New York Times, May 15, 1991: Difference between revisions
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<center><h3> Costello's skepticism </h3></center> | <center><h3> Costello's skepticism </h3></center> | ||
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''"From the foaming breakers of the poisonous surf / To the burning forest in the hills of AstroTurf / The other side of summer,"'' he announces. In a song that goes on to describe a world that is physically and spiritually disintegrating, Mr. Costello even takes a swipe at John Lennon. ''"Was it a millionaire who said, 'Imagine no possessions?'"'' he asks. | ''"From the foaming breakers of the poisonous surf / To the burning forest in the hills of AstroTurf / The other side of summer,"'' he announces. In a song that goes on to describe a world that is physically and spiritually disintegrating, Mr. Costello even takes a swipe at John Lennon. ''"Was it a millionaire who said, 'Imagine no possessions?'"'' he asks. | ||
The tone becomes even nastier with the second cut, "Hurry Down | The tone becomes even nastier with the second cut, "Hurry Down Doomsday (The Bugs Are Taking Over)," a slice of science-fiction horror whose narrator gleefully predicts that ''"a giant insect mutation will swoop down and devour the white man's burden."'' | ||
Has the 35-year-old post-punk songwriter given up on humanity, or is he just having fun playing devil's advocate? | Has the 35-year-old post-punk songwriter given up on humanity, or is he just having fun playing devil's advocate? | ||
"I think that everyone has the experience on certain days of waking up, reading the paper and thinking, 'Wouldn't it be better if man was gone?' " Mr. Costello said the other day in a telephone interview from his home on the outskirts of Dublin. "The song is not saying we should kill everybody. I'm hoping that by taking the blackest comedic position, there will be some kind of release from all those feelings." | "I think that everyone has the experience on certain days of waking up, reading the paper and thinking, 'Wouldn't it be better if man was gone?'" Mr. Costello said the other day in a telephone interview from his home on the outskirts of Dublin. "The song is not saying we should kill everybody. I'm hoping that by taking the blackest comedic position, there will be some kind of release from all those feelings." | ||
"'The Other Side of Summer' is not a slap at John Lennon," he went on. "John Lennon wrote some wonderful songs, but 'Imagine,' which has been so sanctified, was one of his worst. He didn't think it all the way through." | "'The Other Side of Summer' is not a slap at John Lennon," he went on. "John Lennon wrote some wonderful songs, but 'Imagine,' which has been so sanctified, was one of his worst. He didn't think it all the way through." | ||
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The singer pointed to the last two lines of the album's final song, "Couldn't Call It Unexpected No. 4," as expressing what he means by skeptical. ''"Please don't let me fear anything I cannot explain,"'' he sings. ''"I can't believe I'll never believe in anything again."'' | The singer pointed to the last two lines of the album's final song, "Couldn't Call It Unexpected No. 4," as expressing what he means by skeptical. ''"Please don't let me fear anything I cannot explain,"'' he sings. ''"I can't believe I'll never believe in anything again."'' | ||
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{{tags}}[[Mighty Like A Rose]] {{-}} [[The Other Side Of Summer]] {{-}} [[John Lennon]] {{-}} [[Hurry Down Doomsday (The Bugs Are Taking Over)]] {{-}} [[Dublin]] {{-}} [[Couldn't Call It Unexpected No. 4]] | |||
{{cx}} | {{cx}} | ||
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'''New York Times, May 15, 1991 | '''New York Times, May 15, 1991 | ||
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[[Stephen Holden]] | [[Stephen Holden]] talks to Elvis Costello about ''[[Mighty Like A Rose]]''. | ||
{{Bibliography images}} | |||
[[image:1991-05-15 New York Times page C13 clipping 01.jpg|360px]] | |||
<br><small>Clipping.</small> | |||
<small>Page scan.</small><br> | |||
[[image:1991-05-15 New York Times page C13.jpg|x120px|border]] | |||
{{Bibliography notes footer}} | {{Bibliography notes footer}} | ||
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[[Category:New York Times| New York Times 1991-05-15]] | [[Category:New York Times| New York Times 1991-05-15]] | ||
[[Category:Newspaper articles]] | [[Category:Newspaper articles]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:Interviews]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:1991 interviews]] |