The true pioneer of alternative rock!

The voice that inspired a generation of people to bite the hand that feeds them.

I genuinely (and I actually mean this) think this is one of the greatest songs every written

@Brownd55

Жыл бұрын

Agreed

@marklaroche7981

Жыл бұрын

Elvis was the man

@Kimariesings

Жыл бұрын

​@@marklaroche7981IS the man He is still with us.

@Kimariesings

Жыл бұрын

​@@marklaroche7981IS the man He is still with us.

One of the greatest... singers, songwriters, composers, entertainers... great sense of humor, great showman live, and the height of genuine cool...

@watyes7546

7 ай бұрын

blud this guy is unknown stop the cap

@billhorstkamp98

5 ай бұрын

@@watyes7546😂

@alabamaisyourdaddy6137

Ай бұрын

@@watyes7546 just because you are ignorant does not mean everyone is

@watyes7546

Ай бұрын

@@alabamaisyourdaddy6137 This song alone has like 1.2 million views, and again, no one knows about it. Keep yapping if you want but the facts stand 🥱

@123peppermill

3 күн бұрын

😅😅​@@watyes7546

This record is more relevant now than it was in 1978.

@yummyyum36719

2 жыл бұрын

Oh yeah...there are like 4 song writers who write every fucking song for every pop princess. It's always the same chords, and the same harmonies. Musical Hell.

@1viridis

Жыл бұрын

Yep, he tried to warn us. Look where we are now.

@np-bl7qc

11 ай бұрын

​@1viridis they can only warn, and hope to not be silcenced. The power's that be have made it that way. Clearly succeeding. Using the "radio" to control us for a century. They figured out identity politics and we will never recuperate from it.

THIS is how I'll always remember Elvis Costello & The Attractions - the sound and the cool high energy, new wave 'punkish' style of presence that they had back in those good days of this genre of music.

@vernpascal1531

Жыл бұрын

Yup. I'll always miss those days 78' to about 84' one great song after one great song. The days when critics would go Bananas over Costello,Petty,Springsteen,Joe Jackson, and Graham Parker. Rightly so, all are fantastic and their average songs then, would be considered classics now.

SNL doesn't ban Elvis Costello, Elvis Costello bans SNL.

@katydawson5687

Жыл бұрын

This.

40 years of Elvis Costello but can’t beat those early albums with The Attractions

@pellelindbergh4455

2 жыл бұрын

no you can't can you? what a master songwriter

@misfit2022

2 жыл бұрын

@pelle Lindbergh I completely agree

@aarondavis8943

2 жыл бұрын

If Woody Allen started a punk band.

@msminmichigan

2 жыл бұрын

True but the diversity in Costello's 40 year career is great.

@Soundofsilver2007

2 жыл бұрын

One of the 10-20 greatest songwriters of the70s & 80s..

Punk Nerd Rock! When you talk about Elvis they think you are talking about Presley whoever he is!

Not ironically just before this was recorded, I broke out of the commercial radio haze and started listening to college radio stations that played what was not top 40 or even top 100, stuff that wasn’t on the charts…yet…like Elvis Costello.

@springinfialta106

2 ай бұрын

RIP KXLU. They used to play so much diverse stuff. Now it's just PC "World" music which is just an updated version of elevator muzak.

This song is timeless and eternally relevant

@szqsk8

4 жыл бұрын

john guerin No more relevant than now, that's for sure.

@gabe_s_videos

Жыл бұрын

How? Radio is less popular now than it's ever been. It broke. Cuz it's old.

@BennieWilll

Жыл бұрын

@@gabe_s_videos Mainstream media

@gabe_s_videos

Жыл бұрын

@@BennieWilll We certainly do live in a society.

@itsathing3369

Жыл бұрын

@@gabe_s_videos where gamers don’t rule the world

That keyboardist nearly destroying the synth had me floored

@andriealinsangao613

2 жыл бұрын

Nuh-uh, it's a Vox Continental organ!

@alans9806

6 ай бұрын

That 's Steve Nieve (naive) called that by Ian Dury for asking 'What's a groupie'?

Elvis Costello was such a smart-ass when he was a young man. i love it, of course.

In the middle of “disco” this was the heart of rock and roll!

