This guy . . . I mean, he was on fire in those days. One brilliant song after another, and remember, he'd be a genius just for these lyrics, let alone the tunes as well! The Attractions were his best band, no-one else comes close.
Andy Partridge of XTC needs to be in that conversation too. As good as Elvis Costello is a lyricist, Andy Partridge is better in my opinion. But unless you’re familiar with the XTC catalogue, you won’t feel the same way.
LOOKIE HERE . . . Why are we racing to be so old? I'm up late pacing the floor I won't be told You have your reservations I'm bought and sold I'll face the music I'll face the facts Even when we walk in polka dots and checker slacks Bowing and squawking Running after tidbits Bobbing and squinting Just like a nitwit Two little Hitlers will fight it out until One little Hitler does the other one's will I will return I will not burn Down in the basement I need my head examined I need my eyes excited I'd like to join the party But I was not invited You make a member of me I'll be delighted I wouldn't cry for lost souls, you might drown Dirty words for dirty minds Written in a toilet town Dial me a Valentine She's a smooth operator It's all so calculated She's got a calculator She's my soft touch typewriter And I'm the great dictator Two little Hitlers will fight it out until One little Hitler does the other one's will I will return I will not burn A simple game of self-respect You flick a switch and the world goes off Nobody jumps as you expect I would have thought you would have had enough by now You call selective dating For some effective mating I thought I'd let you down, dear But you were just deflating I knew right from the start We'd end up hating Pictures of the merchandise Plastered on the wall We can look so long as we don't have to talk at all You say you'll never know him He's an unnatural man He doesn't want your pleasure He wants as no one can He wants to know the names of All those he's better than Two little Hitlers will fight it out until One little Hitler does the other one's will I will return I will not burn I will return I will not burn I will return I will not burn
ONE OF THE CLEVEREST LYRICAL SONGS EVER WRITTEN,REALLY LISTEN TO THE LYRICS,SUCH A SCREWED RELATIONSHIP SONG,AND SO TRUE ,TRYING TO ONE UP EACH OTHER....GET WHAT HE MEANS...NASTY SONG AND SO GENIUS
His lyrics are so under rated. I can't help in this moment see a connection between Costello and Dylan. I'm not saying he's a Dylan, but I'm seeing it right now.
3 года назад+1
Elvis is way better singer than Dylan (and writer!)
hes not as important to music as Dylan. He is a far better songwriter as You say, and singer. Perhaps Dylans timing was better. Elvis has written so so many good songs, more than 600 i am told. I tried making a top 100 favorite elvis song list and had to leave so many out to keep down to a hundred.
What an amazing vocal performance. A rich, robust voice with excellent pitch and steady support. He sounds like a megaphone. And this is only two songs into their set, so he hadn't even warmed up then.
dial me a valentine she's a smooth operator it's all so calculated she's got a calculator she's my soft-touch typewriter and I'm a great dictator maybe the funniest lines in all of rock
Very cool song. I was first introduced to it when Todd Rundgren covered it on his "Nearly Human" CD. Big props to Elvis for writing this, but check out Todd's cover sometime if you get a chance. It's pretty good, too.
True genius. I remember when it first came out and everyone at this place I worked for the summer called me out for listening to it. They claimed any song named Two little Hitlers had to be anti-semetic! Did I spell that right? O well ....judging a book by its cover and all that kinda nonsense!!!!!!
Can anyone make out the opening lyrics? He pulled a lot of alternate lyrics live. I have a bootleg of him playing in DC in 77 or 78 and he totally changes the lyrics to Less Than Zero..
2 lil hitlers says it all. his take on the Talking heads rhythm guitar sound. EC was running around quite bit on Mrs EC at this point,namely w/ Bebe Buell.
Doug Smith Yeah the generic backing band is the only thing keeping that album from greatness. The Attractions would have made songs like I’m not angry or Miracle man sound unbelieavable
I think Clover did a great job, I prefer the studio version of Waiting For the End of the World to live versions, and the lead guitar on Alison is fantastic.
have a chat with the speciials cos things are not right the biggest and best song writer Roddy Byers is getting very little!! i know you always say the guys write the song should be paid!! please i ask can you do this for Roddy his songs are on adverts hes not getting paid!!! please help him
lil hitler + two lil hitlers. armed forces AKA emotional fascism. get the point? really trying to provoke. EC wrote his after nick. just realized the song has a ' 2 ' in it. almost making sure his is second to nick's. just noticed!
I love his later work too, but this was clearly his best band.
This guy . . . I mean, he was on fire in those days. One brilliant song after another, and remember, he'd be a genius just for these lyrics, let alone the tunes as well!
