2005
- Elvis lives, on fringes of Philippine politics
(Yahoo! News Asia, July 12, 2005)
Elvis apparently is alive and well on the fringes of Philippine politics! A network news anchor was left fumbling for words Tuesday following a live interview with the president's executive secretary about a Cabinet appointment that included cutaway shots showing the interview's location at a government broadcast studio - with Elvis in the background. "Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita there, making the announcement while, uh ... interestingly enough, talking with Elvis Presley," ANC network anchor Ricky Carandang said to laughter in his own studio. "Or at least someone who looks very much like him."
The King looked in pretty good shape, wearing a white embroidered jumpsuit. His pompadour and big sideburns were jet black, and he appeared to be in the late prime of his career, before the weight really started to pile on. It turned out the Elvis impersonator is a new addition to the sparsely watched government TV network NBN, where he is a regular on a morning talk show. "We know that the government network needs to give information and appeal to viewers," said NBN general manager Jose Isabelo, who seemed surprised that anyone would be asking about Elvis. "We feel the need to bridge the gap between the government network presentation and those of private networks."
- Costanilla: Dr. Elvis
By Sam Costanilla
(Sun Star, June 30, 2005)
PHILIPPINES - CONCERT. If you are a music lover - and particularly an Elvis Presley fan - here's a concert you should not miss. No, you don' t have to travel to Las Vegas just to watch the rock 'n roll king - or any of his thousands of impersonators - do his thing onstage. A Tribute to Elvis Presley Part II is a presentation that doesn't require you to travel elsewhere. Why? Because it will be staged right here in Cebu - at the Budyong Hall of Casino Filipino Mactan, to be specific. The show is on Saturday, July 2, starting at exactly 8 p.m.
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OPONGANON. Then you'll ask, who's going to perform? Okay, let me tell you that a true-blue Oponganon (Opong is actually the original name of Barangay Opon, Mactan island) in the person of Bernard Pino is going to do the two-hour show on Saturday evening. This retired physician was born and raised in Opon. After finishing his medical studies here, he flew to Michigan, USA where he practiced his profession for close to 33 years.
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ENCOURAGEMENT. Dr. Elvis, as I fondly call him, was encouraged to develop his Elvis sing-alike ability after one of his American patients told him that he sounded just like the original rock 'n roll king. This Cebuano doctor would admit that he had never been a Presley fan but because of his patient's encouraging words, he decided to try singing Presley songs and eventually impersonating his stage actions, including the trademark gyrations. Little did Bernard know that he would soon order his tailor to make Presley concert costumes. Remember those sequined overalls and bellbottom pants? Yes, he even produced the exact replica of Presley's shades. Of course, even the hairstyle and the trademark sideburns are being copied by this Cebuano Presley impersonator.
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TALENTS. For his concert on Saturday evening, Dr. Elvis will be doing 24 Presley songs and he will be having four costume changes. The incomparable Doy Montana and his band shall provide the live accompaniment all throughout the show. Other local talents are appearing as guest performers like Sheryl Panis, The Carnations (Sarah Badana, Fenderlyn de Gracia and Ludy Bacalso), Robert Santillana, Harold Badana, Rene de Gracia and The Emotions Dance Company. I saw Dr. Elvis's first concert two years ago and it was fantastic, but I know that his show on Saturday evening will be even more so, more colorful, more fun-filled and more musically delightful and enriching. Hurry, the tickets are selling like hotcakes, so please don't blame me if they run out either today or tomorrow. Just check it out at the entrance of Casino Filipino Mactan's Budyong Hall. I think there are still some pieces left.
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BENEFICIARY. Watching this Saturday's concert is actually your way of helping local musicians who are in need of free hospitalization due to financial problems they are facing. It's heartening to know that Dr. Elvis has already waived his talent fee as his way of helping this noble cause. Isn't that highly commendable? The show is for the benefit of the needy members of the Cebu Association of Legitimate Musical Artists (Calma) which Dr. Elvis and Montana themselves organized. In this respect, they want to sincerely thank all the corporate and individual sponsors for supporting this Saturday's concert. Don't you miss it, folks.
