Elvis Costello - Watching The Detectives [totp]

[MOBros1528]

I heard this song on the radio and it followed me all day...

[ebonics4everyone]

@Samhain35 mean but true. ha ha

[ebonics4everyone]

Why does Rolling Stone magazine say that EC and Blondie are punk rock groups? This doesn't sound like Blitzkreig Bop on I Am the Son of Sam at all. When u become an old fart ur hearing goes I guess.

[Sebrewer32]

@kineticvalleys that's because this was mining. It's TOTP dude...

[Samhain35]

The Andy Dick of rock.

[kineticvalleys]

I was just listening to the song a few minutes ago, now i'm watching this. He sounds exactly like he does on the recording here. Real music, guys, real music.

[WheelieMacBin]

I remember buying this single when it came out, and I still have it in my music collection :-)

[jussaguy1]

Great imagery as you say guys

[mikealx68]

"She pulls the eyes out with a face like a magnet..." This song's like a lyrics masterclass!

[MrTomb789]

Though it nearly took a miracle to get you to stay, It only took my little finger to blow you away

[vordman]

BBC 4 have been re-running ToTPs from 1976. I can't believe how poor some of those shows were with their tired cheesy pop. Seems almost surreal that only a year later we got awesome stuff like this.

[oneandoneeleven]

I think 7 people need to get their hearing checked.

[MikeBatard]

The band was always seriously underrated. Especially inventive was bassist Bruce Thomas, who for some reason never got along with Costello. Steve Nason has a classical music background, and had never played any kind of rock before the Attractions.

[ferryman1960]

showing my age but i got this album many moons ago.this track is still up there with the best

[elementz1986]

Anyone watch the US show "Chopped" on Food Network? The host TOTALLY stole Elvis' look.

[HeadGirl]

My son has glasses like that! he took the glass out a pair of 3D ones! lol

[Eng8492]

If it aint STIFF, it aint worth a fuck.

[philipatoz]

Elvis C had it all back then (still does, actually). He had the look, the attitude, a very unique vocal style, a superbly tight band, and melodic, wonderfully crafted music with lyrics that are just WAY cool. "She's filing her nails while they're dragging the lake." Man, I still get chills listening to this, it's that good!

[WytZox1]

@philipatoz -- I saw Elvis Costello and the Attractions at Chicago's Aragon Ballroom in the late 1970s. Fantastic Show. He looked so much like Buddy Holly yet had his own unique sound.

[PeterSteves]

Buddy Holly cousin :D

[PlumptonPresents]

he is miming badly.

[2008Sameoldfitup]

roy west

[MegaGriswald]

hi wiggy from st. helens. i wonder that you got a lot of songs on your chanel which i really like. st. helens is the only town, where i was kicked out of a pub. funny somehow. i got a st. helens trauma. we've been stranded there because we were looking fo a hotel not far away from liverpool. we means, my english friend and another guy from our area. the english guy is born in cheltenham. i live in zurich / switzerland. so, my english is not that perfect... keep on posting songs.

[mirabilo]

Could someone shed some light on what this song is about?

[boogie602]

@mirabilo it's about a couple in bed, the guy wants to make love, but the women only wants to watch TV.

[rebelwithoutapause25]

@boogie602 no there doing it doggy style and there BOTH watching tv..watchin the detectives FTW!!

[austinwarmbier10]

Just saw him in concert in Cincinnati. Wish it was more like this.

[SuperEntelechy]

she



[dlbassett1]

It's Woody Allen!

[Coronadoman]

...the teabaggers can't be wounded, 'cause they got no heart...

[Jesuscger]

Duran Duran´s cover of this song is better than the original!

[kitakazekozo082]

エルビス・コステロは、こんな顔してカッコいいなあ。

[Xtremebyrd2k6]

@kitakazekozo082 nani desu ka

[TheIntolerantAtheist]

Elvis Costello wears some pretty thick glasses for someone who doesn't really need glasses.

[mikkrack]

early Costello, was the best

[mikkrack]

early Costello, was the best

[dakarlion1]

My favourite Elvis.

[musicaparamimos]

Estimated friend, if you want to listen again this song and an endless number of successes of the love I suggest you to visit Radio MUSICA PARA MIMOS - looks for his direction URL in Google ( search Musica para Mimos in Google)-. best romantic music of all the times in Internet, is great, is very good ...!!!

