40 years ago Elvis Costello came into my radius via 'Oliver's Army' which was a moderate hit here in Australia; and whilst he has never left my peripheral vision, there were years where I had no idea what he was up to, and likewise there have been periods of intense affection for one of the true artists of pop culture and one of the most diverse musical geniuses of the era. Wow that was a long sentence! It is impossible to easily describe Elvis Costello and his legacy in music history. As I have recently trawled back through his discography to collect my favourites, I drew from recordings that span 5 decades and 40 years of output. As I've aged, I have become respectful of the artistry that musicians such as Elvis Costello have displayed across their lifetime. I really connected with him in the late 90's with his soulful collaborations with the legendary Burt Bacharach. The track 'God Give Me Strength' is something of a precious stone, so delicate and so beautiful - it amazed me that the man that brought us 'Pump It Up' and 'I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down' could also bring something so romantic and gentle. The full album that followed in 1998 was an instant treasure trove and in the 2 decades since Mr Costello has continued to surprise, delight and perplex me as I didn't know what to expect from each new recording. I know of few, if any, artists so prolific and diverse with their output. His musical passions extend to virtually every genre under the sun and it has been illuminating to see what he does next. The subject of this post "Suspect My Tears" is lifted form his 2018 album 'Look Now'. and from first hearing, I could have sworn it was a Burt Bacharach collaboration, but curiously it is NOT one of the songs on his new set which was written with Burt. Whilst I simply love to rock it out to 'Pump It Up' my favourite of Elvis Costello's hits, I do love it when he strips it all back and is heartfelt and raw. His voice is quite unique and reveals a lot about his humanity. I love how pop music has allowed me to mature and gain a better understanding of creativity, soul work and what it is to be human. Side note anecdote. I had the pleasure of meeting Diana Krall back in 2004 and whilst that was a thrill in and of itself to be with the Grammy winning Jazz chanteuse, it was more of a personal moment for me to meet the woman that was married to the great Elvis Costello! Call me strange, but there it is.

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