29:
498:"Costello in 1992, talking about how much he annoyed The Attractions when making Blood & Chocolate, and Bruce Thomas talking about how much he disliked the song "I Want You." (These interviews were prior to The Attractions 90s reunion, when the band was split up & estranged.)"
271:
later expressed his dislike for the song, commenting, "Elvis was trying really hard to do the psychopath in 'I Want You' and all that. It's things like that that really annoy me. He loves all that stuff! That 'fingernail scratching down the wall' and 'I want youuuu' ... this sort of
276:
job. I'll give you the address of a good analyst! That's not soul-bearing or honest, it's just neurotic. I find it incredibly neurotic and tension-inducing, which he'd say is entirely the point, but I thought, well that's not the point of self-expression at the end of the day."
246:
The dark lyrics describe a tormented romantic relationship. The narrator recounts the details of his partner's infidelities, while repeatedly declaring "I want you" after each line. The music is taken at a slow,
471:
339:
named the song one of
Costello's top 10 best, saying, "The lyrics and music together are intimately intense, like someone breathing down your own neck, making you shudder, but the melody is irresistible too."
680:
264:
Due to its "bitter" lyrics, Costello commented, "That just that song is used as opening dance in weddings ... I humbly bow my head, and can only wish those people a safe journey."
261:, so no apologies for the lack of fidelity. None are needed, it's just a pornographic snapshot; lots of broken glass, a squashed box of chocolates and a little blood on the wall."
1218:
1336:
735:
1773:
1649:
290:
65:
1176:
1815:
1254:
1183:
1123:
1449:
958:
367:
said of the performance, " metabolizes every molecule of the song’s poisoned atmosphere." Costello also collaborated with hip hop band
293:", another song from the album. The single was a moderate success on the UK charts, peaking at number 79 over a chart stay of 2 weeks.
1695:
251:-like tempo; towards the conclusion Costello offers a brief guitar solo that repeats two dissonant notes. In his album notes for the
1810:
1204:
1190:
810:
253:
1519:
1752:
616:
576:
1393:
1766:
1358:
1293:
1279:
1261:
709:
257:
compilation album, Costello wrote that "he sound of this track was always going to be the aural equivalent of a blurred
1307:
923:
171:
40:
1386:
445:
552:"Blood & Chocolate - Elvis Costello,Elvis Costello & the Attractions | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards"
1586:
1505:
1314:
522:
1727:
1240:
1407:
1300:
1070:
1805:
1734:
1579:
1498:
1035:
979:
930:
803:
1558:
1321:
830:
1428:
1400:
333:
called the track "an epic testament to jealousy over a former lover’s new partner". Jeremy Allen of
1702:
1674:
1526:
1477:
1049:
400:
1014:
796:
547:
296:
234:
Featuring lyrics about an obsessive romance, "I Want You" was released as the second single from
497:
1435:
1151:
360:
1800:
1642:
1572:
1351:
877:
848:
551:
1607:
1372:
1365:
1056:
972:
916:
909:
383:
227:
49:
303:
described it as " the nastiest songs he has ever recorded, both lyrically and musically".
8:
1795:
1720:
1635:
1621:
1540:
1144:
1137:
1021:
342:
375:
said that the song "is pretty much the soundtrack to every relationship I've ever had".
1681:
1614:
1491:
993:
986:
771:
585:
1533:
759:
652:
388:
58:
590:
238:. It has since been positively received by critics and covered by multiple artists.
1759:
1628:
1600:
1344:
1197:
1169:
1105:
1063:
1028:
944:
647:
643:
324:
305:
1656:
1593:
1470:
1421:
1414:
1379:
1077:
965:
951:
864:
621:
319:
273:
222:
149:
1565:
1512:
1232:
1130:
902:
855:
819:
359:
covered the song, accompanied by Elvis
Costello, as a VH1 tribute to Costello.
