Thursday, August 16, 2007

Elvis's big "30"...

...as in 30 years since he tapped out.

I always like the early -- that is, pre-Las Vegas/pre-drugs Elvis. I mean, the guy rocked when he was young.

I'll even forgive him this...



You have to wonder if Nixon had the slightest idea who Elvis Presley was. I'm sure RMN was hip to Lawrence Welk, anyway.

PARENTHETICAL SHAKING-OF-HEAD NOTE: Did I just use the word "hip" in the same sentence with "Nixon?"

It's said that Elvis is the second-most financially successful Dead Celebrity. His estate pulls in something like $40 million a year, counting licensing deals and ticket-and-trinket sales at Graceland.

The richest Defunct Star is somebody called Kurt Cobain. All I know about him is that he probably should not have owned a shotgun....

Of course the jury is out as to whether Elvis is really room temperature yet. You can go here to see where he's been lately.

None of this matters. I liked Elvis when I was young. I liked his music, even liked his dumb movies.

And I'm sorry he fell prey to the abusive behavior that has claimed too many performers.

But imagine what a void would have existed if there had been no Elvis. Thousands of Japanese dudes wouldn't be wandering around in white-and-gold leisure suits and pompadour wigs karaoke-ing it up to "Heartbreak Hotel"....

12 comments:

SAREJESS said...

Great artist are always so tormented one hopes the King has found the peace which he missed so much in life.

Anonymous said...

Elvis just happens to be singing in the background of our evening...on PBS.

paulafrances said...

I think his posthumous success is due to Priscilla's grasp of capitalism.....

?????????

John0 Juanderlust said...

Judging from the sitings, it sounds like he's traipsing around South Africa. That stands to reason. I figured he'd be too cool to die in the bathroom. It is one of those stories no one wants to question too closely and a little joke on the world.
Also, I can empathize with him. He must have been dying to get out of Memphis once he saw the rest of the world.

John0 Juanderlust said...

sightings

John0 Juanderlust said...

Nixon was actually a nice guy in person, and quite a boozer out on the boat with Bebe

MrScribbler said...

But everyone seems convinced Col. Parker is definitely defunct....

Anonymous said...

I love Elvis. I watched the special that Scott is watching..it sure brought back memories. No one had the magic that Elvis had..IMO.

Anonymous said...

No kidding? Kurt Cobain brings in more than Elvis? Say it ain't so.

MrScribbler said...

It is indeed so, Joan.

Anonymous said...

I'm so happy someone else admitted to liking those cheesy Elvis flicks. You're my hero.

MrScribbler said...

sugar -- they were dumb, but the guy sang, and that was worth it.

Besides, there was a dark-haired chick in one of 'em (could have been Jailhouse Rock) who was weird-looking, but kinda hot.