Elvis Costello : Oliver's Army
On February 4, 1979 Elvis Costello's new single, "Oliver's Army" b/w "My Funny Valentine" entered the U.K. charts at #45. The Armed Forces track remains Costello's highest charting single, peaking for three weeks at UK#2 and selling nearly half a million copies.
The song is so catchy, its piano flourishes inspired by ABBA's "Dancing Queen", many people haven't bothered to figure out what the lyrics are about. Here, in a song he began writing on a flight back from Belfast, Costello is ranting against English imperialism, citing Oliver Cromwell's brutal occupation of Ireland in the 17th Century and name-dropping other past and potential targets: Hong Kong, Palestine, Johannesburg. The smartest, most acerbic lyrics to ever hit UK Top 10.
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