Who says you don't learn anything in college, this year I learned more about Elvis than I thought I would ever know. And right now I'm grooving to the remix of "A Little Less Conversation" which I believe is the theme song to the hit NBC show "Vegas."
Anyhoo I know what burning question you are thinking about....
IS ELVIS GOD!
The simple answer is yes, Elvis is a god. In the way his true fans treat him, here is my evidence. Religions need 5 basic things to be well... a religion, neat huh. They are a Figurehead/God, Myths, Rituals, Clergy, and Followers.
1) Figurehead/God. This is easy enough, Elvis is god after all.
2) Myths. This is where you need to dive into the Elvis subculture. There are two types of Elvis myths, the widely accepted myths, and the personal ones, because there is no Elvis bible... yet. Some of the widely accepted myths are these. Elvis's own father said that the night Elvis was born he was hanging out outside to stay out of the way. Then as Elvis was born, his father claims that a bright blue light enveloped the house, which was so bright it knocked him out. Or the various myths of Elvis helping out local farmers by paying off their mortgages, or paying like 10 times the value of their crops on the way to market.
Personal myths are those that the individual Elvis worshiper builds around himself, which is normally a form of conflation...
Billy the Dictionary Squid says Conflation (ken fla'shen), is a noun, and is the process or reult of fusing items into one entity; fusion; amalgamation.
... where the fan fuses what he or she knows about Elvis's life (which if you read above is full of myths which are mostly not true) and sees something in Elvis's life in their own. Such as Elvis not being appreciated in his youth, and how they are not appreciated in their youth, or perhaps attributing becoming a better person through listening to Elvis. But it could be as severe as believing Elvis is your father, or crafting elaborate stories about personally or relatives meeting Elvis. These personal myths, which are in reality self delusion, are unique to the individual, and mostly accepted by the Elvis fans at large.
Also most fans attribute Elvis dying of to many drugs, as Elvis somehow dying because of the sins of his fans. Elvis fans asked to much of the aging King of Rock 'n' Roll, and he turned to drugs for a release. Which is a delusional myth if I have ever heard one.
Okay this myth stuff is pretty weak, but it's there goddamnit!
3) Elvis fans have Rituals, mostly centered around Graceland in Memphis. There is normally an influx of Elvis fans around the time of Elvis's birthday, and even more so during Tribute week. Tribute week is a week of Elvis celebration where the faithful travel to the Elvis Mecca and get together for the week leading up to Elvis's death. Additionally at Graceland there is a large rock wall surrounding the entire estate. The faithful of Elvis often write messages on the wall, to show they were there and give praise to the king, odly enough most messages are supporting the King. Also at Elvis's birthplace there is a small Christian Chapel which visitors are encouraged to meditate at.
4) Clergy, okay this sounds stupid but go with me here. Elvis's Clergy are not simply the heads of his various fan clubs that keep the faith alive via organisation. Although they are very important to this process. The Clergy that supply the faith are the Elvis impersonators, which some estimates say there are over 3,000 in America as of... 1999 I believe. Elvis impersonators do not have to really look like Elvis, or sound like him. Good Elvis impersonators somehow channel the spirit of the King, and give off that Elvis charisma. The impersonators leak faith out of their rhinestone & jumpsuited bodies, and the fan clubs focus it.
5) Followers, easy enough Elvis fans. Nuff said.
So, please join me in the worship of the true god and recite with me one of his holy missives.
1) Figurehead/God. This is easy enough, Elvis is god after all.
2) Myths. This is where you need to dive into the Elvis subculture. There are two types of Elvis myths, the widely accepted myths, and the personal ones, because there is no Elvis bible... yet. Some of the widely accepted myths are these. Elvis's own father said that the night Elvis was born he was hanging out outside to stay out of the way. Then as Elvis was born, his father claims that a bright blue light enveloped the house, which was so bright it knocked him out. Or the various myths of Elvis helping out local farmers by paying off their mortgages, or paying like 10 times the value of their crops on the way to market.
Personal myths are those that the individual Elvis worshiper builds around himself, which is normally a form of conflation...
Billy the Dictionary Squid says Conflation (ken fla'shen), is a noun, and is the process or reult of fusing items into one entity; fusion; amalgamation.
