Elvis Costello Fan Forum's Top 50 Elvis Costello songs!

Mr. Average · Post by **Mr. Average** » Sat Mar 13, 2004 9:50 am

I am not surprised by the #1 position of Beyond Belief. I think SelfMadeMugs theories are corrrect. I would add that there is something spell-binding about this song, something compelling to the listener that makes then want to grab the lyrics and try to determine "what the hell is he speaking of".. .

The song begins with such an ominous, almost sinister beat that is tangentially reminiscent of the opening of Watching the Detectives, thereby providing an emotional link back to a very strong foundation. I think the song has a pent of feeling of dangerous energy right from the beginning, and that radiation-like power builds quickly throughout until it is released in the final verse "IIIIII got a feeeeling, I'm gonna get a lot of grief..."...like nuclear energy escaping the Springfield Power Plant with Homer asleep at the switch.

For three years on the lower left hand corner of the large white board in my office I had the first verse transcribed in blue marker, of course properly credited to Elvis Costello:

"History repeats the old conceits
The glib replies the same defeats
Keep your finger on important issues
With crocodile tears and a pocketful of tissues"

I had more people study that verse and inguire as to its meaning re: my business philosphy. I always told them to draw their own conclusions. It was comical how many marketing plans for new product submission I reviewed that contained the line "History Repeats the Old Conceits, the Glib Replies the Sames Defeats" as an intro to the product/market rationale section. Once, it was credited to Sun Tzu's "The Art of War".

I am thrilled with the #1 position of Beyond Belief.

Thank you, BlueChair.

so lacklustre · Post by **so lacklustre** » Sat Mar 13, 2004 9:50 am

42 lists.

Indded yours was the only vote for 5IVE GEARS IN REVERSE which came joint 183rd and last along with:
I Wanna Be Loved
Little Palaces
Miracle Man
Sunday's Best
TKO (Boxing Day)
You Want Her Too

Post by **BlueChair** » Sat Mar 13, 2004 10:23 am

I think my biggest surprise is the omission of "Clubland", which I always thought was a big fan favourite.

selfmademug · Post by **selfmademug** » Sat Mar 13, 2004 10:30 am

BlueChair wrote:I think my biggest surprise is the omission of "Clubland", which I always thought was a big fan favourite.

I think both CLUBLAND and GOD'S COMIC are real showcase songs live, but not necessarily in studio form. However I think I would have had to jump off the Tobin Bridge if NEW LACE SLEEVES (my #1) hadn't been in there so solidly.

SLL-- thanks to you too, clearly you did some serious crunching on this. Will you be issuing a 'white paper'? Did you guys get any grant money for this project?

notangry · Post by **notangry** » Sat Mar 13, 2004 11:35 am

No 45? Should be at least #45.

Watching_Detectives · Post by **Watching_Detectives** » Sat Mar 13, 2004 1:37 pm

Good list! There were a few songs that I think shoulda made it, but I think it was awesome. Thanks, BlueChair!

seanpointblank · Post by **seanpointblank** » Sun Mar 14, 2004 3:02 am

Yeah, I was being sarcastic about The Only Flame in Town.

Goody2Shoes · Post by **Goody2Shoes** » Sun Mar 14, 2004 2:51 pm

I'm surprised that Possession is so far down the list.

And where is Chemistry Class? Am I really the only one that likes it?

Thanks for putting the list together, BlueChair and So Lacklustre. It's a nice little snapshot of ourselves.

selfmademug · Post by **selfmademug** » Sun Mar 14, 2004 6:18 pm

CHEMISTRY CLASS was on my list.

You know I am totally fascinated by this... (geek)

Paul B · Post by **Paul B** » Sun Mar 14, 2004 6:25 pm

London's Brilliant Parade at 62, well, better not tell Ken Livingston - and as for God's Comic 'bubbling under' at 93, frankly I was about to resign in protest. Persoanal faves aside, does the fact that our top 50 is heavily weighted towards the earlier parts of his career mean collectively we don't think Elvis is as good anymore? BTW, how many voters in total?

selfmademug · Post by **selfmademug** » Sun Mar 14, 2004 6:52 pm

The answer is, of course, 42 (geek).

Toy Soldier-Scaremonger · Sun Mar 14, 2004 7:59 pm

Out of the fifty tunes after having made fifteen picks, only three of my choices made the list. I'm pleased with that since I've always liked knowing that I dig the more obscure pieces that most others don't. But of course, Beyond Belief was on my list too

10 · Post by 10 » Mon Mar 15, 2004 1:56 am

10. Couldn't Call It Unexpected No. 4
12. I Hope You're Happy Now
15. Human Hands
17. King Horse
20. The Other End Of The Telescope
21. Battered Old Bird
24. My Dark Life
25. Hoover Factory
26. Little Triggers
32. Sleep Of The Just
36. Deep Dark Truthful Mirror
39. You Tripped At Every Step
40. All Thise Useless Beuty
41. Episode Of Blonde
42. The Favourite Hour
44. Home Is Anywhere You Hang Your Head
46. Big Tears
47. Blue Chair
49. Baby Plays Around
50. Shot With His Own Gun

All better than Pump it Up?
Considering I think I voted it as my #1....none of you guys must have voted fer it.

