Elvis Costello

Elvis Costello is a British singer-songwriter. He last performed in Singapore on 5 October 2009, a sold out performance.

Coming to prominence as an early participant in London’s pub rock scene in the mid-1970s Costello later became associated with the Punk/New Wave genre. Steeped in word play, the vocabulary of his lyrics is broader than that of most popular songs. His music has drawn on many diverse genres; the young American critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine describes him as a “pop encyclopedia”, able to “reinvent the past in his own image”. Costello has worked with Paul McCartney, Tony Bennett, Lucinda Williams, Lee Konitz, Brian Eno and Rubén Blades, as well as many other musicians. Costello is also a music fan, and often champions the works of other in print. He has written several pieces for the magazine Vanity Fair, including the summary of what a perfect weekend of music would be. His collaboration with Bacharach honoured Bacharach’s place in pop music history. Costello also appeared in documentaries about singers Dusty Springfield, Brian Wilson, Wanda Jackson, and Memphis, Tennessee-based Stax Records. He has also interviewed one of his own influences, Joni Mitchell.

In 2004, Rolling Stone Magazine ranked him #80 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. Costello has released over 30 studio albums on his own and with the Attractions, the Imposters, or others.