218:
101:
36:
28:
1789:
1688:
1286:
1225:
1098:
1084:
1007:
329:
258:
1000:
884:
572:
335:
268:
124:
1442:
1328:
1247:
937:
870:
841:
396:
379:
356:
129:
96:
1211:
1484:
1463:
198:
137:
372:
368:
158:
1091:
1042:
736:"Elvis Costello & the Roots: Questlove's Pipe Dream Isn't Over"
612:
472:"'I want You' van Elvis Costello: nooit deed de liefde zoveel pijn"
314:
300:
788:
772:"Under The Covers CD | Rustblade – Label and Distribution"
248:
1219:
The Very Best of Elvis
Costello and The Attractions 1977–86
703:
701:
698:
546:
327:
called the song one of the two strongest on the album.
1337:(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding
681:"Unlucky in Love: 13 Songs for Valentine's Day Haters"
347:
s Martin
Chilton named the song Costello's 35th best.
674:
672:
670:
617:"The Sounds Of Elvis, From San Francisco And Beyond"
285:"I Want You" was released as the second single from
1774:Bespoke Songs, Lost Dogs, Detours & Rendezvous
667:
489:
439:
437:
435:
16:1986 single by Elvis Costello and the Attractions
1787:
417:
432:
382:released a cover of the song recorded with the
1255:The Best of Elvis Costello: The First 10 Years
1184:The Best of Elvis Costello and the Attractions
403:released a version of the song on their album
371:to perform a version of "I Want You" in 2013;
1177:Ten Bloody Marys & Ten How's Your Fathers
804:
309:named the song as one of the key tracks from
289:in 1986, backed with an acoustic version of "
811:
797:
27:
1696:Lost on the River: The New Basement Tapes
727:
642:
636:
515:
463:
280:
1753:Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink
678:
1788:
523:"Elvis Costello & the Attractions"
469:
1816:Song recordings produced by Nick Lowe
1262:The Songs of Bacharach & Costello
792:
733:
1294:(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes
571:
495:
423:
225:. It was released on his 1986 album
679:Edwards, Gavin (14 February 2014).
611:
443:
221:and recorded with his backing band
13:
818:
323:described the song as "riveting".
172:Elvis Costello and the Attractions
41:Elvis Costello and the Attractions
14:
1827:
1767:Now Ain't the Time for Your Tears
1359:I Can't Stand Up for Falling Down
707:
350:
710:"Elvis Costello: 10 of the best"
446:"Elvis Costello's 40 best songs"
1811:Songs written by Elvis Costello
1308:(I Don't Want to Go to) Chelsea
1241:The Very Best of Elvis Costello
1071:Secret, Profane & Sugarcane
764:
753:
734:Rosen, Craig (3 October 2013).
1745:Other works / related articles
1506:The Other End of the Telescope
605:
565:
540:
1:
1450:Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood
410:
241:
648:"Christgau's Consumer Guide"
7:
1559:Welcome to the Working Week
428:. Brentford: Demon Records.
386:for his second solo album,
10:
1832:
1387:From a Whisper to a Scream
1744:
1712:
1675:Terror & Magnificence
1666:
1550:
1499:London's Brilliant Parade
1429:Everyday I Write the Book
1401:A Good Year for the Roses
1271:
1161:
1115:
894:
826:
178:
170:
147:
135:
123:
107:
95:
87:
72:
56:
46:
35:
26:
21:
1703:The Resurrection of Rust
1478:The Other Side of Summer
1650:I Hope You're Happy Now
1301:Watching the Detectives
1015:All This Useless Beauty
548:Stephen Thomas Erlewine
297:Stephen Thomas Erlewine
291:I Hope You're Happy Now
217:" is a song written by
66:I Hope You're Happy Now
1436:The Only Flame in Town
1152:Live at Hollywood High
1124:Live at the El Mocambo
183:"Tokyo Storm Warning"
1580:Stranger in the House
1352:Accidents Will Happen
973:Blood & Chocolate
579:Blood & Chocolate
281:Release and reception
228:Blood & Chocolate
50:Blood & Chocolate
1806:Elvis Costello songs
1138:Costello & Nieve
1057:The River in Reverse
740:Yahoo! Entertainment
470:Van assche, Gunter.
