2006
- Still rockin' after all these years: 'Elvis Presley in Concert' brought together big names and die-hard fans of the King of Rock 'n' Roll
(Bangkok Post September 28, 2006)
Thailand -- It was much more than an unforgettable night. It was a miracle for Thai and international fans of Elvis Presley - the King of Rock 'n' Roll. Even the younger generations, who were just toddlers or not even born yet when Elvis left this world at the premature age of 42 in 1977, came under the spell of the rocker's performing talents, albeit resurrected virtually on-screen and from past vocal tracks, throughout the "Elvis Presley in Concert" show last Saturday.
Loyal devotees and new fans of all ages, ranging from 10 to 70, flocked to Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani, to see if their beloved singer could really make a return. Among them were celebs, including MR Malinee Chakrabhandhu, famous singer Heart Suthipong Thadpitakkul and Elvis admirers like veteran actor Jirasak Pinsuwan and singer-turned-diplomat Vasu Saengsingkaew.
The pre-show atmosphere was akin to that of a get-together party for old friends who share something in common - love for Elvis. Friendship and warm feelings were all around even among total strangers. Elvis look-alikes smilingly posed for pictures with vintage US cars as a backdrop.
The fun started when the King, in his familiar white jumpsuit and haircut, "took to the stage" on three giant TV screens, subsequently landing audience members into his classic back catalogue, switching between pulse-quickening tunes like C. C. Rider, the up-tempo Johnny B. Goode and slow, emotional tunes like You Gave Me a Mountain or the award-winning That's All Right, Mama with a pictorial presentation of Elvis' parents and childhood.
The most rocking moments were Elvis' crooning his hits Don't Be Cruel, Mystery Train, Tiger Man, Long Tall Sally and Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On, which brought loud applauses and whistles while keeping many others on their feet. All-time hits like Can't Help Falling In Love and Love Me Tender evoked warmth and love.
In all, it would not be an overstatement to say that these songs reflected his own life and that Elvis was truly a great, sweet spirit, a man, who, for his countless fans, will never die.
Two Elvis-loving families. The boys in Elvis-style outfits are Parut Hoosen and Thiranat Boonmalert.
- Special evening for Shammi Kapoor on Oct 21
(Deccan Herald September 28, 2006)
Mumbai, India -- One of Bollywood's greatest romantic heroes Shammi Kapoor, who is fondly referred to as India's answer to Elvis Presley, will be 75 years of age on October 21. Swar Lipi, a registered charitable trust, has come forward in a unique way to celebrate Shammi Kapoor's birthday by organising a musical evening ''Dil Ke Zaroke Mein'' to pay tributes to the living legend on October 14 at Shanmukhanand Hall, a press release here said. ...
- A technicolour adaptation
By Rashmi Rao
(Deccan Herald / Metrolife August 24, 2006)
India -- Hectic preparations are on for the staging of the Biblical play Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dream Coat at the Bishop Cotton BoysaC(TM) School audtorium.
It's an adaptation of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dream Coat, a family classic by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber and it will be staged by students of Sophia High School as part of the school's efforts to raise funds for their own auditorium. Hectic preparations are on for the Biblical play which will be staged on September 1, 2 and 3 at the Bishop Cotton Boys' School audtorium.
Metrolife caught up with the students and their music teacher during a rehearsal. The school auditorium was abuzz with excitement and activity. Musicians Robert, Cloyd and Jerome and Priya, a Class XI student from the school (kepboards), complemented the performances with flawless music.
Said Roshni Stanley, the music teacher and play director, "The play was a challenge but the kids proved our doubts wrong because of their understanding of the characters. The characters are mostly male but the children have been practicing all through summer holidays. We didn't want to use too many props and costumes as we wanted students to showcase their talents."
The play looks at family ties and human emotions such as togetherness and jealousy through the story of Joseph and his 11 brothers. Joseph is a dreamer and forsees good and bad. He's the favourite son of his father. Jacob but his brothers, who get jealous, sell him off. Joseph travels to Egypt where he is imprisoned, but released after he forsees famine, followed by abundance for Egypt. He is then reunited with his family.
"The play is light-hearted yet has a moral. Auditions for the play were conducted in March and practice began in April. Many students were chosen from the school's drama club and choir. We've tried to make this 90-minute musical on the lines of Broadway productions and the songs take on notes from country, disco and Elvis Presley rock music," said Ms Roshni. ...
