Elvis Costello urges radio stations to stop playing ‘Oliver’s Army’
The 1979 track has attracted criticism due to its use of the N-word
Elvis Costello says that he is going to stop playing his controversial song ‘Oliver’s Army’ live, and urged radio stations to also stop playing it.
The 1979 track was written about the Troubles in Northern Ireland, and has attracted criticism due to using the N-word. In the song, Costello sings: “Only takes one itchy trigger/ One more widow, one less white n*****.”
In a new interview, Costello defended writing the song, calling the term a historical “fact,” but said that he is set to stop performing it so he doesn’t get criticised for “something I didn’t intend.”
“If I wrote that song today, maybe I’d think twice about it,” he told The Telegraph. “That’s what my grandfather was called in the British army – it’s historically a fact – but people hear that word go off like a bell and accuse me of something that I didn’t intend.”
He added: “On the last tour, I wrote a new verse about censorship, but what’s the point of that? So I’ve decided I’m not going to play it. [Bleeping out the word on the radio] is a mistake. They’re making it worse by bleeping it for sure. Because they’re highlighting it then. Just don’t play the record!”
Costello’s new album ‘The Boy Named If’ was announced back in October and is due to be released on January 14.
Of his upcoming album, Costello has said: ”The full title of this record is ‘The Boy Named If (And Other Children’s Stories).’ ‘IF,’ is a nickname for your imaginary friend; your secret self, the one who knows everything you deny, the one you blame for the shattered crockery and the hearts you break, even your own. You can hear more about this ‘Boy’ in a song of the same name.”
He will also head out on a UK tour in support of the record, with the dates beginning in Brighton on June 5, 2022 at the Dome, before wrapping up three weeks later at Hammersmith Apollo on June 23.
See the full list of dates below. Tickets are on sale here.
JUNE 2022
5 – Brighton, Dome
7 – Glasgow, Royal Concert Hall
8 – Newcastle, O2 City Hall
10 – Liverpool, Philharmonic
11 – Manchester, Opera House
13 – Birmingham, Symphony Hall
14 – Leicester, De Montfort Hall
16 – Oxford, New Theatre
17 – Bath, The Forum
19 – Portsmouth, Guildhall
20 – Swansea, Arena
22 – Ipswich, Regent Theatre
23 – London, Eventim Apollo