384:Art of Time Ensemble
267:Attractions bassist
1735:A Face in the Crowd
1636:Jack of All Parades
1541:Complicated Shadows
1145:My Flame Burns Blue
1022:Painted from Memory
959:Goodbye Cruel World
450:The Daily Telegraph
343:The Daily Telegraph
311:Blood and Chocolate
287:Blood and Chocolate
236:Blood and Chocolate
1682:The Sweetest Punch
1492:13 Steps Lead Down
994:The Juliet Letters
987:Mighty Like a Rose
593:on 4 February 2005
496:Ratcliff, Connor.
426:Girls Girls Girls
313:to download while
174:singles chronology
1783:
1782:
1534:Brilliant Mistake
1205:Girls Girls Girls
910:This Year's Model
760:A Singer Must Die
653:The Village Voice
646:(31 March 1987).
644:Christgau, Robert
577:"Elvis Costello:
444:Chilton, Martin.
424:Costello, Elvis.
389:A Singer Must Die
254:Girls Girls Girls
211:
210:
207:
206:
1823:
1760:Live Stiffs Live
1629:Indoor Fireworks
1601:New Lace Sleeves
1339:
1322:This Year's Girl
1198:Out of Our Idiot
1170:Taking Liberties
1106:The Boy Named If
1050:The Delivery Man
1029:When I Was Cruel
945:Imperial Bedroom
813:
806:
799:
790:
789:
783:
782:
780:
779:
768:
762:
757:
751:
750:
748:
746:
731:
725:
724:
722:
720:
705:
696:
695:
693:
691:
676:
665:
664:
662:
660:
640:
634:
633:
631:
629:
609:
603:
602:
600:
598:
589:. Archived from
569:
563:
562:
560:
559:
544:
538:
537:
535:
533:
519:
513:
512:
510:
508:
493:
487:
486:
484:
482:
467:
461:
460:
458:
456:
441:
430:
429:
421:
405:Under the Covers
325:Robert Christgau
306:Blender Magazine
180:
179:
152:
140:
119:
118:
114:
83:
81:
61:
31:
19:
18:
1831:
1830:
1826:
1825:
1824:
1822:
1821:
1820:
1786:
1785:
1784:
1779:
1740:
1728:Jake's Progress
1708:
1662:
1657:Next Time Round
1546:
1422:Man Out of Time
1415:You Little Fool
1394:Watch Your Step
1335:
1267:
1157:
1111:
1078:National Ransom
966:King of America
952:Punch the Clock
890:
865:The Attractions
822:
817:
787:
786:
777:
775:
770:
769:
765:
758:
754:
744:
742:
732:
728:
718:
716:
708:Allen, Jeremy.
706:
699:
689:
687:
677:
668:
658:
656:
641:
637:
627:
625:
622:Chicago Tribune
615:(2 June 1991).
610:
606:
596:
594:
570:
566:
557:
555:
545:
541:
531:
529:
527:Official Charts
521:
520:
516:
506:
504:
494:
490:
480:
478:
468:
464:
454:
452:
442:
433:
422:
418:
413:
353:
320:Chicago Tribune
283:
244:
223:the Attractions
202:
193:
184:
166:
148:
136:
116:
112:
111:
79:
77:
57:
47:from the album
17:
12:
11:
5:
1829:
1819:
1818:
1813:
1808:
1803:
1798:
1781:
1780:
1778:
1777:
1770:
1763:
1756:
1748:
1746:
1742:
1741:
1739:
1738:
1731:
1724:
1716:
1714:
1710:
1709:
1707:
1706:
1699:
1692:
1685:
1678:
1670:
1668:
1667:Collaborations
1664:
1663:
1661:
1660:
1653:
1646:
1643:Suit of Lights
1639:
1632:
1625:
1618:
1611:
1604:
1597:
1590:
1583:
1576:
1573:Senior Service
1569:
1566:Lipstick Vogue
1562:
1554:
1552:
1548:
1547:
1545:
1544:
1537:
1530:
1523:
1516:
1513:You Bowed Down
