“Elvis Presley is the undisputed King of Rock and Roll. He rose from humble circumstances to launch the rock and roll revolution with his commanding voice and charismatic stage presence. In the words of the historical marker that stands outside the house where he was born: “Presley’s career as a singer and entertainer redefined popular music.”

http://www.rockhall.com/inductee/elvis-presley

I always wanted one of these suits…

http://www.elvis.com/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Krh0nrJHx1c&feature=related

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2bx-27hD5A&feature=PlayList&p=2A88C2230FA43A12&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=21

ADDENDUM: 

 James Brown – “Last time I saw him, we sang ‘Old Blind Barnabus’ together, a gospel song. I love him and hope to see him in heaven. There’ll never be another like that soul brother.” “Elvis and I are the only true American originals.”
 
 Little Richard – “Elvis was God-given. There’s no explanation. A messiah comes around every few thousand years, and Elvis was it this time.”
 
 Al Green – Elvis had an influence on everybody with his musical approach. He broke the ice for all of us.”
 
 John Lennon – “Nothing really affected me until I heard Elvis. If there hadn’t been an Elvis, there wouldn’t have been a Beatles.”
 
Bruce Springsteen – “Elvis is my religion. But for him, I’d be selling encyclopedias.”
Jackie Wilson – “A lot of people have accused Elvis of stealing the black man’s music, when in fact, almost every black solo entertainer copied his stage mannerisms from Elvis.”
Chuck Berry – “Describe Elvis Presley? He was the greatest who ever was, is, or will ever be.”

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javaz
Member

One of my favorite Elvis songs – and the mother cries – In the ghetto –

AdLib
Admin

Vox Populi begins in 5 minutes! See you there: http://planetpov.com/live-events/vox-populi/

Chernynkaya
Member

Can I just watch? I can’t type fast enough.

KQµårk 死神
Member

No you must participate. Just kidding it may be a little slower tonight. I don’t know think there are that many folks here tonight.

Chernynkaya
Member

I looked but can’t find it: Does anyone else remember a semi-ongoing SNL skit about Tiny Elvis? Apparently, Elvis was actually about 6″ tall and the entire skit was from the perspective of his overwrought staff. I thought it was so silly and funny.

SueInCa
Member

Happy Birthday to Elvis, although (and I will get flack for this) I was never truly a fan of his. I grew up with his music from my mom, dad, aunts and uncles listening to it and taking me to his movies, but I started getting in to music with the advent of the Beatles, The Temps, The Stones and until I got older never really had an appreciation for what Elvis did.

Now if you want me to recap my Candlestick Park attendance of the Beatles concert, I can do that.

kesmarn
Admin

Hi, Sue!
Scroll on down and you will find that you are not alone! 😮

We had a friendly debate on the merits of Elvis!

SueInCa
Member

hey Kes
Good, i am not in the minority, then.

Kalima
Admin

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELVIS!

He was my first real crush, well after a neighbourhood boy when I was 7 that is.

jan4insight
Guest

Elvis was my first big pop-star crush back in the day (yes, that dates me) and I still to this day think of him as the King.

Btw, I recently watched the wonderful indie film Bubba Ho-Tep (available from Netflix) which centers around the idea of the real Elvis quietly retired in a rest home in East Texas, who teams up with another oldster to save their friends from a marauding Egyptian mummy … I know, I know it sounds nuts, but it’s really heartfelt, moving, and funny – and imo a fine tribute to the King himself 🙂

javaz
Member

We saw that movie!
It was entertaining and I’m shocked that someone else actually saw that, let alone remembered the name!

jan4insight
Guest

Well, I just saw it a week ago! But I’ve wanted to see it for some time, so I’ve remembered the name for a while – after all, it was “about” Elvis, my first big rock-star crush 🙂

KQµårk 死神
Member

That’s better than having a crush on Pat Benatar.

Actually my first crush was on Thelma from Good Times.

javaz
Member

I’ve been told my first crush was Pat Boone!
I guess he had a variety show on TV and my mom used to tell me that if anyone changed the channel that I’d cry!
I have no idea how old I was and no idea why Pat Boone!
😆

bito
Member

Mine may have been “Karen” on the Micky mouse Club.
😆

kesmarn
Admin

I made a fool of myself over John Foster Dulles.

bito
Member

Before of after Bay of Pigs? 😉

kesmarn
Admin

b’ito, there is NO reference that you do not catch!! 😮

bito
Member

anything that happened yesterday (or within the last 15 minutes.) lol

SueInCa
Member

Mine was Paul McCartney

Pepe Lepew
Member

Speaking of Elvis, has anyone ever seen Jack White’s version of Elvis. I don’t know why, I think this is really funny.

