Costello struggles with simple emotions and sentiments. He might make an intellectual decision to will himself to try, but he could never really properly sing "Mama Liked the Roses." His hyperactive self-consciousness would trip him up. You'd be able to hear him thinking about singing, and hitting his performance marks. Elvis, on the other hand, was missing his Mama, and his soul at that moment was an open book. That was straight from his heart to yours, even the cheesy spoken word bridge.
[Counter examples, where Costello has been most seemingly emotionally direct: "Either Side of the Same Town" "Peace, Love and Understanding" or perhaps "Party Girl"]
Finally, though, Elvis' biggest advantage over Costello is spiritual. Elvis Presley had a spiritual openess and aspiration which Costello could never touch.
For starters, think of their broadest respective statements of humanism. Costello gave a highly articulated expression of lower level human despair: "What's so funny about peace, love and understanding." Contrast this to the finale of Elvis' famous 1968 television special, "If I Can Dream." Elvis is reaching out toward something holy and transcendent that Costello could never touch.
Consider the spiritual cowering of Costello's "Monkey to Man," from his modern classic album The Delivery Man. It rocks righteously, with a catchy melody, and a sharp wit as he laments the day that "the vicious creature took the jump from monkey to man." It's a fine pop song, but he's still literally nothing but an overeducated monkey cowering in his cage, no matter the haughty wit of his denunciations. He's stuck spiritually at a low rung on Maslow's hierarchy of needs, as it were.
Walking through the hollow in the cool haze of the New Year's first Sunday dusk, my mp3 player went from the Darwinic despair of "Monkey to Man" directly to the otherworldly ascendence of Elvis "In the Garden." Elvis sure meant about 100 times more than Costello right at that moment.
Gospel, in short, is the biggest critical artistic difference between Elvis and Costello. Declan McManus doesn't have that kind of SOUL. These higher, most truly profound realms of sublime human emotional experience are closed to the monkey. Soul music comes from the church. Elvis was there, Costello wasn't. Listen to Elvis sing "Peace in the Valley" and weep at the purity and unearthly peace. What's Costello got to compete with that?
Article comments
1 - Lono
Al - dude, brohan... you have WAY TOO MUCH free thinking time. Seriously. As the world's greatest rock thinker (with an ode to the Duke on the side), I don't think this much about the two even when I am shitting without a newspaper.
Frankly, they can't be compared in my eyes. Sure, they share a name (with Deckland McManus help)... but should I do a piece on Axl Rose vs my truck Axl? No. The reason is because one Axl is a monster asshole and the other fixes my truck.
Sorry, honestly don't mean to sound angry... I am just riffing.
2 - Eric Olsen
I find this analysis very interesting and informative and also agree with the conclusion. I am unaware that there are rules for what you can and cannot compare - I'd say the analysis itself proves its own worth. And that metal device between the truck wheels is spelled "axle"
3 - Antfreeze
Can't argue with ya Albert. Neat entry.
Presley's advantage here is partly one of material. All the great simple songs have been writ. There's nothing left but the puns, wordplays, and modified old adages that pass for songwriting today. Presley was a black man in a white boy's body. Too much soul and rhythm for a white boy. That was the magnetism. Match it up with that face and that voice, tough combo to top. Plus Scotty Moore on guitar. Costello is a great songwriter who has come up with some great simple songs, (Pump it up) he's just cool enough not to copy other's work. Presley's advantages are primarily genetic and he made no real innovations to music. Costello innovates, Presley regurgitates.
4 - Amber Nussbaum
I loved the examples you chose, particularly from Costello's catalog. The Other End of The Telescope is another rather visceral vocal performance of his that I have always liked.
Great post!
5 - Temple Stark
Fair to both sides. You CAN do it. :-)
Nice writing.
Since the only Elvis Costello song I ever liked was Veronica, I'll stick with Elvis the First. Bossanova is my favorite there - most of the time.
6 - Distorted Angel
[Counter examples, where Costello breaks on through to the other side or at least has a happy relationship: ...hmm. I'm drawing a blank here.]
Well, I think he's at least leaning in that direction in North, although it's arguably not his best work, and isn't in a genre that would benefit from a comparison to Presley (or Lennon-McCartney, for that matter).
7 - Mark Saleski
though not really the only catlyst, presley was definitely a part of initial wave (call it a revolution if you want) of rock and roll. this is why he's the king.
you'll get no argument with me about costello the songwriter. he's the man.
8 - Jim Carruthers
If you need to break it down in analysis, Presley was a brilliant performer who suffered from questionable quality control in the volume of material, while Costello is a brilliant songwriter who suffers from questionable quality control on what he records.
Both men are omnivorous fans of popular music in many categories.
For an example of how Costello has QC problems (since Peter Guarlnick has already written two benchmark books on Presley) I point to "The Judgment" which Costello wrote for Solomon Burke on his Anti album, and which EC performed on his most recent. The Burke version is authoritative, while the EC version sounds like what it is, a songwriter's demo. Which is where it should have stayed.
Anyways, Happy 70th Elvis!
9 - Temple Stark
>>> If you need to break it down in analysis, Presley was a brilliant performer who suffered from questionable quality control in the volume of material, while Costello is a brilliant songwriter who suffers from questionable quality control on what he records.
That further summarizes things beautifully. The Elvis' sure bring out the clearheadness in people.
I think we can take things one step further. Do you think ice-skater Elvis Stojko would dance better to Presley or Costello?
10 - Eric Olsen
another issue is the distinction between a career based upon sincerity vs one based upon irony - in almost all instances irony turns sour over time
I think it both funny and revealing that Costello's greatest performance is on a cover ("Peace Love and Understanding," which he belts out without a hint of irony)