1509:
1502:
1495:
1488:
1481:
1474:
1467:
1460:
1453:
1446:
1439:
1432:
1425:
1418:
1411:
1404:
1397:
1390:
1383:
1376:
1369:
1362:
1355:
1348:
1341:
1332:
1325:
1318:
1311:
1304:
1297:
1290:
1283:
1280:Less Than Zero
1275:
1273:
1269:
1268:
1266:
1265:
1258:
1251:
1244:
1237:
1233:Costello Album
1229:
1222:
1215:
1208:
1201:
1194:
1187:
1180:
1173:
1165:
1163:
1159:
1158:
1156:
1155:
1148:
1141:
1134:
1131:Deep Dead Blue
1127:
1119:
1117:
1113:
1112:
1110:
1109:
1102:
1095:
1088:
1081:
1074:
1067:
1060:
1053:
1046:
1039:
1032:
1025:
1018:
1011:
1004:
997:
990:
983:
976:
969:
962:
955:
948:
941:
934:
927:
920:
913:
906:
903:My Aim Is True
898:
896:
892:
891:
889:
888:
881:
874:
860:
859:
856:Davey Faragher
852:
845:
838:The Imposters:
834:
833:
827:
824:
823:
820:Elvis Costello
816:
815:
808:
801:
793:
785:
784:
763:
752:
726:
697:
666:
635:
604:
575:(March 2005).
564:
550:(1995-07-21).
539:
514:
488:
462:
431:
415:
414:
412:
409:
352:
351:Other versions
349:
282:
279:
243:
240:
219:Elvis Costello
209:
208:
205:
204:
195:
186:
176:
175:
168:
167:
165:
164:
161:
155:
153:
145:
144:
143:Elvis Costello
141:
133:
132:
127:
121:
120:
109:
105:
104:
99:
93:
92:
91:March–May 1986
89:
85:
84:
74:
70:
69:
62:
54:
53:
44:
43:
33:
32:
24:
23:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1828:
1817:
1814:
1812:
1809:
1807:
1804:
1802:
1799:
1797:
1794:
1793:
1791:
1776:
1775:
1771:
1769:
1768:
1764:
1762:
1761:
1757:
1755:
1754:
1750:
1749:
1747:
1743:
1737:
1736:
1732:
1730:
1729:
1725:
1723:
1722:
1718:
1717:
1715:
1711:
1705:
1704:
1700:
1698:
1697:
1693:
1691:
1690:
1689:For the Stars
1686:
1684:
1683:
1679:
1677:
1676:
1672:
1671:
1669:
1665:
1658:
1654:
1651:
1647:
1644:
1640:
1637:
1633:
1630:
1626:
1623:
1619:
1616:
1612:
1609:
1608:Beyond Belief
1605:
1602:
1598:
1595:
1591:
1588:
1584:
1581:
1577:
1574:
1570:
1567:
1563:
1560:
1556:
1555:
1553:
1549:
1542:
1538:
1535:
1531:
1528:
1524:
1521:
1517:
1514:
1510:
1507:
1503:
1500:
1496:
1493:
1489:
1486:
1482:
1479:
1475:
1472:
1468:
1465:
1461:
1458:
1454:
1451:
1447:
1444:
1440:
1437:
1433:
1430:
1426:
1423:
1419:
1416:
1412:
1409:
1405:
1402:
1398:
1395:
1391:
1388:
1384:
1381:
1377:
1374:
1373:New Amsterdam
1370:
1367:
1366:High Fidelity
1363:
1360:
1356:
1353:
1349:
1346:
1345:Oliver's Army
1342:
1338:
1333:
1330:
1326:
1323:
1319:
1316:
1312:
1309:
1305:
1302:
1298:
1295:
1291:
1288:
1284:
1281:
1277:
1276:
1274:
1270:
1264:
1263:
1259:
1257:
1256:
1252:
1250:
1249:
1245:
1243:
1242:
1238:
1235:
1234:
1230:
1228:
1227:
1226:Extreme Honey
1223:
1221:
1220:
1216:
1214:
1213:
1209:
1207:
1206:
1202:
1200:
1199:
1195:
1193:
1192:
1188:
1186:
1185:
1181:
1179:
1178:
1174:
1172:
1171:
1167:
1166:
1164:
1160:
1154:
1153:
1149:
1147:
1146:
1142:
1140:
1139:
1135:
1133:
1132:
1128:
1126:
1125:
1121:
1120:
1118:
1114:
1108:
1107:
1103:
1101:
1100:
1099:Hey Clockface
1096:
1094:
1093:
1089:
1087:
1086:
1085:Wise Up Ghost
1082:
1080:
1079:
1075:
1073:
1072:
1068:
1066:
1065:
1061:
1059:
1058:
1054:
1052:
1051:
1047:
1045:
1044:
1040:
1038:
1037:
1033:
1031:
1030:
1026:
1024:
1023:
1019:
1017:
1016:
1012:
1010:
1009:
1008:Kojak Variety
1005:
1003:
1002:
998:
996:
995:
991:
989:
988:
984:
982:
981:
977:
975:
974:
970:
968:
967:
963:
961:
960:
956:
954:
953:
949:
947:
946:
942:
940:
939:
935:
933:
932:
928:
926:
925:
921:
919:
918:
914:
912:
911:
907:
905:
904:
900:
899:
897:
895:Studio albums
893:
887:
886:
882:
880:
879:
875:
873:
872:
868:
866:
862:
861:
858:
857:
853:
851:
850:
846:
844:
843:
839:
836:
835:
832:
829:
828:
825:
821:
814:
809:
807:
802:
800:
795:
794:
791:
773:
767:
761:
756:
741:
737:
730:
715:
711:
704:
702:
686:
685:Rolling Stone
682:
675:
673:
671:
655:
654:
649:
645:
639:
624:
623:
618:
614:
608:
592:
588:
587:
582:
580:
574:
573:Wolk, Douglas
568:
553:
549:
543:
528:
524:
518:
503:
499:
492:
477:
473:
466:
451:
447:
440:
438:
436:
427:
420:
416:
408:
406:
402:
401:Cypress Grove
398:
393:
391:
390:
385:
381:
376:
374:
370:
366:
365:Rolling Stone
362:
361:Gavin Edwards
358:
348:
346:
344:
338:
337:
332:
331:
330:Rolling Stone
326:
322:
321:
316:
312:
308:
307:
302:
298:
294:
292:
288:
278:
275:
270:
265:
262:
260:
256:
255:
250:
239:
237:
232:
230:
229:
224:
220:
216:
200:
196:
191:
187:
182:
181:
177:
173:
169:
163:Colin Fairley
162:
160:
157:
156:
154:
151:
146:
142:
139:
138:Songwriter(s)
134:
131:
128:
126:
122:
110:
106:
103:
100:
98:
94:
90:
86:
80:November 1986
76:November 1986
75:
71:
67:
63:
60:
55:
52:
51:
45:
42:
38:
34:
30:
25:
20:
1801:1986 singles
1772:
1765:
1758:
1751:
1733:
1726:
1719:
1701:
1694:
1687:
1680:
1673:
1622:Shipbuilding
1456:
1408:Sweet Dreams
1260:
1253:
1246:
1239:
1231:
1224:
1217:
1210:
1203:
1196:
1189:
1182:
1175:
1168:
1162:Compilations
1150:
1143:
1136:
1129:
1122:
1104:
1097:
1090:
1083:
1076:
1069:
1062:
1055:
1048:
1041:
1034:
1027:
1020:
1013:
1006:
1001:Brutal Youth
999:
992:
985:
978:
971:
964:
957:
950:
943:
936:
929:
922:
917:Armed Forces
915:
908:
901:
885:Bruce Thomas
883:
876:
869:
863:
854:
847:
840:
837:
776:. Retrieved
766:
755:
743:. Retrieved
739:
729:
717:. Retrieved
714:The Guardian
713:
688:. Retrieved
684:
657:. Retrieved
651:
638:
626:. Retrieved
620:
607:
595:. Retrieved
591:the original
584:
578:
567:
556:. Retrieved
542:
530:. Retrieved
526:
517:
505:. Retrieved
501:
491:
479:. Retrieved
475:
465:
453:. Retrieved
449:
425:
419:
404:
394:
387:
377:
364:
354:
341:
336:The Guardian
334:
328:
318:
310:
304:
295:
286:
284:
274:Tony Perkins
269:Bruce Thomas
266:
263:
252:
245:
235:
233:
226:
214:
212:
189:
48:
22:"I Want You"
1615:Almost Blue
1551:Other songs
1443:Green Shirt
1329:Radio Radio
1248:Cruel Smile
1116:Live albums
938:Almost Blue
924:Get Happy!!