- Elvis is in the building
By Anthony Geoffrey
(The Star July 29, 2006)
"A man is never dead till he is forgotten"
Malaysia -- Every year, Elvis Presley fans around the world gather to pay tribute to the King of Rock and Roll on Jan 8 and Aug 16 - his birthday and the day he died. Born Jan 8,1935, Presley ruled the rock and roll scene till Aug 16,1977. Since his death, over 40,000 impersonators worldwide have been created.
Now you'll get to meet three of them. Every Wednesday in August, the Elvis Trio comprising Frankie Fong, Aziz Daud and Alex Wong will belt out Elvis hits from the 50s to 70s at the Ol Skool Bistro, Jalan Gasing, Petaling Jaya.
Fong, 29, is the son of an accomplished singer. His late dad coached him at an early age while other kids were still playing marbles! He has performed solo at several functions for more than a decade. He plays the guitar and also performs with live bands. Wong, 31, has also been doing solo performances since early 1995. He has won several Elvis Presley talent contests. One of the more prominent prizes was a trip to Graceland organised by Light & Easy Radio 105.7 FM.
He delivers favourite tunes with affection and maturity, and is arguably the best young Elvis performer anywhere today. Aziz, 51, prefers to belt out seldom-heard songs from the 70s, including the Concert years. Complete with rhinestone-studded jumpsuit and gyrations, this performer has also been doing numerous party and private functions since the late 80s. He was also the first runner-up of Discovery Channelıs Be Elvis and Win contest held in 2002. As a self-taught pianist, he plays a few tunes, too!
This month-long tribute to the King is expected to be jam-packed, so please come early as there's no cover charge. The show starts at 9pm.
- Sultans Ex-Classmates Recall Fond Memories
By Lyna Mohammad & M K Anwar
(.brudirect.com / Borneo Bulletin, July 14 2006)
Bandar Seri Begawan - Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien College was in 1964 quite a different place from what it is today. Its students were more well-versed in the hits of Elvis Presley, Cliff Richards & the Shadows and the Platters. Little did the youngsters in Form 4 Arts know that a future sultan would soon be in their midst. Reading the same books, doing the same homework and playing the same sports. ...
- One nutty performance after another
(asahi.com, July 12 2006)
JAPAN: - PRIME MINISTER Junichiro Koizumi returned from his trip to the United States, where he pranced around Graceland, the home of Elvis Presley, donned sunglasses, played the air guitar, and sang a few lines. In Japan, he immediately had to deal with another type of bomb. North Korea launched seven missiles, including the long-range Taepodong-2. Although the missiles landed hundreds of kilometers from Japan, the TV shows were filled with criticism against Pyongyang. ...
- Afghan rock star still tops requests
By KIM BARKER
(Duluth News Tribune / CHICAGO TRIBUNE, July 9 2006)
MUSIC:An impersonator performs the songs of Ahmad Zahir, who was known as the Afghan Elvis.
KABUL, Afghanistan - He has the shaggy black hair, careful sideburns and ample belly of his favorite singer. He also claims to have a similar voice, even if some listeners are skeptical. Yet Zabihullah Jawanmard, 29, is no normal Elvis impersonator. Instead he is an Afghan Elvis impersonator, a man finding celebrity in Afghanistan by singing the songs of Ahmad Zahir, known as the Afghan Elvis, the most popular singer in Afghan history. "I have a bit of a fat stomach," Jawanmard acknowledged. "But people say, 'Don't get rid of it. It's just like Ahmad Zahir.' "
Zahir, frequently compared with Elvis Presley, also has a touch of Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash. During the 1960s and '70s, Afghanistan's cultural heyday, Zahir belted out tunes about women and wine before dying in 1979 in a tragic accident befitting any pop star. Like Presley, Zahir sang about now or never. Like Presley, Zahir liked the ladies. Police allegedly found hundreds of pairs of women's underwear in his house after he died.