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REJECTION. This aging self-proclaimed stage director here continues to suffer from his tarnished credibility. He just got rejected by a probable stageplay producer.
- TRIBUTE: Remembering Elvis
(New Straits Times, June 29, 2005)
FANS of the late king of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley, in Malaysia will be gathering for a tribute in conjunction with the passing of the legendary performer on Saturday, Aug 20 ,2005 at the Dragon Head, Kelana Square, Kelana Jaya, at 9 pm.
A musical tribute of Elvis songs will be performed by Malaysian Elvis impersonators, including Aziz Presley Daud. Guests will be treated to one complimentary drink and dinner for a nominal fee of RM36 per person. Rare footages of Elvis's video clips and movies will be screened, while guests may sing along till 9 pm before the main show starts. Dancing is allowed.
Elvis Presley is a household name for the millions of fans throughout the world till today and will be best remembered for the evolution of Rock and Roll music. Although the King has "has left the building" since Aug 16, 1977, his music and impact remains unforgotten.
Elvis's fans can expect to listen to songs such as Just Pretend, Words, CC Rider, How The Web Was Woven and at least 20 other hits at the tribute. Of course, trademark songs like Teddy Bear, Don't Be Cruel, Heartbreak Hotel and more will not be left out.
- Arab rocker Rachid Taha's music fueled by politics, punk attitude and -- what else? -- romance
By Jonathan Curie
(San Francisco Chronicle, June 27, 2005)
He's an Arab punk rocker. He's a provocateur who criticizes Arab governments. He's a romantic who sprinkles conversations with sex references. Oh, yeah -- he's also a budding screenwriter and novelist, not to mention a jokester who says his success with singing is almost a fluke. ... Tuesday night, Taha will be in San Francisco on his latest tour, which coincides with the release of "Tekitoi," a new album that's vintage Taha. There's an ode to his Arab roots (the classic song "Ya Rayah," written by Abderrahmane Amrani); there's a hard-sounding riff on the state of Arab politicians ("Safi," which includes the lines, "Our culture in not democratic . . . the rulers have neutered the people"); there's an atmospheric collaboration with a high-profile fan of Taha's (Brian Eno, who orchestrates their song "Dima"); and there's a reworking of a Western standard (the Clash's "Rock the Casbah"). Taha's "Rock El Casbah" features an Egyptian string ensemble, Moroccan flute, Arabic percussion and an up-tempo, playful approach that makes it seem Joe Strummer's work (which is about music fans opposing an oppressive king) was written just for Taha.
Taha, who is 46, has liked punk music since he was a teenager in France. He moved there with his parents, who were strict Muslims, when he was 10. Taha's father worked in a factory -- a job Taha also took when he was young, though at night he spun music as a DJ in his own club. In those days, Taha and other Algerian immigrants living in Lyon were generally prohibited from the regular night spots -- a level of discrimination that made Taha angry and set up his identification with the punk music of the Clash and other groups. Taha has been influenced by a smorgasbord of other musicians, including Elvis Presley; Led Zepplin and Robert Plant; Oum Kalthoum, Egypt's greatest classical singer; and Bollywood groups that perform the big-budget love songs of India's most popular films. Still, it's rock music that Taha has internalized the most. He once told an interviewer, "For me, (my) music is rock 'n' roll, colored by what's inside me -- and what's inside me is I'm European, Arab and Muslim." ...
