I know there are some extremely serious stories in the news this week, but Kim, Jay, Paul and Kevin already have them covered, so I couldn’t resist the story of the first Presidential visit to Graceland. My mom was (and still is) a big Elvis fan. She took me to an Elvis concert when I a little kid in Charlotte and I knew all the words to every Elvis album she owned. She didn’t stop at making me an Elvis fan, though. If you ask my five year old who Elvis is she will tell you that “Elvis is the king.” I am not sure whether or not my daughter knows he is no longer living, but she knows his songs from watching Disney’s Lilo and Stitch. Anyway, considering all that, how could anyone expect me to resist?
Evidently the visiting Japanese Prime Minister is a huge Elvis fan and will be treated to a guided tour:
The Memphis, Tenn., home of the King of Rock and Roll will host a summit of sorts Friday when President George W. Bush and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi travel to Graceland for a personal tour of one of America’s wackiest — and some may argue tackiest — tourist attractions.
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When Bush and Koizumi enter Graceland’s musically noted gates, they will be at the mercy of the King’s court. Elvis’ ex-wife, Priscilla Presley, and his daughter, Lisa Marie, will give a personal tour of the house, Morgan said.
There’s no word yet on whether they’ll get to see the very private inner sanctum — the second-floor bedrooms — or if they’ll linger at the display case of law-enforcement badges, including the one given to Elvis in 1970 when he met Nixon at the White House.
And Graceland is gearing up for Koizumi’s trip as if it were a visit, well, from the King himself.
“We’re really looking forward to getting to thank him in person for all the wonderful things he’s said about Elvis over the years,” Morgan said.President Bush, not Clinton, will be the first president to visit Graceland. Who would’ve guessed that?
UPDATE: George Berryman at Alamo Nation (“Two proud TexAmericans fighting leftist jackassery one crunchy Moonbat hippie at a time”) blogged about Prime Minister Koizumi’s love of Elvis in 2004.
Our Great grandson will be humming Elvis Presley songs soon enough, just as my parents did when Elvis stole the hearts of the “Older generation” in 1960 with his “It’s Now or Never”.
None of us have been lonesome since we discovered Elvis’s magnificent and versatile voice, even here in Irelandtoo.
The song you cited, It’s Now or Never, is a great example of just how incredible the voice of Elvis Presley was. When I hear an Elvis song like that I am always taken aback by that beautiful and powerful voice. With all the kitsch and pop icon surrounding Elvis, the legend, sometimes the fact that he was incredibly talented, with a voice I would argue none have matched, is often lost.
MC-
I could only find a tease of Elvis doing one of the most beautiful songs (lyrics and music) ever written, Danny Boy, inimitably Elvis, but not quite as good as an Irish tenor.