January 8, 2010
-
Happy 75th Elvis Celebration!
It's Elvis Presley's 75th Birthday! January 8th. Celebrate right here on this blog.
1. Watch the ultimate Elvis tribute video, ElvisMovies III. If you love Elvis at all, you owe it to yourself to spend the next 12 minutes and 26 seconds of your life celebrating along with me by watching my tribute video. It's the biggest and the best of my three ElvisMovies vids. You'll be amazed! You'll be entertained!
2. Party down in the comments section. What are your memories of Elvis, either the performer, if you're old enough to remember him when alive, or his music? When was the first time you heard him? What did his voice do to your emotions?
ElvisMovies III (December 2008, 12 min. 26 sec.447MB high definition wmv {HD} file, 1280x720) The latest edition of "ElvisMovies", a mashup of Elvis Presley musical numbers, in widescreen and HD. The original images were culled from the Tivo'd films taken from Turner Classic Movies during the anniversary Elvis Marathon in 2007.
Elvis made 33 movies (31 narrative films, and 2 concert films), but they are really only one movie. From 1960, when he returned from the Army, to 1969, with the completion of "Change of Habit", our hero starred as quite a few similar semblances of himself, and gathered together half a dozen or so faux Memphis Mafia Members. The films paid tribute to in this video mashup are mainly from the Metro Goldwyn Mayer films. I remember the widescreen Hawaiian vistas, the motor boats, the seemingly endless string of Art Deco motels with kidney shaped swimming pools. The fisticuffs. The songs. The girls. All in glorious color. All more or less letting us see Elvis as he really was, and is. An American Icon. When cobbled together, these clips give us a greater appreciation that in fact, the performances in these films, largely derided and criticized, even by some of his fans, when they were released, (three times a year!) remain our legacy of this great performer, and besides his recordings and some early kinescopes from TV, are the definitive widescreen musical performances by which we remember him.
Elvis would have been 75 today. Viva Elvis on his 75th birthday.
I love all of pop culture, but I especially love Elvis. My brother, sister, and I all saw his movies when they were released, at the Saturday matinees at the El Monte Theater, and watched them repeatedly on Million Dollar Movie on TV when they aired. We had all the albums, a lot of the singles, and I started collecting his movies on home video as soon as they invented home video!
Join with me as I celebrate the life of this iconographic figure. Let me know your thoughts about Elvis, and if for some reason you don't know his movies or his music, I hope this celebration serves as the ulitmate introduction.
ElvisMovies webpage on MikeVideo. Includes ElvisMovies and ElvisMovies 2
Elvis Presley on The Cultural Blender (an AllThingsMike site)
Official Elvis Presley website.
Comments (77)
He's 75 already? In my mind he's always that gyrating young man!
he was a pretty disturbed guy...but he could sing, if yu like that type...some of his songs i really liked, but for the most part, he ain't my cup of tea...
Our local paper features an article about Elvis meeting Richard Nixon.
Oh, I played this for my wife so she could have her Elvis fix today....
i liked elvis. one of my uncles played fairs etc with him b4 he was famous.
@icepearlz - Dear Ice, I've always loved the fact that the media in the years after his death never played up the image of the "fat Elvis" from 77 but rather the "gyrating young man" of his youth.
@tialoca_talks - Dear Tia, Elvis sang in a variety of styles. I can almost hear angels singing along with him on "How Great Thou Art" and I can wiggle right along with him (I have to be careful not to dislocate my new hip.LOL) on the early Sun rock tunes.
@vexations - Dear Bill, Thanks for mentioning the video. I have three of these online now, and wanted to create a fourth, but Turner Classic Movies is showing the same movies I already used!
@jerjonji - Dear Jeri, Wow! I'll bet your uncle has some stories. My mother used to be a country singer (for one season, when she ran away from home at around 16) She sang with Ernie Tubb. Pure country. However, she loved Elvis and could sing Heartbreak Hotel almost as good as he did! I think a lot of my exposure to him when I was a small child was because of Mom.
I was one of his first enthusiastic fans. I remember when Marvis first heard "Love Me Tender," she said "I didn't know he could sing. That's nothing like 'You Ain't Nothing But a Hound Dog.'" Yes, it was the ballads where he showed his real chops. All those gyrations and Elvis the Pelvis stuff was just showmanship. It was good showmanship, but nevertheless, I dug his crooning most of all.