KQµårk 死神
Member

😆

kesmarn
Admin

Something about the way he says: “Mill-yones and mill-yones…” LOL.

javaz
Member

There are a lot of entertainers that have led or lead vacuous lives.
Frank Sinatra wasn’t a boyscout and then there’s Jim Morrison who wasn’t exactly a nice person, besides his addictions.
Has anyone ever read Clapton! By Eric Clapton?
His life is disturbing and my husband and I agreed that we wished we’d never read his autobiography, because he was a very selfish man.
I don’t understand the star-worshipers either, but Marilyn Monroe and Michael Jackson provoke the same type of obsession as do others.

I don’t know, but I like listening to Elvis music at times, especially some of his gospel songs, just as I enjoy other stars that aren’t exactly deep thinkers or upstanding individuals.
I love Eric Clapton’s music and The Doors and we still blast Thriller every once in awhile.
Entertainers are people, too, with all the flaws, it’s just that they have a lot more money to indulge.

KQµårk 死神
Member

Like any other profession there are good and bad natured people. But you also can’t deny some professions favor some real selfish personality traits. I don’t think the talent end of the music industry is necessarily one of them.

javaz
Member

Hard to say.
A lot of very talented singers/entertainers, usually from poor backgrounds and messed up lives, come into fame and fortune so young.
They never have the chance to mature normally, whatever the definition of normal is, but instead they live in a bubble filled with luxury and excess.
Then again, a lot of famous people come from very wealthy backgrounds and messed up lives, and they never mature either – Paris Hilton, Miley Cyrus and Casey Johnson.
Somewhere there must be a psychological analysis of arrested development due to sudden wealth or wealth.

KQµårk 死神
Member

That’s true but I think about the true artists too like Alicia Keyes or even some rock guitarist who starts a band who train their whole lives in the arts and are really talented.

I do agree that manufactured performers, celebrities, are a different class. Also that childhood performers face more unique challenges in their lives but again look at people like Fred Savage who had really blossomed not so much in front of the camera but with producing and such.

In any profession especially at the top you are going to find people who have blind ambition and who are selfish. You could not imagine the egos and selfishness of many top scientists for example in industry or academia. It’s much more political than people realize.

kesmarn
Admin

j’avaz, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to come across as disapproving of people who do like Elvis. I totally respect people who do. I guess it’s one of those things like coffee vs tea. It doesn’t mean that one or the other is “better.” Just a difference in preferences.

And you’re right. He wasn’t exactly the first and only performer to live a somewhat self-destructive life. I guess there’s a part of me that feels a little sorry for a guy who seemed to be searching for something he never could quite nail down. There was so much potential there.

javaz
Member

I wasn’t insulted, kes!
I just think that maybe we all know a little too much about people’s personal lives.

Now, I must light all the candles on my Elvis shrine tonight for his b’day! 😎

kesmarn
Admin

Don’t forget the flowers and incense, J!

😉

KQµårk 死神
Member

Javaz you never have to defend you personal tastes with me. People like what they like and I never look down on people’s tastes. I’m sure there is music, art, movies whatever that I like that you would not.

None of us really knows any of these artists. We just know what we hear about them and occasionally from them.

KQµårk 死神
Member

Here’s a unique cover of an Elvis song.

bito
Member

I know I may be in the minority–again. Never liked him. But Happy Birthday, DEA Special Agent, Elvis.

Chernynkaya
Member

Here’s how much I didn’t care about him: My mom was married to (hmmm, that must have been her third husband) when I was 13 and he was a second unit director at MGM, where Elvis made a couple of movies. “Kissin’ Cousins” was the one that this guy worked on. I was invited to the set to meet Elvis and I passed. Now I wish I had gone to get some memorabilia, but back then, who knew?

kesmarn
Admin

I hear you both, Cher and b’ito. When I see him in films or even in still photos, I look into his eyes and see……vacancy….. I have a feeling that spending an evening with him would have been–well, disappointing is the kindest way I can put it–as far as conversation went.

There’s no denying he had a pleasant voice, but there were so many black performers who could have rocked him right off the stage. Had they been given the chance.

Chernynkaya
Member

Now that you mention it, Kes, you are right– blank eyes. Very astute. There was no ‘there’ there.

kesmarn
Admin

Good way to put it, Cher. I know it’s somewhat stating the obvious, but I think he was a very troubled man. I think he was probably happiest before celebrity struck. But once he became famous, he seemed lost. Had trouble even coming up with creative ways to spend all that money. I mean, how many cars can you buy before the thrill is gone?

javaz
Member

oops!
Looks like I’m in the minority for liking Elvis!
LOL
I liked his voice and in his younger days, I think he was quite handsome.
As for his personal life, well, I like his voice!

KQµårk 死神
Member

Nope I never liked him either. I understood his appeal a little but the people that obsess about him after his death I just don’t get.

But I thinks it a great way to start Planet Music night.

javaz
Member

Is today Elvis’s birthday?
No wonder the local channel is showing Elvis movies today!
Did you know that Charles Bronson was in an Elvis movie?
Kid Galahad! and it’s actually not a bad movie.

The last video of Elvis performing in leather and in front of a smaller audience was the very best concert, imho.
He was fit and trim and healthy and his voice was in good form.