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Fun Music Information -> Elvis Costello
Parody album cover
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This is the most recent information about Elvis Costello that has been submitted to amIright. If we have more information about Elvis Costello, then we provide a link to the section where it appears (the actual page whenever possible).
Our newest site, amIwrong has an albums order quiz where you need to put this performer's albums in order of release.
Possible Misspelled Names:
These are the alternate spellings of the performer's name we've had to correct in submissions to amIright.
Elvis Costello & the Attractions, Elvis Costello/Paul McCartney, Elvis Costello and The AttractionsQuotes:
Writing about music is like dancing about architecture - it's really a stupid thing to want to do. - Elvis Costello Even in a perfect world, where everyone was equal I'd still own the film rights and be working on the sequel. - Elvis Costello Submitted by: LucidLupin
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Band Name Origins:
- Originally Declan MacManus, he chose the stage name by combining Elvis Presley with his mother's maiden name. Submitted by: Eschewy
- His real name is Declan McManus, from a long line of Irish musicians. The other description about using Elvis Presley's name and his Grandmother's maiden name are correct. The current incarnation of the Attractions have been titled The Imposters. Submitted by: Feldes
Music Performer Pseudonyms:
Also known as: Declan Patrick McManus. Submitted by: geojones
Also known as: Declan Patrick MacManus. Submitted by: Colin
Use a Song Title to Answer a Different Song:
Song & Band Name | Song & Band Name | |
| "Car Crash," Our Lady Peace | "Accidents Will Happen," Elvis Costello | |
| "What's Your Name?," Lynyrd Skynyrd | "Veronica," Elvis Costello | |
| "Fall Down," Toad The Wet Sprocket | "Accidents Will Happen," Elvis Costello | |
| "Laughing," The Guess Who | "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace Love & Understanding," Elvis Costello | |
| There are additional songs titles that answer other songs available. | ||
Remove a Letter From a Song Title:
"Big Teas" originally "Big Tears"
Served with a lot of ice, is great for the summer.
Peter
"The Bat" originally "The Beat"
Alyssa Jayne
"The Bet" originally "The Beat"
Alyssa Jayne
"Big Ears" originally "Big Tears"
Candy Welty
"Oliver's Amy" originally "Oliver's Army"
Amy was Oliver's girlfriend or something?
Doug Wells
There are additional song titles with a letter removed available.
Add a Letter to a Song Title:
"Why Don't You Love Men?" originally "Why Don't You Love Me?"
Peter
"Why Don't You Glove Me?" originally "Why Don't You Love Me?"
Peter
"Allison" originally "Alison"
A variant spelling of the name. Both are common.
Nancy
"The Beast" originally "The Beat"
Alyssa Jayne
"Olivier's Army" originally "Oliver's Army"
As in Laurence Olivier
Samantha Wayland
There are additional song titles with a letter added available.
Change a Letter:
"Why Don't You Love Ma" originally "Why Don't You Love Me"
Peter
"Why Don't You Live Me" originally "Why Don't You Love Me"
More existentialism?
Peter
"Why Don't You Move Me" originally "Why Don't You Love Me"
Peter
"Oliver's Arty" originally "Oliver's Army"
Sutch
"Latching The Detectives" originally "Watching The Detectives"
That's one way to keep them from the job.
Peter
There are additional song titles with a letter changed available.
