Why Elvis?

Of the seminal icons to emerge in the 1950s - Elvis, James Dean and Marilyn Monroe - it is Elvis who continues to move people in a way that many of the artists no longer can. 

So, why Elvis?

Author Paul Simpson finds 10 reasons. Maybe you can find more.

1. The name. 
The first name only was unique in popular culture at the time. And his was real. Once heard, it is never forgotten. There is only one Elvis. 

2. The voice. 
Often imitated, yet utterly distinctive, technically superb, with a range of at least 3 octaves, it has a versatility that others simply can't match.

3. The look.
Elvis was the most beautiful male star of his era. And he intuitively understood the importance of the look, of which he was his own art director. 

4. Timing.
He was a hurricane of fresh air after a decade of ration and recovery, and shockingly original.

5. The myth.
Elvis' life followed the pattern of a Greek myth: the most famous person in the world at 21, deceased and disparaged at 42. 

6. The marketing.
He received unprecedented initial exposure and restricted media access, making him the ultimate unreachable star.

7. The mystery.
The known unknowns about Elvis are as great as the known knowns. Outside of his music and movies, through which he seemed like a friend, we never got that close to him. Yet he affected us intensely.

8. He only bored us in some movies.
Elvis never felt obliged to lecture us about politics, other performers, religion or how we should live our lives. As such he was a blank canvas onto which we could all project our fantasies of who he was and what he was like.

9. He was ridiculed.
Parker often made it easy for critics to sneer but the abuse only solidified his fanbase. Once you've endured the embarrassment of Elvis singing Old Macdonald on the back of a truck, you know your devotion cannot be tested again.

10. He had a unique aura that can't be reduced to mere charisma.
Maybe it was the loss of his twin, maybe the sometimes retreat to intense loneliness, maybe the haunting tale of his life and death, but many - from his dentist to movie director Sidney Lumet - felt there was something otherworldly about him.

So, how will you commemorate the 45th anniversary of Elvis' passing today? I will be in the cinema (again) for ELVIS (2022) and on my way over there put the music of An Afternoon in the Garden on full blast! 

A Star Is Born - A Missed Opportunity For Elvis?

The Premise

 

The story goes that in 1975 Barbra Streisand offered Elvis the role of the leading man in A Star Is Born, a movie she was about to make, but that the deal was nixed by our old friend Colonel Tom Parker - either on the basis that Streisand was getting star billing over 'his boy', alternatively that there was not enough money involved. 

It seems in retrospect that Elvis was in fact not all that concerned about the money, but had hoped that a part in a movie with a super-star such as Streisand would have given his career a boost. In the event the role went to Kris Kristofferson. 

Until quite recently I had not had an opportunity to see the movie but managed to catch it on TCM the other day, and thought it might be an interesting exercise to examine to what extent Elvis might just have missed a trick here.  

The Plot

The film is the story of two singers, one on his way down (Kristofferson), the other on her way up (Streisand). After one of his concerts Kristofferson goes into a night-club where Streisand is singing. He

Private Presley Returns

In 2013 Bovim Ballet presented the stunning rock-ballet Private Presley in Cape Town and Johannesburg, to critical acclaim. Some of our club members attended the show repeatedly, especially because Bovim made use of Elvis' own recordings as musical backdrop. What more can you ask for, than to hear Elvis' extraordinary voice during a superior show? Except for Elvis appearing himself, this is as good as it gets! 
   

From a technical point of view, this ballet is ground breaking in that the cast had to incorporate an entirely new technique to sustain the girl dancers through some difficult 1950s and 60s technical dance styles. In my experience, if any choreographer of an Elvis performance is/becomes an Elvis fan, it shows. Here is what Sean Bovim says - in part - of his journey in creating this show, as stated in the 2013 program booklet: 

Embracing all that Elvis achieved as well as his reluctance to fame, I was able to delve into his private life and discover a dance vocabulary to portray the era that he lived in and the many iconic moments that made the singer one of rock 'n' roll's greatest legends.

Although the star's life was cut short, he jammed more into his 42 years than most, having recorded more than 700 songs and starred in over 30 movies. As a result I have had to be selective as to what I am able to portray. 

This daunting yet rewarding job has led me to reflect on the more intimate, but also fun-loving side of Elvis, revealing memorable nuggets of his life. 'Private Presley' looks through a window into the life of the star from the mid 1950s through the early 1970s. Through my research on Elvis' life as well as becoming far more familiar with his songs, I just Can't Help Falling In Love with the King of Rock 'n' Roll.

Now this sensational production is back! We've gotten word from the Bovim Ballet manager, François Arzul, that they are taking the show to Johannesburg for a 3-week season at Joburg Theatre. And it is being followed by another 3-week season at the Baxter Theatre in Cape Town from 9-28 November 2015. 

In my opinion, with a two-act set, a cast of more than 20 top-notch dancers plus more than 40 of Elvis' most memorable songs (including a few rare gems), this modern ballet will (again) knock the socks off of audiences.

As Francois concludes, hope to see you all at the show! 

Photos: The Bovim Ballet

Best. Elvis. Tribute. Ever.

A BIG thank you to The Steyn Family Band, for bringing the Nicholis Louw Elvis On My Mind Show to Cape Town. Boy, did the Quarry rock!

This morning, spontaneous feedback from EPFCA members found their way to our local Whatsapp group:

Was I pleasantly surprised by the Elvis Tribute yesterday evening! Thank you for encouraging us to attend the show. Nicholis is actually a really good singer.

It was awesome. The band is incredible. I yearn for more tributes to Elvis' music where nary a jumpsuit is in sight. We have to support such rarities in bigger numbers.

I loved the show and now have a different perspective on Nicholis.

Recently the following tongue-in-cheek saying did the rounds on the social media: "I don't judge people based on race, religion, gender or sexuality. I judge people on whether or not they're an ELVIS fan!" In the same vein I want to add that I like and admire any performer in their own right in our country who is a fan of Elvis and his music, because anyone who "gets it", must be a great human being.  

On Saturday night, Nicholis' love and respect for his musical hero came to the forefront in what he said about Elvis, as well as how he said it, coupled with the unique presentation of the music. Elvis was the punk rocker of his time and Nicholis and The Steyn Family Band proved it!

Photo: The Steyn Family Band

How Elvis Really Died

Finally. Someone whose work and word can be respected by the general public gives his verdict re Elvis' cause of death. 

Dr. Stephen Kingsmore, a genetic scientist who has been named one of Medscape's physicians of the year and has had his work featured among Time Magazine's Top 10 Medical Breakthroughs of 2012, has reportedly established the exact cause of Elvis' death - and ultimately put to rest the commonly accepted drug-related death theories, often smugly alluded to by authors, the media, and also, fans.

Dr. Kingsmore's DNA-based findings - now being accepted in medical circles as the definitive explanation as to why Elvis passed away - were featured in the UK Dead Famous DNA TV program. The doctor analysed a sample of Elvis' hair which pointed to the singer having suffered from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy - a disease which causes the thickening of the heart and weakening of the heart muscle.

Elvis displayed many of the symptoms of this disease, including an irregular heartbeat, fatigue, fainting and high blood pressure. Although it was officially recorded that Elvis had died of heart failure, constant speculation about his demise has continued for nearly 40 years.

Dr. Kingsmore stated: There has been so much speculation about cause of death, and so much ill spoken of his lifestyle, and we had this intriguing finding that possibly Elvis had a medical illness, and all of the stuff about how he killed himself with his lifestyle might have been very unfair. 

Source: Belfast Telegraph