The Attractions were his best band, no-one else comes close.
OH. MY. GOD. It doesn't get any better than this.
the attractions were so fckn tight
These four guys were the right ones at the right place at the right time. Armed Forces was my first EC album (8-track tape). I wore it out.
I was 16 when he was breaking in the uk so long ago
Genius
She's my soft touch typewriter, and I'm a great dictator...
One of my fave drummers, top 1,000 for sure...
He is Beatles level as a songwriter
On Get Happy in particular. Tour de force of songwriting.
far and away better than the beatles, they’re great too (and way way more influential) but non of them could ever write lyrics like costello’s
much better than them
Andy Partridge of XTC needs to be in that conversation too. As good as Elvis Costello is a lyricist, Andy Partridge is better in my opinion. But unless you’re familiar with the XTC catalogue, you won’t feel the same way.
He is one of the greatest songwriters of all time. His level of work is astonishing. A boy named if is brilliant and it’s his latest album
This is the kind of Elvis song I like, angry, lotsa bright organ, choppy and fast! Great Version!
michael haywood I love angry young Elvis. :D
+guitarslinger48 the sweatiest nerd ever !!
It's fast?
Great live version. Never heard a live one of this tune.... superb early stuff Never disappoints especially live. Viva El Vis...!!!!
tight live version... such a solid band, Elvis upfront snarling out his provocative lyrics, wicked good
Its time for an Elvis Costello box set - all his albums nice big box of em. Id pay a hundred bucks
Love Elvis. This is one, amongst many, of his great early songs!!!!
I need my head examined I need my eyes excited....... and I have for 35 years now.
Elvis Costello: I'm up late pacing the floor
Bruce Thomas: Imma play bass in the floor
LOOKIE HERE . . .
Why are we racing to be so old?
I'm up late pacing the floor
I won't be told
You have your reservations
I'm bought and sold
I'll face the music
I'll face the facts
Even when we walk in polka dots and checker slacks
Bowing and squawking
Running after tidbits
Bobbing and squinting
Just like a nitwit
Two little Hitlers will fight it out until
One little Hitler does the other one's will
I will return
I will not burn
Down in the basement
I need my head examined
I need my eyes excited
I'd like to join the party
But I was not invited
You make a member of me
I'll be delighted
I wouldn't cry for lost souls, you might drown
Dirty words for dirty minds
Written in a toilet town
Dial me a Valentine
She's a smooth operator
It's all so calculated
She's got a calculator
She's my soft touch typewriter
And I'm the great dictator
Two little Hitlers will fight it out until
One little Hitler does the other one's will
I will return
I will not burn
A simple game of self-respect
You flick a switch and the world goes off
Nobody jumps as you expect
I would have thought you would have had enough by now
You call selective dating
For some effective mating
I thought I'd let you down, dear
But you were just deflating
I knew right from the start
We'd end up hating
Pictures of the merchandise
Plastered on the wall
We can look so long as we don't have to talk at all
You say you'll never know him
He's an unnatural man
He doesn't want your pleasure
He wants as no one can
He wants to know the names of
All those he's better than
Two little Hitlers will fight it out until
One little Hitler does the other one's will
I will return
I will not burn
I will return
I will not burn
I will return
I will not burn
ONE OF THE CLEVEREST LYRICAL SONGS EVER WRITTEN,REALLY LISTEN TO THE LYRICS,SUCH A SCREWED RELATIONSHIP SONG,AND SO TRUE ,TRYING TO ONE UP EACH OTHER....GET WHAT HE MEANS...NASTY SONG AND SO GENIUS
It takes some balls to perform that song in Germany only 30 years after Hitler. Only you, Elvis
It would take balls to play it in Israel not Germany. The krauts dont give a shit...
Frank Eckert You are so damn.......
wrong
Are you kidding? Germans are the most beaten-down, self-hating group in the world. They'd love this.
Not really because it was before the days of PC hysteria
Very true. If I'm there, he would be in the hospital even as we talk now
Doesn't matter which Hitler came first, Nick and Elvis both geniuses.
There's a reason he is considered one of the greatest.
His lyrics are so under rated. I can't help in this moment see a connection between Costello and Dylan. I'm not saying he's a Dylan, but I'm seeing it right now.
Elvis is way better singer than Dylan (and writer!)
@ I agree 100%. Few can match Elvis' originality and productivity.
hes not as important to music as Dylan. He is a far better songwriter as You say, and singer. Perhaps Dylans timing was better. Elvis has written so so many good songs, more than 600 i am told. I tried making a top 100 favorite elvis song list and had to leave so many out to keep down to a hundred.
Elvis is King~!
