What’s So Funny ‘bout Peace, Love, and Understanding?


Posted On: Saturday - March 21st 2026 8:43PM MST
In Topics:   Music

There was a period of time, the very late 1970s through the early 1980s, when, if college students mentioned “Elvis”, they were talking about uber-geeky-looking new wave musician Elvis Costello, not heartthrob or even fat late-Vegas-stage Rock & Roller Elvis Presley. This guy came from London rather than Tupelo, Mississippi.

His Dad was a musician, and Declan Patrick MacManus, later aka Elvis Costello (Who knew? I sure didn’t till now), worked hard to make his way in the music business. He was born in 1954 so was just the right age to get into music during the beginning of the heyday(s) of The Beatles.

I went to the wiki page to learn more about him, and I found this anecdote, from Elvis’s time on tour in America:
March 1979, during a drunken argument with Bonnie Bramlett and other members of the Stephen Stills band, at a Holiday Inn bar in Columbus, Ohio, Costello referred to Ray Charles as a "blind, ignorant nigger" and made similar comments about James Brown. At a New York City press conference a few days later, Costello said he had been drunk and had been attempting to be obnoxious to bring the conversation to a swift conclusion, not anticipating that Bramlett would bring his comments to the press. According to Costello, "It became necessary for me to outrage these people with about the most obnoxious and offensive remarks that I could muster".
Haha, but the wiki writers seriously consider that,
When Costello's comments were reported in the press a few weeks later, the bad publicity was sufficiently severe and widespread to be regarded, including by Costello himself, as the reason he never achieved the top-level commercial success in the US that had been predicted for him.
So, Elvis figures he may have been what is now dubbed “cancelled”. He’s not cancelled as far as Peak Stupidity is concerned.

In fact, we at Peak Stupidity wonder why Elvis Costello has not been featured here before through over 9 years of blogging. I like his sound. I thought the title of this song from his 1978-released 3rd album, Armed Forces* was very clever and funny. The tune is great, and this video shows off “the other Elvis” at his coke-bottle glasses-wearing, Buddy Holly-resembling, new-wavey best.



The song was written by English singer/songwriter/producer Nick Lowe. Elvis’s band The Attractions was:

Elvis Costello – guitar, vocals
Steve Nieve – keyboards
Bruce Thomas – bass
Pete Thomas – drums

Here’s one more thing from wiki regarding Armed Forces:
Costello said of the album's influences, "If you're sitting in a station wagon driving from Atlanta to Madison, Wisconsin and listening to Bowie's Low and "Heroes" and Iggy Pop's The Idiot and ABBA's Greatest Hits over and over again, that's the kind of record you'll make!"
Hey, what’s so funny ‘bout Bowie, Iggy, and ABBA?



* This song was only on the British release of the album but put on another American version 15 or so years later.

Comments:
Moderator
Monday - March 23rd 2026 10:04AM MST
PS: I checked out all your links to the images, mostly from AI, Adam. The more I read AI discussions, the less I think it’s good for anything much. On TUR, commenter Res has gotten into it head-over-heels. I generally don’t care to read, but his reply to me about the viewership, importance, whatever, of the Johnny Carson show back when was perhaps a good time-saving use of AI.

An example might be getting AI to determine which of the 3,470-odd posts here should have whatever newer and brand new topic keys, a job that I plain don’t feel like doing. I’d have to test it.

Have a good day, Adam.
Moderator
Monday - March 23rd 2026 10:02AM MST
PS: Mr. Hail, I’d rather see Trump just back out with “We made such a great deal!” or whatever BS he comes up with rather than admit this has been wrong from the beginning than his impeachment. I think he is good for a lot, no matter how much of a huge bumbling idiot he can be at times.

I wonder why Scott McConnell says that J.D. Vance, were he to do that, should say he will not be a candidate in ‘28. Any ideas?
Adam Smith
Monday - March 23rd 2026 7:56AM MST
PS: Good morning, gentlemen,

𝑀𝑐𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑛𝑒𝑙𝑙 𝑠𝑎𝑦𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑇𝑟𝑢𝑚𝑝 𝑖𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 "𝐼𝑠𝑟𝑎𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑠"
𝑇𝑟𝑢𝑚𝑝 𝑖𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 "𝐼𝑠𝑟𝑎𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑠"

https://i.ibb.co/ymz52Q5Z/Trump-is-controlled-by.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/CK3mZds5/Trump-is-controlled-by-jews.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/YBCQjNCT/Trump-is-controlled-by-Israelis.jpg

Bonus links...
https://gemini.google.com/share/6c5679e03a4f
https://i.ibb.co/vvkXCzDC/jews-control-israel.jpg

Happy Monday! ☮️

Hail
Monday - March 23rd 2026 4:09AM MST
PS

-- "RamZPaul" calls for Trump impeachment --

Another of the pro-Trump social-media people from the 2010s (Paul Ramsey is still active making videos today), is now hardline anti-Trump. He wants Trump removed, as a clear menace to world peace and Israel puppet. He predicts impeachment:

____________

Paul Ramsey
@RamZPaul

There is no need for Vance to resign. The vice-president is independent of the President.

Vance needs to publicly denounce this war. Once Trump is impeached and removed from office, Vance will take over.

https://x.com/ramzpaul/status/2025529506035863790

__________
Hail
Monday - March 23rd 2026 4:06AM MST
PS

-- Sailer-ally Scott McConnell calls for palace coup against Trump --

Steve Sailer's longtime ally/friend Scott McConnell (founding editor of The American Conservative) calls for permanent removal of Trump from power via 25th amendment. McConnell says that Trump is controlled by "Israelis," has slipped and in delusional territory. Trump is now not only a clear danger to world peace but a threat to White-Western mankind's well-being and survival. The best option is removal via the 25th amendment.

(Scott McConnell is credited by Steve, as I recall, with having had influence on Sailerisms/concepts, e.g. McConnell titled a 2004 Sailer column "Hate Hoax"; Steve had not used that exact term in the column, but later picked it up and ran with it, it becoming a Sailerism among many others and tracing directly to Scott McConnell.)

Here is the Scott McConnell statement:

___________

SCOTT McCONNELL
@ScottMcConnell9

My advice to Vance:

Announce your support of 25th amendment transition. Say Chris Murphy or similar will be veep.

Announce you will NOT be a candidate in 2028.

Use your position, access to the media to explain why this is necessary.

Don't resign.

https://x.com/ScottMcConnell9/status/2035786713247691094

___________
Moderator
Sunday - March 22nd 2026 9:55AM MST
PS: I checked it out last night, Adam. That was a much more laid-back version than Elvis’.
Adam Smith
Saturday - March 21st 2026 8:55PM MST
PS: Top of the evenin'...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AehMBw86jBs

☮️

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