How funny to see this video a couple of days after that clip of Elvis Costello in full elder statesman mode playing folk ballads alongside Mumford & Sons.
The pigeon-toed dancing and fuck-the-world sneer seem to belong to another artist than the man we’ve come to know in the 35 years since. Forget Springsteen and Dylan, perhaps Elvis Costello has had the most extraordinary career.
I was surprised to see that given all the Elvis Costello songs I’ve featured on the blog over the years, I’d never found a spot for ‘Pump It Up.’
I’ll admit this isn’t one of my favorite tracks — I’ve always been a bit bummed when he inevitably plays it in concert — but it is certainly quintessential early Elvis.
Ending in dirty looks
List’ning to the Muzak
Thinking ’bout this ‘n’ that
She said that’s that
I don’t wanna chitter-chat
Turn it down a little bit
Or turn it down flat.
Pump it up when you don’t really need it
Pump it up until you can feel it
Down in the pleasure centre
Hell bent or heaven sent
Listen to the propaganda
Listen to the latest slander
There’s nothing underhand
That she wouldn’t understand
Pump it up until you can feel it
Pump it up when you don’t really need it
She’s been a bad girl
She’s like a chemical
Though you try to stop it
She’s like a narcotic
You wanna torture her
You wanna talk to her
All the things you bought for her
Putting up your temp’rature
Pump it up until you can feel it
Pump it up when you don’t really need it
Out in the fashion show
Down in the bargain bin
You put your passion out
Under the pressure pin
Fall into submission
Hit-and-run transmission
No use wishing now for any other sin
Pump it up until you can feel it
Pump it up when you don’t really need it
Pump it up until you can feel it
Pump it up when you don’t really need it
Pump it up until you can feel it
Pump it up when you don’t really need it
Don’t really need it
Don’t really need it
Don’t really need it
Meet Me In Montauk 
I was going to mention Costello during our extraordinary career discussion, but he never achieved the same kind of popularity and social impact as Dylan or Bruce.
Meanwhile, I find the fact that he is doing that dance in this video so amusing. Could you imagine him trying to do that now?
I find it interesting that you are disappointed when he breaks into this song in concert, as it’s usually one of my favorite moments. I love to see an artst revisit earlier works – to see how the performance changes over time. While this isn’t one of my favorite Costello songs, it’s one I always enjoy listening to him perform.
I remember reading that he wrote this as a response to Ian durys sex and drugs and rock and roll when they were both on tour together. I got the impression there was some professional jealousy ther. . .