@twoberry - Dear Bob, One of the things I love most about the movie musicals is the mix of performance. And yes, I love the ballads. When they were released, screaming "18 New Songs" from the posters, it sometimes seemed like overkill, but as my video illustrates, the range of songs Elvis performed was monumental, and his voice could do almost anything. It took me years to appreciate the songs from the musicals, since we had ALL his records. My all time goofy favorite, I think is "Do The Clam" a really innocuous song (from Girl Happy if memory serves) which I include in ElvisMovies 2.
I was and am a fan of early Elvis music of the mid fifties. The stuff he did with Bill Black on bass, and Scotty Moore on guitar. Much as I like James Burton, (and I do)...I never was much of a fan after Mr. Burton took over the guitar duties. Scotty was (and is) really fun to listen to. Songs like "Train Train" "Hound dog" and that stuff. As a kid, I loved watching the Elvis movies. Since reaching adulthood, I have a hard time sitting through an entire Elvis movie. Like you said...they're all just one movie. Ann Margaret though...........:fun:
I first remember knowing who Elvis was in 5th grade. I had a teacher who was absolutely obsessed with him (yes, this would have been the mid-nineties).
I was lucky enough to see him once in my lifetime in Ft.Worth 1973-ticket was $5
Well, there was that time, just last year, I saw Elvis at a booth at a roadside diner, eating a bacon cheeseburger with maple syrup and a side of corn beef hash. He looked good, all things considered.
I grew up on Elvis movies. I feel sad when I think of the talent that was lost. He was the first of the superstars that were destroyed by their own fame. He could certainly sing though. Darn I miss his music. I need to break out those old albums today and remember.
Thanks for the party. I do love a party.
Kat
@flatpick46 - Dear Randy, For a moment there I thought you were my dear late buddy Tom,. who we lost in 1987 at the age of 37. He always talked about the backing musicians from the Sun sessions. Not too many people are "that" into the music. But of course, you're a musician. I'm so glad you joined the party! And thanks for the rec.
@TheCheshireGrins - Dear Meg, I'm borderline obsessed. I have five Elvis biographies in my library, own most of the albums (on vinyl, and a few on CD) and have a bunch of the films on four formats. Not obsessed, mind you, just borderline.
@Jillycarmel - Dear Jill, Wow! I'd love to hear about that experience. I never saw him in concert. Did you get a scarf?
@doahsdeer - Dear Jeff, Thanks for coming to the party. (And for reccing) I hope he'd lost some weight. He looked pretty bad when he died.
@Betrayed1959 - Dear Kat. Well, before Elvis passed, there were the three J's Jimi, and Janis, and Jim. At least Elvis had a full career. In some ways, he's more famous now than when he was alive! Today would be a good day to remember and break out the old records. Wish I was there with you. (I should have taken the day off work.)
I still remember the day he died, and I met up with some of my friends. I was still in school. But so sad for him! He was only 43!
Hard to believe he would have been 75 - I keep him in my mind as the young man he was before he gained all his weight and turned into a glittering rhinestone Las Vegas performer.
:wave:Hey Mike. That was fantastic. Thanks for putting it together. My 10 year old can dance like Elvis, so he's now putting on the mives in the kitchen. My mother was raised in Tennessee. She almost married the guy who's family owned Graceland before Elvis bought it. She said a lot of girls hung out over there as the party went on forever in the early years. She was older than Elvis, so she didn't dance that way. hahahaha. Happy Birthday Elvis. Your music still moves me.
I'm probably the minority here - but the woman who lives in the apartment above me plays Elvis continually (in fact, she's playing him now)... so I think I've had my "fill" of the King. It's always interesting to me to note that he was a Pastor's Kid (I'm one)! Hmmm.
One would have to be hound-dog not to celebrate this with you! I remember loving Elvis songs as I was growing up, but I hated the remix they did a few years back of "A Little Less Conversation." Don't mess with Elvis. He is just fine as he is.
RYC: I was going through the FG site the other day and commenting until my internet froze up.
I need to get back that way. I don't have anything fantastic to contribute to the topic, but I have enjoyed reading everyone else's goals so far. 
TCB... "take care of business"... his motto i've adopted bc it's so adaptable. my uncle didn't talk about it much- a quiet man with stage phobia, performing hurt him in many ways and he was glad to be done with it when the time came... but my godly grandmother and my mom talked about it! my favorite by him is his gospel songs. i love the old ones done by him more than anything else he's done i think... and if you've been in AC for any amount of time you'll see him on the Boardwalk- looking a bit worse for wear... all the sand and sun, i blame!
@hesacontradiction - Dear Contradiction. :love:
@Mal_P - Dear Angie, Cemented in my mind as well. I was unemployed at the time, and was in shock all day.