Song Parody Lyrics:
Original Song Name | Parody Song Name | Parody Author |
| "Veronica" | "Harmonica" | Warren Baker |
| "Alison" | "Anderson" | John A. Barry |
| "Pump It Up" | "Suck It Up" | Warren Baker |
| "Waiting for the End of the World" | "Hiding in the Tree Like a Squirrel" | metaphorsbwithu |
| "Less Than Zero" | "Dress Like Zorro" | metaphorsbwithu |
| "Watchin' The Detectives" | "Watchin For Infections (the Nurse Ballad)" | Malcolm Higgins |
| "This Year's Girl" | "This Year's Toy" | Rex Ungericht |
| "Watching The Detectives" | "Blocking The Inspections" | Malcolm Higgins |
| "Oliver's Army" | "To Love Her's Barmy" | the_conqueror_of_parodies |
| "Alison" | "Albertsons" | Rick Duncan |
There are additional song parodies available. | ||
Songs for Commercials, That Haven't Been Done Yet:
Song Name | Product | Submittor |
| Harpies Bizarre | Loose Women promo | pickle |
| Almost Blue | Smurfs cartoon show | Vic George |
| Pump It Up | Bicycle Pumps | Indra.v |
| Almost Blue | Promo for 'Charlie & The Chocolate Factory' | Pickle* |
| Accidents Will Happen | Auto Insurance | A dude |
| There are additional commercials that haven't been done yet available. | ||
Bad Choices for On Hold Music:
Song Name | Company/Organization | Submittor |
| Accidents Will Happen | Anything potty-training related | brainstem |
| Radio Radio | Sinclair or Infinity Broadcasting | Tim Hall |
| It's Been A Good Year For The Roses | Classic Rock Magazine | pickle* |
| Accidents Will Happen | NASCAR | newave |
| Accidents Will Happen | Service King Collision Repair | Big Mark |
| There are additional on hold music ideas available. | ||
Songs for Duets, That Haven't Been Done Yet:
First Band/Song Name | Second Band/Song Name | New Song Name | Submittor |
| Valerie Steve Winwood | Veronica Elvis Costello | Valerie And Veronica | Edward |
| My Name Is Eminem | Alison Elvis Costello | My Name Is Alison | Grimley Fieendish |
| Fell In Love With A Girl White Stripes | Veronica Elvis Costello | Veronica Fell In Love With A Girl I knew there was something suspecious about her! | B.C. |
| Love Hurts Roy Orbison | Twenty-Five Fingers Elvis Costello | Love Hurts With Twenty-Five Fingers Ladies..... I feel your pain. | Hed Automatican |
| There are additional duets that haven't been done yet available. | |||
If Groups Combined, Their Names Might Be:
Elvis Costello Ate My Baby
Elvis Ate My Baby combined with Elvis Costello
Submitted By: JeReMy
Abbott & Costello
Gregory Abbott combined with Elvis Costello
Not exactly the same people, sadly...but those are the two performers' respective last names.
Submitted By: John
Abba and Costello
Abba combined with Elvis Costello
Okay, I stole this idea, but it had to be on the list.
Submitted By: Rick Duncan
Misheard Lyrics:
"Tokyo Storm Warning"
Misheard Lyrics: Tell Keo, "stop whining"
Original Lyrics: Tokyo storm warning
| "Watching the Detectives"
Misheard Lyrics: That girl's not one with the feet that sell fame. Shrink that - so correct
Red dolls and derelict eagle eggs. Original Lyrics: Nice girls not one with a defect, cellophane shrink-wrapped, so correct.
Red dogs under illegal legs. |
"Waiting for the End of the World"
Misheard Lyrics: The man from the television crawling through the train
I wonder whose scum is stinking up this town Original Lyrics: The man from the television crawled into the train
I wonder who he's gonna stick it in this time | "Pump It Up"
Misheard Lyrics: You wanna talk to her,
You wanna talk to her Original Lyrics: You wanna torture her,
You wanna talk to her |
| There are additional misheard lyrics available. | |
Misheard Lyrics Stories:
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"Allison"
Misheard Lyrics: Allison, my anus, too.
Original Lyrics: Allison, my aim is true.
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Story about this misheard lyric by: Maya Weiss
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| There are additional misheard stories available. | |
Song Parody Fragments:
"What's so funny about Peace Love and Understanding"
Better Lyrics:
What's so funny 'bout Eli and Petyon Manning
Original Lyrics:
What's so funny 'bout peace love and understanding
Submitted by: Tom
Funniest Song Lyrics:
"Brilliant Mistake"
The Funny Lyrics: She said that she was working for the ABC News
It was as much of the alphabet as she knew how to use Why They're Funny: Elvis recorded this in the 80s--if he thought they hired ditzy newscasters back then, I wonder what he thinks of the current crop of lip-glossed loons...
