If I were as cool (but please, not as weathered) as Keith Richards, I could articulate all kinds of credible reasons why Elvis Presley was The King. But the most authentic, rock-and-roll Elvis was way before my time; even movie Elvis was. The Elvis most recognizable to me was Vegas Elvis, the man wearing white jump suits, lots of jewelry, paranoia, and sycophants. Sometimes I look at early photos and I can’t believe how beautiful, open, and innocent his face was because the images I knew best are from the years just preceding his death.
Terri’s wearing an Elvis T-shirt, but you can’t really see it in this photo.
Here, Daniel’s wearing it, proving she’d give her son the shirt off her back.
Not being one of the cool Elvis fans, what I love best are the ballads that came between his blues- and rockabilly-based early years and his easy-listening latter years. I think “Can’t Help Falling in Love” is a favorite, followed closely by “Love Me Tender.” If I really had to pick my favorite Elvis song, it’s one that was sung much differently from the way he sang it. Different, in fact, from any version of it I’ve ever been able to find.
In the kitchen of the house Terri and Daniel are photographed in front of (above), I often heard my mother sing a slow, sad, definitely non-polka rendition of “Wooden Heart” while she cooked or did dishes. It’s a version of the song that can never exist anywhere but in my memory, and I often sing it when I’m driving–though Mother, at least, sang it in tune.
Maybe you’ll see this Barbie, renamed Priscilla for obvious reasons, modeling a future Becks design. Mattel created her outfit from an album cover:
Leather clad Elvis is the way I remember him — even though I never saw the special when it originally aired …
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tthEpLS69fo
and I have been wanting this for so long …
http://www.redbubble.com/people/6amcrisis/works/6982473-2-the-vader-68-comeback-special-version-2
Ha ha–hilarious T-shirt. Elvis was SO pretty in that comeback special. I just love the sweet young faces of both him and Ricky Nelson.
what I like about the comeback special is that he manages to be very sexy and very sweet – he gives everything the audience wants, and is playful and he enjoys and is as excited by the audience as they are by elvis. Plus he’s hot in leather …
Yeah, I an thinking that shirt would be a good birthday gift for me. And seriously Becks, I’ve reformed my video posting ways
Also, I know you are shocked that I clicked on those links. Don’t think because I got bold that you can sneak that other link in on me. I’m still on guard.
…and if you ever get a chance you should check out The Adventures of Brisco County Jr — Aaron Viva is one of the many reasons … it gets really good at about the 3:50m mark
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dfe1lFVdszA
Whoops
Update! We both had our own Elvis shirt, don’t think I was EVER so tiny that Daniel could wear my shirt!
I will be glad to post a photo of you showing your teeny-tiny self. I swear you could have worn Daniel’s clothes! Or he, yours.
But it’s nice to know you got the kid his own shirt.