COOL‘ CAT’
Elvis Costello’s feline fine as voice in Amazon kids’ special
ELVIS Costello is taking his cool-cat status to the next level. The Grammy-winning singer gives voice to a laid-back animated feline in the Amazon Prime Video kids’ special “Pete the Cat: A Groovy New Year.” The show — based on children’s books by James and Kimberly Dean — follows a blue cat named Pete (voiced by Jacob Tremblay), who dashes around on a red skateboard as he frets about coming up with New Year’s resolutions. His parents (Costello and his wife, singer Diana Krall) and friends try to pump him up with words of encouragement and catchy tunes. Costello also sings the theme music in his familiar drawl, and both he and Krall perform other songs in the special. (Amazon will debut a full “Pete the Cat” series in 2018.)
Costello, 63, recently spoke to The Post by phone from Vancouver, where he and Krall live with their 11-year-old sons, Dexter and Frank.
How did you come up with your character’s upbeat voice?
I went into the studio and started speaking in this extraordinary voice and nobody said stop. He couldn’t sound like me; he had to sound like some dad in my imagination. And I had a bit of a head cold when I did the first [episode]. I thought, “I may never be able to find this voice again.” Then I’d really be in trouble.
Have you enjoyed it?
It’s fun because with a face like mine, it’s always good to be on radio, you know? I’ve done bits and pieces of acting, mostly man in a hat with glasses in the back of some scene, some vague version of myself. But not many things that have really called on my thespian talents.
Do you have a favorite past role?
I guested on “Sesame Street” — my wife did it 10 years before me at the beginning of her career — and it’s one of my favorite things I’ve ever done. Just not to take yourself so seriously, you know? My young lads were very little then and came with me to the studio. These things are a world of wonder, and that’s what they should be.
Are youyou anan animation fan?
I can’t tell you very much about “La La Land” or “Mother!” but I can tell you all about animated films because if you have young boys, that’s what you see. There’s some real works of art. I’d put a couple of films up there with “Citizen Kane” or “It’s a Wonderful Life.” “ParaNorman” — I’d put that up against any movie made with real actors.
Does “Pete the Cat” up your cool factor with your sons?
They’re a tough crowd. They’re 11, so they should be! They hold everybody to a higher count.