THIRTEEN GREAT ELVIS SONGS
as selected by
The Gal Herself
Elvis quite literally changed the world. He successfully fused country and rhythm and blues into rock and roll, and we’re all forever in his debt.
He also remains a never-ending source of campy joy to me. I love watching him come out in a cape, a jumpsuit and a belt buckle as big as my head as the band plays “2001: A Space Odyssey.” I adore it when he incongruously does karate moves in the middle of a ballad. I devour even his corniest movies and can recite the dialog. (Can you name this movie? “Them ain’t tactics, honey. That’s jes’ the beast in me.”)
But the goofy, gauche Hollywood and Vegas Elvises (Elvi?) are unable to erase the indelible imprint of his music. The time I spend making fun of peanut butter and banana sandwiches is equal to the time I spend in awe of his talent.
Thursday is the anniversary of the day Elvis Left the Building Forever, and I’m celebrating his life with 13 of my favorite Elvis songs. Even if you're not a fan, there must be at least one song here that you're familiar with. The King is that big a part of our culture.
1. Can’t Help Falling in Love with You. Like the river flows surely to the sea, darling, so it goes, some things are meant to be.
2. Burning Love. Lord Almighty! I feel my temperature rising …
3. Steamroller Blues. I’m gonna inject your soul with some sweet rock and roll, and shoot you full of rhythm and blues.
4. Suspicious Minds. We’re caught in a trap. I can’t walk out, because I love you too much, baby.
5. You Don’t Know Me. No, you don’t know the one who dreams of you at night, who longs to kiss your lips, who longs to hold you tight.
6. Love Me Tender. For my darling, I love you, and I always will.
7. Jailhouse Rock. If you can’t find a partner, use a wooden chair and ROCK!
8. Heartbreak Hotel. Since my baby left me, I found a new place to dwell. It’s down at the end of lonely street at Heartbreak Hotel.
9. Kentucky Rain. Seven lonely days and a dozen times ago, I reached out one night and you were gone.
10. If I Can Dream. If I can dream of better land where all my brothers walk hand in hand, tell me why can’t my dream come true?
11. Viva Las Vegas. There’s blackjack and poker and the roulette wheel. A fortune won and lost on every deal. All you need’s a strong heart and nerves of steel.
12. I Was the One. She lived, she loved, she laughed, she cried. And it was all for me.
13. Saved. I used to smoke and drink and dance the hootchie coo. And now I’m standing on this corner, praying for me and you.
Links to other Thursday Thirteens!
1. Tink's is important -- about an eating disorder called BED
2. Sue over at the Urban Zoo shares what makes "the Zookeeper Happy"
3. Suprina is presents the pride of her home state
4. Like all charming, delightful and timely TT'ers, Malcolm has devoted his list to Elvis
5. Jenny McB finally admits that she'll never hear from my man, Clooney (and 12 other things)
6. Damn that Sharon for tormenting us with rebus puzzles!
7. Harlekwin has some truly gorgeous new banners, esp. the guy watching the TT on his bigscreen TV
8. Starrlight has a list of rocker quotes. Appropriate and sad for the anniversary of The King's death.
9. Like all charming, delightful and timely TT'ers, Gattina has devoted her list to Elvis
10. Damozel's TT should be required reading for young and old alike. It's about the separation of powers, and it's terrific!
11. Get happy and celebrate with Ed's joyous TT
12. Gabriella introduces slang words -- and a plug -- for her charity event for the Freeport Humane Society.
13. Sparky Duck takes us on a tour of his bookshelf
14. Nicole Austin takes on the weather. Specifically hurricanes.
15. What Works for Us shares words of wisdom
16. Jeremy's TT is about illicit drug use
16. Erin shares 13 of her favorite poems
17. Frigga has an interactive, fill-in-the-blank TT
18. Mo's TT is about manx cats in general, and Sushi the Birthday Girl specifically
19. Janet has worked her way through the alphabet to her "X" TT
20. Impworks has a culinary TT from Matta's International Foods in Liverpool, England
21. Jennie lists 13 lines of memorable movie dialog about looooove
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
Haha, I actually quite like peanut butter and banana sandwiches...though, I don't fry them!
ReplyDeleteI'm more of a Beatles person...and like Mia from "Pulp Fiction" said, you can either be a Beatles person or an Elvis person...you can't be both.
I like Elvis, my hubby loves him! He still knows where he was the day The King died. His favo song is "My Boy".
ReplyDeleteMy TT has 13 things about BED.
