1 - Music
Elvis Presley
Ever since I was a little kid, I have loved Elvis Presley (GRACELAND). I can remember dancing in front of the television, watching his international broadcast in Hawaii (WIKI). I was absolutely obsessed and even had one-of-a-kind collector's items. I was so young that I had no concept of death, and I really thought that I was going to marry Elvis. My dad, before he passed away, had no idea that I would continue to love Elvis as I did, and he would gift me anything Elvis on my birthdays. Since my dad and brother's passing, I do not listen to Elvis as much as I used to because it's bittersweet for me.
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| Me Winning 1st Place at Talent Show (10 yrs old, singing Elvis) |
Because my dad was not the best father figure, I assume he wanted me to have a man to look up to and did not want to break my heart. He wanted my idea of Elvis to be as if he did not do anything wrong. For example, my dad said that Elvis did not actually pass away like how they said he did in the news (COMMERCIAL APPEAL). He also mentioned how he did not do drugs. My dad also blamed Elvis's divorce on Priscilla because she had cheated, but now I know the truth.
When you're a kid, you do not understand nuances. My dad was an older dad. He was around forty when I was born, and he would be sixty-six if he were still alive today. Because he was born in 1959, Elvis was huge; Elvis was a phenomenon that changed history. So, even if my dad was lying, he honestly might've thought what he said was true. Elvis was the ideal manly character in that time that men looked up to. My favorite song of Elvis as a kid was "Burning Love". I found it fun and funny, and his charismatic personality along with his bigger than life performance captivated me.
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| My Dad |
When I later watched the "Elvis" (WIKI) movie in 2022, I saw the humanity in him and Priscilla. I witnessed his struggle because of everything that was thrown at him, along with why my dad kept a lot of his story away from me. I've always been a bit gullible and naive. I live in a "pink bubble", my new mom always says, meaning that I see the world as sunshine and rainbows most of the time. My heart ached in also seeing a lot of my dad in Elvis himself because of the drugs and image struggle.
My dad was what some would say a failed musician. He used to be in a band with his brother, playing the drums and singing. When he was alive, he sounded just like John Anderson, even though Merle Haggard (WIKI) was his favorite singer. He had his whole life ahead of him. I do not know everything about his life, but I know he met my mom later in life and had my brothers and I. At some point he turned to drugs and alcohol to cope with something that no one could understand.
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| My Dad in His Brother's Band |
Now, I would say the Elvis song I listen to often would be his rendition of "Bridge over Troubled Waters". While he wasn't the one who created this song, his version is my favorite. My favorite part of his rendition is towards the end where he ends on a flatter note as the music build up. I also am moved by his rendition of "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me"; when I sing it, it makes me sound like I am singing a Disney Princess song since my voice is so high pitched, as I have been told, but it's so beautiful and different to what he usually sings. I think "Burning Love" (WIKI) will always hold a special place in my heart, but my favorite song (YOUTUBE) of his is his rendition of "Snow Bird" (ELVIS100PERCENT) by Anne Murray. His rendition brings out his country roots and provides a nostalgic feel to the song. In all, I think that Elvis changed the world with music, with his almost operatic vocals that are timeless. I've always enjoyed his music and am happy to share my recommendations to anyone!
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