Elvis Costello facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Elvis Costello
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Costello performing at the 2012 Riot Fest in Chicago
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| Birth name | Declan Patrick MacManus |
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| Born | 25 August 1954 London, England |
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| Years active | 1970–present |
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Declan Patrick MacManus (born 25 August 1954) is known as Elvis Costello. He is an English singer, songwriter, and record producer. Rolling Stone magazine says Costello brought new energy to the thoughtful, poetic songs of artists like Bob Dylan. He blended this style with the raw power of punk rock.
His first album, My Aim Is True (1977), did not have big hit songs. But it included famous tunes like "Alison". His next two albums, This Year's Model (1978) and Armed Forces (1979), were made with his band the Attractions. These albums helped define the new wave music style.
From 1977 to 1980, eight of his singles reached the UK Top 30. His biggest hit, "Oliver's Army" (1979), sold over 500,000 copies in Britain. In the US, he had less commercial success but earned much praise from critics. His biggest US hit, "Veronica" (1989), reached number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Costello grew up in a musical family. He learned to love many music styles and understood the music business. He started his career when punk rock was becoming popular in England. His music style has grown to include R&B, country, jazz, and classical music. He has worked with classical groups, R&B artists, and hip-hop groups. Costello has also written many songs with Paul McCartney and Burt Bacharach.
He has had hits with cover songs like "I Can't Stand Up for Falling Down" and "She". One of his most famous songs, "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding", was written by Nick Lowe. Costello's own songs have been recorded by artists like Linda Ronstadt and Johnny Cash.
Costello has won many awards, including two Grammy awards. In 2003, he joined the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2016, he was added to the Songwriters Hall of Fame. From 2008 to 2010, he hosted a TV show called Spectacle: Elvis Costello with.... On this show, he interviewed other musicians. In 2015, he wrote a popular book about his life called Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink.
Contents
Early Life and Music Beginnings
Declan Patrick MacManus was born in Paddington, London, on 25 August 1954. His father, Ross McManus, was a jazz trumpeter and singer. He performed with the Joe Loss Orchestra. Ross MacManus also had a hit song in Australia in 1970.
Declan lived in Twickenham and went to Catholic schools there. In 1971, when he was 16, he moved with his mother to Birkenhead. There, he formed his first band, a folk duo called "Rusty," with Allan Mayes. After finishing school, MacManus worked office jobs to support himself. One famous job was as a data entry clerk at Elizabeth Arden, Inc..
He moved back to London in 1974. He formed a pub rock band called Flip City. Costello's first recording was with his father in a TV ad for R. White's Lemonade in 1974. His father sang the main part, and Costello sang backing vocals.
In 1976, he signed with an independent record label called Stiff Records. His manager, Jake Riviera, suggested he use the name Elvis after Elvis Presley. He also suggested using Costello as his last name, which was his father's stage name.
Early Songwriting and Bands
Costello started writing songs and learning guitar at age 14. He played his songs in folk clubs to get feedback. He played regularly in London and later in Liverpool. By age 17, he sometimes earned a small amount of money. Before his first album came out in 1977, he had written hundreds of songs.
Rusty Duo Days
In 1972, Costello joined a folk-rock band called Rusty. It soon became a duo with Allan Mayes and Costello. They sang and played acoustic guitars. For over a year, Rusty played in small places like pubs and schools. They usually played for free or for very little money. Mayes said Costello was already a talented songwriter. He could write songs quickly in different styles.
Flip City Pub Rock
In 1973, Costello formed Flip City, a pub rock band. They loved bands like Brinsley Schwarz and The Band. Flip City played in London pubs until late 1975. They sometimes opened for bigger bands but usually earned little money. Their shows included Costello's original songs and covers of rock, R&B, and country tunes. Early versions of songs like "Miracle Man" were played then.
Costello recorded demo songs with Flip City from 1974 to 1975. He hoped to get live shows or a record deal. A future record label founder, Dave Robinson, thought Costello was talented but needed a "real band."
Solo Demos and New Name
By late 1975, Costello was writing songs not played by Flip City. He recorded these as solo demos. For the next year, he sent these demos to music companies. He wanted to be hired as a songwriter or recording artist. He learned to send only a few of his best songs on each tape.
