Will the Real Napoleon Dynamite Please Stand Up?

Major perpetrator of the alleged "comedy"

The only good songwriter to emerge during the '70's*

He may not have money, but he has great taste in sobriquets!

Okay, I’m dwelling too much on Elvis Costello --- What can I tell ya? The guy is great!
On April 10^th, the day it was released, I bought the DVD “Elvis Costello & the Imposters; The Return of the Spectacular Spinning Songbook”. For the last several weeks I’ve resisted writing about it, since every time E.C. releases something I will just want to write a predictably glowing review of it and it’ll get boring. Since then, though, it’s occurred to me that there is some interesting (interesting to me at least) trivia surrounding the project.
TRIVIA:

Will the real Napoleon Dynamite Please stand up? Most people recognize that name as the name of a gawdawful “comedy” film that was released in 2004. It was co-written and directed by Jared Hess and Jerusha Hess and stars Jon Heder as the title character. The film's total worldwide gross revenue was $46,140,956 – proof positive that you’ll never lose money underestimating the taste of the American public. (No wonder all my art projects are flops – I HAVE TOO MUCH GOOD TASTE! Heh, heh) Apparently, two days before completion of the film, a teenage extra informed the director the title was a nickname for Elvis Costello. The filmmaker insists he had no idea he “stole” the title from The Great One. Considering the randomness of the name Napoleon and the word Dynamite becoming conjoined by two independent people by sheer coincidence seems virtually impossible. As Costello points out, “it's two words that you're never going to hear together.” However, there is a plausible explanation. Hess claims that around the year 2000, he was doing missionary work for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, around the Cicero Illinois area. There he met a homeless man who referred to himself as Napoleon Dynamite. Like all writers, Hess was undoubtedly always keeping an ear open for “found” poetic phrases to use in his work and incorporated it thusly. You can’t blame him – every writer does it. (“We are normal and we want our freedom!” “Giant pterodactyls are flying into Arizona and carrying off Buicks!”) By some accounts, Costello was christened with the nickname by one of his girlfriends. Elvis used the pseudonym as early as 1982 for his 45 single b-side “Imperial Bedroom” – a song which, curiously, did not appear on the album of the same name. The credits to his 1986 album “Blood and Chocolate” only refer to him as Napoleon Dynamite. So, unless Elvis met the homeless man from Cicero prior to 1982 and stole it from him, E.C. is the true Nappy D!

Look at the man that you call Uncle

Elvis performs a solo acoustic “intermission” in these live shows. The Segment is called Napoleon Solo. Napoleon Solo was the name of a character on the 60’s spy TV show “The Man From Uncle.” It just occurred to me – the two songs that he sings in this segment both refer to Josephine – so it is Napoleon singing love songs to you – know- who.

Love for Tender / Clean Money

I believe I paid sixteen bucks for the DVD, and around ten bucks for the audio CD (which I purchased separately.) A combination CD / DVD set was released late last year and retailed for the princely sum of $265.00! The price was so steep, even the official Elvis Costello website refused to sell it. Hey, I love Elvis, but only when he’s a cheap date!

The joint was rockin’, goin’ ‘round and ‘round.

For The Spectacular Spinning Songbook E.C. and the band have a big roulette wheel on stage, listing 40 songs. Lucky audience members are pulled “from their place in the stalls to their place with the stars” and are allowed to spin the wheel – randomly determining the next song the band will play. The lucky participant is allowed to stay on stage while the band plays the selection. While listening, the fan may have a mixed drink, or dance in the on – stage go go cage.

More Bangles for your buck!

Back in 1986, Elvis and his band were going through a period of interpersonal tensions. Considering Elvis is one of the most acrimonious songwriters of all time, performing that material probably did little to alleviate the tensions. Elvis came up with the game show like concept, for a fun series of concerts that should (and did) lighten the atmosphere. One particularly memorable show that year was in L.A. at The Wiltern. (The Will Turn – am I imagining symbolism everywhere I look?) Special guests that evening were the sensational girl group of the era, The Bangles. Susannah Hoffs is still a fabulous babe! (the vintage video above should be considered REQUIRED VIEWING FOR ANYONE WHO DIGS HOT CHICKS! YOW!) Now, with the return of the Fabulous Singing Songbook, 25 years later, The Bangles join him on stage again. Turns out The Bangles  broke up in the late 80’s and regrouped in 1998. Coincidentally, in 2002, they scored a number one hit in Germany with Elvis’ composition “Doll’s Revolution”, which they perform vocally here, backed by E.C. & The Imposters.

Earthbound

The DVD includes “Earthbound” a great, never previously released Costello composition from  1993. He co – wrote it with Cait O’Riordan, his wife of the time, for a promising up and coming singer named Wendy James. In fact, they wrote Wendy’s entire album “These Ain’t the Time for Your Tears” in something like two weeks – on a bet!   

REVIEW:

This is Elvis’ best DVD. Most people become Costello fans based on his early, ferocious, garagey rock ‘n’ roll. Fans get a little frustrated since he frequently seems to be avoiding rock ‘n’ roll on his records – probably so he doesn’t paint himself into a corner stylistically. This time, though, Elvis gives ‘em what they want, proving that he and his band can rock out like few others. Although they are not generally known for their jamming, highlights include a seven minute “(What’s So Funny) ‘Bout Peace Love and Understanding”, an eight minute “I Want You” and especially a six minute forty-five second “Stella Hurt”. Their music is wild, garagey, trashy, vicious, ominous, occasionally elegant, and never short of breath takingly inspired. I would recommend this for anyone who wants an easy introduction to Elvis.
  

   

    


*OK, the guys in Squeeze were good too.