Elvis Costello quotes - page 3

Writing about music is like dancing about architecture - it's a really stupid thing to want to do. (Elvis Costello)
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. View quote
Elvis Costello
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. View quote
Elvis Costello
There's no such thing as an original sin. View quote
Elvis Costello
You need a platform upon which to release an orchestral record, otherwise it's just going to be an obscurity. View quote
Elvis Costello
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. View quote
Elvis Costello
I've been lucky to listen to lots of different types of music. View quote
Elvis Costello
I can't actually play any instrument properly. I can't read music. And here's the New York Times calling me the new George Gershwin. It was so ridiculous, really embarrassing. It was embarrassing to watch these people fall into the trap of their own critical conceits. View quote
Elvis Costello
There's always something that's smoldering somewhere. View quote
Elvis Costello
My sense of history in music is much greater than a lot of people's. View quote
Elvis Costello
You'll see me off in the distance, I hope At the other end At the other end of the telescope. (Elvis Costello)
Don't wear your heart on your sleeve when your remarks are off the cuff. View quote
Elvis Costello
Oh I used to be disgusted and now I try to be amused. But since their wings have got rusted, you know, the angels wanna wear my red shoes. View quote
Elvis Costello
Happiness isn't a fortune in a cookie. It's deeper, wider, funnier, and more transporting than that. View quote
Elvis Costello
We're all just animals. That's all we are, and everything else is just an elaborate justification of our instincts. That's where music comes from. And romantic poetry. And bad novels. View quote
Elvis Costello
Commercial radio is owned by one or two corporations now, and they're not in the music business. They're in the advertising business, ... So let's not kid ourselves. If you want to hear music, go buy a guitar. View quote
Elvis Costello
People become so deeply attached to the sound of one period that they blow a fuse when you move on. I've heard people complain bitterly about recordings they haven't even heard. View quote
Elvis Costello
Smokey Robinson writes the heartfelt songs, whereas it was my job to write the songs about weakness and failure in love. View quote
Elvis Costello
Living a very long time would be a very scary thing. View quote
Elvis Costello
You do have to be a bit careful with your voice. It is an instrument. View quote
Elvis Costello
It's what I do. I don't deserve any awards for this, it's just music. It's just writing songs. You sit down, you write a song, you record it. You tour and play the songs live, dress them up a bit differently, or dress them down. (Elvis Costello)
I've always felt writing a song was a bit like going on location. That's true in an almost literal sense. Where you are seeps in somehow. View quote
Elvis Costello
I've had an unusual life. A life far removed from most people's experience. View quote
Elvis Costello
The Internet is overrated. It's much smaller an innovation than people think it is. I don't think it's changed the way anybody makes music. View quote
Elvis Costello
I find it to be the ultimate backhanded compliment when you are compared against yourself. View quote
Elvis Costello