Elvis Costello with Burt Bacharach

The Profile

Elvis Costello (UK singer-songwriter) and Burt Bacharach (US composer) collaborated on the 1996 song God Give Me Strength and the 1998 album Painted from Memory, blending Costello’s incisive vocals and lyrics with Bacharach’s refined, orchestral pop arrangements.

The duo co-wrote God Give Me Strength for the film Grace of My Heart (1996) and released Painted from Memory (1998), featuring tracks such as In the Darkest Place, Toledo, Such Unlikely Lovers, and The Sweetest Punch.

A thoughtful, enthusiastic take on the Costello–Bacharach collaboration, focusing on Painted from Memory. The review highlights themes of memory, light and shadow, and emotional balance. It praises Bacharach’s refined arrangements and Costello’s incisive vocals and lyrics. Key tracks cited include In the Darkest Place, Toledo, Such Unlikely Lovers, The Sweetest Punch, and the earlier co-write God Give Me Strength.