Submitted by: Doug
| "Radio, Radio"
The Funny Lyrics: You better do as you are told.
Why They're Funny: If he had followed this advice, he never would have played this song on SNL in '77.
Submitted by: Brian Kelly
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Nonsensical Song Lyrics:
"Watching The Detectives"
The Nonsensical Lyrics: Red dogs under illegal legs
Why They're Nonsensical: What in the world is this line supposed to mean??!?
Submitted by: ParaGlock
| "She"
The Nonsensical Lyrics: She may not be what she may seem inside her shell.
Why They're Nonsensical: What is she, a turtle?
Submitted by: Rpollck
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Song Lyrics That Name Check Celebrities:
"Oliver's Army"
The Lyrics: Though it could be arranged
With just a word in Mr. Churchill's ear Who They Mention: Winston Churchill
Submitted by: Paul
| "Complicated Shadows"
The Lyrics: You can say just what you like in a voice like a John Ford film
Take the law into your hands You will soon get tired of killing In those complicated shadows Who They Mention: Filmmaker John Ford
Submitted by: Tania WYEP
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| There are additional celebrity lyrics available. | |
Song Lyrics That Mention Other Songs:
"Suit Of Lights"
The Song Lyrics: And I thought I heard "The Working Man's Blues"
He went out to work that night and wasted his breath Song They Mention: Working Man's Blues - Merle Haggard
Submitted by: Tania WYEP
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Songs That Open With Their Titles:
"This Year's Girl"
Opening Lines: See her picture in a thousand places 'cause she's this year's girl.
Comments: Submitted by: Brian Kelly
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Song Title Space Change:
"No Act Ion" originally "No Action"
Submitted by: Yvette Bristle
"Lips Tick Vogue" originally "Lipstick Vogue"
Submitted by: Yvette Bristle
"Butt On My Lip" originally "Button My Lip"
Submitted by: Yvette Bristle
"Al Is On" originally "Alison"
Submitted by: George Straitjacket
"Ali's On" originally "Alison"
Submitted by: U. Carrie Oats
Band Name Anagrams:
Elves Lost Coil Submitted by: Serafina Bannock
Cool Elves' Silt Submitted by: Serafina Bannock
I Love Colt Less Submitted by: Serafina Bannock
Close Sill Vote Submitted by: Serafina Bannock
Cool Elves Slit Submitted by: Serafina Bannock
There are additional Band Name Anagrams available.
Song Title Anagrams:
"In Laos" originally "Alison"
Submitted by: Hannah Montanalestes
"Sail On" originally "Alison"
Submitted by: Hannah Montanalestes
"As Lion" originally "Alison"
Submitted by: Hannah Montanalestes
"Lo, A Sin" originally "Alison"
Submitted by: Hannah Montanalestes
"I Do Ad; I Roar" originally "Radio Radio"
Submitted by: Lauryn Canna
There are additional Song Title Anagrams available.
Real Places Mentioned in Songs:
"Oliver's Army"
The Lyrics: Hong Kong is up for grabs
London is full of arabs We could be in palestine Overrun by a chinese line With the boys from the mersey and the thames and the tyne ....... ....... If you're out of luck you're out of work We could send you to johannesburg Why: Hong Kong London Palestine Mersey, Thames, Tyne Johannesburg
Submitted by: Paul
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Super Short Pop Songs:
"Welcome To the Working Week" Length: 1:22
The leadoff track to his debut album, My Aim Is True.
Submitted by: Todd W. Zimmerman
What A Band is Best Known For (aside from their music):
"Being banned from SNL"
Elvis Costello & the Attractions were banned from Saturday Night Live for 20 years for performing "Radio Radio" instead of "Less Than Zero" in a 1977 episode.
Submitted by: dxman
Movies Named After Song Titles:
"Less Than Zero"
Submitted by: Brian Kelly
