Elvis Costello & The Attractions - Oliver's Army

What this video is

Released as a single on 2 February 1979, 'Oliver's Army' emerged from Elvis Costello's third album Armed Forces at a moment of acute political and economic tension in the UK — high unemployment, the final stages of the Callaghan government, and the ongoing Troubles in Northern Ireland. Costello wrote the song in 1978 after visiting Belfast and witnessing young British soldiers on patrol. The song's lyrical critique…

Why it matters

A canonical text of British New Wave and post-punk pop, 'Oliver's Army' demonstrated that politically subversive content could be wrapped in euphoric, radio-friendly arrangements — a strategy that influenced the entire first wave of socially conscious UK indie pop. The video itself, directed by…

The director

Akron-born, Minneapolis-based filmmaker widely called 'the godfather of the music video.' Statler began his career as a visual artist and commercial producer, forming a creative partnership with DEVO co-founders Mark Mothersbaugh and Gerry Casale at Kent…