[aletheahelen]

listen to the ska in th background!

[Sophia72]

@aletheahelen Ska in this number is pretty cool... Wouldn't call it background though :o) IMO it cuts through almost everything else...

[gahlahsreeneeell]

i definitly like the forgive durden cover better:

[MrHitthebong1]

looks a lot like the lead singer of weezer.

[danferretti191]

what a loser!!!!

i'm a huge fan of old music, but listing to this is like tourture.

[theseether]

History Detectives :)

[Modenaro]

spongebob / Pee Wee Herman Etc.

Big fan in 77, still am today............

[Vadergeek]

This is 2008? Why does he look so young?

[TIMPA921209]

@Vadergeek haha, youre not serious? :)

[TIMPA921209]

@Vadergeek in case youre not joking, it says november 77 at the start of the song

[Vadergeek]

@TIMPA921209 Sorry, I have a tendency to put the video on, then do something else while listening to the music and just come back at random. But that makes much more sense.

[TIMPA921209]

@Vadergeek :)

[lordpenut1]

@Vadergeek you probubly saw top of the pops 2 which is a compilation show of repeats. this is from 1977.

[lordpenut1]

@Vadergeek this is top of the pops 2 in 2008, a compilaiton show of repeats. this video was shot in 1977 on the original top of the pops

[disasterpiece112]

@Vadergeek cause he climbed in a time machine to 2008 to record this video for out viewing pleasure. now enjoy the sweet sweet sounds

[Harrylechat01]

I remember reading at the time that Elvis used to save up enough money to pay for a little studio time and then record as fast and as much as possible which was why so many of his earliest songs were so short and straight to the point; I'm thinking Hoover Factory among many other fine tracks. Anyone know if it's true?

[doddsy2978]

Loved this - brought back loadsa memories! Shocked to see that he was a 'Data Entry Clerk' in a previous life - in the seventies?? What did he use?  A chisel?! LOL!

[Muzikman127]

this is doesn't even touch the recorded version...  Love the song though :)

[phuquerz]

".... she's filing her nails while they're dragging the lake...." what a superb line.... I wish I'd written it...

[birdandthe]

total moronic boredom

[aubreyaardvark]

in europe, "watching the detectives" was published on "this years' model"

[ChiknStew29]

yup. i like the man's music. he does kind of look like a cartoon character around 1:38-1:41.

[KillBaddBugz]

Vid comes with fun facts! I like it!

[phildenbelg]

bass easy at the studio live?

[BillieeeSTARDUST]

LOL. I never thought of the spongebob thing before, But that's so hilarioiusly true!

It's the whole Jellyfishing glasses thing that does it though... he doesn't have that square a head ;D

[ohigho523]

She's filing her nails while they're dragging the lake. ...

BRILLIANT!!!

[hbarrett444]

Which album is this from?

[jab3785]

@hbarrett444 It's on My Aim Is True, his first US album, not sure what UK album it's on

[bonanzza]

I guess Sponge Bob looks like Buddy Holly too

[fuzzybuttcb750]

he looks just like Charles Hardin Holly (Buddy Holly) and that has GOT to be intentional. Elvis is one of my favorite living musicians, second only to Chuck Berry

[dizzyisme]

he sings so funny. I LOVE IT

[HAPPYPANDA53]

spongebob? heh heh

[NAMTRIP]

This is a good song,its got a slight reggae feel to it,The almighty Elvis Costello is underrated,

[woodskier]

moaeing

[KillerFloss17]

i'm probably going to catch hell for suggesting this... i want to hear The Used cover this song. it would either be perfect like The Number 12 covering my sharona or completely worthless.

[orangeorphan]

they totally cut out the best part of that song!!

[Alliworks]

this is not an insult because i love elvis costello but does'nt he remind you of spongebob sqaurepants ? hahaa think about it :D

[KillerFloss17]

must be the gap tooth - thick rims - neck tie combo that does it. now i'm never going to get that comparison out of my head...

[thecommish1000]

The I dea of Spongebob came from an Elvis Costello fan.

