Happy birthday

Not mine, of course.

It's January 8, and Elvis' birthday. He would've been 73(!) today were he still with us. I've started my day listening to him and just reflecting. I know it may sound a bit nutty, but I can't help it.

So what is it about Elvis that draws people of all ilk? I can't speak for everyone, but for me it is so many things that I can put in words, and some that I can't.

To be sure, he was gorgeous. Probably the most gorgeous person to walk the earth. Especially from '68-'73, but that's not all. There are plenty of gorgeous people in this world that I pay no attention to.

And he could sing! I don't know anyone else who could do 'Polk Salad Annie', 'How Great Thou Art', 'Danny Boy', 'Blowin' in the Wind', and 'Jailhouse Rock' and everything in between....kick you-know-what on it all.

He was a generous soul. I don't think he ever forgot what it was like to have literally next to nothing, and he did and gave so much to so many. I was reading just tonight that he gave somewhere around $20 million to charities and needy folk in his lifetime, and that's just what we know about. That's a big hunk o' change even today, but 30-40 years ago, wow! And some of what he gave wasn't financial; he once visited a young girl who'd lost her hair from chemo and kissed her cheeks and told her how beautiful she was. Can you imagine!!

To be sure, he had his faults. Who doesn't? I can't imagine being 19 and going from a nobody to having mobs of people wanting a piece of me and every preacher in America condemning my soul to hell simultaneously! And it happening almost literally overnight! I can't say I would've done any better, because I don't know that I would have. This was before 'intervention' was a mainstream word, before celebs could go into rehab and not lose face. I think he did about the best he could, given his background and his environment. I don't mean in any way to imply I think he was a saint. That's not who Elvis was.

Something else I've been thinking about. The man had some backbone, and for his time, I think was pretty dang liberal. He was conservative in some beliefs - pretty traditional male/female roles, that sort of thing. But he also had his picture taken with B.B. King in the mid-1950s, when the civil movement was beginning to pick up some steam. I'm sure that rattled a few cages, and kudos to him for it. He called people of other races 'sir' and 'ma'am' when many folks felt that beneath them. He used words like 'ghetto' in numerous songs way back in 1969, when that word was just not used in polite society. He sang about the plight of Native Americans on reservations. He sang a song about peace, understanding, and brotherhood ("If I Can Dream") in 1968 - the year of Tet, Martin, and Bobby. Methinks there was way more substance to Elvis than most people realized, then and now.

Anyway, what did/does Elvis mean to you? Does he mean anything at all? Feel free to share, or at the very least wish him a happy bday (on the off-chance that he's still alive...) So here's some Elvis for you to enjoy.

There's a little of everything for everyone.......
Hot Rockin' Elvis:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5CU6_FFWK8
(Polk Salad Annie)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqkkiB_3xNc&feature=related
(Hound Dog, the uncensored version!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpCT2lR1o78
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJWzh8poPSc&feature=related
(both versions of That's Alright Mama)

Gospel Elvis:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14x_MuBwS28
(Sweet Sweet Spirit....this one always gives me chills. just watch his face.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bmeIpdSAEM&feature=related
(How Great Thou Art 1972)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3PngHp1ysM&feature=related
(same song, 1977. He looks tired and sick, but can still make this song beautiful.)

Funny Elvis:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfIF-1cvw-Q
(just some silly outtakes from rehearsals for the 68 Comeback Special; one word that I don't care for, but the rest is great)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anzKcrHC-6s
(quite possibly the funniest song he's ever done....)

Patriotic Elvis:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moUifEmOcbU
(An American Trilogy, from 1973 Aloha from Hawai'i)

Social Justice Elvis:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXVUgWtSRR8
(In the Ghetto)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-ZyzWJB6qM&feature=related
(If I Can Dream) If you don't watch any other video, this is one you don't want to miss. still rings true today.

Lisa Marie's tribute to her dad: (get a hanky!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSh_rNiu3Cw

Elvis is still alive. In my heart, anyway. Happy birthday, E. You gave so much to so many.