In February 1976, Costello started performing solo as D.P. Costello. He learned to sing and play guitar very loudly. He developed a strong stage presence. He started playing songs that would get attention, like "Mystery Dance." A radio host, Charlie Gillett, played some of his songs on the radio. This was the first time Costello's music was played on air.
Around 1976, Costello, his wife, and son moved in with relatives near Heathrow Airport. He was also learning about the new punk music movement. He wrote "Hoover Factory" about a building he saw daily. This song helped him find a new way to write. His next song was "Radio Sweetheart," which became the B-side of his first single.
Music Career Highlights
First Album Success
In August 1976, Costello gave a demo tape to Stiff Records. This new independent label had just released its first single. Costello chose Stiff Records because they seemed ready to act fast. Nick Lowe, a friend of Costello's, was the label's first artist and producer.
After a successful test in September, Stiff agreed to record more songs with Costello. They used Clover, an American country-rock band, as his backing band. My Aim Is True was recorded in six four-hour sessions. It cost about £1,000. The album was finished in January 1977.
By February 1977, his managers gave him his new stage name, Elvis. This name was meant to get attention. Costello's first single, "Less than Zero", came out in March 1977. It sold very few copies. Two more singles, "Alison" and "(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes", also sold poorly. But Costello was getting more positive reviews in the British music press.
My Aim Is True was released on 22 July 1977. Two weeks before, Costello left his office job. Stiff Records agreed to pay him a regular amount equal to his old wages.
Forming The Attractions
In June 1977, Costello looked for a bassist and keyboardist for his touring band. Pete Thomas became the drummer. Bruce Thomas (no relation to Pete) became the bassist. Steve Nieve (then Steve Nason), a 19-year-old music student, became the keyboardist. This band was soon named the Attractions. They would be Costello's main band for the next seven years.
"Watching the Detectives" and Breakthrough
Costello wrote "Watching the Detectives" a few weeks earlier. He recorded it with Bruce Thomas and Steve Goulding. The song was inspired by the Clash's first album and film scores by Bernard Herrmann. Costello called this his first experience of "making records" instead of just "recording songs." The song was released in October and reached number 15 in the UK Singles Chart. This was his first single to chart.
My Aim Is True reached number 14 on the UK Albums Chart. When Costello toured the US in November, he got a lot of press. By this time, he had signed with Columbia Records. My Aim Is True was released in the US in November. It reached number 32 on the Billboard chart. In December, Costello and the Attractions appeared on Saturday Night Live. They surprised the producer by playing the song "Radio Radio" live.
By late 1977, Costello moved to Radar Records. This was a new label started by an associate of his manager.
This Year's Model and Armed Forces
Costello recorded his second album, This Year's Model, with the Attractions. It was made from November 1977 to January 1978. Produced by Nick Lowe, it took only eleven days to record. The album's sound was inspired by 1960s bands like the Who and the Kinks. Costello called it a "ghost version" of the Rolling Stones' 1966 album Aftermath.
Most songs on This Year's Model were written while Costello still had his office job. These included "(I Don't Want to Go to) Chelsea". This song was released as the first single in March 1978. It reached number 16 on the UK Singles Chart. The album entered the UK Albums Chart at number 4. This Year's Model was highly praised by music journalists. Village Voice critics voted it the best album of 1978.
Costello and the Attractions recorded his third album, Armed Forces, in six weeks in 1978. Nick Lowe produced it again. The album's music was influenced by artists like David Bowie and ABBA. Costello said Armed Forces was his first album where he knew he had an audience. The lyrics talked about his travels in the US and political groups in the UK.
Released in January 1979, Armed Forces reached number 2 on the UK Albums Chart. In the US, it reached number 10. Costello's best-selling single, "Oliver's Army", came out in February. Costello wrote it after visiting Northern Ireland and seeing young British soldiers. The song reached number 2 on the UK Singles Chart.
The tour for Armed Forces had some problems. Costello and the Attractions played short shows and sometimes refused encores. After a concert in Columbus, Ohio, Costello made some comments that were reported in the press. This caused bad publicity. Many people, including Costello, believe this stopped him from becoming a top commercial success in the US.
In June, Costello had a hit as a songwriter. Dave Edmunds released his recording of "Girls Talk". This song reached number 4 on the UK Singles Chart.
1980s Music Evolution
Costello's 1980 album Get Happy!! had a sound based on old American soul music. Some songs were more upbeat than his earlier angry ones. The single, "I Can't Stand Up for Falling Down", was a cover of a Sam and Dave song.
