remember in which song fishermen look for their nets. Anyone?

That would be Tart.
"Fishermen look for their nets... and send their regrets...."

mood swung · Post by **mood swung** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 12:55 pm

did it again, with caffeine and got 53.

ok, so that still sucks.

BUT, if there's a zombie outbreak, I scored 23% higher than others of my invented age and genuine gender. I think my zombie killing abilities ought to count for 10 pts on the elvis quiz. I've got BB guns, people! and I almost know how to use them!

so lacklustre · Post by **so lacklustre** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 3:21 pm

Still under 50 and proud that I am.

Elvis Costello Fan Forum

The Elvis Costello Lyrics Test!

64/69...how did I do so poorly?

69