Accidents Will Happen
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| "Accidents Will Happen" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Elvis Costello and the Attractions | ||||
| from the album Armed Forces | ||||
| B-side | "Talking in the Dark" and "Wednesday Week" | |||
| Released | 4 May 1979 | |||
| Format | 7" single | |||
| Recorded | 1978 | |||
| Genre | New wave | |||
| Length | 3:00 | |||
| Label | Radar | |||
| Writer(s) | Elvis Costello | |||
| Producer(s) | Nick Lowe | |||
| Elvis Costello and the Attractions singles chronology | ||||
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"Accidents Will Happen" is a song written by Elvis Costello. It first appeared on the 1979 album Armed Forces, which he recorded with The Attractions. In reference to the song title, the cover of the single was printed inside-out, and the run-out groove on side A reads "Porky Prime Cuts Will Happen" (referring to the trademark signature of cutting engineer George Peckham). The record had two B-sides; "Talking in the Dark" and "Wednesday Week". Released as the second single from Armed Forces album, it reached No. 28 on the UK Singles Chart in June 1979.
The accompanying music video, by Annabel Jankel and Rocky Morton, was one of the 35 videos selected for the Museum of Modern Art's "Golden Oldies of Music Video" exhibition in 2003.[1]
Contents
Reception
In 2003, Matt LeMay of Pitchfork Media described the song in this way: "'Accidents Will Happen', one of the finest songs in his, or any, repertoire, matches a signature smirking double-entendre with an almost Baroque pop sensibility. Melodically and lyrically, the song is above reproach, as Costello sings of infidelity with what could either be construed as regret or smug satisfaction. It's also one of several songs on Armed Forces to benefit from the album's dense production."[2]
In 2004, Entertainment Weekly voted it as one of Costello's top 10 greatest tunes.[3]
Legacy
The popular Canadian teen drama Degrassi: The Next Generation, which is known for naming episodes after hit songs from the 1980s, named a controversial two part episode after this song in 2004.
Japanese singer Kyosuke Himuro covered this song.[4]
In E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Elliott's brother, Michael, sings this song in the family kitchen after coming home from school.[5]
The song is played in The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror XXVI segment, "Wanted: Dead, Then Alive", in which Sideshow Bob keeps killing Bart Simpson and bringing him back to life over and over again in a montage.[6]
References
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External links
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