In January 1981, Costello released Trust. Tensions were growing within the Attractions. The single "Clubland" barely charted in the UK. Costello also helped produce Squeeze's 1981 album East Side Story.
October 1981 saw the release of Almost Blue. This album was a collection of country music cover songs. It included songs by Hank Williams and Merle Haggard. The album got mixed reviews. The first copies in the UK had a sticker that warned: "This album contains country & western music and may cause a radical reaction in narrow minded listeners." Almost Blue had a surprise UK hit single with "Good Year for the Roses". It reached number 6.
Imperial Bedroom (1982) was produced by Geoff Emerick, who worked on Beatles records. It is one of Costello's most praised albums. But it did not produce any hit singles. Costello's song "Almost Blue" was inspired by jazz singer Chet Baker. Baker later recorded his own version of the song.
In 1983, he released Punch the Clock. This album featured female backing singers and a horn section. It included the song "Shipbuilding", which had a trumpet solo by Chet Baker. Punch the Clock also had an international hit single, "Everyday I Write the Book". Its music video showed lookalikes of Prince Charles and Princess Diana. The song became Costello's first Top 40 hit in the U.S.
Tensions between Costello and bassist Bruce Thomas were growing. Costello announced he would stop working with the Attractions before they recorded Goodbye Cruel World (1984). Costello later said he was disappointed with the album.
In 1985, he performed at the Live Aid concert in England. He sang the Beatles' "All You Need Is Love" by himself. He introduced it as an "old northern English folk song." That year, Costello also sang with Annie Lennox on the Eurythmics song "Adrian."
The Attractions split up in 1986. Costello then made King of America. This was an acoustic guitar album with a country sound. It was billed as "The Costello Show featuring the Attractions and Confederates." Around this time, he legally changed his name back to Declan MacManus.
Later in 1986, Costello recorded Blood & Chocolate with the Attractions. This album was praised for its energetic sound. It also brought back producer Nick Lowe. Blood & Chocolate included "I Want You", which became a signature concert song. After this tour, Costello split from the Attractions again.
Costello signed a new contract with Warner Bros. In 1989, he released Spike. This album had his biggest US single, "Veronica". It reached number 19. "Veronica" was one of several songs Costello co-wrote with Paul McCartney.
Costello and Paul McCartney wrote many songs together. These included "Back On My Feet" and "My Brave Face." In 1987, Costello appeared on the HBO special Roy Orbison and Friends, A Black and White Night with his idol Roy Orbison.
1990s and New Directions
In 1991, Costello released Mighty Like a Rose. It featured the single "The Other Side of Summer". He also co-wrote and co-produced music for the TV mini-series G.B.H.. This instrumental soundtrack won a BAFTA award.
In 1993, Costello explored classical music with the Brodsky Quartet on The Juliet Letters. He returned to rock and roll in 1994 with Brutal Youth, which reunited him with the Attractions. In 1995, he released Kojak Variety, an album of cover songs. In 1996, he released All This Useless Beauty, an album of songs he wrote for other artists. This was his last album with the Attractions.
In 1994, he sang "They Can't Take That Away from Me" with Tony Bennett on MTV Unplugged. The Attractions played their final U.S. show in Seattle in September 1996. Costello continued to work with Steve Nieve and Pete Thomas. They later became members of his new band, The Imposters.
To finish his contract with Warner Bros., Costello released a greatest hits album called Extreme Honey (1997). It included a new song, "The Bridge I Burned." In 1998, Costello signed a new contract with Polygram Records. His first release under this contract was a collaboration with Burt Bacharach. They wrote and recorded the album Painted From Memory (1998). Costello and Bacharach also recorded an updated version of Bacharach's "I'll Never Fall in Love Again" for the movie Austin Powers: The Spy Who ... Me.
In 1999, Costello sang a version of "She" for the movie Notting Hill. His version reached number 19 on the UK singles chart. For the 25th anniversary of Saturday Night Live, Costello returned to the show. He interrupted the Beastie Boys' song and performed "Radio Radio" with them as his backing group.
2000s and Beyond
From 2001 to 2005, Costello re-released his older albums. These releases included extra songs and details about the music. In 2001, Costello was an artist-in-residence at UCLA. He wrote music for a new ballet. He also produced an album of pop songs for classical singer Anne Sofie von Otter.