@Kallioph - Dear Kallioph, Interesting to note that the Colonel booked Elvis in Las Vegas back in the 50s, and he bombed!
@Jaynebug - Dear Lyne, Thanks for the rec, and of course thanks for mentioning the video, which took a lot of time and love to put together! I would have LOVED to have been able to attend Elvis' "all day parties" and I STILL haven't visited Graceland! Someday I will, you betcha.
@Passionflwr86 - Dear Meg. Sorry for the nonstop Elvis. It's his birthday so maybe that's why she's playing him now. Reminds me of my first apartment where the guy next door played "Hotel California" so much I almost started hating the Eagles!
@Krissy_Cole - Dear Krissy, I ain't nuttin but a hound dog. Thanks for coming to the party. And you're right. Don't mess with the KING.
Who's Elvis?
Just kidding. Great celebration post
Oh yeah... bring out your blue suede shoes. Slick your hair into a shiny pompadour, wear your dancing clothes and do the Rock and Roll with The King, ladies and gentlemen.
It is hard to believe that he would be 75 years old. My cousin was one of his number one fans, he even wore his sideburns the way Elvis did. Elvis could sing or dance to any type of music, he did rock.RIP:(
My Dad was born exactly one day before Elvis, so I know when I call Dad to wish him a Happy Birthday, that Elvis is tomorrow (he never takes my calls).
My favorite Elvis song is "Burnin' Love", mostly because of Emory Gordy's awesome bass line.
I don't have much an Elvis history~ but I do remember my mom mentioning one of his concerts she had attended~ and of course~ I was raised hearing his music on my mom's big Zenith console sterio. lol And I have~ as an adult~ being a vintage movie buff~ watched a few of his oldies from the 50's~ Love Me Tender and Jailhouse Rock. I also remember hearing some of his gospel albums somewhere along the line.
You made quite the impact Elvis~
@jerjonji - Dear Jeri, Thanks for the recommendation! That is so neat about your uncle. I always wish my mom were around to talk about her experience in a country western band when she was young, but alas, when she was alive I seemed to be more interested in myself than my parents' pasts.
@Roadlesstaken - Dear Alex, I know you make videos, so I hope you had the opportunity to check out this one! Thanks for stopping by.
@angel_vow - Dear Gregory, Thanks for joining the party. And of course for your rec. Did you have to make that crack about hair?
My bro and I used to style our hair so we had "Elvis curls" in the front!
@Carolynhenderson - Dear Carolyn. Yup, I remember those burns. My mom kept asking me to shave mine off, and we got in many arguments about it. I think I used the "Elvis defense" a few times! Thanks for coming to the party, and reccing the post, and I couldn't help but notice you "voted" for my post on the featured site. What a neat gesture.
@Irish_Russian - Dear Irish, Wow, I'll have to comment on your Elvis tribute on your blog. Hunka Hunka Burnin Love. Too bad your dad didn't take the call from you to wish him a Happy Birthday.
@WildWomanOfTheWest - Dear Tamy, Of the old movies, from the 50s, I think my favs are a tie between Loving You, which is basically a biography of his early career, and King Creole, set in New Aulins, with Walter Matthau as the villian, and the beauteous Carolyn Jones as the femme fatale.
Walks in dressed as Elvis impersonator and sits at bar singing happy birthday King.
I was never really exposed to much Elvis at all, and so I've never really had much of an interest. BUT I will have you know that I DID joing your party anyway, watched the whole video and read every word
So I am now a little more educated and intrigued enough to follow some of those links (I do love learning new things 
) So thanks for the tribute & all the time you put into this party :goodjob:
Great post, Mike..
As a kid, I couldn't help but love Elvis. He was the Michael Jackson of his era. As an adult, I began disregarding him, especially when he went all 'Vegas'. It occurred to me, he was beginning to remind me of Liberace. Then his big drug ordeal and his peculiar cult factor just turned me totally against him. I will always admire the man he wanted to be but will feel nothing but sympathy and remorse for the man he became. His music will live on, but only in period nostalgia. Just like Marylin Monroe or Frank Sinatra.
Blue suade shoes and inky black hair,:heartbeat::heartbeat::heartbeat::love:
..And...oh!! I heard he could sing too!!:lol:
NOT THAT I'D KNOW!!
Heh!! Never heard the man sing! :eek:
Hmmmmmmn! I've never heard anyone sing for that matter!!
OH well!! Happy seventy fifth Birthday,..Elvis!! Heh!!:goodjob:
I've written my own Elvisy post, but not sure I could call it a tribute, per se...
