Elvis Costello quotes - page 4

I get very frustrated by this term 'genre exercise.' I mean, what exactly is that? Genre is not really relevant when you are writing a song; hopefully you are doing it to explore something, to create something, and I don't agree that any of my albums are genre exercises. (Elvis Costello)
I think when I was younger I was not very good at writing love songs that didn't have a twist. View quote
Elvis Costello
It's a petty thing, but I wouldn't join the Scouts when I was a kid, 'cause you had to swear allegiance to the queen. I'm just not a royalist. I think it's idiotic, a hereditary principle. View quote
Elvis Costello
Nice girls, not one with a defect, Cellophane shrink-wrapped, so correct. Red dogs under illegal legs, She looks so good that he gets down and begs.She is watching the detectives. "Ooh, it's so cute." View quote
Elvis Costello
What's so funny 'bout Peace, Love, & Understanding? View quote
Elvis Costello
I kind of liked the dare of it. Of course we weren't to know that within a month of my first album actually being issued Elvis Presley would die, and it would actually be a talking point. ... Let me put it this way - people don't forget you with that name. View quote
Elvis Costello
I had a lot of problems with my name ... my first name Declan is really not very well known outside of Ireland, MacManus is a name they could never spell ... View quote
Elvis Costello
Nonsense prevails, modesty fails Grace and virtue turn into stupidity. View quote
Elvis Costello
With all the will in the world Diving for dear life When we could be diving for pearls. View quote
Elvis Costello
Obviously, when I started out, I had a little bit more curiosity than some. View quote
Elvis Costello
As I walk through This wicked world Searchin' for light in the darkness of insanity, I ask myself Is all hope lost? (Elvis Costello)
The first song that most people picked up on, particularly in America, of mine, was a ballad, not a rock'n'roll song. View quote
Elvis Costello
Sometimes you confuse me with Santa Claus It's the big white beard I suppose. View quote
Elvis Costello
I don't think I was ever particularly mean. I can certainly think of some idiotic exchanges I've had. I was accused of destroying pop music, like Wagner destroyed opera - a guy in Germany started ranting that at me. View quote
Elvis Costello
My family calls me Declan. But most people call me E.C. I think it comes from my dad. It's an Irish convention. You usually call the first child by the initials. View quote
Elvis Costello
I'm a working travelling musician, but just on a bigger scale. View quote
Elvis Costello
I've never felt British. I'm just not interested in national identity. I don't know why. View quote
Elvis Costello
I found with this record I had to really be strong-willed, because in the past I've tended to tinker and add a thing or take a thing away, and nearly always been wrong. View quote
Elvis Costello
I've worked hard, every single day since I left school. I think I have a Protestant work ethic. View quote
Elvis Costello
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. View quote
Elvis Costello
Nonsense prevails, modesty fails Grace and virtue turn into stupidity While the calendar fades almost all barricades to a pale compromise And our leaders have feasts on the backsides of beasts They still think they're the gods of antiquity If something you missed didn't even exist It was just an ideal - is it such a surprise? (Elvis Costello)
My sense of history in music is much greater than a lot of people's. I listen a lot further back in the whole history of music. It's not just pop music of the last 20, 30, 40, 50 years. I'm listening to stuff from hundreds of years ago as well, because you can learn from everything. View quote
Elvis Costello
Nice girls, not one with a defect, Cellophane shrink-wrapped, so correct. Red dogs under illegal legs, She looks so good that he gets down and begs.She is watching the detectives. "Ooh, it's so cute." She's watching the detectives. When they shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot. They beat him up until the teardrops start, But he can't be wounded 'cause he's got no heart. View quote
Elvis Costello
There's always something that's smoldering somewhere I know it don't make a difference to you But oh! It sure made a difference to me You'll see me off in the distance, I hope At the other end At the other end of the telescope. View quote
Elvis Costello