I was not aware that Elvis died 36 years ago today…until a few minutes ago. He did. He’s still dead. Someone in USA Today, of all places, wrote a fairly humorous piece on what might have become of Elvis had he only nearly died that August day in 1977. We could do better, I’m sure, but this is not a laughing matter.
What’s the closest you got to Elvis? My Mom saw him in concert a couple of years before he died and caught a sweaty Elvis scarf. I’m sure she still has that packed away somewhere.
What do you think Elvis’ high and low points (post-1977) might have been had he lived into the 21st century, or even still been alive?
Our culture is always on the lookout for the “Next” whomever or whatever: The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Michael Jordan… Have we given up on identifying the Next Elvis Presley?
I look forward to your answers, including your answer to the question, “What’s your favorite Elvis Presley song?” I think mine is “Suspicious Minds.” Or maybe “Don’t Be Cruel.”
I’ll think on your questions, but I’m pretty sure Elvis was the guy that came back three days later, right? So he could pump gas in Michigan.
I’m actually going over my friend’s house tonght to have a BBQ dinner & watch some Elvis stuff. He’s a big fan & I went twice to Memphis w/him to do the Elvis thing (Jan 1996 & Aug 1997). It was rather interesting to go to Graceland & other places, including Humes High, where he went to school.
My fave rave Elvis songs including the following:
“Little Sister”
“(Marie’s The Name of) His Latest Flame”
“Patch It Up”
“(You’re So Square) Baby I Don’t Care”
“The Lady Loves Me” (duet w/Ann Margaret)
One interesting thing about Elvis is that Ray Davies actually submitted a song to be used in one of Elvis’ movies, which was rejected. They did share the same music publishers at the time.
Finally, as to what Elvis would have done if he had lived, I think that he would have been “born again” or had a similar religious experience. From reading about him, it seems to me that he was curious about spritual matters & also that his gospel material was probably more to his heart than the more commerical ones.
I’ve never been a huge Elvis fan, possibly because I had minimal exposure to him when I was growing up, and when I finally did catch up with him, I wasn’t really in to his look or his music. When I was a young teen, I had a close friend whose whole family was in to him, baked him an Elvis cake each birthday, and practically ululated when he died. I kind of enjoyed his cheesy movies, primarily because they were musicals and because they were cheesy. The young Elvis was also quite cute!
When asked to think of a favorite Elvis song, I can’t name very many, but do like “Suspicious Minds” as well, again, which I initially heard through cover versions.
I don’t know if we’ll ever have another Elvis, Jim, Michael, Beatles, etc, because I think that the “internet culture” and the quick availability of so many musical and visual choices means that kids/teens/adults will be able to compare and contrast to such a high degree that they won’t be interested in sticking with an artist for long. (I’m also starting to agree with some other old farts who believe that this constant stream of information does impact our attention spans, and consequently our ability to stay with one thing, let it be a musical artist, movie, project, blah blah blah, for very long.)
I think my favorite song is “Clambake,” especially if you take it out of the context of the film, because then it becomes extra silly.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ACqmG9dBjI
And “Peace in the Valley”
aloha
LD
I was on a HUGE Elvis kick for about two years (when I played in a Rockabilly band) and like most artists with a huge catalog, there are many low points and many high points. Elvis 56 is the best early stuff (I know I did not say SUN era). The RCA stuff he first did is the best IMO. I love his version of Bridge Over Troubled Water.
Little Sister, Viva Las Vegas, TROUBLE have amazing swagger for later era stuff. Suspicious Minds is his masterpiece.
My favorite Elvis is the 1995 comeback special Elvis, Elvis MTV Unplugged
Play Guitar – John Melencamp
Cat Scratch Fever – Nuge
Heart Of Glass – Blondie
Black Dog – LZ
Yankee Rose – DLR
Wicked Game – Chris Isaak
I’m On Fire – Springsteen
The Fly – U2
Graceland – Paul Simon (of course this song would not exist if he was alive, but oh well!)
Walking In Memphis
Over The Rainbow – IZ version
Elvis roolz.
Can’t agree with ’56 > Sun.
Baby Let’s Play House and Good Rockin’ Tonight are among the best performances of anything ever.
What’s the closest you got to Elvis?
I went to Graceland in the late 80s and actually saw one of Big E’s great-aunts or something being wheeled around the garden in a wheelchair. She was evidently the last of Elvis’ blood relatives to live in the house.
What do you think Elvis’ high and low points (post-1977) might have been had he lived into the 21st century, or even still been alive?
HIgh: I can see Elvis calling bullshit on the Tea Party, on the basis of America being the kind of place where “sometimes a brother just needs a helping hand.”
Low: I can see Elvis not calling bullshit on the NRA.
Our culture is always on the lookout for the “Next” whomever or whatever: The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Michael Jordan… Have we given up on identifying the Next Elvis Presley?
Yes. A more interesting question might be: what’s the *closest* we’ve gotten to a new Elvis since 1977? All I know is, it ain’t Michael Jackson or Justin Bieber.
I look forward to your answers, including your answer to the question, “What’s your favorite Elvis Presley song?”
For me, that’s like asking what my favorite Beatles or Kinks song is. I’ll give you the first favorite that pops into my mind: the uncensored version of “One Night (of Sin).” Smokin’! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBoL3FvqyIM
Nice 1995 comeback special!