Rock n roll will never die
- Neil Young
1977 was a momentus year; not only did Muxloe enter the world but the King of Rock n Roll finally left the building. You've probably noticed that this week marks the 30th anniversary of the death of Elvis. I declare that I love Elvis, not in a pilgrimage to Gracelands kind of way, but believe that the man deserves his title. At school we did a task of arguing a case for one historical figure not to be thrown from a hot air balloon. I chose Elvis Presley. Sure the music rocks but its so much more than that. On being drafted into the army and sent to Europe his only comment to reporters was "the first place I want go is Paris and look up Brigitte Bardot"....he was the incarnation of rock n roll!
My personal view is that those who don't like Elvis fall into one of two camps.1. Those who've never given him a fair hearing
2. Those who are plain and simple wrong.
I see parrallels with my day job forever telling kids that the important thing about history is not so much what we know now but what they thought then. Forget what we know now about sightings of Elvis in chip shops, of Chinese lookalikes in karaoke bars, of the jelly and bacon sandwiches or the sweaty Vegas years and think of what Elvis meant at the time.
The Washington post's obituary of the King explained;
"In 1956, when Presley came crackling out of every radio and speaker in the land, young Americans notions about independence -- from parents, from religion, from the values of the time -- were forming. Elvis became "The King" of rock 'n' roll, but also of the emerging youth culture. He was a young, hip-thrusting, white singing music that was essentially black. Part of his attraction was that the '50s teenagers viewed him as epitomizing everything they thought their parents feared they would become -- cocky, slick, brash, tough, black-leatherclad, motorcycle straddling, stiletto-shoed."
After his first appearance on national TV one critic wrote
"It isn’t enough to say that Elvis is king to his parents.....that still isn’t a free ticket to behave like a sex maniac in public before millions of impressionable kids. According to a scholarly friend of mine, Jackie Gleason, we’ll survive Elvis. "He can’t last,’ said Gleason, 'I tell you flatly, he can’t last.' "
If you're one of those that don't understand exactly why Jackie Gleason was wrong and Elvis did last then my homework for you this week is to download and listen to Heartbreak Hotel. What a voice! I defy you not to shake your hips to that bass. The primitive solo is the root of every axesmith from Lou Reed's guitar on Heroin to Kurt's interlude on Smell's Like Teen Spirit. It was all delivered in a style that sent the girls wild and inspired the likes of the Beatles, Brian Wilson and Dylan. And then remember that it was recorded over 50 years ago - genius!
As John Lennon said 30 years ago this week - "The King is dead. But rock 'n' roll will never die. Long live the King."
Go on! Go download Heartbreak Hotel and listen to it with fresh ears, you won't be disappointed....tell us what you think in a comment (but please identify yourself!)
3 comments:
I don't like Elvis. I think I am a plain and simple wronger.
... but did you listen to heartbreak hotel with fresh ears? If not there is still hope that you can be converted otherwise I'm afraid you may be packed off to a re-education camp never to be seen again unless you denounce all false rock n roll gods and bow down at the feet of the king ....
I must confess I do like a few of the kings numbers. However, i think my view of him will be forever clouded by a fella i used to work with in the good old days of "welcome break". I went to Deans house after work before we went out on a works night knees up in Winchester. Dean (who in the short time i knew him failed to get in the police force three times) had two walls in his living room dedicated to plates with pictures of elvis. it was scary.
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