I last saw Elvis Costello as the opening act for the Police reunion tour. I revelled in the fourth time seeing him live in the front row. A childhood friend of mine (Jessy) is a major concert promoter, he secured my spot.
I sang along to every song and was clearly an Elvis fan to everyone who came to see the Police. When the opening bar to Watching the Detectives was struck, I nearly lost my shit.
There I am enthusiastically trying to do better than Elvis himself with my eyes closed when my then wife elbows me in the ribs. I open my eyes, and there is Elvis in my face handing me a mic and saying “Sing!”.
So I did. I sang
“You think you’re alone until you realize you’re in it
Now baby’s here to stay, love is here for a visit
They call it instant justice when it’s past the legal limit
Someone’s scratching at the window, I wonder, who is it?
The detectives come to check if you belong to the parents
Who are ready to hear the worst about their daughter’s disappearance
Though it nearly took a miracle to get you to stay
It only took my little fingers to blow you away”
And 17 or 18,000 fans roared their approval.
Elvis took to the stage and said “Oh yeah!” [with a dramatic expression of contempt and a shot from a finger gun] “Watch this!”
And he sang the same lyrics and then blew me away with a finger shot.
I grabbed my chest and fell into the row behind me and he almost lost it. Though he carried on.
The Police did not disappoint in the slightest. Stewart Copland was clearly given free-reign to show his percussion chops. One of the best percussionists of all time IMO.
After the show we were brought back stage and Andy, Stewart and Elvis were all shocked to learn that I had never sung before a crowd. When I sang, I didn’t try to mimic Elvis’ neurotic tone and settled in my natural voice. My baritone rendition of the lyrics gave them chills. The tone was to them, much more psychopathic and fitting to the song.
I was just happy to be there.