Elvis Costello - When I Was Cruel

[bravogolfhotel]

Even ten years on, this is such a great track. The "Un" is more Beck than Beck.

[ssnowmon]

This is the best EC song ever!

[MrJeppelin]

He´s got an ear for beautiful distortion.

[pipeandslippersman]

it's like a mashup of his first 4 albums: spy guitar, abba quote, those horrible lyrics... all buzzed together with a couple of trip-hop loops.

god bless EC! he never lost it, and never will...

[GUILLOTINEinc]

I can hear a pitch shifter, some kind of fuzz pedal and some reverse delay. Keepin' it G, Elvis!

[mountainhigh88]

Tucson Heads Realm when send Captain Beefheart yorn get started waves knot

[robotube]

The absurdity of punk Elvis Costello playing, some years later, at a very wealthy person's wedding. Who's the cruel one now? And who is now only a wedding singer? This is what this song is about.

[FredGumbo1]

@robotube ? Elvis was never punk - he just happened to start recording as punk started up.

[LLeg18]

Is my favorite song by Elvis Costello...It's much Elvis!...explain all critic about your versality...is amazing...!

[themooddisorders]

This Elvis Costello record is very good, totally underrated!

[JayHated]

i want some 15 petals

[DearAnnaaa17]

Elvis Costello is the man, and that's pretty much it. : )

[wellspout]

but... he should be in b&w in this fabulous song

[nilbud]

Another Episode of Blonde is a hell of a song there's no denying it, reminds me of Up the Junction.

[barrieev]

This is the last album by him I really enjoyed end-to-end. But I'd rather be entertained intermittently because he's trying something different than have him trying to come up with a different version of "Watching the Detectives" every year. This one is so great lyrically, etc. Great, different guitar voice here, too.

[renatopianta]

The sample used is from a Italian singer called Mina, and the song is "Un bacio è troppo poco" (One kiss is by far not enough)

[b1iidc65]

When EC burst onto the scene who wom the grammy for best new artist ? Starland vocal band - the one "hit" wonders who did afternoon delight. This must go down as one of the most colossal errors in recorded history! EC is a genius True artists get so bored with ordinary stuff that they explore everything . When he occasionally goes back to his roots he drops us a pearl like this that us mere mortals can enjoy. Awesome

[darrenwatsonband]

@ b1iidc65 - Nope, it was A Taste Of Honey. Still one hit wonders but wrong band. ;-)

[b1iidc65]

@darrenwatsonband You are correct. Actually it was Taste of Honey in 1979 when EC was nominated. 1978 winner? Debbie Boone. 1977 Winner was Startland Vocal Band... ouch pretty lousy picks for grammys!

[vintagezigg]

Genius ,Sexy, as stated previously . Yes, this is a masterpiece.!

[andrewalmarine]

sexy

[dcarr84]

What a great come back to rock and roll album after a long hiatus from what he does best. I didnt care for that easy listening stuff with Burt Bacharach.

[cardiffjoe]

The man is a complete genius

[wellspout]

fabulous album

[pipeandslippersman]

love it love it love it. like he's reworked 'watching the detectives' for his middle age...

[jmm1000]

this is friggin GREAT!

[lostupefatto]

the sample comes from an italian singer, Mina!

[pedro19611969]

the background is a french singer from the 60's can't remember the name ...listen to francois hardy or some one like that

[sleinad]

No. It's an Italian singer called Mina. The song is called "Un Bacio E Troppo Poco" (One kiss is too little).

And the word said is "Un" as the singer's opening line is also "Un bacio e troppo poco".

[tinabinaboobops]

Maybe it is the word "One" sung by Grace Slick??

[21gramsofsoul]

I thought it was from "Dancing Queen"?

At least that's what I believe the liner notes say.

[JWL65]

No it was the lines "see that girl watch that scene, digging the dancing queen" that he took from the chorus of the ABBA song "Dancing Queen." That is what he is noting in the credits.

[dragonflypc]

hopin' you all know that is a Danelectro Baritone -) Sweetness fer sure

[shuttayouface]

does anyone know what the lady in the background is saying? or is it just a noise?

[PascalsWager5]

It's From White Rabbits by Jefferson Airoplane I think

[hazelstreetrecords]

you gave me this tattoo back in 82.

i would kill for Elvis Costello

[ptalex1976]

did he do these visuals in the background for himself?

[ptalex1976]

really intense song... one of my favourites on "when i was cruel"

[valen0002]

My life would not be enjoyable without Elvis Costello music. A true master. A true genius, and talent. Perfect performace, perfect song here..thank you!!

[Vin2241]

What a beautiful Danelectro he's playing. People crap on those guitars but they actually are some of the best out there, along with the old Silvertone.

[wellspout]

great to see people with actual taste chiming in, yes this is great, danelectro and all. the whole album is stellar...

[art2liv4]

Assured use of samples and lovely dirty-sounding guitar.

[AndreasLichte]

das riff ist ein sample von:

"un bacio è troppo poco" - MINA

anschauen bei youtube!

[NecroticJoe]

On the Barend & van Dorp show?!

The audience probably still doesn't know what hit em...

[boybandmassacre]

great song about how his exwife is an arsehole!This whole album is incredible..

[ErnieDanzigYEAH]

He just keeps getting better. I'd put this song up there with U2's "If You Wear That Velvet Dress," and anything off D'Angelo's "Voodoo" album as some of the sexiest music out there.

Elvis, Tom Waits, Springsteen: like fine wine.

[JBE3KIDS]

MUSIC TO HAVE SEX BY..........

[dcarr84]

You gave me this tatoo back in '82 !

[BeDrunken]

he writes words like nobody's bizz

[soily]

The sample tune from the intro is Mina´s "Un baccio é troppo poco", by the way.

[boybandmassacre]

wow,I didn't know that..nice trivia!

[danelectroman70]

This was a great comeback lp from the mighty Costello. His songwriting prowess and longevity is every bit as important and timeless as Bob Dylan's.

[bacardi119]

Best singer ever!

[ptalex1976]

great voice costello has.

[luisdiaz66]

this elvis costello is amazingly infinite, he never loose his talent, his voice still great. hes a living leyend. this song its just great.

[AnaDay41]

This is very cool!

[PaulDallas]

What a fat ass, dork.

[PaxDei41]

PaulDallas-checked your profile beause of this, your comment, thinking you would be some dumb kid. Your older than me. PD41

[rrze]

you really need some taste!

[wehitandrun]

Unbelievable.

[LikeRain797]

a shaven-headed seaside thug - thanks for this...cool.

[AnaDay41]

LikeRain I love that line, too!

[joshua65]

Am i the first to see this? Great song, I love the "Dancing Queen" sampled verses.