It's almost impossible to overstate how popular Zahir still is in Afghanistan. He still tops song requests on Afghan music programs 27 years after his death. Maybe it's because music was put on hold for decades, through war and then the music-loathing Taliban, who hated Zahir so much they destroyed his grave. Maybe it's because of the myth around Zahir, who makes people nostalgic for a time before war, when Afghanistan seemed full of promise, when women (a few, at least) wore miniskirts and heels. Regardless of the reason, Zahir is still No. 1 here. "If I tell you the truth, out of 100 e-mails, 99 are asking for Ahmad Zahir," said Diana Azimi, 18, a veejay on the MTV-style "Hop" program.
Zahir, the son of a prime minister, died under mysterious circumstances on his 33rd birthday, ostensibly in a car wreck outside Kabul. Most Afghans believe he was murdered. Some blame the family of his second wife; Zahir was jailed briefly after being accused of killing her. Some blame a leading Communist who suspected his daughter was in love with Zahir. And some believe the ruling Communists killed Zahir.
Zahir's songs are a blend of East and West, of Persian-style poetry and guitars, accordion, organ and saxophones. Some songs sound a little surf; some sound a little jazz. Zahir's lyrics include layers of metaphors, often about heartbreak. Afghans never just name a title when asked their favorite Zahir song; instead they recite a song verse. "Dark nights in between the storms, my abandoned heart in deserts and in valleys, with hundreds of hopes." Or: "Hey heart. Hey heart. Hey crazy heart. I became crazy in your love, and I became chained in your trap." ...
Jawanmard began to play Zahir songs for friends. Two years ago, Jawanmard threw his first concert on the anniversary of Zahir's birth and death. But his recent anniversary concert is the one that brought him fame. In a major statement about how life has changed since the Taliban fell in late 2001, about 40 women sat in the audience. Some let their head scarves slip from their hair to their shoulders. One clapped and danced, as much as she could while sitting in her seat. Shaima Alakozai, 35, said this was the first concert she had seen since the Taliban killed her husband and son. "This is the first time I've had a happy occasion since," she said.
- To sing, dance and serve South Korea as a soldier
By Jon Herskovitz
(Washington Post / Reuters, April 25 2006)
SEOUL, KOREA - South Korean singer Yoon Gye-sang faced what might be called his Elvis Presley moment. Although not nearly the earth shaker Presley was when he was drafted in the 1950s, Yoon was a member of one of the country's top boy bands and at the height of his popularity when the draft board came calling. Like Elvis, Yoon answered the call, got a haircut and put on an army uniform. Compulsory military service is a fact of life in South Korea, which is technically still at war with North Korea, but two years in the army can kill the career of a young celebrity. South Korean stars face the choice of seeing their celebrity status fade into obscurity or becoming a pariah by trying to dodge the draft and not serving the country. ... Time in the armed forces can be harsh. One in four soldiers say they are verbally abused or beaten by superiors, according to a recent survey by a government-sponsored military think tank.
... Entertainers do not always make the best soldiers. Before becoming a rock pioneer, Jimi Hendrix enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1961. He was an abysmal marksman faulted for staying in bed when he should have been training and playing guitar when he should have been polishing his belt buckles, documents from the U.S. National Archives show. The U.S. military offered celebrities such as Presley perks. When Presley was inducted into the military in 1958, the Navy said it would create a company of entertainers for him. The man known as the King declined and said he wanted to be an ordinary soldier. Some South Korean celebrities are also shunning perks, hoping they can leave military service and recreate their image to show themselves as humble and mature. ...
- Trendy sunglasses to suit every dress and style
By HARESH DEOL
(Hindustan Times / Indo-Asian News Service, January 15 2006)
Bold, beautiful and evolving sunglasses have become the thing to indulge in, with foreign brands offering picks from the vintage 1980s style to the trendiest ones. With Dior and Chanel opening their design stores in New Delhi and Mumbai, one can now choose from classic Hepburn shades to Elvis Metal Retro styles or settle for Ray Ban or Nour Eyewear. ... It is no longer enough to own a pair to protect your eyes. Just as women own several bags to go with their different outfits, women in India are now picking sunglasses to create multiple looks. ...
- Soccer/MSL: Are you lonesome tonight Mat Zan?