- Joint Isn't Jumping in Baghdad
By Borzou Daragahi
(Yahoo! News, June 27, 2005)
BAGHDAD - Close your eyes and the dusty ballroom of Hadira Shalal seems to come alive with the sounds of Iraqi folk music and the scent of booze and cologne. The scattered wooden chairs of the deserted nightclub become the swirling figures of happy-go-lucky revelers flirting and line-dancing. Juicy kebabs and bottles of liquor appear on the bare tables, now piled up in the corners. Until restaurateur Bassel Aziz Majid closed the doors about a month ago, Hadira Shalal, which means "the sound of a waterfall," may have been Baghdad's last nightclub. Not one of many restaurants that secretly serve liquor but the real deal: a rollicking hot-spot where guests drank and partied until the wee hours ... But finally, Iraq's newly empowered enemies of Western-style fun got to his landlord, a good friend who with a heavy heart told him to shut down the club and get out of the building before it became the target of a bloody attack ... Majid is a hard-drinking and urbane Shiite with a degree in hotel and restaurant management from Italy and a fondness for Elvis Presley. ...
- Classic fashions back with 'Parineeta', 'Paheli'
By HINDOL SENGUPTA
(India Times, June 23, 2005)
With two mega period films "Parineeta" and "Paheli" releasing within days of each other, Bollywood -- that evergreen harbinger of style in India -- has brought back what our grandparents knew best. Namely, large, stiff collars,
sharply cut shirts and trousers, folded cuffs joined by cufflinks, crochet and boots and high heels and delectable kurtas, cut on the side or the more common round-neck worn with neat dhotis or churidars. All together a mingling of the late 1960s going back to 1940s and 1950s era that includes everything from the seductive red saris and kurtas of Shah Rukh Khan and Rani Mukherjee in "Paheli" to the white vest and dark trouser (with cigarette dangling from the lips) dare-do of Saif Ali Khan, as he croons Elvis' "I get so lonely I could die" in "Parineeta". ...
- Chennai-born Humperdinck to perform in India in June
(The Hindu / UNI, May 26, 2005)
Engelbert Humperdinck, whose all-time hits like 'The Last Waltz' and 'There Goes My Everything' created pop history when first released, is finally returning to perform in the country of his birth - India. Humperdinck will hold three charity concerts at Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore on June 5, 7 and 9 respectively, as part of his "Let There be Love" tour in aid of the Bangalore-based ACTS Trust which has been involved in environmental activism and education and is now working for the rehabilitation of tsunami victims.
The singer, whose first hit 'Release Me' stayed in the pop charts at number one for 56 weeks and whose bushy sidelocks were copied by the king of rock, Elvis Presley, in the 60s, was born Arnold George Dorsey in Chennai where his father was posted in the British Army during the Second World War. When Arnold was 10, the family moved to Leicester where he learnt to play the saxophone. Young Dorsey discovered his vocal talent at a contest in a pub. ...
- Elvis legend refuses to die!
By WALDEN BELEN
(Manila Bulletin Online, May 22, 2005)
Amazingly, the Elvis Presley legend has refused to die, even after 28 years! The "king of rock'n'roll" died on Aug. 16, 1977 in his homeland in Graceland, Memphis, now considered a sacred place by his millions of fans all over the world. At any time of the year, Elvis fans troop to Graceland to pay homage to the "King."
Interestingly, the "King" was born into poverty to Vernon and Gladys Presley but he moved on to become one of the most influential figures of the 20th century. Proclaimed "King" at 21, Elvis died at age 42. To make the memory of Elvis Presley alive, there are hundreds of Elvis Presley clubs worldwide who see to it that their idol's legacy is kept alive all the time.
In the Philippines, the Elvis Presley Friendship Club Phils. Int'l was founded by Chito Bertol, dubbed the "Original Elvis Presley of the Philippines," who is also the president and general manager of Manila Seedling Bank Foundation, in May of 2000. At that time, Bertol already has a radio program, the "Elvis Presley Sunday Specials," aired on DZSR from 8-10 a.m. Another Elvis Presley radio program which the club supports is "Elvis is Alive" on DWWW, hosted by Vic Morales. This is aired every Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Bertol organized the club with the aim in view of providing opportunity for local Elvis fans to gather together regularly to reminisce or pay tribute to their idol through musical concerts. The club, whose membership has grown to 300, will celebrate its fifth year anniversary on May 29, 2005 and to coincide with this, the club will release a new CD titled "Elvis by the Presleys" which also features new and intimate interviews with his former wife Priscilla Bealieu Presley, and their daughter Liza Marie Presley.