He was before and after his time ..... Radio free Europe, was the best pipeline for some music in the eastern block......Elvis Costello was one of the most popular to be piped......thank you.....Radio free Europe......

@kevin-yf2gx

5 күн бұрын

I am a 64 year old American and it's been "FOREVER" since I hear the about Radio Free Europe. There are generations that have no idea how hard it was to hear Western music in The Soviet Union and other Eastern Bloc Countries.

Lyrics still hold meaning, to this very day.

@ditesvritinela

11 ай бұрын

Oh yeah...

Long time lover of punk rock just now getting around to listening to EC. I’m blown away by how ahead of his time he was.

"...and the radio is in the hands of such a lot of fools trying to anesthetize the way that you feel!"

@vernpascal1531

5 жыл бұрын

I can remember at the time..Armed Forces came out and it caused a sensation as it should and I believe went to no.15, and it looked like it might go top ten,but the powers that be always do the predictable and knew they couldn;t sell Product to someone this brilliant and honest. So,it was back to Foreigner and Eddie Rabbit.

@naomiburn8386

5 жыл бұрын

Josh Barrett still true!

@SkeebWilcox

4 жыл бұрын

I thank God everyday that I was NEVER one of those "fools". This song (and about 90% of all the other Elvis Costello singles) were in Heavy Rotation the day they entered the radio station. I have been told that I have been nominated many times for inclusion in to a certain Broadcasting Hall Of Fame, but yet have never been inducted. I think it might have something to do with my career-long assessment as to the reason I got in to radio: "I got in to radio not because I loved it. I got in to radio to CHANGE IT because I hated it"...

One of the pioneers of New Wave music!

@musicis.4045

5 жыл бұрын

Leader!

@tammieclark916

4 жыл бұрын

you all do know , I listened to him back in 1970 something , Elvis will always rule

@christopherferreira7104

4 жыл бұрын

Elvis Costello and Robyn Hitchcock are the true pioneers.

@jamesconnor2278

3 жыл бұрын

THE Pioneer...

@jeffkersh7790

3 жыл бұрын

@@christopherferreira7104 Don't forget Joe Jackson...

45 years after it was released, absolutely spot on

I was young but I used to watch SNL and the lyrics of this song blew my mind. Lead me down the path of the Beatles, Stones, Hendrix, Dylan, Springsteen, and you. Thank you for what is now a life time of good taste in music that has enriched my life.

@905Alive

2 жыл бұрын

The SNL show got him banned from SNL for 10 years, the establishment did not want him to play this song on tv because of it's message like Rush's Spirit of the Radio, the corporate takeover eventually led to all rap crap and classic rock radio repeats, no new rock music played or promoted, nor jazz, nor fusion, nor prog rock, only what brings the highest return and is the cheapest to make.

@jeffreybarkin3177

Жыл бұрын

Hey... He's TIMELESS, with or without THE ATTRACTIONS... ELVIS always walked to his Own Drums (plural, YES)... Too Many CLASSIC SONGS!!! Wish he'd get back on the Road and Tour... His kids likely "Need A Break"!!! Hopefully, not his Wife, our Canadian SUPERSTAR "CROONER".

@JKTube

Жыл бұрын

@@905Alive: Harder to fit in commercials if you're playing sidelong epics.

Still the best SNL moment - "Sorry, there's no reason for this song...."

@betadatadigitaljohn312

6 жыл бұрын

In the very eloquent expressions of a childhood chum; "Word."

@skinzz2573

6 жыл бұрын

I was 13 when I saw the original airing of this episode. I always remember that interrupting the first song and at the time I thought it was so bizarre!! It must have been the first spontaneous thing I saw on TV.

@wayneheyward900

6 жыл бұрын

His story several years ago was that they were getting annoyed because they were shoved into a corner while the show was in prep and decided to "do a Lulu". (Lulu famously did the same thing back in the 60s on a UK TV show). They got into deep trouble for it because the lyrics for the song had not been cleared by NBC censors, and I think NBC banned them for years.

@nbcouch

5 жыл бұрын

@@wayneheyward900 It was Jimi Hendrix on the live BBC show "Happening for Lulu," in early 1969, who did the Lulu. Jimi, Mitch & Noel were supposed to do Hey Joe, with Lulu joining them onstage for a duet - imagine that! They got through the first verse and a solo when Jimi abruptly called for the band to stop playing "this rubbish," and they launched into Sunshine of Your Love, as a tribute to the recently deceased Cream. It got them banned from the BBC.

