Elvis Costello Defends His Decision To Perform Anti-Thatcher Track Tramp The Dirt Down
Friday, 12 July 2013
Written by Elliott Batte
Elvis Costello has defended his decision to continue playing anti-Thatcher songs - saying that it’s ok because ‘the same bunch of slimes’ are in power.
The award-winner has been performing his controversial 1989 track Tramp the Dirt Down recently, having brought it back to life following Thatcher’s death earlier this year. As you may have expected, it’s drawn a variety of responses - some supporting Costello, and some claiming it’s disrespectful.
The Independent reports that Thatcher supporters have described his move as ‘insensitive’ and ‘in poor taste’, but he disagrees - and says he will continue to perform it.
He told the paper:
“The Thatcherite revolution is looked at historically as a great cleansing moment but it was not. A lot of things that belonged to us all communally were sold out from under us. They weren’t sold to private interests in England that enriched the country, they were sold to people in other countries. And it’s still the same bunch of slimes sitting there running it all.
“I felt I wanted to revisit the song regardless of the offence it gives to people who deify her. We sing the song from our point of view and other people have another view. Nobody shot anybody because of it. I don’t feel vindicated. I didn’t personally kill her. I genuinely don’t wish that on my worst enemy and that’s what I said every night when I introduced the song.”
What do you think of his decision - ‘insensitive’ or justified? Leave us a comment in the box below.
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