Elvis Costello--Who Cares?
Elvis Costello--Who Cares?

Elvis has left the building. Well, that's not exactly true, he's simply not coming.

 

British singer-songwriter, Elvis Costello, cancelled his scheduled concerts in Israel at the end of June citing the plight of the Palestinian people as his reason. Costello is not the first (nor is he likely the last) musician to cancel

Is Elvis Costello bigger than Sir Paul? I think not.

a performance in Israel due to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but the circumstances that surrounded his announcement are what raise eyebrows.

 

Not too long ago Costello spoke about his upcoming tour which included Israel and did not give any indication that he would pull out despite the 'situation'. He was even quoted in a recent interview as saying, “The people who call for a boycott of Israel own the narrow view that thinks performing there must be about profit and endorsing the hawkish policy of the government. It’s like never appearing in the US because you didn’t like Bush’s policies or boycotting England because of Margaret Thatcher."



And to top it all off, Costello's wife, Canadian singer/pianist Diana Krall, is due to perform in Ra’anana in early August, and there is no word that she plans to cancel her concert in Israel. Something is amiss.

 

Mega pop stars, everyone from Madonna to the late Michael Jackson, have performed in Israel. Just two years ago Paul McCartney, whom Costello has collaborated with on a number of songs they wrote together, gave a huge concert in Tel Aviv. Is Elvis Costello bigger than Sir Paul? I think not.

 

 I am trying to understand why his cancellation causes a stir. Other rock stars, like Carlos Santana, have canceled shows in Israel recently for similar reasons, but others who are due to perform here: Rod Stewart, Elton John, Metallica, and even Ozzy Osbourne, have not. Should one British rocker, who may be best known for the song 'She' in the soundtrack of the film 'Notting Hill', really warrant such attention? Aside from those who bought tickets and the negative publicity locally, should we really care?

 

At least for me, I think it has something to do with his name. When one hears the name 'Elvis', you can't help but think of 'The King' of rock & roll, Elvis Presley, not Elvis Costello. Carrying the name 'Elvis' is a huge responsibility. If Declan Patrick MacManus, which is Elvis Costello's real name, canceled a concert here nobody would care, but

Your pulling out at the last minute was not 'high classed', so 'you ain't no friend of mine'.

when you call yourself Elvis, you have to hold yourself up to a higher standard.

 

I often marvel at the legacy of Elvis Presley. There are the dedicated Elvis impersonators, those who make a pilgrimage to Graceland, those who still celebrate his birthday and his passing through his music. Many have tried to adopt him as one of their own. According to most accounts, his maternal great-grandmother was Jewish, so apparently Elvis Aaron Presley was a member of the tribe. There is a famous picture of Elvis performing in Salt Lake City in 1972 wearing a Jewish "chai" symbol, and when Elvis' mother Gladys died in 1959 he made sure to put a Jewish Star of David on her headstone.

 

So, maybe that's the reason fro being  'All Shook Up' about Elvis Costello canceling his concert in Israel. It has nothing to do with him, but his name. In Israel, we all know about the Elvis Cafe at Neve Ilan which features hundreds of items of Elvis memorabilia and the huge statue of Elvis outside the truck-stop restaurant in tribute to 'The King'. I sincerely doubt any monument to Elvis Costello will be built in the holy land anytime soon.

 

And I never really thought about the lyrics of Elvis Presley's classic hit 'Hound Dog' until now.

 

You ain't nothin' but a hound dog

cryin' all the time.

Well, you ain't never caught a rabbit

and you ain't no friend of mine.

When they said you was high classed,

well, that was just a lie.

Mr. Costello, you are just 'crying' (complaining), you've never 'caught a rabbit' (done much for us), your pulling out at the last minute was not 'high classed', so 'you ain't no friend of mine' (Israel).

 

I could implore you, 'Don't Be Cruel' and to reconsider, but you have already made your decision. 'It's Now or Never'- and you have chosen 'never'.

 

Well, to paraphrase the 'The King'…"No, thank you, No, thank you very much."