@dougtaylor2803

5 жыл бұрын

Martin Fuller He eventually got back on there so I think he had the last word.

Steve Nieve’s keyboards always added so much to the songs. Costello is the best songwriter of his generation

Before Rage Against the Machine, there was Elvis Costello. Every generation has that someone that let's us know it's ok to give the middle finger to establishment.

@nickmitsialis

3 жыл бұрын

But Does RATM have those flexible ankles?

@Boblobblaw88

3 жыл бұрын

Yeah I bet the establishment was really worried about little Elvis.

@nickmitsialis

3 жыл бұрын

@@Boblobblaw88 I hear ya! And that Rocha punk too, with his poser dreads. They're all about 'The Revolution' until somebody touches THEIR money.

@jayk.2608

3 жыл бұрын

The band looks like Weezer before Weezer in this video.

@jimfromdiscord.8904

3 жыл бұрын

RATM? Giving the middle finger to the Establishment? Nah, more like sucking the Establishment's middle finger when it benefits them. They're signed to Epic, a subsidiary of Sony, they charge folks a hundred bucks to see their middle-aged washed-up asses tell us why muh Orange man bad, as if they're unique. Oh, and not to mention the irony of so-called "Socialists" espousing said idea despite all of the members being worth at least 20 million dollars. And Tom Morello being a dick to restaurant owners because they wouldn't give him special treatment.

Elvis Costello's videos are so bad, they're good.

@GEAsolar

5 жыл бұрын

Amen

@georgestaunton6994

5 жыл бұрын

It is around 40 years old. This was really cool back in the day.

@ceephaxx

4 жыл бұрын

@@georgestaunton6994 Exactly. Younger viewers should compare and contrast with other artists' promo videos from 1978 before passing judgement!

@gordons-alive4940

4 жыл бұрын

Pretty typical video for the time, really. The music holds up, though.

@sardonicus76

3 жыл бұрын

This was back when it cost about $40 to make a music video. By the early nineties, you could almost make a feature length film for the price of one, three minute clip for the MTV generation.

Been listening since I was a tater tot, now I’m a almost a fully baked potato and I still just can’t get enough of him

late 70's early 80's brilliant.

I saw Elvis at the NY Palladium on 14th St back in 1980 - they were on for 90 minutes and played non-stop. Did almost all the hits he'd had out at that time. When I left the place I thought, "that's what rock and roll is supposed to be".

@danielmaher7108

2 жыл бұрын

Wow, I'm jealous- I never got to see Elvis Costello! I DID see The Clash, The English Beat ( on the same bill!), The Police, Madness, Oingo Boingo- but somehow I missed EC! I don't him playing San Diego ( where I grew up), but I'm sure he must have at some point. This Year's Model is one of the greatest records ever made.

his first 5 or 6 albums were great.

This is the song that got Elvis kicked off Saturday Night Live.. And this is why Elvis Is King~!

Elvis Costello's sound is very unique !

@tonyrobson4681

8 жыл бұрын

+Harold Salch He cannot be " very unique". He is either unique or not unique. "We don't need no education". Tony Robson

@billsmith5410

5 жыл бұрын

It’s only inches on the reel to reel.

@dianecristina3319

2 жыл бұрын

Also in the time when there was offshore pirate stations to compete with the the pablum the BBC would provide.

I cry almost every time I hear this great song........used to love the radio back in the 80's.......today it makes me sick! Elvis Costello Forever!!!!!!!

I need to shout out to fellow Elvis fans. Around 2000 I downloaded a bunch of Costello tunes from Napster and there were a handful of songs that, I don't believe, were ever published. These were Solo Acoustic tunes that may not have been full songs. They were Fantastic Sadly, I lost them over the years and I'd really like get a hold of them. Any help would be appreciated.

From a great album.... this years model.

@longlivetheunderdog3673

2 жыл бұрын

Apologies for being pedantic but it wasn’t originally on the album at the time of release. It’s been added ‘bonus track’ style since.

