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I can think of few other artists as talented and incredible as Elvis Costello. I've made no secret of the fact that he's one of my biggest musical heroes and I even went so far as to review all of his albums here a couple years ago. He's also one of the best balladeers out there, able to be snarky and loud in one song and soft and gentle in the next. It's this kind of diversity that makes him so incredible and I wanted to look at some of my favorite ballads that Costello has penned over the years, in no particular order. Some of these will be obvious and others more obscure (unless you own all of his albums or have followed him beyond the hits) and I'm well aware that there are some songs that didn't make the cut by a thin margin (like "Almost Blue", "Still", and "Indoor Fireworks"). Anyway, let's roll!
15. My Three Sons
(from Momofuku)
I love you more than I can say/What I give to one, the others cannot take away
Costello's touching tribute to his three children is definitely one of his most lovely and heartfelt. It's the voice of a father looking back over the years and regretting what he got wrong and being proud of what he got right. I'm not a father myself, so obviously I can't completely connect with this song on that kind of emotional level, but it still hits me in a profound and beautiful way. If I were ever to have sons I'd be hard-pressed to word my love for them any better than what's stated here.
14. I Want You
(from Blood & Chocolate)
Oh my baby, baby/I want you so it scares me to death/I can't say anymore than "I love you"/Everything else is a waste of breath
Arguably one of his most beloved and pivotal songs, "I Want You" is as bitter, tortured, and sorrowful as they come. It's not a happy song by any means but it's that kind of raw honesty that makes it so unforgettable. It slowly builds, almost as if you can slowly feel the madness creeping in, and then recedes near the end just as quietly as it began. I took me a long time to really understand this track and to appreciate it. The effort was well worth investing in.
13. Town Cryer
(from Imperial Bedroom)
Other boys use the splendour of their trembling lip/They're so teddy bear tender and tragically hip
The closing track of Imperial Bedroom ranks among my favorite Costello moments. The soft piano that soon gives way to the orchestral swirl of strings is simply stunning and fully immerses you in the moment. It's these subtle touches that make the heartbroken lyrics that much more interesting and powerful.
12. Favourite Hour
(from Brutal Youth)
Bejewelled movement measures lost and vanished time/Pray for the boy who makes his bed in cold earth and quicklime
This ballad about someone awaiting their execution is not a happy story, though it IS a beautiful and haunting song that features nothing more than Costello and a piano. The tender melody is instantly engrossing and the result is one of his finest moments.
11. All This Useless Beauty
(from All This Useless Beauty)
Good Friday arrived, the sky darkened on time/'Til he almost began to negotiate/She held his head like a baby and said "It's okay if you cry"
The title track from my favorite Elvis Costello album is also one of his finest. The gentle sounds of Steven Nieve's piano lead the track as each of The Attractions softly come in and add more depth to the song. This track blew me away the first time I heard it and over the years it's lost none of its charm and beauty (no pun intended).
10. Deep Dark Truthful Mirror
(from Spike)
And it's his story you'll flatter/You'll stretch him out like a saint/But the canvas that he splattered will be the picture that you never paint
This is probably one of his more well-known compositions, at least among his fan-base. I was fortunate to see him perform this in concert years ago and it was a show-stopper. The use horns and various instruments makes it a more upbeat melody that carries some interesting lyrics, even though I'll admit I'm not entirely sure what they're about. Be sure to look into this one if you haven't experienced it before.
9. Heart Shaped Bruise
(from The Delivery Man)
It will fade from purple to violet/It will fade just as the day was lost into twilight
Country is a genre that has always suited Elvis well, as bizarre as that may sound at first. Ever since his debut he's flirted with it and even recorded several albums in the old-school country style. "Heart Shaped Bruise" works so well because Emmylou Harris lends her vocals to the tune, allowing for both of them to tell two sides of the same tragic story. It works flawlessly and it feels like a natural pairing for these two. It's an overlooked gem in Costello's vast catalog and one that has stuck with me over the years.
