Paying my respects to the KingIn his short 42-year life, Elvis Presley made over 30 movies. In the 10-year period he did these movies (part of a contract super-manager Colonel Tom Parker hooked him up with) Presley was making about three movies a year.
I strongly believe this is why his '60s music suffered (too soundtracky -- every song has a shitty movie attached to it) and why anything after that was almost irrelevant. Yes, yes, he did have some gooders after 1968, but at this point he was wearing jumpsuits and doing karate moves on stage.
I recently went to Memphis on a whim to attend a concert (review to appear later...hopefully) and had to drop into Graceland to pay my respects. It's something all music lovers need to do. There is not an artist on this earth that hasn't been directly or indirectly influenced by Presley. Name any, and I will track their influences back to Presley.
Graceland is definitely an experience. Every exhibit leads back to a gift shop, so you're guaranteed to get more than your fill of merchandise. (I spent $130 in about 30 minutes.) And everything you see in the mansion itself just builds up the personality and presence of this handsome pioneer who loved his mama, doted on his daughter, proudly served his country and acted his heart out, that you feel like you knew him personally.
And then the tour takes you past his and his family's plots in the back garden. I wanted to cry. This man did so many subtle things to revolutionize music and, perhaps to change the world, that we take it for granted every day. I wanted to cry, but what for? It wouldn't do any good. He's been gone a long time and he'd only be a stranger to me if I bumped into him at a roadside Burger King.
One little inconsistency with Graceland though (that shouldn't deter you from visiting it or Memphis) -- there's no mention of the drug-addled "fat Elvis" anywhere. It is a part of his life, albeit a sad and disturbing part. But if you look closely at the displays of his jumpsuits, you can see the material pulled and clipped back. That way we don't have to remember him as a fat bastard and cruel joke of rock and rock excess.
We remember him as the King of Rock n'Roll. Long live the King!