@yummyyum36719

2 жыл бұрын

@@longlivetheunderdog3673 We Americans got it as the final cut of the album because "Night Rally" would not have made sense. It's very much like when Elvis and the Attractions staged that last minute song switch. They knew that the average American would not know who the fuck Oswald Mosley was so they switched...to Radio Radio.... and dedicated it to Stevie Nicks I have no doubt.

Righteous beauty!!! Sometimes British musicians have a deeper and keener understanding of American music than Americans do. A good example.🙃

These early Elvis Costello songs and videos are some of the best ever.The music performance infused with comedy are extremely entertaining and elicit a laugh from me even after tons of viewing.Just recently tuned into the early videos during the pandemic even though I knew of him when these songs were released but during my earlier years I had my favorites like McCartney,Billy Joel,and Clapton,etc.These are truly a work of Art and I believe as more time goes on they may be enshrined along with the other great works like the ones from the Beatles, Led Zeppelin,etc and may be continuously rediscovered repeatedly for decades to come.

This is my preferred Elvis thank you very much.

ahhh Elvis Costello the guy who made nerdy geeky soooo kewl.. and this is one the best tracks in a long career that still is producing..

@marlonrando9272

4 жыл бұрын

Buddy Holly*

@patrickgill8231

3 жыл бұрын

And Joe Jackson. One cool looking geek. Def on par with Elvis Costello. And in my opinion...better

@jeffkersh7790

3 жыл бұрын

He was involved in the Dylan Basement Tapes project just recently. Brilliant musician.

@1viridis

Жыл бұрын

Love Joe Jackson too, a very similar vibe!

No doubt one of best songwriters and what a band the attractions were. Today these lyrics are rather relevant, and you could rename the track 'media media '.

@Diomede-Lefort

Жыл бұрын

That's right, Tripzville, It's the characteristic of great creators, great artists, they feel things before others, have a finer perception, and their work still proves to be just as relevant after decades. Elvis Costello and the Attractions are a Big One, their contribution to Culture is magnificent and worthy of praise and respect, Thanks Mr MacManus and all the band.

Insanely great. Everyone in this band is a legend

I can't wait till we have bands like this again.

@oliveeisner8964

6 жыл бұрын

it won't ever happen again. it was a product of a simpler time, ANALOG baby! artists were forced to rely on their own creativity using basic amplification & gadgetry. Everyone was SUPER EXCITED to be able to make music their own way..hence the New Wave.

I love this song. In fact, this is the song that got Elvis banned from SNL (for a while).

Best song about radio ever written!

@SaintHarless

Жыл бұрын

This and “Radio”, by Sylvan Esso*

@Dave-ti2ue

Жыл бұрын

My two faves: this and Spirit of Radio by Rush.

@jonathanbirch2022

8 ай бұрын

rock n roll radio - ramones

Boy that brings back some memories! Elvis was the soundtrack to my teens/early adulthood for sure.

2nd most famous Elvis ever!

He's like a great synthesis of 64 Brit Invasion and Roxy Music

This song couldn't be more revelant to our current situation with our government

@octoberspooks1771

3 жыл бұрын

lol

"It's Still Rock n Roll to Me" by Billy Joel is all about this man and his band.

Dude singlehandedly revived that mid 60's Farfisa Tex Mex style.

Music industry is still telling you what you like and don't like and you have to believe it. What choice do you have? How are you ever gonna have a chance to hear a great song like this when they keep shoving garbage in your face and telling you that it's on top of the charts. There was a time when songs were works of art. Now it's just an attractive package with shit inside.

This lyric described radio play exactly in the late 70s, so safe and conservative, only playing "classic rock" and crappy bands like Kansas. "And the radio is in the hands of such a lot of fools Tryin' to anaesthetise the way that you feel"

@stevengoulding5965

3 жыл бұрын

Radio 1 and local radio were playing crappy music by the likes of Boney M, Brotherhood of Man as well as disco and the soundtrack from Grease.

@mikebrideson6512

3 жыл бұрын

No dude I like Kansas and progressive rock

@stevengoulding5965

2 жыл бұрын

So do I

Can anyone verify? I’ve heard that sss sss sss sound in the chorus was made with a bike pump.

Outstanding... takes me back to a better place in time

Watching this now I can see some early signs of the coming New Wave sound and fashions.

