Culture

Elvis: Vote For Your Favorite Tribute Artist

by PEP | August 16, 2007 at 06:44 am

483 views | 20 Recommendations | 3 comments

Time to get your Elvis on! This USA feature allows you to view clips of the top ten finalists for the crown of top Elvis "tribute artist" (eschew impersonator).

They're hot. They're Elvis. Never mind that the king died 30 years ago this week, his spirit lives.

Among the finalists at Graceland's Elvis Week are crooners from Canada, Norway, England, and, of course, the U.S., home of the king of rock 'n roll.

No coins required for the jukebox. Click, play, and vote

Finally welcomed by Graceland after all these years, Elvis Presley impersonators need to keep one basic rule in mind — respect the King.

Managers of Presley's home in Memphis plan to anoint their first-ever official Elvis "tribute artist" this week, as they mark the 30th anniversary of his death there. But they don't want tacky, they don't want kitschy and they don't want a ridiculous spoof.

The contest judges will be looking for sincerity and respect — even if it's accompanied by karate moves, black pompadours and rhinestone jumpsuits.

8 See all footage | View Slideshow

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PEP

at 06:52 on August 16th, 2007

For further background on the contest and Graceland's softening toward tribute artists, see Victoria Revay's earlier coverage.

Jordan Yerman

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 07:32 on August 16th, 2007

Graceland's managers are attempting something truly ambitious: to control not only commercial use of Elvis Presley properties (music, tours, memorabilia), but also how the public percieves him. I don't think they'll be successful (are your papers in order, Mr. Mock-Presley?), but it's an interesting culturo-economic excercise nonetheless.

(Don't bother spell-checking "culturo-economic", since I just made it up)