# I have strong negative emotions toward the music of Elvis Costello **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 25, 2013, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-strong-negative-emotions-toward-the-music-of-elvis-costello/677128 "2013-12-25T04:57:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2013, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-strong-negative-emotions-toward-the-music-of-elvis-costello/677128/81 "2013-12-29T16:09:40Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > This is a guy who _can_ write great lyrics - “I guess you’d call it suicide, but I’m too full to swallow my pride” and many others, but when he’s Mr King of Pain, I just :rolleyes: Hijack: one of my friends was wondering aloud what the singer “[couldn’t] stand losing” in that song, and wondered if it was his mind. I said no, the title referred to losing a person rather than losing one’s mind but the mind would work as well and was not a bad guess considering the group’s other songs. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2013, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-strong-negative-emotions-toward-the-music-of-elvis-costello/677128/82 "2013-12-29T16:16:32Z")
Sting vs. Elvis is a good illustration of the difference between thinking you’re clever and actually being clever. It’s the rhetoric of fail-ya… ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2013, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-strong-negative-emotions-toward-the-music-of-elvis-costello/677128/83 "2013-12-29T16:48:57Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Sting vs. Elvis is a good illustration of the difference between thinking you’re clever and actually being clever. It’s the rhetoric of fail-ya… Perfectly stated, sir. ---
**Author:** ![LC\_Strawhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e19adc/32.png) [@LC\_Strawhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LC_Strawhouse)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2013, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-strong-negative-emotions-toward-the-music-of-elvis-costello/677128/84 "2013-12-29T17:09:17Z")
Obscure inside jokes = cleverness? ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2013, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-strong-negative-emotions-toward-the-music-of-elvis-costello/677128/85 "2013-12-29T17:23:19Z")
She said that she was working for the ABC News It was as much of the alphabet as she knew how to use ---
**Author:** ![Deegeea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Deegeea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deegeea)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2013, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-strong-negative-emotions-toward-the-music-of-elvis-costello/677128/86 "2013-12-29T17:23:21Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Pretty much, yep. You can force a rhyme, but man, when I hear that it just clanks. > > I can’t help but picture him _orating_ when he says it. God, what a douche. 😉 > > This is a guy who _can_ write great lyrics - “I guess you’d call it suicide, but I’m too full to swallow my pride” and many others, but when he’s Mr King of Pain, I just :rolleyes: Thanks for the update, I kind of see it now 🙂 I am still not enough of an educated listener to perceive this myself, for whatever reason, but I know my taste at that age was less than brilliant: because during the same 80s time period, I was a fan of _The Vampire Lestat_ (Anne Rice), _Speaker for the Dead_ (Orson Scott Card) and even _Split Infinity_ (ugh, Piers Anthony), all of which - especially the last - I can totally see as the “thinks they’re clever” side of the equation as I look back from the perspective of a quarter century of further reading. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2013, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-strong-negative-emotions-toward-the-music-of-elvis-costello/677128/87 "2013-12-29T17:34:17Z")
> [@LC\_Strawhouse](#): > > Obscure inside jokes = cleverness? ??? Who’s making _obscure_ references? **Deegeea** - I used to think Ted Nugent was a great guitarist; we all carry shame ;). If you want good writing, try reading _Lolita_ - dude could write, which is why Sting-boy cites him. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2013, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-strong-negative-emotions-toward-the-music-of-elvis-costello/677128/88 "2013-12-29T18:25:44Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > ??? Who’s making _obscure_ references? It’s funny, this thread made me think of an interview with Elvis, I think in RS, where he was asked how he felt when he was compared to renowned and brilliant lyricists like Gershwin or Cole Porter, did he take this as a honor, did he feel complimented? His response was something like, “I guess it depends on whether or not the person making the reference likes Cole Porter or not.” Seems apropos to this thread, eh? If ever there was a testament to the adage that there’s no accounting for taste, this thread is it. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2013, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-strong-negative-emotions-toward-the-music-of-elvis-costello/677128/89 "2013-12-29T19:41:37Z")
I love his album with Burt Bacharach, and the whole “SNL Thing” really showed how hypocritical Lorne Michaels could be. SNL started out wanting to be “Punk Rock/counterculture”, and you can’t get much more punk than what Elvis did. To Lorne’s credit though, he’s embraced a lot of his past failings in his later years. ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2013, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-strong-negative-emotions-toward-the-music-of-elvis-costello/677128/90 "2013-12-30T00:23:20Z")
> [@Isamu](#): > > Aeschines, I tried to think of any other band or musician that irks me so, and the only other one that comes close is the Eurythmics. No other bands or musicians actively repulse me. How do you feel about the Eurythmics? That is an interesting one. I think their first album has some pretty good songs on it–“Sweet Dreams,” “This is the House.” But then, yeah, they totally sucked. I would say that that is mid-to-late 80s suckage, though. A lot of bands just became unbearable. Annie Lennox did a good job of embodying that “80s music is going down your throat whether you like it or not” vibe. We Built This City. Sledghammer. Money for Nothing. Everything by Phil Collins. It just sucked ass. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2013, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-strong-negative-emotions-toward-the-music-of-elvis-costello/677128/91 "2013-12-30T00:30:07Z")