The club, which has produced two exclusive CDS entitled "Rare Elvis" and "Rare Elvis Duets," will also present an anniversary party on May 29 at Quattro Music Bar along Timog Ave. Quezon City. Members and guests will be treated to Elvis music to be sung by impersonators from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
A new mini-series simply titled "Elvis" will also be presented by CBSUSA TV this month. The TV special will include exclusive and vintage photos and Presley family home movies never before seen. "Elvis by The Presleys" is a double CD album containing 32 tracks plus a rarity disc featuring previously unreleased private recordings of Elvis working in a studio for such tracks as "Jailhouse Rock" and "Too Many Monkey Business."
The Elvis Presley Friendship Club Phils. is only known Elvis club in the country. Bertol, whose passion and hobby is playing Elvis music and collecting Elvis memorabilia (he has a music room full of Elvis souvenirs and collectible items) said his club is accredited by Elvis Enterprises Graceland, Memphis USA. It is also a member of the powerful Elvis Presley Alliance of Asia (EPAA) which comprise of five official Elvis fans club in such countries as Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, Japan and of course the Philippines.
Bertol also said EPAA has started its thrust towards introducing Elvismania in China by initially offering an Elvis concert performed by impersonators. And apparently, EPAA has succeeded. Because when the former president of China, Jiang Ze Ming visited Manila in l996, he sang the Elvis song "Love Me Tender" at a banquet hosted by then President Fidel V. Ramos. Then, at a meeting with then US President Bill Clinton, President Jiang sang another Elvis song, "Are You Lonesome Tonight" with Clinton playing the saxophone. Earlier this year, President Ziang specially ordered "The Elvis Presley Story" to be staged in Beijing for his and close associates' enjoyment The stage show was warmly received by the Chinese audience and for this, Bertol said the Elvismania is ripe in China.
The officers of the Elvis Presley Friendship Club Phils. Int'l are: Chito Bertol, founding chairman; Levi Castillo, adviser; Nita de Guzman, Lely Po, Grace Sanchez, Tita Tirona, Atty. Homer Mendoza, Nina Garcia, Jovita Garcia, Alfred Sanchez, and Walter Perez, directors. Tristan Manlapaz is Goodman Friday.
- Eco-makeover for Koizumi home
(The Hindu / Guardian Newspapers, April 13, 2005)
Three years of renovation have transformed the Japanese Prime Minister's residence from a crumbling, vermin-invested pile into a state-of-the-art ecological home, it was revealed on Monday. Junichiro Koizumi finally had somewhere to call home when his refurbished four-storey official residence was unveiled before members of the Cabinet and former Prime Ministers. The building, built in 1929, is being touted as proof of Japan's commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.It cost 8.6 billion yen to renovate and is the first home in Japan to be powered partly by clean-energy fuel cells, according to officials.
The roof of the 7,000 sq metre residence is covered with solar panels which should provide Mr Koizumi enough electricity to see him through his collection of Elvis Presley CDs. The house's two fuel cells, which convert hydrogen and oxygen into electricity, are one possible answer to global warming.
- Elvis Presley clones revive singer's popularity in Goa
By Vaibhav Varma
(Channel NewsAsia, April 10, 2005)
The Elvis Presley craze is making a comeback in Goa, a popular tourist destination in western India. The American singer may have died in 1977 but his popularity lives on as a barrage of Elvis clones try to out-perform each other. He is possibly the most impersonated rock 'n roll celebrity. Although it's nearly three decades since he passed on, the spirit of Elvis Presley lives on in the many performers who make great efforts to dress and sing like him.
