Costello asks radio stations not to play Oliver's Army

[life on mars]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-59950583

In the link above are 7 more examples of retired songs

[Mr Soul '68]

Re: Costello asks radio stations not to play Oliver's Army

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-59950583

In the link above are 7 more examples of retired songs

Hopefully, it's because he has finally woken up to the fact that it is a shite song and what a truly bad vocalist he is :hehe:

Nah, I can guess why, without reading the article. I'm sure it has something to do with the 'n' word featuring in said song, I'm more than willing to bet

[MacAdder]

Re: Costello asks radio stations not to play Oliver's Army

Hopefully, it's because he has finally woken up to the fact that it is a shite song and what a truly bad vocalist he is :hehe:

Nah, I can guess why, without reading the article. I'm sure it has something to do with the 'n' word featuring in said song, I'm more than willing to bet

I'm shocked at that lyric as I've sung along to it for decades as "white liquor", even though it didn't make a lot if sense :facepalm:

[Ivortheengine]

Re: Costello asks radio stations not to play Oliver's Army

Perhaps they’ll play Dads Army instead !!

[bobh]

Re: Costello asks radio stations not to play Oliver's Army

Oliver's Army
Elvis Costello
Don't start that talking
I could talk all night
My mind was sleepwalking
While I'm putting the world to right
Call careers information
Have you got yourself an occupation?
Oliver's army is here to stay
Oliver's army are on their way
And I would rather be anywhere else
But here today
There was a Checkpoint Charlie
He didn't crack a smile
But it's no laughing party
When you've been on the murder mile
Only takes one itchy trigger
One more widow, one less white ******
Oliver's Army is here to stay
Oliver's army are on their way
And I would rather be anywhere else
But here today
Hong Kong is up for grabs
London is full of Arabs
We could be in Palestine
Overrun by the Chinese line
With the boys from the Mersey and the Thames and the Tyne
But there's no danger
It's a professional career
Though it could be arranged
With just a word in Mr. Churchill's ear
If you're out of luck or out of work
We could send you to Johannesburg
Oliver's Army is here to stay
Oliver's army are on their way
And I would rather be anywhere else
But here today
And I would rather be anywhere else
But here today
And I would rather be anywhere else
But here today
Oh oh oh oh, oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh, oh oh oh


Quite a few dodgy lyrics in there.

[Dorcus]

Re: Costello asks radio stations not to play Oliver's Army

Never mind Elvis Costello, as long as they don't ban Freebird, the greatest song of all time, alls well in the world! 👍

[insider]

Re: Costello asks radio stations not to play Oliver's Army

Tramp the dirt down is a much better song with much better lyrics.

[Dave Blue]

Re: Costello asks radio stations not to play Oliver's Army

The young conservatives Christmas Party DJ will be pleased about this. For me, it’s a great song.

[JamesWales]

Re: Costello asks radio stations not to play Oliver's Army

Cultural puritans strike again. Tiresome.

[tforturton]

Re: Costello asks radio stations not to play Oliver's Army

It's still a pretty biting song, even forty-odd years later. The use of the army to subjugate the Irish (they are who the phrase 'white ni**er' refers to), the recruitment of those soldiers from areas of high unemployment, and then sending them around the world to kill and be killed. Oliver refers to Cromwell, who sent his troops to Ireland in 1649, to suppress Catholic royalists.

[az city]

Re: Costello asks radio stations not to play Oliver's Army

Hopefully, it's because he has finally woken up to the fact that it is a shite song and what a truly bad vocalist he is :hehe:

Nah, I can guess why, without reading the article. I'm sure it has something to do with the 'n' word featuring in said song, I'm more than willing to bet

That's rather harsh. I rate Costello. Vocal styles vary. Each to his/her/their own.

Reminds me of listening to the radio years ago when Paul Weller reviewed a New Order single. He said something like he quite liked it but he just wished they'd get a proper singer in. Made me laugh.

[az city]

Re: Costello asks radio stations not to play Oliver's Army

It's still a pretty biting song, even forty-odd years later. The use of the army to subjugate the Irish (they are who the phrase 'white ni**er' refers to), the recruitment of those soldiers from areas of high unemployment, and then sending them around the world to kill and be killed. Oliver refers to Cromwell, who sent his troops to Ireland in 1649, to suppress Catholic royalists.

Like his music or not, he definitely has a brain.

[BLUETIT]

Re: Costello asks radio stations not to play Oliver's Army

So by asking to ban it, it’s brought lyrics to the attention of most people, who didn’t even know, or give a toss about Elvis Costello !!

The daft barsteward

[Dave Blue]

Re: Costello asks radio stations not to play Oliver's Army

I always thought it was about Oliver Tambo. Hence why the conservatives booed it off the dance floor in their party (the legal one they had).