Sigh. Guess I'm the only one who could not stand him.
i'm sure if it wasn't so cold here in tupelo we might have had a celebration but we are just not use to cold weather and closed a lot of things. i love elvis music. his movies were pretty good too though i haven't watched too many of them.
@stixandstonz2009 - Dear Ruth, You look more like a snowman to me, but an "Elvisy" snowman.
@webofsimplicity - Dear Simplicity, Thank you for coming to the party. I recognize that web that looks like a dreamcatcher to me anywhere. I'm so happy this intrigued you enough to find out more about the King. I'm getting ready to watch one of his old movies in a bit on my 60" bigscreen.
@Amoralis - Dear Ben, :yes: I used to say things "backward" all the time too. Sinatra was the Elvis of "his" day. I sort of gave up on Elvis when he got all fat and inconsequential in the late 70s, when I was listening to Elvis Costello and Dave Edmunds, but after the memories of "fat Elvis" faded (and I am always amazed at how good a job the Presley estate stopped the media from spreading the unflattering photos around, even today on the internet!) I began to get back into him again. I love the old movies and can never tire of hearing him sing.
@Stanelle - Dear Stanelle, I love your sense of humor, my dear.
@lizettey - Dear Liz, I checked your blog. I love the photos of the Elvis book you showed over there. Thats' something I'd love to have. Also noticed the background with another icon who passed away far before his prime, the amazing James Dean. Thanks for coming to the party!
@Drakonskyr - Dear Daniel, Read your "Elvisy" post. Who would have known.
@WordFaery - Dear WordFaery, I won't let you stand in a corner all alone. Every one has his/her own tastes. I would have thought that since Elvis covered a lot of musical gound, there would have something endearing in his catalog, but oh well. Thanks for dropping by. I appreciate the company even if you didn't like him.
@NightlyDreams - Dear Leigh Ann, Sorry about the cold. (I drove the convertible with the top down today. Sorry. :rolleyes:) I'm sure you know that Elvis was born in Tupelo. He moved to Memphis when he was 13, so spent quite some time in your fair town. If you watched my video just now, it sort of gives you a feel for most of the movies.
I loved Elvis as a kid and a teenager even though it was during the late sixties and early seventies. I saw him in concert once at the San Diego Sports Arena and had a couple of posters of him on my bedroom wall along with the Osmonds, Bobby Sherman, David Cassidy and others. I had other oldies like Frankie Avalon and Fabian too. That was the big thing back then and a lot of my friends were teeny boppers, LOL! I loved all kinds of music back then too, unlike now. Thanks for the fantastic memories; Elvis will always be at the top in my book!
He was pretty cute. I've never been a big Elvis fan but I did like him. To bad he isn't alive today.
Great tribute to "The King"!!! :coolman: It's so hard to believe he would be 75 years old now.
I wasn't really into music yet while he was still alive. Somewhere around here I have some Elvis vs. Beetles trivia questions. I'll see if I can find them, I think you might find them of interest.
Haha, yes, the web that looks like a dreamcatcher
Btw, did you see the movie American Teen? If you haven't, I ask because the father of the basketball player did Elvis impersonation performances at his restaurant/arcade, and they show a little of it in the movie. Your post reminded me of that 
Sorry Mike.
Elvis is not now nor ever was to my taste
VERY COOL, MIKE! I LOVED YOUR VID AND THE MUSIC WAS AWESOME. KUDDOS~OXOXO
@baldmike2004 - No, Dad takes my call, but Elvis doesn't!
Good! You got more than 15 comments!
I was never a big fan of Elvis. I really like a few of his songs, but that's it. I don't know why. The only memories I have of him are of his later years and the day he died. I worked with a die hard Elvis fan and although in her late 50's or 60's, she was devastated.
I was going to pass on the video, but I thought I should look at it, so I did. It made me realize two things. 1) I doubt I ever saw a whole Elvis movie - only bits and pieces on TV. And 2) I think I might appreciate Elvis more now than I did before ... 'cause I enjoyed the mashup and only recognized Viva, Las Vegas because of what I knew about it (and that only learned recently after my son watched and enjoyed that movie).
VERY WELL DONE VIDEO
Touche. Outstanding arguments. Keep up the amazing work.
Howdy this is kind of of off topic but I was wanting to know if blogs
use WYSIWYG editors or if you have to manually code with HTML.
I'm starting a blog soon but have no coding know-how so
I wanted to get guidance from someone with experience. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
bookmarked!!, I like your blog!
Hello, all is going well here and ofcourse every one is sharing
data, that's genuinely good, keep up writing.