He released the album When I Was Cruel in 2002. He toured with his new band, the Imposters. This band was basically the Attractions but with a different bass player, Davey Faragher.
In March 2003, Elvis Costello & the Attractions were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In May, he announced his engagement to Canadian jazz singer and pianist Diana Krall. They met at the Grammy Awards. That September, he released North. This album had piano-based songs about his past relationship and falling in love with Krall.
The song "Scarlet Tide" (co-written by Costello and T-Bone Burnett) was nominated for a 2004 Academy Award. He performed it at the awards ceremony with Alison Krauss. Costello also co-wrote many songs on Krall's 2004 CD, The Girl in the Other Room. In July 2004, Costello's first full orchestral work, Il Sogno, was performed in New York. It was a ballet based on Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream.
In September 2004, Costello released The Delivery Man. This album was recorded in Oxford, Mississippi. It was praised as one of his best. In 2005, a CD of his collaboration with Marian McPartland on her show Piano Jazz was released. It featured Costello singing jazz songs and his own tunes.
In November 2005, Costello started recording a new album with Allen Toussaint. The River in Reverse was released in May 2006. After Hurricane Katrina, Costello and Allen Toussaint performed at benefit concerts in New York. Costello wrote "The River in Reverse" to reflect the mood of the time.
In 2006, Costello performed with Fiona Apple for a TV special. They sang each other's songs. In 2007, Costello worked with the electro-tango band Bajofondo. In 2008, he collaborated with Fall Out Boy on their song "What a Catch, Donnie".
On 22 April 2008, Momofuku was released. That summer, Costello toured with the Police. In July 2008, Costello received an honorary Doctor of Music degree from the University of Liverpool. In November 2009, Costello appeared live with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. He sang the Jackie Wilson song "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher".
Costello appeared in Stephen Colbert's TV special A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All. He sang a duet with Colbert. Costello released Secret, ... & Sugarcane in June 2009. This was a collaboration with T-Bone Burnett.
In December 2009, Costello played a character called The Shape on the album Ghost Brothers of Darkland County. This was a project by rock singer John Mellencamp and novelist Stephen King. In February 2010, Costello appeared on Garrison Keillor's Prairie Home Companion.
Recent Years
Costello released the album National Ransom in autumn 2010. In September 2013, Costello released Wise Up Ghost, a collaboration with the Roots. On 25 October 2013, he received an Honorary Doctorate of Music from the New England Conservatory.
In 2012, he played ukulele, mandolin, and guitar on Diana Krall's album Glad Rag Doll. In March 2014, Costello recorded Lost on the River: The New Basement Tapes with other artists.
On 12 October 2018, Costello released Look Now, his first studio album in five years. It was recorded with The Imposters. The album included songs co-written with Burt Bacharach and Carole King. In January 2020, Look Now won a Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.
Costello was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2019 for his services to music. In 2021, Costello released Spanish Model. This was a remix of his 1978 album This Year's Model with Spanish lyrics. Singers from Spanish-speaking countries translated the songs.
In January 2022, he released the album The Boy Named If with the Imposters. The Resurrection of Rust by a reformed Rusty followed later that year. In April 2023, Costello worked with Slovenian band Joker Out. The compilation The Songs of Bacharach & Costello was also released.
In November 2024, Costello and T Bone Burnett released a comedy audio series called The Coward Brothers. It featured guest appearances by Harry Shearer and Rhea Seehorn.
Writing and Books
Since the early 1980s, Costello has written about music for magazines like Rolling Stone and Vanity Fair. He has also written articles about football (soccer) for the Times of London. An editor said his writing was "clean, elegant, and ready to run."
Costello has written notes for albums by artists like Gram Parsons and Burt Bacharach. He has also written introductions for books by Loretta Lynn and Wanda Jackson.
In 1993, Costello started reissuing his albums from 1977 to 1986. He wrote detailed notes for each reissued album. Reviewers praised these notes as honest and charming. In 2001, he started a second round of reissues. He wrote even more detailed notes for these. One magazine said the notes were "truly fascinating" and like a long book about his life.
In 2015, Costello published Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink. This book was a memoir about his life in music. It also explored his family's musical history. The book received many positive reviews. The New York Times called it "some of the best writing... from an important musician." The book reached number 7 on the New York Times Best Seller list.