... where the fan fuses what he or she knows about Elvis's life (which if you read above is full of myths which are mostly not true) and sees something in Elvis's life in their own. Such as Elvis not being appreciated in his youth, and how they are not appreciated in their youth, or perhaps attributing becoming a better person through listening to Elvis. But it could be as severe as believing Elvis is your father, or crafting elaborate stories about personally or relatives meeting Elvis. These personal myths, which are in reality self delusion, are unique to the individual, and mostly accepted by the Elvis fans at large.
Also most fans attribute Elvis dying of to many drugs, as Elvis somehow dying because of the sins of his fans. Elvis fans asked to much of the aging King of Rock 'n' Roll, and he turned to drugs for a release. Which is a delusional myth if I have ever heard one.
Okay this myth stuff is pretty weak, but it's there goddamnit!
3) Elvis fans have Rituals, mostly centered around Graceland in Memphis. There is normally an influx of Elvis fans around the time of Elvis's birthday, and even more so during Tribute week. Tribute week is a week of Elvis celebration where the faithful travel to the Elvis Mecca and get together for the week leading up to Elvis's death. Additionally at Graceland there is a large rock wall surrounding the entire estate. The faithful of Elvis often write messages on the wall, to show they were there and give praise to the king, odly enough most messages are supporting the King. Also at Elvis's birthplace there is a small Christian Chapel which visitors are encouraged to meditate at.
4) Clergy, okay this sounds stupid but go with me here. Elvis's Clergy are not simply the heads of his various fan clubs that keep the faith alive via organisation. Although they are very important to this process. The Clergy that supply the faith are the Elvis impersonators, which some estimates say there are over 3,000 in America as of... 1999 I believe. Elvis impersonators do not have to really look like Elvis, or sound like him. Good Elvis impersonators somehow channel the spirit of the King, and give off that Elvis charisma. The impersonators leak faith out of their rhinestone & jumpsuited bodies, and the fan clubs focus it.
5) Followers, easy enough Elvis fans. Nuff said.
So, please join me in the worship of the true god and recite with me one of his holy missives.
A little less conversation, a little more action please
All this aggravation ain't satisfactioning* me
A little more bite, a little less bark
A little less fight, and a little more spark
Close your mouth and open up your heart and baby satisfy me
Satisfy me baby
Baby close your eyes and listen to the music
Drifiting through the summer breeze
It's a groovy night and I can show you how to use it
Come along with me and put your mind at ease
A little less conversation, a little more action please
All this aggravation ain't satisfactioning* me
A little more bit, a little less bark
A little less fight, and a little more spark
Close your mouth and open up your heart and baby satisfy me
Satisfy me baby
Come on baby I'm tired of talking
Grab your coat and let's start walking
Come on, come on
Come on, come on
Come on, come on
Don't procrastinate, don't articulate
Girl it's getting late, gettin' upset at waitin around
A little less conversation, a little more action please
All this aggravation ain't satisfactioning* me
A little more bit, a little less bark
A little less fight, and a little more spark
Close your mouth and open up your heart and baby satisfy me
Satisfy me baby
All this aggravation ain't satisfactioning* me
A little more bite, a little less bark
A little less fight, and a little more spark
Close your mouth and open up your heart and baby satisfy me
Satisfy me baby
Baby close your eyes and listen to the music
Drifiting through the summer breeze
It's a groovy night and I can show you how to use it
Come along with me and put your mind at ease
A little less conversation, a little more action please
All this aggravation ain't satisfactioning* me
A little more bit, a little less bark
A little less fight, and a little more spark
Close your mouth and open up your heart and baby satisfy me
Satisfy me baby
Come on baby I'm tired of talking
Grab your coat and let's start walking
Come on, come on
Come on, come on
Come on, come on
Don't procrastinate, don't articulate
Girl it's getting late, gettin' upset at waitin around
A little less conversation, a little more action please
All this aggravation ain't satisfactioning* me
A little more bit, a little less bark
A little less fight, and a little more spark
Close your mouth and open up your heart and baby satisfy me
Satisfy me baby
*Billy the Dictionary Squid says Satisfactioning (sat'is fak'shen'king), is a word poor song writers use when they can't think of another more rythmic way to say "Satisfying me"


2 Comments:
It may not happen anytime soon, but one day... ONE DAY... you will get sick of this song.
And then! Then... HAH!
(BTW, nice blog, though I've already heard this from you in person)
I have listened to it for about 7 hours while writing the essay in question.
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