https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbrmBotVIGw Late Night host Stephen Colbert called director Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis, now in theaters, “the most Baz Luhrmanny Baz Luhrmann film.” Luhrmann’s films hit the screen like a hallucinogen-laced glitter bomb, so we kind of know what to expect in that respect. But what’s that got to do with Elvis Presley? Elvis wasn’t averse to... Continue Reading →
Many Classics Borrow from the Masters of Classical
When Chuck Berry sang “Roll over Beethoven and tell Tchaikovsky the news,” the line appeared to be drawn. On one side was classical music: staid, stodgy, the stuff your music appreciation class forced you to hear. On the other side, popular music, in this case the then-relatively new genre of rock ‘n’ roll: wild, fun,... Continue Reading →
An Alt-Holiday Playlist with No Mariah, Bing, Frosty or Rudolph
In the air there’s a feeling of Christmas. Actually, it’s not so much a feeling as a sound. And that sound is currently dominated by Christmas music. Or maybe we should say holiday music, or winter music, since a bunch of these “Christmas” songs don’t mention Christmas: “Frosty the Snowman,” “Winter Wonderland,” etc. Call it... Continue Reading →
Tampa Area Couldn’t Help Falling In Love With Elvis
Elvis Presley performed in Tampa near the beginning of his career and near the end. On May 8, 1955, you could have seen a vibrant, 21-year-old Elvis at the Homer W. Hesterly Armory, singing “That’s All Right.” General admission was $1. https://www.instagram.com/p/CDUn9APBp4L/ Twenty-one years later you could have seen a pudgy, sweating-to-get-through-the-show, 42-year-old Elvis at... Continue Reading →