Acting and Television
Costello has played himself or similar characters in many TV shows. These include The Simpsons (2002), Frasier (2003), and Sesame Street (2011). He has also played other roles, like a magician in the movie No Surrender (1985). In 2017, he voiced Pete's Dad in the animated series The Adventures of Pete the Cat.
In 2003, Costello filled in for David Letterman as host of Late Show with David Letterman. This made him the only musical guest to host the show. His performance led to interest in a music talk show with him as host.
In 2008, Costello started Spectacle: Elvis Costello with.... On this show, he interviewed and performed with other musicians. Guests included Tony Bennett, Bruce Springsteen, and Bono. The show ran for 20 episodes from 2008 to 2010. It received good reviews in the US. Reviewers praised Costello's ability to get guests to share insights. The show won a Gemini Award in Canada for Best Talk Series.
Personal Life and Causes
Costello has four half-brothers from his father's second marriage. All of them are musicians.
In November 1974, Costello married Mary Burgoyne. They had one child, Matthew MacManus, born in 1975. His quick rise to fame put a strain on their marriage. They separated in 1978 and divorced in 1988. Costello has said that his struggles in his first marriage inspired many of his songs.
In early 2003, Costello became engaged to and married singer and pianist Diana Krall. They married in December 2003. The couple has twin sons, born in December 2006.
Health and Humanitarian Work
In July 2018, Costello announced he had been successfully treated for a cancerous growth. He had to cancel some tour dates to recover from surgery. He started performing again in September 2018.
In 2017, Costello helped start the Musician Treatment Foundation. This foundation helps musicians get free orthopedic care for arm and hand injuries. Costello also serves on the advisory board of the Jazz Foundation of America. This group helps musicians with financial support.
Vegetarianism
Costello has been a pescatarian (eating fish but no other meat) since the early 1980s. He said he decided to stop eating meat after seeing a documentary called The Animals Film (1982). This film also inspired his song "Pills and Soap." In 2013, Costello worked with Paul McCartney on an ad campaign for Linda McCartney Foods, a vegetarian food brand.
Legacy and Influence
Costello has worked with many famous artists. These include Paul McCartney, Tony Bennett, Burt Bacharach, and Johnny Cash.
Costello often supports the work of other musicians. He has written about music for magazines. He has also contributed to tribute albums for artists like Grateful Dead and Nick Lowe. He appeared in documentaries about singers like Dusty Springfield and Joni Mitchell.
In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked him number 80 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. In 2012, Costello was chosen by artist Sir Peter Blake to appear in a new version of the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album cover. This honored British cultural figures. Costello said he always dreamed of being on that cover.
Awards and Honours
Entertainment Industry Awards
United States:
- ASCAP Founders Award (2003)
- Grammy Award, Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals, "I Still Have That Other Girl" (1998)
- Grammy Award, Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album, Look Now (2019)
- Grammy Hall of Fame, My Aim Is True (2007)
- MTV Video Music Award, Best Male Video, "Veronica" (1989)
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, with the Attractions (2003)
- Songwriters Hall of Fame (2016)
United Kingdom:
- BAFTA, Best Original Television Music, G.B.H. (1992)
- Ivor Novello Award, Outstanding Contemporary Song Collection (1995)
- Ivor Novello Award, PRS Outstanding Contribution to British Music Award (1997)
Netherlands:
- Edison Award, Pop category, My Aim Is True (1978)
- Edison Award, singer-songwriter, Spike (1989)
- Edison Award, Extra/special production, innovative, The Juliet Letters (1993)
- Edison Award, International singer, Painted from Memory (1999)
Canada:
- Gemini Award, Best Talk Series, Spectacle: Elvis Costello with... (2010)
Critics' Best-of Lists
Best of Year:
- NME Awards Best Songwriter (1978)
- NME Awards Best Songwriter (1983)
- NME Awards Best Album, Punch the Clock (1983)
- Village Voice Pazz and Jop critics' poll, number 1 album of the year, This Years Model (1978)
- Village Voice Pazz and Jop critics' poll, number 1 album of the year, Imperial Bedroom (1982)
Best of All Time:
