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Elvis Costello

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Elvis Costello was born in London in 1954 as Declan Patrick MacManus. His father was a trumpeter and singer, his mother worked in record shops, so he grew up among music. His career began when British punk emerged. He kept his broad musical knowledge hidden at first, but it came fully to the surface later: his styles range from rhythm and blues and country to jazz, baroque pop and classical music.

Music and breakthrough

His debut My Aim Is True came out in 1977. It produced no hit singles, but it does contain the ballad Alison, one of his best-known songs. The records This Year's Model (1978) and Armed Forces (1979) helped define the new wave genre. He was then playing with his band the Attractions. From late 1977 to early 1980 all his singles reached the British top thirty, with Oliver's Army in 1979 as the biggest hit. In America success remained more modest, although he scored in 1989 with Veronica.

Influence

Costello wrote lyrics full of wordplay, in the tradition of Bob Dylan and Van Morrison, but with the ferocity of punk. He worked with the Brodsky Quartet, Allen Toussaint, The Roots and Burt Bacharach, and wrote songs with Paul McCartney. His own songs have been recorded by many other artists. In School of Rock he appears as an artist for whom a designer made the sleeves of his first records, a reminder of how important the imagery accompanying the music became in these years. In 2003 the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted him.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Alison from My Aim Is True. Notice how calm and almost restrained the singing is, while the lyrics are full of feeling and wordplay.

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

The chapters, maps and magazine stories of School of Rock are currently available in Dutch only.

See also

Categories: Artists