Born in St Mary's Hospital, Paddington in London, Costello is the son of trumpeter, vocalist and band-leader Ronald (“Ross”) MacManus and record store manager Lillian Costello. His family had roots in Merseyside and he moved to Birkenhead at age 16, with his mother, when his parents separated. While he is better known as 'Elvis Costello', a stage name referring to the legendary Elvis Presley suggested by Stiff Records manager Jake Riviera, he has used many other aliases, including 'The Imposter' and 'Napoleon Dynamite'.
In the early 1970s Costello was a participant in London's pub rock scene with the group Flip City. Then in 1977 along with fellow Pub-Rockers Nick Lowe and Ian Dury he made his first releases on the independent label Stiff, tailoring his work towards the burgeoning punk, power pop, and new wave scenes. From 1980's Armed Forces onwards, however, other influences including soul, country, 1960s pop, and classical music began to re-emerge, and he soon became established as a unique and original voice. His output has been wildly diverse: one critic has written that "Costello, the pop encyclopedia, can reinvent the past in his own image".
His prolific and varied 30-year career has been marked by two constants: sharp songwriting and musical restlessness. The latter has seen him dabble in almost every musical form, from country to jazz to orchestral. This stems from the fact that, at heart, Costello is a fan. His desire to work with his musical heroes has attracted collaborators as diverse as Burt Bacharach and Paul McCartney, Anne Sofie von Otter, Allen Toussaint, Aimee Mann, Bill Frisell, and Brian Eno.
But his most successful partners were his long-term band The Attractions. They comprised Steve Nieve (keyboards), Pete Thomas (drums) and Bruce Thomas (bass). Between 1978 and 1983, this outfit produced a peerless series of albums: This Year's Model; Armed Forces; Get Happy!!; Almost Blue; Trust; Imperial Bedroom and Punch the Clock.
These recordings drew on styles spanning soul, country and western and commercial pop. It was only with 1984's Goodbye Cruel World that Costello started to stumble. An album he concedes was one of his worst, it ushered in a period which produced interesting music but lacked the consistent quality of his halcyon days. Interestingly, although he enlisted the other Elvis's band for King of America in 1986, it was a reunion with The Attractions and former producer Nick Lowe that produced his best album of the late 1980s in the form of the scabrous Blood and Chocolate.
The following albums, Spike and Mighty Like a Rose were uncompromising and difficult solo works, as was the string quartet collaboration The Juliet Letters in 1993. It was only reconvening the Attractions for Brutal Youth the following year that gave his fans another glimpse of what first attracted them to him: punchy, angry pop songs, tightly played by an impeccably taut ensemble.
Since then, Costello has become a career dilettante, true to his inner musical quest, but never again returning to heights he scaled in the early 1980s. Maybe the best work of this latter period was 1998's Painted from Memory. This joint effort with Burt Bacharach matched restrained writing from Costello with stately Bacharach arrangements.
Subsequent career nadirs such as the tune-free North (2003), and instrumental orchestral works such as Il Sogno (2004) led many long-term admirers to conclude that Costello had retained his integrity at the expense of his real musical strengths. However, he has given occasional evidence of his former fire. The ballsy bar-room atmosphere of the collaborative The Delivery Man (2004), suggests that he is still capable of giving his fans what they want, in between his more esoteric experiments.
Elvis is married to jazz vocalist Diana Krall and they have twin sons.
*Upon the film's release, it was noted that the name "Napoleon Dynamite" had originally been used by musician Elvis Costello, most visibly on his 1986 album Blood and Chocolate, although he had used the pseudonym on a single B-side as early as 1982. Filmmaker Jared Hess claims that he was not aware of Costello's use of the name until two days before the end of shooting, when he was informed by a teenage extra. He later said, "Had I known that name was used by anybody else prior to shooting the whole film, it definitely would have been changed ... I listen to hip-hop, dude. It's a pretty embarrassing coincidence." Hess claims that "Napoleon Dynamite" was the name of a man he met around the year 2000 on the streets of Cicero, Illinois while doing missionary work for the Mormon Church.