By HARESH DEOL
(New York Times, January 15 2006)
WHAT does PKNS striker Elvis Coric and rock-and-roll legend Elvis Presley have in common besides their names? Both are heartbreakers. While Presley remains a heartthrob till today, Coricıs latest casualty is none other than KL coach Mat Zan Mat Aris. "I don't want to hear that name for a while now," Mat Zan said in a jest. Coric was Man-of-the-Match after scoring all four goals against KL at the KL Stadium, Bandar Tun Razak last weekend. PKNS won 4-1. Prior to that clash, KL lost to the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) and Johor FC 3-1 and 3-2 respectively. ... The curse of Elvis will only go away if KL get three points at the Hang Jebat Stadium tonight. Otherwise, itıs going to be another lonesome night for Mat Zan and company.
- Japanese fans celebrate Elvis's birthday
(channel4.com, January 9 2006)
Elvis Presley impersonators in Japan have been showing off their skills to celebrate the King of Rock 'n' Roll's birthday. Sunday 8th January was what would have been Elvis's 71st birthday and eleven amateur entertainers from across the country gathered in Toyko for the celebrations. This year also commemorated the 50th anniversary of Elvis's appearance in film and television.
One fan, Tadahiro Teramoto, has been a fan since school and flew two hours from his home in southern Japan with his family to sing "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me." The 41-year-old engineer said he practices his singing and dancing in the privacy of his company's mechanical room: "He (Elvis) empowers me. He heals me. He's my everything."
Another Elvis fan and impersonator is Machiko Tahara, a 51-year-old house wife: "I've been taking voice training to sound like Elvis. I've gotton to the point where people think I'm a man when they talk to me on the phone."
- MOVIES: Elvis on video
By Daniel Chan
(Malay Mail, January 3 2006)
JANUARY 8 marks the 71st anniversary of the birth of Elvis Presley in 1935 in Tupelo, Mississippi, so it's timely to reflect on his 31 feature films, a growing number of which are now available on high-quality DVD.
Elvis was the cutting edge of the then new genre of rock when, aged 21, he rocketed to stardom in 1956 and the same year made his screen debut in Love Me Tender, set during the American Civil War, in which he played an ill-fated farmer in conflict with his elder brother, a Rebel soldier (Richard Egan) as they both love the same woman (Debra Paget). Love Me Tender, directed by Robert D. Webb and originally titled The Reno Brothers, was a huge box-office hit, and Elvis headlined 30 more films during his prime, and all his films would have him singing at least one song, and some of the songs were chart hits too.
In his early films, Elvis was earnest, dared to tackle challenging roles, pushed himself to the limits, and tried to emulate the two actors he admired most - Marlon Brando and James Dean - and Elvis certainly showed promise as a serious actor with Oscar potential. His noteworthy early roles were 1957's Loving You (as petrol station attendant whose singing ability is discovered), 1957's Jailhouse Rock (considered his best, as ex-convict who redeems himself as a rock star), 1958's King Creole (Elvis' personal favourite, as New Orleans nightclub singer trying to escape the clutches of the criminal underworld, this was based on Harold Robbins' bestselling novel A Stone For Danny Fisher), 1960's Flaming Star (as half-breed who must choose sides when his Native American mother's tribe go on the warpath, a role initially meant as the first Western for Marlon Brando), and 1961's Wild In The Country (superb as a temperamental backwoods youth who aspires to be a writer and has affairs with three women of different maturity).
But the direction of his screen career changed due to the even bigger success of 1960's G.I. Blues and 1961's Blue Hawaii, both romantic musical comedies that cleverly capitalised on his discharge from the US army in 1960 after serving two years as a soldier at a US army base in West Germany (during which he continued to grab world news headlines).
... Elvis passed away on Aug 16, 1977 at age 42 from a drug overdose at his Graceland mansion in Memphis, Tennessee that has since become a 'pilgrimage' shrine to his fans all over the world who made him the king of rock & roll and the No. 1 biggest-selling recording artiste in history, with over one billion of his singles and albums sold in the past half century (ironically, more Elvis records are sold in the 29 years since his death than the 21 years when he was a singer). Which of his films were the best? In shortlisting his top five, most fans would include 1957's Jailhouse Rock, 1958's King Creole, 1960's Flaming Star, 1961's Blue Hawaii, and 1969's oddly-titled The Trouble With Girls (And How To Get Into It). As for the rest, most of his films rated two-stars at best, but many of them make feel-good viewing.
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