Brilliant songwriter at his best! Could be the best video footage of "The King" I've ever seen!
Great song. I feel like his mullet haircut swaying around makes this performance sound so much better. LOL
Love this!!...
always loved this band
I saw him in the early 80's with this lineup.
talent wins through
as others have mentioned, this is incredibly tight
What an amazing vocal performance. A rich, robust voice with excellent pitch and steady support. He sounds like a megaphone. And this is only two songs into their set, so he hadn't even warmed up then.
another classic...
Love love love the whole Armed Forces playlist...I've worn it out!
surely a classic album if ever there was one.
how was my man e so 40 years ahead of his time
Yeah I thought this song came out in like 2009 the first time I heard it
this is fucking insane its so great
the Main Man and No Mistake . 🇬🇧
many thank max takes me back to the day i love club music many thanks for this post i had the LP back in the day
the attractions are one of the tightest bands to step on a stage. EC can credit a lot of his early rep to these great musicians
My favorite song! Gave the case the to a band player who had to have it!
A gem!
My jam .
dial me a valentine
she's a smooth operator
it's all so calculated
she's got a calculator
she's my soft-touch typewriter
and I'm a great dictator
maybe the funniest lines in all of rock
#ElvisCostelloMullet
"I wouldn't cry for lost souls you might drown..."
love it!!!
Very cool song. I was first introduced to it when Todd Rundgren covered it on his "Nearly Human" CD. Big props to Elvis for writing this, but check out Todd's cover sometime if you get a chance. It's pretty good, too.
Nice.
I think I prefer this over the album version, which is no mean feat. There's only one Elvis.
Ballsey shit there. Aint the Rockpalast in Hamburg?
A.O. Scott brought me here.
True genius. I remember when it first came out and everyone at this place I worked for the summer called me out for listening to it. They claimed any song named Two little Hitlers had to be anti-semetic! Did I spell that right? O well ....judging a book by its cover and all that kinda nonsense!!!!!!
No, you didn't spell it right. But at least you've been brainwashed into thinking it's bad.
brilliant - that's all... ;)
Can anyone make out the opening lyrics? He pulled a lot of alternate lyrics live. I have a bootleg of him playing in DC in 77 or 78 and he totally changes the lyrics to Less Than Zero..
2 lil hitlers says it all. his take on the Talking heads rhythm guitar sound. EC was running around quite bit on Mrs EC at this point,namely w/ Bebe Buell.
what no one is 'getting' is that he chose THIS song or a GERMAN tv show!!!
He also played Night Rally on the same show. He was prodding the audience...
Imagine how incredible My Aim is True (already awesome) would have sounded with THIS band recording instead of Clover...
Doug Smith Yeah the generic backing band is the only thing keeping that album from greatness. The Attractions would have made songs like I’m not angry or Miracle man sound unbelieavable
@@patriciofernandez2711 much more urgent and ferocious
Check out Live at Hollywood High on CD. You can listen to The Attractions performing songs from My Aim True.
I think Clover did a great job, I prefer the studio version of Waiting For the End of the World to live versions, and the lead guitar on Alison is fantastic.
It's all so calculated. She's got a calculator.
Love that line
grt hair
your right..rockpalast was a german show! oh that EC.
have a chat with the speciials cos things are not right the biggest and best song writer Roddy Byers is getting very little!! i know you always say the guys write the song should be paid!! please i ask can you do this for Roddy his songs are on adverts hes not getting paid!!! please help him
Can anyone post "Running Out Of Angels" by Elvis Costello-Can't find it anywhere
some one suggested this should be Kamala Harris's campaign song.
Someone please trim that Seinfeld Mullet in the back.
it's cute. it's not THAT mullet-ee
I thought I let you down but you were just deflated.
You miss the idea of this song completely
lil hitler + two lil hitlers. armed forces AKA emotional fascism. get the point? really trying to provoke. EC wrote his after nick. just realized the song has a ' 2 ' in it. almost making sure his is second to nick's. just noticed!
major mullet, but EC at his best xxxooo
US Presidential campaign 2016
At most one.
Dont be a douchebag.
Jim Sistare Trump wishes he was a dictator. Hopefully jail is in his future.
@@johnsradios484 keep holding your breath
Trump was the only dictator in that race.
Play it for Netanyahu and Bennett. If the shoe fits...
It's about divorce ?
It's about him vs his producer
it`s all so calculated, she`s got a calculator !!
another great artist cancel culture will ruin!
sweat
This is from 1978 not 1983 cos Costellos hair would not have been that bad in 1983
that ain't a mullet that was the best he could do with his hair right then...
So what's the idea of the song?
12 people are just deflated
horrible title great song!
perfect title