Happy diamond birthday to the King of Rock & Roll...and rest in peace

[thatcrazycajun]

Today would have been Elvis Aaron Presley's 75th birthday, but for the enlarged heart and predilection toward Rx-drug abuse that combined to take him from us far too soon at his Memphis home in 1977, at the age of 42. Tributes and celebrations of all sorts are planned today and all year long by the Presley Estate and others, at his Graceland mansion and around the country. Even Cirque du Soleil is getting into the act with a special Elvis-themed show.

What's your favorite song, movie or performance by the man widely regarded as the single most consequential musical artist of modern times (with the possible exception of the now also late Michael Jackson)? Me being the demented musical soul I am, I'd have to go with his little-known "laughing version" of "Are You Lonesome Tonight?", in which Elvis guffaws and giggles his way through what's supposed to be a tender ballad of longing and even sings a parody lyric or two ("Do you gaze at your bald head and wish you had hair?"). Dr. Demento plays it on his show now and again, most often on the August 16th anniversary of Elvis' death.

Comments

[technoshaman.livejournal.com]

If I was a smart-alec wag I'd say "Let It Be" but since this is Elvis' day, I'll go with what you intended... The song that stands out most in my mind isn't one of his more popular ones, but I think it really demonstrates the full power of that incredible voice: "American Trilogy." He takes it from the quiet depths of his baritone at the end of Dixie to the fortissimo tenor improvisation of the Battle Hymn and makes it sound, if not easy, damn good. They used to play this for the finale at the Stone Mountain laser show, which is where I became a fan of it.... (He's also one of the few vocalists that can really do the Anacreontic Hymn justice... and most of those are female. Why us Yanks couldn't pick something *singable* for a national anthem... :)

You will be amused to know that Voodoo Donuts in Portland, who are *legendary* for their concoctions, have a creation they call the "Memphis Mafia". It's a banana fritter, filled with peanut butter and jelly, and topped with bacon. I'm told it's *quite* good. The legend of the King lives on, even here in the Pacific NorthWet.

(Y'all be careful getting to GaFilk, and have some scattered, smothered, and covered for me, y'hear?)

[mshollie.livejournal.com]

My favorite Elvis songs range from "That's All Right Mama" (early blues) to "Suspicious Minds" (his last number one). So, that's a lot of ground.

I tend to like the early Elvis, but I really do like "Suspicious Minds", and used that title for the season 1 finale of Northern Lights. Yes, the Elvis song inspired me.

BTW, his middle name is spelled "Aron".

[technoshaman.livejournal.com]

My good friend and musical companion (she somehow rejects the title "filker" though this will be her third ConFlikt out of three) annathepiper is a particular fan of "Suspicious Minds"...

One thing about it... most (not all - but most) good rock artists have a firm grounding in blues... Elvis, Mr. Cash, Mr. Daniels, the brothers Allman, Mr. Clapton... and our own s00j is a Delta blueswoman born and bred, not all *that* far from Tupelo.

*chuckles remembering the Computer Blues bit from Echo's Children, and then eeps at the time and hits *post**...

"Aron" vs. "Aaron"

[thatcrazycajun.livejournal.com]

Wikipedia says that Aaron was how Elvis spelled it, is what's on his grave and how the Estate says it's officially spelled, so I went with that. The middle name was after the Presleys' friend and fellow congregation member Aaron Kennedy; "Aron" is apparently a misconception arising out of the fact that his stillborn brother's name was Jesse Garon Presley.

[archiver-tim.livejournal.com]

Shucks, forget about getting fixin's for Fluffer Nutter Sandwiches. Peanut butter, marshmellow creme (not sold next to the peanut butter), bread. Sliced 'nanners optional.

Elvis did a real good job with 'In The Ghetto', a good song for it's time.

[technoshaman.livejournal.com]

Hee! I'll have to try this.

Elvis did a real good job with 'In The Ghetto', a good song for it's time

Fixed that for you.

[banjoplayinnerd.livejournal.com]

I too prefer the pre-Army Elvis.

In the same vein of the laughing version of "Are You Lonesome Tonight" is the released version of "All Shook Up." Not for what you can hear -- more about that in a second -- but for the hijinks that went on behind the microphone. According to the story I heard Elvis decided he was going to have some fun and while they were taping the song, did just about everything to make his backup singers laugh. Messing with their hair, making goofy faces, all while singing the song straight. They made it through the session intact right up until the last second, where if you listen closely, you can hear someone start to crack up. Just a little, but it's there.