878:Pete Thomas
871:Steve Nieve
849:Pete Thomas
842:Steve Nieve
831:Discography
774:. Rustblade
745:24 February
719:17 February
690:17 February
532:17 February
481:17 February
455:27 February
397:Lydia Lunch
380:Steven Page
357:Fiona Apple
150:Producer(s)
1796:1986 songs
1790:Categories
1587:Girls Talk
1485:Sulky Girl
1464:Blue Chair
1457:I Want You
1315:Pump It Up
778:2017-06-23
628:7 December
558:2014-05-09
554:. AllMusic
507:7 February
411:References
242:Background
215:I Want You
199:Blue Chair
190:I Want You
1236:(bootleg)
613:Kot, Greg
476:De Morgen
395:In 2017,
378:In 2010,
373:Questlove
369:the Roots
355:In 2006,
159:Nick Lowe
1594:Riot Act
1471:Veronica
1380:Clubland
1212:2½ Years
1092:Look Now
1064:Momofuku
1043:Il Sogno
315:Greg Kot
301:AllMusic
259:polaroid
102:New wave
88:Recorded
73:Released
1272:Singles
1191:The Man
659:16 June
597:16 June
586:Blender
502:Twitter
317:of the
203:(1987)
194:(1986)
185:(1986)
78: (
1721:G.B.H.
1713:Scores
1287:Alison
108:Length
59:B-side
37:Single
1036:North
980:Spike
931:Trust
249:dirge
125:Label
97:Genre
747:2019
721:2019
692:2019
661:2016
630:2015
599:2016
534:2019
509:2022
483:2019
457:2019
399:and
1520:She
363:of
299:of
130:Imp
39:by
1792::
1527:45
738:.
712:.
700:^
683:.
669:^
650:.
619:.
583:.
525:.
500:.
474:.
448:.
434:^
407:.
392:.
231:.
201:"
192:"
117:45
1659:"
1655:"
1652:"
1648:"
1645:"
1641:"
1638:"
1634:"
1631:"
1627:"
1624:"
1620:"
1617:"
1613:"
1610:"
1606:"
1603:"
1599:"
1596:"
1592:"
1589:"
1585:"
1582:"
1578:"
1575:"
1571:"
1568:"
1564:"
1561:"
1557:"
1543:"
1539:"
1536:"
1532:"
1529:"
1525:"
1522:"
1518:"
1515:"
1511:"
1508:"
1504:"
1501:"
1497:"
1494:"
1490:"
1487:"
1483:"
1480:"
1476:"
1473:"
1469:"
1466:"
1462:"
1459:"
1455:"
1452:"
1448:"
1445:"
1441:"
1438:"
1434:"
1431:"
1427:"
1424:"
1420:"
1417:"
1413:"
1410:"
1406:"
1403:"
1399:"
1396:"
1392:"
1389:"
1385:"
1382:"
1378:"
1375:"
1371:"
1368:"
1364:"
1361:"
1357:"
1354:"
1350:"
1347:"
1343:"
1340:"
1334:"
1331:"
1327:"
1324:"
1320:"
1317:"
1313:"
1310:"
1306:"
1303:"
1299:"
1296:"
1292:"
1289:"
1285:"
1282:"
1278:"
867::
812:e
805:t
798:v
781:.
749:.
723:.
694:.
663:.
632:.
601:.
581:"
561:.
536:.
511:.
485:.
459:.
345:'
213:"
197:"
188:"
115::
113:6
82:)
68:"
64:"
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.