In India's popular tourist resort of Goa, that seems to be the newest attraction for holidaymakers. At restaurants and nightclubs, a motley mix of chubby and middle-aged Elvis Presley look-alikes belt out hits from the 1950s and 60s. There is 'Surrender', 'One Night', 'All Shook Up' and more. And the tourists love it. ... The thrill of vintage Presley with a strong Indianised flavour is a recipe that is certainly making a splash with tourists there, adding a new twist to the traditional Indian attractions of cultural diversity and ancient civilisations.
- The love songs of Elvis: SOUNDS FAMILIAR
By Baby A. Gil
(Philippine Star, April 6, 2005)
The big news is that nearly 38 years after his death on Aug. 15, 1977, the songs of Elvis Presley continue to outsell recent recordings by the new batch of artists in the United Kingdom. The latest chart buster is Devil in Disguise, which he recorded way back in 1963. This comes on the heels of another hit single, Good Luck Charm, which is even older and was first released in 1962. If the trend continues, we can expect these two songs to also make the charts in other countries, most notably the US of A.
This was what happened to the remix of the 1968 single A Little Less Conversation by DJ Junkie XL from the Netherlands in 2002. A year later, there was an even bigger seller in the remix of the 1969 hit Rubberneckin by UK DJ Paul Oakenfold. That tune made it to No. 1 in both the US and the UK hit charts.
The timeless appeal of these tunes do testify to the public's eternal fascination with all things Elvis. They also call attention to the fact that long before the Beatles or Motown R&B came along, Elvis created the sound of rock and roll. All well and good, but given the romantic nature of Filipinos, the Elvis recordings they prefer to listen to are the love songs. These might never be dissected or remixed the way DJs do to the others. These might never win admiration for being risky or innovative but you can bet that they will always touch the hearts of men for years and years to come.
Twenty-four of these songs are included in the new compilation Love Elvis. I grant that Elvis recorded more than 24 great love songs in his lifetime but as always, it is not possible to have everything in one package. If you want more, there was a two-CD set released a few years ago titled 50 Greatest Love Songs, which also costs more. So why buy this new CD. First off, the songs have been digitally remastered and they did a truly masterful job. The sound is just terrific. Second, there are great photos of the King of Rock and Roll on the cover like that one of him playing the piano that shows off his very handsome profile.
Then of course, although, it does not have all of the love songs, Love Elvis offers up some surprises seldom or never found in other Elvis collections. There are his always remarkable version of Unchained Melody, that sexy rendition of Peggy Lee's Fever, a live recording of the Everly Brothers' Let It Be Me and a never before released take of Kris Kristofferson's For the Good Times.
And then there is the best reason of all, Elvis himself. Michael Hill says why so well in the album's liner notes. "This collection displays Elvis Presley at his most intimate, unguarded and boyishly sincere." I heartily agree. Elvis was one of the greatest vocalists of all time and his singing is at its most heartfelt when he is doing love songs.
That is why we never get tired of Are You Lonesome Tonight. Okey, that whispered verse in the middle gets icky at times but Elvis sounds like he means every word. Just as he does in It's Impossible, And I Love You So, Can't Help Falling in Love, You Don't Have to Say You Love Me, (Now and Then There's A Fool Such As I, The Wonder of You, Any Way You Want Me and the rest of the songs. I miss my favorite Elvis song, Suspicious Minds, but perhaps it does not qualify as a love song. It has my second favorite though, the still heart wrenching Always on My Mind.
Just a note before I leave Elvis. I want to go back to that piece about the cover in Hill's liner notes. "The cover of this package sets the tone with a just-this-side-of-naughty image that is caught, not posed: a gorgeously youthful Elvis going playfully tongue to tongue with a local fan from Virginia." There is no such photo on the cover. There is only Elvis looking quite handsome with brooding eyes and a hint of a pout. Nice but somebody changed that tongue to tongue picture without reading the liner notes.
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