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.
Let Him Dangle
Elvis Costello Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They still don`t know today just what he meant by this
Craig fired the pistol, but was too young to swing
So the police took Bentley and the very next thing
Let him dangle
Let him dangle
Bentley had surrendered, he was under arrest,
Craig shot Sidney Miles, he took Bentley`s word
The prosecution claimed as they charged them with murder
Let him dangle
Let him dangle
They say Derek Bentley was easily led
Well what`s that to the woman that Sidney Miles wed
Though guilty was the verdict, and Craig had shot him dead
The gallows were for Bentley and still she never said
Let him dangle
Let him dangle
Well it`s hard to imagine it`s the times that have changed
When there`s a murder in the kitchen that is brutal and strange
If killing anybody is a terrible crime
Why does this bloodthirsty chorus come round from time to time
Let him dangle
Not many people thought that Bentley would hang
But the word never came, the phone never rang
Outside Wandsworth Prison there was horror and hate
As the hangman shook Bentley`s hand to calculate his weight
Let him dangle
From a welfare state to society murder
Bring "back the noose" is always heard
Whenever those swine are under attack
But it won`t make you even
It won`t bring him back
Let him dangle
Let him dangle (String him up)
Elvis Costello's song "Let Him Dangle" tells the tragic story of Derek Bentley and Christopher Craig. In 1952, the two young men were involved in the killing of a police officer, Sidney Miles. Bentley was arrested and stood trial for the charges, but since he did not pull the trigger, he was considered an accomplice. During the trial, Bentley was portrayed as someone who easily followed orders, and the prosecution used his past remarks about wanting to commit a robbery as evidence against him. Craig, on the other hand, was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life in prison. Bentley was sentenced to death.
The lyrics reflect the public's opinion regarding Bentley's sentence. The chorus urges to let him dangle, referring to the execution. The song touches on themes of injustice, the death penalty, and the shifting perspectives on crime and punishment throughout history. It makes a poignant point about the need for empathy and understanding in the face of complex circumstances.
Line by Line Meaning
Bentley said to Craig "Let him have it Chris"
Bentley instructed Craig to use his weapon and shoot Sidney Miles, but it's unclear whether he meant for Craig to simply frighten or kill the victim.
They still don`t know today just what he meant by this
The true intention behind Bentley's statement is still unclear and subject to debate.
Craig fired the pistol, but was too young to swing
Although Craig was the one who fired the fatal gunshot, he was too young to receive the death sentence for his crime.
So the police took Bentley and the very next thing
Following the murder, the police arrested Bentley and immediately charged him with murder.
Let him dangle
Let him dangle
Repeating the phrase 'Let him dangle' highlights the senseless and unjust nature of Bentley's execution.
Bentley had surrendered, he was under arrest,
Bentley was already in police custody and had surrendered when he encouraged Craig to fire upon Miles.
When he gave Chris Craig that fatal request
Bentley's request to 'Let him have it' was interpreted as encouragement by Craig and ultimately led to the victim's death.
Craig shot Sidney Miles, he took Bentley`s word
Craig acted on Bentley's proclaimed authority and admitted that Bentley encouraged him to use his weapon against the victim.
The prosecution claimed as they charged them with murder
Both Bentley and Craig were charged with murder for their roles in the killing.
They say Derek Bentley was easily led
According to some, Bentley was heavily influenced by others and was therefore more susceptible to getting into trouble.
Well what`s that to the woman that Sidney Miles wed
The victim's wife probably cannot find solace in Bentley's supposed gullibility, as her husband is still dead.
Though guilty was the verdict, and Craig had shot him dead
Even though the verdict found Bentley and Craig guilty of murder, it was Craig who ultimately fired the shot that killed Miles.
The gallows were for Bentley and still she never said
Despite the fact that Bentley was sentenced to death, Miles' wife never publicly advocated for his execution.
Well it`s hard to imagine it`s the times that have changed
Despite advances in society, people still show a willingness to resort to violence and seek revenge for heinous crimes.
When there`s a murder in the kitchen that is brutal and strange
Acts of violence can occur in unexpected and seemingly normal settings, such as within the confines of one's own home.
If killing anybody is a terrible crime
The act of taking someone's life is universally regarded as a heinous offense.
Why does this bloodthirsty chorus come round from time to time
People seem to repeatedly call for violent retribution upon those who commit crimes, even if it means using the death penalty.
Not many people thought that Bentley would hang
Despite being sentenced to death, there were some who believed that Bentley would receive clemency and not be executed.
But the word never came, the phone never rang
Despite the public's hope, no one intervened or gave Bentley a stay of execution.
Outside Wandsworth Prison there was horror and hate
The scene outside of the prison was one of intense emotion, with people expressing both horror and hate for what was about to take place.
As the hangman shook Bentley`s hand to calculate his weight
The hangman greeted Bentley with a handshake, but this greeting was really just a prelude to Bentley's execution.
From a welfare state to society murder
Despite having a system designed to care for its citizens, society is still capable of committing murder.
Bring "back the noose" is always heard
Many people call for the return of capital punishment, citing the need for harsher sentences to deter crime.
Whenever those swine are under attack
Calls to use capital punishment are often made when people feel vulnerable or threatened by criminals.
But it won`t make you even
It won`t bring him back
Even though people desire retribution for crimes committed against them, taking the life of the perpetrator will not truly make victims whole again.
Let him dangle
Let him dangle (String him up)
Repeating the phrase 'Let him dangle' emphasizes the brutality of Bentley's execution and draws attention to the senseless violence that led up to it.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ELVIS COSTELLO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind