Η ιστορία πίσω από το όνομα του Elvis – ενώ ο Βασιλιάς ήταν ακόμα εν ζωή – και την απίστευτη σύμπτωση του θανάτου του Presley 25 μέρες μετά την κυκλοφορία του My Aim Is True, είναι λίγο-πολύ γνωστή. Η δισκογραφική του Costello, Stiff Records, άρχισε να διαφημίζει το άλμπουμ με σλόγκαν όπως “The King Is Dead, Long Live The King” και … “Elvis is a Stiff” (!) με το όλον να ενισχύει το αφήγημα περί “new wave ως επιστροφής στις ρίζες του rock&roll”. Σε οποιαδήποτε περίπτωση, αυτό που μένει είναι ο θρύλος και, κυρίως, τραγούδια όπως αυτά τα δυο μκρά διαμάντια από το 1977. 📀 📀 The story behind Elvis’ name — chosen while the King was still alive — and the extraordinary coincidence of Presley’s death just 25 days after the release of My Aim Is True is more or less well known. Costello’s label, Stiff Records, began promoting the album with slogans such as “The King Is Dead, Long Live the King” and… “Elvis is a Stiff” (!), the whole thing reinforcing the narrative of new wave as a return to the roots of rock & roll. In any case, what remains is the legend and, above all, songs like these two little gems from 1977.

00:00 Alison 03:03 I’m Not Angry

ALISON
Oh it’s so funny to be seeing you after so long, girl.
And with the way you look I understand
That you are not impressed.
But I heard you let that little friend of mine
Take off your party dress.
I’m not going to get too sentimental
Like those other sticky valentines,
Cause I don’t know if you’ve been loving somebody.
I only know it isn’t mine.
Alison, I know this world is killing you.
Oh, Alison, my aim is true.
Well I see you’ve got a husband now.
Did he leave your pretty fingers lying
In the wedding cake?
You used to hold him right in your hand.
I’ll bet he took all he could take.
Sometimes I wish that I could stop you from talking
When I hear the silly things that you say.
I think somebody better put out the big light,
Cause I can’t stand to see you this way.
Alison, I know this world is killing you.
Oh, Alison, my aim is true.
My aim is true.

I’M NOT ANGRY
You’re upstairs with the boyfriend while I’m left here to listen (angry)
I hear you calling his name, I hear the stutter of ignition (angry)
I could hear you whispering as I crept by your door
So you found some other joker who could please you more
I’m not angry (angry)
I’m not angry anymore (angry)
I’m not angry (angry)
I’m not angry anymore (angry)
Ooh, I know what you’re doin’
I know where you’ve been
I know where, but I don’t care
‘Cause there’s-a no such thing as an original sin
I’ve got this camera click, click, clickin’ in my head (angry)
I got you talking with your hands, got you smiling with your legs (angry)
Spent all my time in a vanity factory
Wonderin’ when they’re gonna come and take it all back
I’m not angry (angry)
I’m not angry anymore (angry)
I’m not angry (angry)
I’m not angry anymore (angry)
Ooh, I know what you’re doin’
I know where you’ve been
I know where, but I don’t care
‘Cause there’s-a no such thing as an original sin
Yeah, yeah
Oh, there’s no such thing as an original sin
Oh, there’s-a no such thing as an original sin (angry)
I’m not angry (angry)
I’m not angry anymore (angry)
I’m not angry (angry)
I’m not angry anymore (angry)
I’m not angry (angry)
I’m not angry (angry)
I’m not angry anymore (angry)
I’m not angry anymore (angry)
I’m not angry anymore (angry)
I’m not angry anymore (angry)
I’m not angry anymore (angry)
I’m not angry anymore (angry)
I’m not angry anymore (angry)
I’m not angry (angry)