June (maybe July) 1978 is the first time I heard several cuts of this album. It was playing over the PA at Redrocks before a Springsteen concert. I loved what I was hearing and went and asked the soundman who it was. I bought the album next day. One of my all time favorites, but Bruce is still the only Boss I listen to.

@cyninbend

2 жыл бұрын

I discovered this album earlier that year just as I was starting my 1st job. Hours of traffic--this made me feel young, happy in spite of working with people twice my age. Then one of the Corporate Directors (Corporate Finance) knew and loved Elvis Costello! I didn't feel so alien after that.

Master of his game. THE master.

Another great tasty classic from the sinfully talented Elvis Costello!! Yummy!!

Are you joking? This man's songs lyrics beat. Can't be compared. Love Lisa x

So darn good. Beyond words.

the evolution of this song is very cool started off as "radio soul" with clear springstein influence and filled with hope and morphed into an angry anthem

@Kimariesings

Жыл бұрын

I highly doubt Springsteen was an influence on any part of this song, but I understand that you mean the first part is "story like".

@thewkovacs316

Жыл бұрын

@@Kimariesings have you ever heard the original version?

GIVE this drummer a STANDING OVATION!

Why is this under a million views? Am I missing something?

The best artist of his generation.

@yummyyum36719

2 жыл бұрын

And the best band The Attractions were top notch musicians.

This is the 1st song that I saw/heard Elvis Costello perform. SNL Christmas show in 1977 or so. It was love at first sight. Huge fan ever since.

Best Song of 1978

@zeldafan1942

3 жыл бұрын

One of the hits of the year, and the birth of Swedish singer Emilia, and the late great NBA legend Kobe Bryant!

Went to see Elivis Costello in my youth days, he's was amazing then and still is amazing now...timeless artist !!!

@nancystedman6028

5 жыл бұрын

Seeing him in early November, can't wait!

It's Elvis Jim but not as we know it😍

I never knew that about Elvis Colstello. After reading the lyrics, I understand your point. Of course, none of these bands are saying the things they have been accused of. I saw a lot of the bands that I grew up with on this list. We had several songs representing the change in society. But IMO, “My Generation” by the Who , led the pack 😊. Our generation was really the first generation that flip off authority figures in public. Our parents didn’t like the defiance. The Silent generation got pretty angry. They didn’t what to end that “Children are to be seen, and not heard!”, or “Do as I say, not as I do” that was my father’s child raising philosophy he attested to. I hated those phrase🤬🤬! I know “Tell me you’re a Boomer, without telling me you’re a Boomer”. 😂😂😂😂😂

The BEST song of all 2,984 Elvis Costello best songs ever!

@yummyyum36719

2 жыл бұрын

LOL. Yup the man can write em.

Love Elvis. He is cool.

@redskies4530

2 жыл бұрын

Hi I recommend a song called 'Where I Come From' By Robert Nix kzread.info/dash/bejne/Ymauq5WvpdWwfaw.html

I saw Elvis Costello on Sesame Street! He straight up killed IT! So I look him up and I seen his jams “Angels Wanna Wear My Red Shoes” “Radio Radio” And more! I’m 20, I feel like EC has been in my household forever! I’m PROUD OF IT👑👑👑❤️

@wideyxyz2271

2 жыл бұрын

Red shoes is an all time killer track...

Elvis is King~!

The best of them all since 1978 !!!!

Superb record

Elvis Costello, the Godfather of Alternative Rock Music, Long Live the King

@redskies4530

2 жыл бұрын

Hi Michael I recommend a song & video called 'Where I Come From' By Robert Nix

Song that got him kicked off SNL.

Hard to pick a favorite EC song but this is it!

@yummyyum36719

2 жыл бұрын

This one, Pump It Up, Lipstick Vogue, and Chelsea are my favorites from this period. A for the whole catalog there are too many to choose a fave.

@paddyjamieson5877

Жыл бұрын

Shipbuilding Pump it up Also his cover of (what's so funny) bout peace love and understanding are better imo. But top tune all the same. I know the world's moved on and people change with time but I'd be interested to know if he's still as passionate about hating the tories today or if the North of 🇮🇪 means as much to him as It did when he wrote Olivers army. I know probably not but to what degree. The EC of the late 70s would never accept an MBE for example. God the full 'armed forces'lp was a diatribe against british imperialism.

