In the song "Accidents will Happen".Costello sings "There's so many fish in the sea,that only rise up in the sweat and smoke like Mercury".I've often wondered if this was Costello's way of saying that the older theatrical bands like Queen and especially Freddie's performance oriented stage presence were like"so many fish in the sea as compared to,the New Wave style of Musicians that were much less theatrical.Just something that I've thought about for many years.
Well, I wouldn't say I'm the leading authority on Costello, but considering my next book is tentatively titled Between Wisdom & Murder: An Elvis Costello Reference Guide*, I feel that I can say ... probably not. 'Accidents Will Happen' was written mostly about his personal life at the time, much like most of Elvis's stuff. He rarely, if ever, took potshots at "older" bands in song.
* Look for Between Wisdom & Murder: An Elvis Costello Reference Guide in fine bookstores everywhere, as soon as I finish it and get it published.