Favourite lyric

[Guest]

I love that Elvis Costello lyric Gedge is currently using as his signature. EC wrote some great lines. Here's a couple more:

'I said "I'm so happy I could die."
She said "Drop dead" and left with another guy'

"Even in a perfect world, where everyone was equal
I'd still own the film rights and be working on the sequel."

So, post your favourite lyrics here!

[Gedge]

Perhaps it should be a thread for fave Elvis C lyrics:

But you make him sound like frozen food, his love will last forever

[Guest]

But you blew hot and cold
Turned my heart to a cinder
And with each passing day
You'd be less tender and more tinder
Now you're not the only flame in town

She's not the only flame in town
She's got to stop thinking that I'm
carrying this torch around

Thought I saw your face in the fire
But it's so hard to remember
Even an inferno can cool down to an ember
Now you're not the only flame
You're not the only flame
You're not the only flame in town

[Guest]

EC wrote some great lines.

Pity he can't sing, then.

I'm a big Burt Bacharach fan, but his collaborations with Elvis Costello were pretty much unlistenable.

(I think I'd better add a smiley, before this starts looking like an intolerant rant. Oh no, not that one... . There, that's better.)

[Guest]

I'm not a big fan of lyrics. A good couplet can stick in the mind ("and in the end, the love you make/Is equal to the love you take") but it usually stops short of poetry. Take it away from the music and it rarely stands up on its own. On the other hand, a good song (ie a good mix of words and music) can transcend the banality of the lyric and/or the melody to become something very special indeed.

Everyone has their own examples: but how about "Baby one more time" by Britney Spears. Not an ounce of origianl thought, and bloody awful lyrics, but it's still three minutes of pop heaven. (The cover version on the Freaky Friday soundtrack was even better though.)

Err... Just realised I've hijacked the thread. Sorry.

You can't beat the Beatles: "Life is very short, and there's no time for fussing and fighting". (Doesn't sound very good without the tune, does it?)

[ecm]

Pity he can't sing, then.

I'm a big Burt Bacharach fan, but his collaborations with Elvis Costello were pretty much unlistenable.

That's pretty much fighting talk in my book Alex.
I love Costello. I saw him a couple of years ago at the Corn Exchange and it was amazing.
But one man's meat etc etc.


Now, talking of people who can't sing, anyone lucky enough to get a ticket for Mr Morrissey's gig at the Exchange later this month?

[Guest]

That's pretty much fighting talk in my book Alex.

Yes, I realised I was being a bit harsh. As if my record collection didn't have any --er-- distinctive singers in it. Sorry ECM.

And I STILL don't know who you are. Are you a modern jazz fan..? I'm thinking ECM records here...

I've got a meeting in HQ on Wednesday. Wear a red carnation so I can identify you. [Worrying thought: I wonder if we're attending the same meeting. That could be embarrassing.]

[Guest]

Well maybe the Burt Bacharach collaboration wasn't EC's finest moment, but I've enjoyed most of his work over the years. Did you ever see "Black and White Night", a concert featuring Roy Orbison, Costello, Tom Waits, Springsteen etc? Costello wrote 'The Comedians' for Orbison - now there's a guy who could sing!

[Porty]

Well maybe the Burt Bacharach collaboration wasn't EC's finest moment, but I've enjoyed most of his work over the years. Did you ever see "Black and White Night", a concert featuring Roy Orbison, Costello, Tom Waits, Springsteen etc? Costello wrote 'The Comedians' for Orbison - now there's a guy who could sing!

When you are an artist such as Costello or Springers (Not that Elvis could shine Bruce's boots) it doesn't really matter how good the singing voice is, same goes for Neil Young. Its all in the passion, the lyrics and the artists interpretation. I have nothing whatsoever against Elvis, i even went to see him a couple of times. The author of Oliver's Army and Watching the Detectives deserves respect.

[Porty]

Love that Avatar Marya.

[bellybabe]

Take it away from the music and it rarely stands up on its own.

I think that's true on the whole, but there are exceptions. As I said to Mr M in another thread, Ani diFranco's songs are often performed by her wihtout any music, and some of them sound even better as poetry than as songs. But there aren't many artists or songs you can say that about.

[cornerboy]

My head was beating like a song by The Clash
It was writing cheques my body couldn't cash.

Richard Thompson is the man!