VonOfterdingen · Post by **VonOfterdingen** » Mon Mar 15, 2004 4:47 am

So lacklustre wrote:

Indded yours was the only vote for 5IVE GEARS IN REVERSE which came joint 183rd and last along with:
I Wanna Be Loved
Little Palaces
Miracle Man
Sunday's Best
TKO (Boxing Day)
You Want Her Too

-----------------------------

That means somebody else than me voted for Tears Before Bedtime Alt. version. Wondering who´s got such brilliant taste in Costello

wehitandrun · Post by **wehitandrun** » Mon Mar 15, 2004 8:02 am

10... Pump It Up represents what fake Elvis phoney fans like around here.

I always get offended when my friend(that I brought to the show in Boston)) says that he only likes "Pump It Up" type of Elvis Songs.

<3,
s.

miss buenos aires · Post by **miss buenos aires** » Mon Mar 15, 2004 10:01 am

I'm just impressed that you all remember your lists. The whole experience of making my list was so traumatic ("Mother or father? Choose! Choose!") that I blacked the whole thing out.

wehitandrun · Post by **wehitandrun** » Mon Mar 15, 2004 10:09 am

1. 2. 4. 5. 8. 10. 13.

Seven of mine made it. Yay.

<3,
s.

Mr. Average · Post by **Mr. Average** » Mon Mar 15, 2004 12:41 pm

The list is a great list. Because the Elvis catalog is so large, it gives occasion to go back and take a closer listen to some of the songs on the list that just don't "seem" to make any sense. But given the diversity of this group, it isn't surprising that batting .500 is about the mean level of concordance with the Master List.

However, may I say, for the record, that I really am surprised that these songs did not make it on the final list. They just seem so accessible, so exciting, so thoroughly Elvis:

Mystery Dance
Love for Tender
Complicated Shadows
This House is Empty Now
20% Amnesia
Little Savage

...and, yeah, sure, these were songs on my original list that did not make the top 50.

From the Master List, I need to take a closer look at these to gain a better appreciation for their inclusion:

Brilliant Mistake
My Dark Life
Sleep of the Just
The Favorite Hour
I'll Wear it Proudly.

Off I go into the wild Costello wonder.........................

so lacklustre · Post by **so lacklustre** » Mon Mar 15, 2004 2:05 pm

MissBA - this was your list

I Want You
Watching The Detectives
(I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea
13 Steps Lead Down
Little Triggers
Human Hands
Kid About It
Big Sister's Clothes
Pony St.
Shot With His Own Gun
New Amsterdam
Shoes Without Heels
Blue Chair
Little Savage
No Action

Amazingly G2S & SMM you were the only only two who voted for CC and it came in at 97th.

Mystery Dance - joint 53rd
Love for Tender - joint 87th
Complicated Shadows - joint 143rd
This House is Empty Now - 83rd
20% Amnesia - joint 177th
Little Savage - joint 118th

By the way I searched the list for 'Little' to get the above and found that there are 7 songs in the list with 'Little' in the title. There are only four songs with 'Big' in their title in the list. More interesting stats soon, maybe.
[/quote]

laughingcrow · Post by **laughingcrow** » Mon Mar 15, 2004 5:54 pm

Hey SL...do you know what my list was please? I lost it, like the fool that I am...I know my top was Indoor Fireworks, but that's about all I can specifically remember.

SweetPear · Post by **SweetPear** » Tue Mar 16, 2004 12:35 am

Great list Blue. Nice of you to work it all out. Thank you.

I don't recall my exact list at the moment either. It's here somewhere but I could swear "Tears Before Bedtime" was a pick of mine too.
When I find the list I'll let you know.

wehitandrun · Post by **wehitandrun** » Tue Mar 16, 2004 7:44 am

I'm listeningto "TBB" right now. It's making me miss the country version.

<3,
s.

bambooneedle · Post by **bambooneedle** » Tue Mar 16, 2004 11:21 am

It's Favourite Hour, not The Favourite Hour.

oily slick · Post by **oily slick** » Tue Mar 16, 2004 1:30 pm

it is interesting. let the record show i predicted beyond belief would be number 1 back on jan 22. everything else i predicted was dead wrong, except for how to be dumb and that was dumb luck. the absence of clubland is obviously an error. i demand an investigation or i'm quitting the board!

oily slick · Post by **oily slick** » Tue Mar 16, 2004 1:32 pm

ok ok i'm back. i love you all, blah blah blah. but c'mon. baby plays around is on the list.