Elvis Costello has written so many hundreds of songs that it was inevitable he’d write a bad one.
In truth, he’s written several not-good songs, but those are generally long-winded and lacking in melody, not abrasive. ‘20% Amnesia,’ on the other hand, is just plain assaulting to the senses.
In addition to the jarring, repeated title phrase, I dislike this song for its awkward opening couplet: “‘What is your destiny?’ the policewoman said. The word that she wanted was destination, I’m afraid.” I’m sorry, that’s just silly.
Throw in not one but two mentions of Gorbachev, and this song is just a mess from start to finish.
Fortunately, Costello has written about 125 genius songs so he gets a pass for this one.
The word that she wanted was destination I’m afraid (20% amnesia)
This is your future boy, this is your fate (20% amnesia)
And you’re obsolete and they can’t afford to educate you (20% amnesia)
In his bedtime boot boy jersey
Ringing up some fantasy tart
Give me strength or give me mercy
Life intimidates art
CHORUS:
Give me strength or give me mercy
Don’t let me lose heart
From rage to anaesthesia
Twenty percent amnesia
Were you passed out on the sofa (20% amnesia)
While justice was bartered by a drunken oaf? (20% amnesia)
This is all your glorious country thinks of your life (20% amnesia)
Stripped Jack naked with a Stanley knife (20% amnesia)
So the German Queen went home again
But she couldn’t find forgiveness
They made a fist of her hand of friendship
But it’s only business
CHORUS
The wine you drink has never seen a grape
And now your sci-fi suit has lost its shape
But it’s a dangerous game that comedy plays
Sometimes it tells you the truth, sometimes it delays it
Think back, think back if you still can
When the trumpet sounded and the world began
Somebody said “We must have won”
So they started burying the bogeyman
Mister Gorbachov came cap in hand (20% amnesia)
From a bankrupt land to a bankrupt land (20% amnesia)
Mister Gorbachov and some other fella (20% amnesia)
Were taken to a show called “Cinderella” (20% amnesia)
It wasn’t an accident, it wasn’t a mystery (20% amnesia)
It was calculated and the rest is history (20% amnesia)
You don’t have to listen to me
That’s the triumph of free will
When there are promises to break
And dreams to kill
CHORUS
Meet Me In Montauk 
I believe I once declared that a truly great songwriter is incapable of writing a bad song, citing Elvis Costello as my example. Well, this theme week is certainly putting some bullet holes in that declaration.
In a desperate attempt to hold on to my theory, I will say that there is a distinction between an annoying song, or a song that doesn’t jive with one’s personal taste, and a “bad” song. I would agree with you that today’s song is annoying, but I would stop short of saying its “bad” in the same way “Cars are Cars” is bad.
Do I hit the skip button when this song comes on? Yes, but mostly because this is not a style I like and there are so many other songs on Brutal Youth I would rather hear.
I’d say ‘Cars Are Cars’ definitively disproves your theory! Unless you would argue that Paul Simon isn’t a truly great songwriter.
No, he is a great songwriter. As I said, your theme week is putting some bullet holes in my theory.
My guess is that all songwriters, even great ones, write plenty of bad songs. The mystery is why they would choose to record and release them! How did nobody tell Paul Simon that ‘Cars Are Cars’ wasn’t a good idea during the weeks of work on Hearts and Bones?
Good question. Since that album was originally going to be a S&G album, maybe Art told him he had to get rid of the song, they fought, Art got cast aside (again) and Simon went forward and recorded the song to spite him:)
Haha. I quite like this song, actually. Nowhere near his best work, but a fun bit of abrasive punk. The lyrics are actually really good (I love the “it’s a dangerous game that comedy plays…” part) and the descending piano line gives it a nice off-kilter feel, some color that most of these thrashers lack. This song is alright by me.
I think that this song is much more political commentary and the anger is real. There was an election that was won by the Tories by reducing the lower tax rate to 20%, and they forgot all the wrongs that had been committed by Mrs Thatcher. Like the police stopping pickets (what is your destination). The Gorbachov comments are about the Russians trying to reform and the lack of responses by the western governments.
The anger is real and directed to the electorate for getting the 20% tax rate amnesia.
This is a song I really like. I like the opening line and the cutting edge. It would be on my top 40 Elvis tracks.