Costello believes that Hess stole the name: "The guy just denies completely that I made the name up... but I invented it. Maybe somebody told him the name and he truly feels that he came about it by chance. But it's two words that you're never going to hear together." To date, Costello has taken no legal action against the film.
Elvis Costello and Elton John to Make a Television 'Spectacle'
Two of the most respected musicians in the world will collaborate on an extraordinary new television series.
"Spectacle: Elvis Costello with..." is hosted by its namesake and produced in conjunction with Sir Elton John's Rocket Pictures. Elton John will be one of the program's Executive Producers.
The series begain airing in 2008 on CTV in Canada, Channel 4 in the UK and Sundance Channel in the US. FremantleMedia Enterprises, will handle sales of the show to the rest of the world.
Conceived to provide a forum for in-depth discussion and performance with the most interesting and influential artists and personalities of our time, the show fuses the best of talk and music television.
"Spectacle: Elvis Costello with..." is an unpredictable and unprecedented television experience. The series of 13 one-hour programs features everything from intimate one-on-ones with legendary performers and notable newcomers to thematic panel discussions, with a variety of performance elements including unique collaborations, acoustic and impromptu "illustrative" demonstrations of the creative process, and some original interpretations of others' songs by Costello.
I've Been Wrong Before
Elvis Costello Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The night that I won't forget
You've seen what I've been waiting for
But baby, I've been wrong before
You held me tight
And everything seemed just right
I couldn't ask for more
She used to smile at me
And hold my hand like you do
Then she left me
And broke my heart in two
See her face
And feel your warm embrace
You're all that I adore
But baby, I've been wrong before
Oh baby, I've been wrong before
In Elvis Costello's song "I've Been Wrong Before," the singer reflects on the uncertainties of love and relationships. The song begins with an account of the singer's meeting with their loved one, describing the night as unforgettable and seemingly perfect. However, despite the intense connection they share, the singer acknowledges that they have been wrong before, suggesting that their trust in the relationship is fragile.
The second verse reveals that the singer has experienced heartbreak and betrayal in the past. They compare their current love interest to a previous partner who also seemed perfect and loving before leaving and breaking their heart. The singer is thus haunted by the fear that history might repeat itself.
Finally, in the last verse, the singer acknowledges their conflicting emotions. They describe seeing their loved one's face and enjoying their warm embrace, only to be reminded that they have felt this way before - and been wrong before. Elvis Costello lyrics in "I've Been Wrong Before" encourage the listener to reflect on the complexities of love, heartbreak, and the constant tension between emotional need and self-protection.
Line by Line Meaning
The night we met
The specific evening during which we were introduced.
The night that I won't forget
That significant introduction is unforgettable to me.
You've seen what I've been waiting for
You represent the fulfillment of my desires that I was previously in search of.
But baby, I've been wrong before
However, it's important to acknowledge that I have erred in the past and things may not be as they seem.
You held me tight
You embraced me closely.
And everything seemed just right
I felt content with the current state of affairs.
I couldn't ask for more
I was completely satisfied with the situation I was in.
But baby, I've been wrong before
However, recalling my prior experiences, I understand that appearances may not reflect reality.
She used to smile at me
I previously had a romantic interest who expressed fondness towards me with a smile.
And hold my hand like you do
The physical touch between us is reminiscent of my past relationship.
Then she left me
My former flame ended things with me and walked away from our relationship.
And broke my heart in two
This caused me great emotional pain and feelings of being deeply hurt.
See her face
Thinking about the woman from my past, I visualize her face.
And feel your warm embrace
Despite these memories, I still appreciate the comforting embrace I'm receiving from you in the present moment.
You're all that I adore
Despite my past trials, I have genuine feelings of love for you.
But baby, I've been wrong before
It's important to remember that I've made wrong assumptions in the past and this could be another one of those instances.
Oh baby, I've been wrong before
I must reiterate, despite my feelings for you, it's important to keep in mind that my previous experiences may impact my perception.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RANDY NEWMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind