Every so often I sit around and think to myself, what would my day be like if Elvis Presley hadn't been, well, Elvis Presley?
That's total bullsh*t.
But today is different. It’s January 8, 2010 – Elvis’ 75th birthday. And I’ve awoken in Las Vegas – a city that has clearly adopted Elvis as its native son. I’ve got Elvis on the brain.
The King’s impact on today’s culture - and particularly on Las Vegas' kitschy sub-culture - can be felt everywhere. From the songs on the pop charts; to the trashy celeb rags and web sites; and finally, for better or worse, in the bizarre relationship our society has with ‘celebrity’ (from Clooney to the Kardashians – yes, those two names are meant to be at either end of a spectrum).
Quickly thinking about Elvis’ impact on my life today:
- Jay-Z is one of my favorite artists, and one of America’s too. I’m typing this post to “Run This Town,” which made me think: would Jay-Z be Jay- Z without Elvis having been Elvis? One could argue that in the entertainment industry, no one did more to break down racial barriers than Elvis; he paved the way for Middle America’s (and my) acceptance of hip-hop.
- Though I’m embarrassed to admit it, one of the first sites I checked this morning was TMZ. Again, one could argue that TMZ owes its existence to Elvis, and the obsession with ‘celebrity’ he helped create.
- “Suspicious Minds” is my go-to karaoke song, and I may very well be belting it out tonight (what happens in Vegas …).
- I’ve been here for two days and have seen several people dressed as bloated Elvis. Though my schedule forces me to submit my blog post early, I can almost guarantee I’ll see another one today.
- Scary thought: Bob Denver - Gilligan - was born the same year as Elvis. I hate Gilligan.
By the way, another ‘King’ was born on January 8, many years later. My son, Henry, turns three today. Happy birthday kiddo – love you!
Thank you. Thank you very much.
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About the author: Ian Sohn is, among other things, a: husband, dad, marketer, Chicagoan, blogger, Twitterer, Bears fan, hot dog eater and pop culture lover.
