Today is the anniversary of Elvis Presley's death. We would be amiss if we didnt give a shout out to 'The King'.
We all have an image of the man, the black leather rocker, the sweaty jumpsuit wearer, but what we all must agree on is that Elvis had that 'it' factor. How can some hillbilly boy change the world forever with a voice and a shaky leg? Could it happen now? No way in hell.
We are now far to blinded with too many options with far too much stimulation to be able to stop and hear things as truly unique. We as writers compare bands to others all the time, Nothing's new.
I'm a great Elvis fan and having spent some hard time in Memphis can say that tribute week is one of the weirdest things you will ever see. Every age, every size every country represented as they walk up the driveway of Presleys former home Graceland to pay their tribute. It's a huge event, an annual pilgrimage that doesn't lose its stream. Considering the demographic you'd think the crowds would thin based only on the age of the fan, but thats the magic. The renewable resource, better than wind power. Every day there is some kid with an iPod that stumbles upon the 'coolest thing ever' and spreads it around and that, my friends, is how the Elvis legend lives.
Really there is nothing to compare to this, not even the so called, "King of Pop", Michael Jackson will have the longevity that Mr Friend Banana Sandwich has. I can find elements of his career to love from the corny films to the cape flinging drug hazed sweat puddle he became.
He has been parodied, he is a Halloween costume, kids mimic his dances, comedians steal his lines, musicians credit him as inspiration, women keep giving birth to his kids and hes been dead for decades. He has pumped gas, post mortem, and resembles a potato now enclosed in a glass case in Lincoln Nebraska. He haunts the Grand Ol' Opry and he watches over all good children…he is not,nor was he ever, really just human.
Thirty four years ago today Elvis died in the bathroom- there's more urban legend about this guys bathroom than I care to go into. Hes on black velvet, he hangs out with Hendrix….
He cant be missed cuz he can't be forgotten. As the crowd goes up his driveway like a sick glowing band of zombie trick or treaters- let's throw open the door for rocking Presley playlist
1- "Baby Lets Play House"- PERVERT! He doesn't want the remote and a pipe- he wants to toss the sheets. This song sizzles
2- "Bossa Nova Baby", this thing has a better beat than house music- if you can sit stillt through it, you're a corpse
3- "Stuck On You" shakeah shakah sugar…. I should really sing this more often, cuz I feel it.
4- "You're So Square (Baby I Don't Care)… best. song. ever.
5- "I Love You Because", I can whistle this like a beast. I love this twangy hayseed tune
6- "Tryin' To Get To You", this song is passion in a pluck. 'Yowzaaaaa, this should be my theme song.
7- "I Want You, I Need You, I Love You", should be the closing to every conversation with your sweetheart EVERY time.
8- "A Little Less Conversation"- dropum
9- "Sweet Caroline"- This song cool by Neil but sizzles with Presley, and its for the Red Sox….ha!
10 "Follow That Dream" nothing cooler than the 'keepit movin' in the intro!
Rest In Peace E, and thank you……….thankyouverymuch.