Great TT idea, and an awesome tribute to The King!
ReplyDeletePeanut butter and banana sandwiches are the BEST! Love'm.
ReplyDeleteI admit that I love Elvis and will watch his movies when a get the chance!
Great list! Happy TT!
Narrowing a list of great Elvis songs down to 13 had to be hard. The line “Them ain’t tactics, honey. That’s jes’ the beast in me.” is from Jailhouse Rock. It comes on tomorrow night at 8 pm on TCM as part of their all-day Elvis marathon.
ReplyDeleteI am probably one of the few people who likes both Elvis and The Beatles...however, I give the edge to the guys from Liverpool.
Great minds think alike... my TT is also about Elvis.
Hey gal,
ReplyDelete# 7 is my personal fave. And to all commentors on Gal's blog, I can testify that Elvis has provided many a laugh, many a time. However, we kid because we love.
your old pal
I am a long-time, die hard Elvis fan. It took me years to admit it.
ReplyDelete;-)
For all his campiness at the end, he really was an icon. Great songs and now that you mentioned the movies, I remember watching them, kind of corny. But corny is good compared to some of the stuff out there now.
ReplyDeleteThose were some wonderful choices! I'm still humming Suspicious Minds. It's hard to believe it's been 30 years and just like Tink's husband I remember where I was and what I was doing when I heard Elvis had died.
ReplyDeleteI'm feeling really old now.
Great list!
I love suspicious minds, that is probably my favorite Elvis song. :) Great TT!
ReplyDeleteGreat list. I like a lot of his songs. Kentucky Rain is one of my favorites. My TT is about my Summer travels.
ReplyDeleteI love Elvis. Great choices!
ReplyDeletehttp://absinthedreamers.blogspot.com/
Of course I know them all ! I love his songs but never was a fan of the man. I had and have all his songs he was part of my youth. I also have something about Elvis I wrote 13 things about Graceland !
ReplyDeleteI came along just a little too late to really get into Elvis, alas---it wasn't cool to like him when I was growing up and I feel I really missed out. I do like a lot of his songs now. He made a few records under another name---Terry something; I can't remember---and my mom bought one of them called "Play with Fire" that I really liked.
ReplyDeleteAll great song. Love me tender has always been my favorite By the King.
ReplyDeleteEd
http://edsthread.co.nr
great choices. Dont love elvis, but love song #1.
ReplyDeleteIf you wander over to my blog, click the side link for Bonds Couch, he did a great little elvis post
Great TT!
ReplyDeleteI loved how they used Heartbreak Hotel in Happy Feet. Hugh Jackman did it so well:)
PB and banana sandwiches are great.
ReplyDeleteHappy TT!
This is so appropriate on this Thursday to have a tribute to The King! Very clever and good list!
ReplyDeleteMy wife hates Elvis and I liked the music, although not his lifestyle at the end.
ReplyDeleteMy TT touches on part of the reason he died although it does not refer to him. happy tt
Great list, and very timely, too! :) Happy TT! My list is 13 poems to read: http://musingsofmrsmount.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteElvis rocks! Um... literally.
ReplyDelete:-) Happy TT13!
Gotta luv The King!
ReplyDeleteI'm familiar with many of those songs from growing up listening to AM radio :-)
ReplyDeleteGreat list. My parents took us to Graceland on our way to Disney World....a rite of passage I guess : ). I was born the year he died...but I was raised with his music. Also, I think you can definitely be both an Elvis and Beatles fan.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a big Elvis fan although there are some good songs on your list. I did once find myself on a train with several Elvis impersonators on their way to a competition in Warrington on a Saturday in autumn which was an odd experience...
ReplyDeleteI love Elvis and I love all these songs, too!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing!
Thanks for stopping by "O So Mo Love"!
Was it really that long ago that he died? I never listened to his music or saw any of his movies, but it's nice to see your enthusiasm.
ReplyDeleteNeat idea for TT! As soon as I read your comment I remembered your picture for the image meme! Sorry I tagged you again!!
ReplyDeleteExcellent list!
ReplyDeleteI now have those songs going through my head.. what a fun list!
ReplyDeleteHappy Belated TT!
I like my peanut butter and banana sandwiches in a tortilla roll instead. Just spread with PB and then put a whole banana inside and roll. YUM!!! Oh and I like Elvis too. Elvi!!! LOL
ReplyDeleteMine's here: (13 contests) http://callistasramblings.blogspot.com/2007/08/thursday-thirteen-8-contests.html