Since August 16th is the 30th anniversary of his death, I decided to make this week's TT about the man known as The Pelvis. The quotes (some of which are not too kind) are followed by the person who said them.
1.
"His kind of music is deplorable, a rancid smelling aphrodisiac."- Frank Sinatra, 1956
2. "He was an instinctive actor...he was quite bright...he was very intelligent...he was not a punk. He was very elegant, sedate, and refined, and sophisticated."- Walter Matthau, who co-starred with Elvis in the film "King Creole". From a 1987 interview.
3. "You know, Bush is always comparing me to Elvis in sort of unflattering ways. I don't think Bush would have liked Elvis very much and that's just another thing that's wrong with him."- Bill Clinton, during the 1992 Presidential campaign.
4. "Elvis is my man."- Janis Joplin
5. "Elvis was a hero to most, but he never meant shit to me."- Chuck D (from the Public Enemy song "Fight the Power").
6. That's my idol, Elvis Presley. If you went to my house, you'd see pictures all over of Elvis. He's just the greatest entertainer that ever lived. And I think it's because he had such presence. When Elvis walked into a room, Elvis was in the fucking room. I don't give a fuck who was in the room with him, Bogart, Marilyn Monroe."- Eddie Murphy
7. "Hearing him for the first time was like busting out of jail."- Bob Dylan
8. "God, it was awful. He can sing, but he can't do much else."- Natalie Wood
9. "Elvis was the king. No doubt about it. People like myself, Mick Jagger, and all the others only followed in his footsteps."- Rod Stewart
10. "I didn't think he was as good as the Everly Brothers the first time I ever laid eyes on him."- Chuck Berry
11. "I wasn't just a fan, I was his brother. He said I was good and I said he was good; we never argued about that. Elvis was a hard worker, dedicated, and God loved him. Last time I saw him was at Graceland. We sang Old Blind Barnabus together, a gospel song. I love him and hope to see him in heaven. There'll never be another like that soul brother."- James Brown
12. "Elvis Presley wound up looking on the outside like what he always was on the inside- an overrated slob."- Joan Blondell
13. "There have been many accolades uttered about his talent and performances through the years, all of which I agree with wholeheartedly."- Frank Sinatra, 1977
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants
45 comments:
Neat list; I like how they're not all fawning over the King.
Happy TT!
Hey Malcolm,
No list of 13 for me this week, but I thought yours were interesting. Frank S. went from one extreme to the other, didn't he. Or was he being tongue-in-cheek? And was Eddie Murphy serious? LOL!
The yearly Elvis hype/pilgrimage is always amusing to those of us from Memphis. Heck, I seldom think about Elvis or Graceland being a part of the Memphis landscape, unless someone brings them (smile).
But I don't have a beef with Elvis. He was a great performer and not too bad on the eyes in those early years.
I loved Elvis...I bet Ive seen every movie he ever made. Thanks for sharing.
Cool TT! I especially like #3.
I think you must've just visited mine as your icon popped up in the Blog widget. So, thanks. Pleased to meetcha. :)
I love Elvis. I think my husband thinks I have lost it...but I really like him a lot.
Great List!
Happy TT!
Great list for T13! Thanks for visiting mine!
Hey Malcolm! Great list, as usual. Frank's quote is the best. Then again, I like Eddie's, too --but then I'm biased in Eddie's favor.
I appreciate Elvis's influence on American music but personally he doesn't do much for me. Happy TT.
I can't believe the quote by Sinatra, and the one from Clinton is hilarious. Nice list! You should definitely check out the places on my NYC list next time your in town. Thanks for stopping by my TT!
He couldn't act and I didn't care for his music. I'm female and didn't think he was good looking either. Wow, you either liked him or you didn't. Have a great TT. :)
I'm an Elvis fan. Always have been. Some of these quotes are quite harsh, but every one has their opinion.
Interetsting list. I have to agree with #12
Hee hee! Great list, and very interesting to get a wide range of perspectives on the King of Rock n Roll. :)
Happy TT, and thanks for visiting mine!
Apparently we both had the same idea, and thank you that you corrected me don't know why I put 40 years, I only have one excuse I just got up and have my first cup of coffee, lol !
Awesome list! I loved the Bill Clinton comment--happy TT! (And thanks for the compliment on mine..)
:)
great thirteen...many of these I had never read before. Thanks.
These are great!
So, what was the "it" Miss Wood was referring to in her quote?
I miss the King. I'm old enough to remember his time on the little black and white screen.
Whether he could act or not depends on the individual's taste. But let that man open his mouth and there was beauty in his voice.
Those quotes were great; I had to stifle my laughter for several of them (don't want to wake my husband). Excellent list!
http://musingsofmrsmount.blogspot.com
GREAT list. And thanks for stopping by mine. :)
I like Elvis. Frank Sinatra obviously changed his opinion.
Great quotes, thanks for sharing!!
My TT is about BED.
That was a great list.
I'll be laughing about the Bill Clinton quote all day.
I found the ones from Chuck Berry and James Brown very interesting too.
~X
Great list. Elvis was one who you really liked or really didn't like. Very little in th middle.
Ed
http://edsthread.co.nr
just knew that fight the power had to make the list.
Elvis is like alot of singers and bands, ya either love em or wish they would disappear.