Attractive element of content. I simply stumbled upon your weblog and in accession capital to assert that I acquire in fact enjoyed account
your blog posts. Any way I'll be subscribing on your augment
or even I achievement you get right of entry to consistently fast.
I'm impressed, I have to admit. Rarely do I come across a blog that's both educative and engaging, and let me tell you,
you've hit the nail on the head. The problem is something which not enough people are speaking intelligently about.
I'm very happy I came across this during my search
for something concerning this.
Way cool! Some very valid points! I appreciate you penning this
post and also the rest of the site is also very good.
Have you ever thought about writing an e-book or guest authoring on other
websites? I have a blog based upon on the
same subjects you discuss and would love to have you share some stories/information. I know my viewers would appreciate your work.
If you're even remotely interested, feel free to shoot me an email.
Magnificent goods from you, man. I have understand your stuff previous to and
you're just too fantastic. I really like what you've acquired here,
really like what you are saying and the way in which you say it.
You make it entertaining and you still take care
of to keep it wise. I cant wait to read far more from you.
This is really a terrific web site.
I just like the valuable information you provide for your
articles. I will bookmark your blog and test once more here
regularly. I'm fairly sure I will learn a
lot of new stuff right right here! Best of luck for the next!
WOW just what I was looking for. Came here by searching for
over counter ed drugs
It's actually a nice and helpful piece of info.
I am satisfied that you jujst shared this usevul info with us.
Please stay uus informed like this. Thank you for sharing.
I have been exploring for a little bit for any high quality articles or weblog posts in this sort of
house . Exploring in Yahoo I at last stumbled upon this web site.
Studying this information So i'm satisfied to show that I have an incredibly excellent uncanny feeling I discovered exactly what
I needed. I so much no doubt will make sure to do not omit this
website and give it a glance on a constant basis.
Hi there to every one, since I am really keen of reading this website's post to be updated
daily. It carries nice information.
Hey! Someone in my Myspace group shared this site with us so
I came to give it a look. I'm definitely enjoying the
information. I'm book-marking and will be tweeting this to
my followers! Excellent blog and great style and
design.
I will right away grasp your rss feed as
I can't in finding your email subscription hyperlink or e-newsletter service.
Do you've any? Please permit me recognise so that I may just subscribe.
Thanks.
It's the best time to make some plans for the
future and it's time to be happy. I have read this post and if I
could I want to suggest you few interesting things or suggestions.
Perhaps you could write next articles referring to this article.
I desire to read more things about it!
Heya i am for the first time here. I came across this board and I find It really useful & it helped me out a
lot. I hope to give something back and help others like you aided me.
Its like you read my mind! You appear to know a lot
about this, like you wrote the book in it or something.
I think that you can do with a few pics to drive the message
home a bit, but instead of that, this is fantastic blog.
An excellent read. I'll certainly be back.
I do accept as true with all of the ideas you've introduced to your post.
They're really convincing and will certainly work.
Nonetheless, the posts are very short for beginners. Could you please extend
them a bit from next time? Thanks for the post.
I would like to thank you for the efforts you have put in penning this website.
I really hope to see the same high-grade blog posts by you
in the future as well. In truth, your creative writing abilities has encouraged me to
get my very own site now
Good day! Do you use Twitter? I'd like to follow you
if that would be ok. I'm absolutely enjoying your blog and look
forward to new updates.
You ought to take part in a contest for one of the highest quality websites on the web.
I most certainly will recommend this site!
When some one searches for his essential thing, so he/she needs to be
available that in detail, thus that thing is maintained over here.
Hello there, just became aware of your blog through Google, and found that it
is truly informative. I am gonna watch out for brussels.
I will be grateful if you continue this in future.
A lot of people will be benefited from your writing.
Cheers!
Heya i'm for the first time here. I found this board and I find
It truly useful & it helped me out a lot. I hope
to give something back and aid others like you aided me.
When I originally commenyed I clicked the "Notify me when new comments are added" checkbox and now each time a comment is added I get three
emwils with the same comment. Is there any way you can remove people from that service?
Cheers!
Wow, this piece of writing iis good, my sister is analyzing these kinds of
things, so I am going to tell her.
If you desire to tazke much from this paragraph then you have
to apply these methods to your won website.
I was very happy to uncover ths site. I need to to thank
you for your time for this wonderful read!!
I definitely really liked every little biit of it and
I have you saved as a favorite to see neww information on your web site.
Magnificent website. A lott of useful information here. I am sending it
to some friends ans also sharing in delicious. And certainly, thanks
to your sweat!