[Alliworks]

ahaa that explains everything :) thanks

[elissdeja]

@Alliworks I see it! lol

[radam238]

@Alliworks Well, now that you've pointed it out, I'd have to say, "No." Spongebob somehow reminds me of Elvis Costello.

[theredmars]

@Alliworks more like the guy who does his voice.

[monkeyswrenchs]

@Alliworks spongebob would kick his ass

[BagpipeHustler]

@Alliworks doesn't SPONGEBOB LOOK LIKE ELVIS COSTELLO?! 

[sybrows]

@BagpipeHustler its the teeth



[BagpipeHustler]

@sybrows WHAT so don't you know that too?!

[BagpipeHustler]

@sybrows yeah no spit. so instead, that stupid sponge looks like elvis OKAY?! not the other way round. get it straight.

[elementz1986]

@Alliworks

You mean Spongebob Squarepants reminds you of Elvis!

[lunacomputacion]

@Alliworks it's the other way around!!!! spongebob crew may have been his fans too!!!

[lunacomputacion]

@Alliworks new wave at its best...

[1012fraser]

@Alliworks I love him too but he reminds me more of Brains from thunderbirds!

[jenzingo]

@Alliworks OMG - That is freaking funny : ) And I love Elvis Costello so it's not an insult...but in this video the resemblance is uncanny!

[thejoker001]

@Alliworks or Buddy Holly?

[GriefTourist]

if you released this today you'd get arrested by the anti terror police

[mistaben2k]

@GriefTourist excuse me?

please explain or are you just an uneducated cvunt?

[mistaben2k]

@GriefTourist Marvelous!

[nyalta77]

this songs gangestr ths guy did well

[hero2342]

well did anything happen you space wasting spam cunt?!

[Grecops]

I like the monty python guy's voice in the beginning

[BlazeInjun]

Its Michael Palin!!!

[sexymodels5]

Sounds more like Eric Idle to me.

[sambda]

Noel Edmonds, I think.

[vinylman4533]

Remember this like it was yesterday. Elvis Costello and The Attractions were one of the best groups to emerge from the punk scene.

[28if]

Except they were Huey Lewis' old backing band named Clover from Northern California

[vinylman4533]

Elvis's first album was apparently recorded with a backing band Clover who were residing in the UK then and who would later on become Huey Lewis's backing band. The Attractions who feature on this video and who were with Elvis Costello from '77 into the early 80's were all UK born.

[28if]

Close.. Huey Lewis was a member of Clover before the Elvis thing. He didn't follow the band to the UK when Nick Lowe brought them over. After recording with Elvis, Clover disbanded and one of them (John McFee aka. Old Black Water) became a Doobie Brother. Huey picked up another band made up of different Nor Cal band members

[Builder2961]

Wrong my friend! that is the attractions. The greatest band ever. Pulled from all the greatest music schools in england to back the master. The backing band on his very first album was clover and they were kicked to the curb.

[marcston91]

i like how this looks like modern, like the shades n that.

[groovymama22]

I am likin' this--groovy!

[Bellyflops2]

Popup video of the nerds?

[ConeLover]

His voice is good, but he looks weird O.o

[daipunker65]

f 'ing marvelous.

[delphicgobshite]

Classic!!

[SVLauren]

He is playbacking right??

Really like the song though

[MAPSU]

what in the world is this song about?

[Monkfish05]

MAPSU, if you even had to ask that question then you are clearly a Perp. What is it about? Justice."The long arm of the Law...coming to a Cul-De-Sac" near you".

Amen.

[dkvt332]

i love his facial expressions

[BuddyHollysEdselGirl]

Elvis, if you were my husband I'd of made you fix that space in between your front teeth! Your brilliant, I love you!

[andrew80s]

Brilliant.

[asiannextdoor]

70's rule!

[newlunar]

Jabsco and Dammers must have seen this in 77 and thought....

Rudeboys!

[Frabulon]

drummer is wicked.

[voidconcept]

Thanks for adding this video. A great performance from the days of 4 channel terrestrial TV. I am reminded of the sheer drudgery of life during this period and the anger of youth, beautifully amplified in Elvis's great performance.

This TOTP appearance really set him apart as a class act. The best bit halfway through with the cross eyed screeching anger 'I don't know how much more of this I can take'. Know the feeling well.........