Waitaminnit. Sledgehammer sucked ass? On whose fucking watch?! ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2013, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-strong-negative-emotions-toward-the-music-of-elvis-costello/677128/92 "2013-12-30T00:31:37Z")
…and you’re comparing this to We Built This City?! Are you kidding me?!? ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2013, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-strong-negative-emotions-toward-the-music-of-elvis-costello/677128/93 "2013-12-30T00:36:45Z")
Hahahahhahahaha!!! Okay we’re done here. ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2013, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-strong-negative-emotions-toward-the-music-of-elvis-costello/677128/94 "2013-12-30T11:11:10Z")
> [@Aeschines](#): > > That is an interesting one. I think their first album has some pretty good songs on it–“Sweet Dreams,” “This is the House.” But then, yeah, they totally sucked. I would say that that is mid-to-late 80s suckage, though. A lot of bands just became unbearable. Annie Lennox did a good job of embodying that “80s music is going down your throat whether you like it or not” vibe. We Built This City. Sledghammer. Money for Nothing. Everything by Phil Collins. It just sucked ass. Naa. There’s a lot of musical acts I don’t like. Only two that sound like fingernails on a chalkboard to me. ---
**Author:** ![spookyhopper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@spookyhopper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spookyhopper)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2014, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-strong-negative-emotions-toward-the-music-of-elvis-costello/677128/95 "2014-01-11T12:48:40Z")
I’m glad i found some like minded people. I cant stand the fact he gets respect, I t makes me feel like the rest of the world is insane. He cant write music, I just cant hear it, it’s not there. I had heard about this fukwit but i always thought it looked like he wasn’t trying like he didnt believe in it either. Last night found a record amongst inherited vinyl collection, called Imperial bedroom. Spun it once, hated it, tried it again but fely mysellf getting increasingly angry. I mean there are no tunews there but whoever produced it so fukked it up, his voice is dom inant in the mix and shouldnt be cos hes such a shit singer. Horrible. I snapped it in half, absolutely disgusting,. someone this bad should not be allowed to make music. It gives me a physical reaction. He sucks so badly. Please avoid him at all costs. Thanks for the opportunity. ---
**Author:** ![spookyhopper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@spookyhopper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spookyhopper)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2014, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-strong-negative-emotions-toward-the-music-of-elvis-costello/677128/96 "2014-01-11T13:16:45Z")
yeah, how dare he steal elvis’ name, it’s a repulsive act ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2014, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-strong-negative-emotions-toward-the-music-of-elvis-costello/677128/97 "2014-01-11T13:25:01Z")
> [@spookyhopper](#): > > yeah, how dare he steal elvis’ name, it’s a repulsive act It might be you. Did you have a snickers first? ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2014, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-strong-negative-emotions-toward-the-music-of-elvis-costello/677128/98 "2014-01-11T13:28:51Z")
> [@spookyhopper](#): > > I’m glad i found some like minded people. I cant stand the fact he gets respect, I t makes me feel like the rest of the world is insane. He cant write music, I just cant hear it, it’s not there. > I had heard about this fukwit but i always thought it looked like he wasn’t trying like he didnt believe in it either. Last night found a record amongst inherited vinyl collection, called Imperial bedroom. Spun it once, hated it, tried it again but fely mysellf getting increasingly angry. I mean there are no tunews there but whoever produced it so fukked it up, his voice is dom inant in the mix and shouldnt be cos hes such a shit singer. Horrible. I snapped it in half, absolutely disgusting,. someone this bad should not be allowed to make music. > It gives me a physical reaction. He sucks so badly. Please avoid him at all costs. > > Thanks for the opportunity. Hmm, it’s a first-time rant, but there are a lot of typos and it’s not in the Pit…I’ll say C+. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2014, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-strong-negative-emotions-toward-the-music-of-elvis-costello/677128/99 "2014-01-11T15:29:39Z")
> [@spookyhopper](#): > > I’m glad i found some like minded people. I cant stand the fact he gets respect, I t makes me feel like the rest of the world is insane. He cant write music, I just cant hear it, it’s not there. > I had heard about this fukwit but i always thought it looked like he wasn’t trying like he didnt believe in it either. Last night found a record amongst inherited vinyl collection, called Imperial bedroom. Spun it once, hated it, tried it again but fely mysellf getting increasingly angry. I mean there are no tunews there but whoever produced it so fukked it up, his voice is dom inant in the mix and shouldnt be cos hes such a shit singer. Horrible. I snapped it in half, absolutely disgusting,. someone this bad should not be allowed to make music. > It gives me a physical reaction. He sucks so badly. Please avoid him at all costs. > > Thanks for the opportunity. I’ve got a feeling you’re going to get a lot of grief. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2014, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-strong-negative-emotions-toward-the-music-of-elvis-costello/677128/100 "2014-01-11T15:35:30Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > I’ve got a feeling you’re going to get a lot of grief. For some posters that’s SO appealing. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-strong-negative-emotions-toward-the-music-of-elvis-costello/677128.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-strong-negative-emotions-toward-the-music-of-elvis-costello/677128.md?page=6)