- Five albums on NME's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time (2013)
- Four albums on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time (2009)
- Number 24 on Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time (2015)
- Number 80 on Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Artists of All Time (2010)
Honorary Degrees
- Doctor of Music, University of Liverpool (2008)
- Doctor of Music, New England Conservatory of Music (2013)
Selected Discography
Albums as Solo Artist and Bandleader
- My Aim Is True (1977)
- This Year's Model (1978)
- Armed Forces (1979)
- Get Happy!! (1980)
- Trust (1981)
- Almost Blue (1981)
- Imperial Bedroom (1982)
- Punch the Clock (1983)
- Goodbye Cruel World (1984)
- King of America (1986)
- Blood & Chocolate (1986)
- Spike (1989)
- Mighty Like a Rose (1991)
- Brutal Youth (1994)
- Kojak Variety (1995)
- All This Useless Beauty (1996)
- When I Was Cruel (2002)
- North (2003)
- The Delivery Man (2004)
- Momofuku (2008)
- National Ransom (2010)
- Look Now (2018)
- Hey Clockface (2020)
- The Boy Named If (2022)
Collaborative Albums
- The Juliet Letters, with the Brodsky Quartet (1993)
- Painted from Memory, with Burt Bacharach (1998)
- For the Stars, with Anne Sofie von Otter (2001)
- Piano Jazz, with Marian McPartland (2005)
- My Flame Burns Blue, with the Metropole Orkest (2006)
- The River in Reverse, with Allen Toussaint (2006)
- Wise Up Ghost, with the Roots (2013)
- Lost on the River, as member of The New Basement Tapes (2014)
- The Resurrection of Rust, with Allan Mayes (2022)
- The Coward Brothers, with T Bone Burnett (2024)
Composer, Soundtracks and Scores
- G.B.H., with Richard Harvey (1991)
- Jake's Progress, with Richard Harvey (1995)
- Il Sogno (2004)
Producer for Others
- The Specials – Specials (1979)
- East Side Story – Squeeze (1981, with Roger Béchirian)
- "Free Nelson Mandela" – the Special A.K.A (1984)
Selected Filmography
As Actor
- 1979 film debut as "The Earl of Manchester" in Americathon.
- 1984 as "Henry Scully" in the UK TV series, Scully
- 1985 as inept magician "Rosco de Ville" in the Alan Bleasdale film, No Surrender
- 1987 as "Hives the Butler" in the Alex Cox film, Straight to Hell
- 1994 as himself on The Larry Sanders Show in the episode "People's Choice"
- 1996 as himself on The Larry Sanders Show in the episode "Everybody Loves Larry"
- 1997 as a barman in Spice World
- 1999 as a younger version of himself in 200 Cigarettes
- 2001 as himself performing "Fly Me to the Moon" on the series finale of 3rd Rock from the Sun
- 2002 as himself on the episode "How I Spent My Strummer Vacation" of The Simpsons
- 2003 as Ben on Frasier, in the season 10 episode "Farewell Nervosa"
- 2004 as himself in Two and a Half Men – Season 2, Episode 1
- 2004 as himself in De-Lovely
- 2006 as himself in Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
- 2008 as himself in A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!
- 2009 as himself on the 30 Rock episode "Kidney Now!"
- 2010 as himself on Treme
- 2017–2019 as Pete's Dad (voice) in Pete the Cat (Season 1)
As Part of Soundtracks
- 1983, "Party Party" appears in the film of the same name.
- 1991, "Days" (a cover of the Kinks song) appears in the film Until the end of the World.
- 1995, "My Dark Life," a collaboration with Brian Eno, appears on the album Songs in the Key of X.
- 1996, "God Give Me Strength," a collaboration with Burt Bacharach, appears in the film Grace of My Heart.
- 1998, "My Mood Swings" appears in the film The Big Lebowski.
- 1998, "I Throw My Toys Around," a collaboration with No Doubt, appears in the film The Rugrats Movie.
- 1999, "She" (a cover of the Charles Aznavour song) appears in the film Notting Hill.
- 2003, "The Scarlet Tide," written by Costello and T Bone Burnett and performed by Alison Krauss, appears in the film Cold Mountain.
- 2019, "I Want You" appears twice in the British film Only You.
Images for kids
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Costello onstage at Massey Hall, Toronto, April 1978
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Costello performing at Glastonbury, 2005
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Costello performing in 2006
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Costello's hand prints on the European Walk of Fame, Rotterdam
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Costello performing in tribute to music legends Chuck Berry and Leonard Cohen, Boston, Massachusetts on 26 February 2012
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Costello and Diana Krall in 2009
See also
In Spanish: Elvis Costello para niños