@Kimariesings

Жыл бұрын

Oliver's Army is one of my favorites as well as Allison

@frankrizzo739

Жыл бұрын

#1 Radio Radio #2 (I Don't Want to go to) Chelsea It only took me a year to come up with #2! lol

Ahh....so good! Alivs Costello at his best. Just luv it!!!

Back in the day, some reviewers criticized Costello for being pretentious, too serious or too clever. As if any of those things were bad. Compare his work to the superficial crap of the late 1970s or of today and then tell me Elvis can be criticized for anything he's done.

@naomiburn8386

5 жыл бұрын

Mike Phalen I’m a huge fan but it should be noted that Elvis himself later said - when he started doing country - that in his earlier music he was sometimes guilty of being clever just to be clever, and that even he didn’t know what some of his songs were trying to say ;)

@JohnSmith-kz8yo

4 жыл бұрын

those same critics were too busy pushing Fleetwood Mac and the Steve Miller band...

@yummyyum36719

2 жыл бұрын

The Valium Rock from that era...just...dig my ears out with spoons rather than force me to listen some of that shit. EC, the Clash The Pistols, Talking Heads even Blondie and The Pretenders ..saved the era.

Pure talent.lasting quality.

little did tehy know what shit comes along after the radio era :D

Love, love, love this song. So true.

Love it great music

@redskies4530

2 жыл бұрын

Hi I recommend a song called 'Where I Come From' By Robert Nix

Holy poop, this vid has the best sound quality of this song I've ever heard.

@richsackett3423

3 жыл бұрын

You're kidding, right?

Fantastic track and Elvis at his best

I usually listen to Metal but i heard the lyrics in a iHop at 4am and i loved it!

@carelessdreamer

2 жыл бұрын

The second half of this sentence made me take 1D6 psychic damage.

@jonathanbirch2022

8 ай бұрын

good for yoh

This beat,,,so powerful

Love this song!!! Great work with The Attractions.

So GOOD !

First fav song of his just sad I've known him and his music only around 2013. But I will still explore his music.

@finylvinyl66

6 жыл бұрын

There's a LOT to explore. His best tends to be early on IMHO.

@vernpascal1531

6 жыл бұрын

He's incredible. I agree his early stuff has the bite-the intellect-passion-use of language- sense of melody that no one has been able to top since.

This song sounds a bit like the Belgian 1980 Eurovision entry, by Telex, to me, actually called Eurovision itself. Elvis Costello is a good musician, who had been classed as Punk, but I think his music is a cross between Punk and Rock n Roll. A really brilliant comeback song. I reckon he and Shaking Stevens are a toss up for who is the next Elvis, between them.

Seeing this gave me a flashback to the Kenny Everett Video Show for some reason.

Trouser Press called him the King Kong of modern music. Agree 1000%

I fell in love with this band when I first heard them in 1976.....I was 17...they blew me away !!!! Seen them in concert in Sydney 3 times , and it was UNREAL!!!!

@lourdesgarcia2969

2 жыл бұрын

Lol I was 6...

@lourdesgarcia2969

2 жыл бұрын

Joe Jackson had kinda similar sound if that helps🥳

@rippi37

2 жыл бұрын

@@lourdesgarcia2969 'Everyone' , at the time , tried to sell Joe Jackson as the 'new' Elvis...but he didn't even come close...more or less a 2 hit wonder..then nothingness....incomparable IMO

@rippi37

2 жыл бұрын

@@lourdesgarcia2969 You spring chicken you !!! lol ..... have a nice day

@yummyyum36719

2 жыл бұрын

They didn't exist until 1977 but I hear ya. They were my favorite band when i was a teenager. I have been listening to a lot of them again. Just as great as I remember.

I love every single thing about this music video. Also the song is really good.

It just occurred to me how similar sounding Elvis and The Boomtown Rats are

What an ending!!

That's charisma

Played this song on the original Saturday Night Live in the 70's against the wishes of the show. Was supposed to play another song but did this instead.

@clipcoug1139

5 ай бұрын

They were supposed to play "Less than Zero" as was shown in the original clip, before he switched it after 10 seconds. The first song they played that show was "Watching the Detectives"

One of Steve Wrights favourites