8. All Grown Up
(from Mighty Like a Rose)
But look at yourself/You'll see you're still so young/You haven't earned the weariness that sounds so jaded on your tongue
When I first heard this song at the age of 18 I remember thinking, "You're right, I'm not old enough to be complaining yet." At 26 I've experienced a lot and yet when I hear this song I still feel young. Yes, I've taken some hits and I've earned some of that weariness, but obviously not to the extent that Costello had when he wrote this. Yes, it's somewhat bitter but it's also a good reminder that an entitlement mindset and whining at a young age belie who you are and how much further you have to go. It's just incredible on so many levels.
7. Poisoned Rose
(from King of America)
I threw away your alibis and all your worn-out clothes/I threw myself upon the floor/But I couldn't throw away this poisoned rose
I can think of few songs in his discography more devastating and painful than this one. It cuts deep but in a good way, if that makes any sense. The idea of holding on to something despite the pain it causes you is probably something we're all guilty of, whether we care to admit it or not. I don't even feel like words can adequately describe just how brilliant this song is. You simply have to hear it for yourself to truly understand it.
6. Alison
(from My Aim Is True)
I'm not gonna to get too sentimental/Like those other sticky valentines/'Cause I don't know if you are loving somebody/I only know it isn't mine
Obviously this song had to be included somewhere. One of his most famous and beloved tunes, "Alison" is sweet, heartbroken, catchy, and just plain fun. It's a little bit of everything wrapped up in a simple melody that sticks with you long after it's over. It was a classic in 1977 and it's still an undeniable force in 2012.
5. Radio Silence
(from When I Was Cruel)
Mystery voices/Drowned out by too much choice/That's not to mention/The sad waste of this wonderful invention/Maintaining radio silence from now on
I'm not sure if this counts as a ballad but its slow tempo and brooding sound make it close enough for me. It's kind of like an updated take on "Radio, Radio", a diatribe against apathetic radio personalities and listeners who are too dumb to think for themselves. However, even Costello can laugh at his role in all of it by stating, "It's just a comedy/The hostage is me".
4. American Without Tears
(from King of America)
Now it seems we've been crying for years and for years/Now I don't speak any English/Just American without tears
Arguably my favorite Costello ballad, "American Without Tears" not only tells an interesting story but but it features an accordion solo that fits so perfectly that it makes you wonder how he did it. The whole King of America album features stunning ballads but this is perhaps the best and more effective of them all. And that's really saying something.
3.Battered Old Bird
(from Blood & Chocolate)
He's a battered old bird/And he's living up there/There's a place where time stands still/If you keep taking those little pink pills
There's something very sad and disturbing going on here, though I won't spoil that and will instead let the listener find out for themselves. It's not a happy, family story but it isn't meant to be. It's a cast of characters and situations that perfectly fit with the theme of the album and whisk us away to a world that we're glad we're not a part of.
2. Any King's Shilling
(from Spike)
I don't know if what I'm doing is right/I don't know if you should be forgiving/But for me it seems it means my life/While for you it could just be a living
I've always felt like this song as a bit of an underdog but it's a great one. It's six minutes of Elvis doing what he does best and taking us on a simple yet deep musical journey. It's a blow burner but well worth the time.
1. I Felt the Chill Before the Winter Came
(from Secret, Profane & Sugarcane)
I felt the cold creeping over my skin/Still as the air until the wind rushed in/Still in control, holding on to my heart and soul/Only inches from sin
You know that feeling when you find a song that sends you shivers? You get goosebumps and you almost feel like you're leaving your body for a brief moment? This is one of those songs, so stirring and perfect that it's almost scary. At first it sounds like a simple country ballad but further listens reveal something deeper and far more emotional . The topic of forbidden love and affairs isn't a new one but rarely has it sounded more haunting and downright beautiful in song form. This may just be his best.
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