Friday, September 04, 2009
Some Songs
Really love seeing who Elvis Costello has on his show...here he is with opera singer Renee Fleming, Kate McGarrigle, Rufus Wainwright...and on guitar is Bill Frisell
Explaining his approach to the program, Elvis said, "I'm not interested in extracting some dark secret. I'd rather hear about a bright secret, a deep love or a curiosity that might be otherwise obscured by fame. This is a wonderful opportunity to talk in complete thoughts about music, movies, art or even vaudeville, then frame it with unique and illustrative performances."
While most of the world assumes that Nashville has all the country music and all the "new country" music...a rebirth ala Bakersfield Sound has been going on with young singer/songwriters in Los Angeles. It was nice to see Costello welcome these new artists on to his show. Below is She & Him. (Zooey Dechanel and Matt Ward)
Below is the song "Pretty Bird" by the also incredibly talented singer/songwriter Jenny Lewis...this is a gorgeous performance...check it out...
I cried at the cover of "Straight To Hell" with Jacob Dylan and Elvis Costello.
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2 comments:
Great stuff, Candy. BTW, two of the links didn't work. I just had his Painted from Memory CD on two days ago (with Bacharach). The closing song you show brought back a flash of memories of a great night out with friends at my college town when Elvis played there way back when. He closed with Peace, Love & Understanding and, at the very end of the song, went into a solo, mixing in riffs of someone else's famous song, can't remember which one. It was a great ending to a great concert. Back then he only played the "angry" stuff, and we hopped up and down all the way through. Glad to see he's still going strong.
Hi Bloggerboy, thanks I had written this post a few days ago in a hurry so didn't double check links. It just automatically posted this morning. I loved Elvis Costello's "angry stuff"...whatever it was that made him so prolific and melodic. I almost can't listen to the old old stuff without choking up. It's the same with a bunch of other music...all from back then...it's like now there is an emotional response I have no control over. My daughter has it too. She and I went to see Springsteen in 2004 and we cried for many of the songs. We also laughed because we were so surprised what crybabies were so we'd ge teared up at an oldie, then laugh at each other.
Costello has had a pretty interesting series of works...it could have easily become that he was just a retro act. But I love his King album and torch stuff and work with Bacharach (who is also on his first season programs...coming out on dvd by now I think...it's really fantastic program)
The song "Peace Love Understanding" is actually a very old song of Nick Lowe's. But most of it's recognition came from Costello's version. Another version was ona Whiney Houston movie sound track "The Bodyguard". Apparently...the sales from that cover version made Nick Lowe very very rich.
Elvis Costello went on to Stephen Colbert's insanely hilarious Xmas special and sang the song with a bunch of others ncluding John Legend, Willie Nelsen and Colbert. You have to see that Xmas special...there is somethign about the humour you will most definately enjoy.
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