Elvis was one of my mom's faves. Thanks for sharing these!
Happy TT!
Love #3! Great quote.
Personally, I can take him or leave him, I just can't get the whole cult of personality thing.
Great collection of quotes! Thanks for the diversity!
Terrific TT. I love #3. As always, Bill has charmed me. And as for Frank ... he did a similar flip-flop on my lads from Liverpool. I asked a friend of mine, a huge Sinatra fan (Frank-o-phile, as he likes to be called) and he smiled and said, "That was Frank." And I kinda feel sorry for the people who don't see the fun in Elvis. Either as a musician or an Ed-Wood-quality film star or a pop icon or a performer -- there should be an Elvis incarnation that anyone can enjoy.
Frank Sinatra - the original flip-flopper.
Good TT!
Happy TT'ing http://www.incogblogo.net/
What a great blog!
Love that Natalie Wood quote -- what a proud legacy, being remembered as being a lousy lay.
Loved your list. My parents took us to Graceland on the way to Disney World....so I must say I was raised to love "The King"....
Number 3 is my fave!
Thanks for stopping by my TT.
looks like old frankie should have been in politics....
These are great quotes! I'm also doing an Elvis TT today, and a blog contest. Won't you enter?
Way to flip flop Sinatra. Joan Blondell was COLD! I loved the list, but was really surprised by Eddie Murphy's comment. I was a big fan of Elvis's when I was eight.
Joan Blondell summed it up for me - what a gutsy lady! But Frank sure turned around!
He was 'handled' poorly and then made some really poor life decisions.
One of the stories I tell on tour in DC is his impromptu visit to the Nixon White House. Priceless!
I don't have much pop culture on my TT this week, but I do on the accompanying Photos to Celebrate Queens - hope you visit!
Your list made me think of what a waste the last part of his life was for a guy who had it all.
My first time at your blog, very cool, will have to visit more often.
Thanks for stopping by.
I posted the answers to the rebus puzzle on my tt! :)
wow i seriously no NOTHING about elvis!!
I love and adore Elvis. The Sinatra quote cracks me up; hop over to my blog for the Sinatra/Presley duet.
Very cool list. I like how you begin and end with Frank...who eventually changed his mind.
Elvis is even mentioned in the movie Dogma. "So you were an artist! Big deal! Elvis was an artist. But that didn't stop him from joining the service in time of war. And that's why he's The King, and you're a schmuck. "
Thanks to all for the great comments! It looks like you guys enjoyed #3 by Bill Clinton the best. It's funny because that was a last minute addition to the list. In place of the Clinton quote, I had one by Buddy Holly which basically said that Elvis paved the way for all the other rock stars. Nice sentiment, but I felt that the Clinton quote was a better choice.
Many of you commented on the flip-flopping of "Old Blue Eyes". Despite their teaming up for the TV special after Elvis left the Army, I remember reading somewhere that the Pelvis didn't like Frank either. I wouldn't doubt if Frank's publicist suggested he say something nice in response to Elvis' death... hence the change of heart in the 1977 quote.
As many of you also said, there isn't alot of middle ground when it comes to Elvis.
Lori from the Old School Mix: Many people commented on Frank's change of opinion regarding Elvis. I think Eddie Murphy was serious. He was a big Elvis fan early in his career, I'm not sure if he still is though. I'll be that Memphis natives have witnessed some pretty funny things in regards to Elvis fans making their pilgrimage to Mecca... I mean Graceland.
Lori: I have seen most of his movies. I remember when the local stations in my area would do "Elvis week" for the afternoon movie. Two that hardly get played anymore are "Loving You" and "Roustabout"...which I think are two of his best.
Gattina: I know how it is to have that groggy feeling at the PC keyboard.
Harlekwin: That is a good question. To hell with the cliche about assuming... when Natalie said "it" was awful, I am going to go out on a limb and say that she probably was referring to Elvis' performance in the sack.
Sparky Duck: The "Fight the Power" lyric was one that was going to be on the list no matter what... it had to be. In addition to Elvis fans, I'll be that song pissed off people who admired John Wayne as well.
Jacy: I am glad you stopped by my blog and enjoyed what you saw... backatcha! That's one of the things I love about TTs... I wouldn't have found your blog otherwise.
Kuanyin: Thanks for the invite... I'll be entering your contest this weekend.
Pjazzy & The Tour Mum: I first read the Joan Blondell quote in this book I have called "Hollywood Babble On". My guess is that Joan formed her opinion of Elvis when they worked together on the 1968 film "Stay Away Joe". "Hollywood Babble On" has some other nasty zingers in it too about various celebs. I have a feeling I'll be posting more of them at some point in the future.
Good call Tour Mum on the poor handling of Elvis. I had started a separate post about Elvis on Thursday, but time constraints prevented me from finishing it. Maybe I'll revisit it. One thing the post was going to touch on was how different Elvis' career would have been if he had a manager who actually gave a damn about him.
Jenny McB: Thanks for stopping by... I'm always pleased to meet another pop culture fan! The bad choices that Elvis made in his personal life mirror some of the missteps we are reading about today's celebs.
Elisa: Thanks for the kind words... I thought I should show how Frank's opinion of Elvis "changed" after 21 years.
Post a Comment