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. Elvis Costello bitefelthave Change image and share on social
There are many critics who have an idealised version of where my strengths lie. Elvis Costello criticidealiselie Change image and share on social
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. Elvis Costello addfindhave Change image and share on social
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. Elvis Costello attachbitterlyblow Change image and share on social
There was not a lot of rock n' roll in the house. Our parents didn't think it was very groovy, and I tend to agree with them. If you grew up with Charlie Parker, Bill Haley wasn't very hip. Elvis Costello agreebillcharlie Change image and share on social
You have to face the fact that I have no reputation as a composer; I have my reputation as a songwriter and a performer-and that opportunity came this summer, when I was invited to perform at the Lincoln Centre festival in New York... three nights. Elvis Costello centrecomposerface share on social
Smokey Robinson writes the heartfelt songs, whereas it was my job to write the songs about weakness and failure in love. Elvis Costello failureheartfeltjob Change image and share on social
I think when I was younger I was not very good at writing love songs that didn't have a twist. Elvis Costello goodlovesong Change image and share on social
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 agreealbumcreate share on social
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. Elvis Costello animalbadelaborate Change image and share on social
