it just refuses to end..

this is a pretty good song, but I just can't get the girl who keeps saying 'un'....
what are the chances that this is that icelandic girl...umm......what's her name....uggghhhhhhmnnot portished....help me please....

Whoa, I never noticed the Satie sampling until this song came right after Gnossienne No1. Listen to the piano.



Duh, Bill just pointed that out. Never mind.

This is a great song from what I am discovering is an excellent album from Elvis Costello. I wasn't very quick to warm up to this song or this album, but last week I caved in and bought it, and was very pleasantly surprised. When I Was Cruel gets better with every listening, much like Imperial Bedroom did in 1982.

While perhaps not Elvis's best, it is way, way up there. I like the moodiness and darkness that prevails throughout. I think he's taken a few chances with the instrumentation that I haven't seen in a while since, coincidentally, Imperial Bedroom. If you don't like the song or the album, change the channel. A lot of people do like it and we have a right ot hear this as much as those who dislike have a right to listen to something else.

Great stuff, thanks for playing it Bill.

Jacques


Montreal: Bagel Capital of North America....

Er, perhaps a bit of an over-reaction, but it drives me nuts, too. If it weren't for that, I might be into the song; as it is, yech.

I wish some of the RP listeners had as good a sense of humor as Bill AND Elvis. I love this song!

It was driving me *nuts* trying to remember the name of the song that Elvis uses in the background for the piano hook- I knew I heard the song from my college music history courses, until today, when Bill goes and plays Gnossienne No1.. and I go 'That's it!' then he follows it up with this song.

Great sense of humor, Bill :)

stop this madness already!

OK I can see why people don't like this song. If your not into it, it probably seems to drag on forever. I count myself lucky that I am into it. It really is a cool song.

To me, Elvis is getting better with age

YOu know, "Elvis" makes fun of American music and says it's no good, but if he's the going rate for English music then I think I would have committed suicide by now.

For Real!!!

That 'dong' stuff in this song just makes me want to grab Elvis by the throat and choke him! This has become one of the few songs that makes me, regrettably, change the channel. As others have suggested, this one seems like it's getting way too much play. Please chill out on this one. RP RULES!

Just what it is, a No. 2

Is it possible the woman in the background is saying "One look". don't just wondering. seems to fit the song.

1st time I heard it -it was fine.
2nd time - okay, heard it already.
3rd - 40th times - Please Bill, stop playing this song OVER AND OVER!

There is too much great music out there to play some of these songs every day or so.

YARGH - This song is getting WAY too much airplay.

PLEASE PUT IT ON THE SHELF!! :(

god! take me out of my misery and destroy this song!

N0. 2? Once wasn't enough?

Dot

While I like Elvis C. in general, this song is somewhat like getting a root canal. Just can't wait for it to be over.

Ditto to that. I need to re-evaluate my rating on this.

I bought this CD, listened to it once and filed it away disappointedly. But hearing this song here is making me rethink. I like the "unds"....

very cool
I have an image of him singing and some german leather clad girl there doing the un un things.

So sick, it's sorta cool

I want a rating lower than 1. This song might be subtitled "music to kill yourself by". I don't care about the lyrics, the music is about the worst I can think of, including rap and muzak. Pleeeease make it stop!

Wow! I've gone from *hating* this song, to tolerating it, and now to really liking it. Ordinarily, I wouldn't have given it a second chance, but some very astute comments from the other RP listeners (esp. cooter, Lee, halavais, ZM/Herb) made me listen a little closer.

Bill - the ability for the listeners to comment on the songs is a tremendously wonderful feature!! Thanks!

i dig this quite a lot. And for the "und/un/boing/whatever"; I hear "und" as in the German "and" which seems to make sense in some way.

A very good song....whould have been better w/out the "bo-ing" or whatever. To my ears, it distracts from what is otherwise a very good song.

pbm
8^)

minimalistic syncopation...perfect Lee! I knew I inherently liked the placement. Your explanation fills in the gaps for me.

I also heard the Satie in the background, very cool

Singing songs like this, he's clearly still cruel. Egad.

swanky...very bachelor pad/martini style
where are the olives?

When I Was Cruel as an album is exactly what we come to expect from Elvis: perfect pop. And this song is right on par with everything.

I have to say, though, Tart and Daddy Can I Turn This are my favorite from the album.