Hi !
I am Piamaa, I'm 25 and I'm a french girl (I apologize if I do some mistakes, I try to improve my english ). I work as a journalist. I don't know if I can define myself as an Elvis fan, but I really appreciate his music. I really discovered his incredible life and his music on last june during a trip in USA.
For the little story, I did a trip with a friend during three months this year. The trip include a step at Memphis and Nashville. We already knew about their reputation as "capital of rock and country" and about BB King, etc... and Elvis of course ! But before visiting those cities, I was not an Elvis fan. At this time, in my mind, Elvis was just the singer of few songs that I liked (essentially suspicious minds, little less conversation and blue suede shoes), and all that I knew was at the end of his life, he was sick, drug addict, fat and and that he died in his bathroom (and his costumes were a little bit kitch ^^), and that today, old ladies are still in love with him ^^.
But when I finally came in Memphis... what a shock ! Since my childhood, I always loved rock'n'roll, blues, country, etc. So when I arrived there, it was like heaven, I really loved the spirit, the atmosphere of this city ! And with my friend, we wanted to visit Graceland just to see all of the kitch of this house, and to discover a little bit more about Elvis. And for me, it was a second big shock.
I completely fell in love with his music, and after this visit, I wanted to know more and more about Elvis, to understand why he was called "The King", and why everybody said he was the King of rock'n'roll. For me, it was unbelievable because I was wondering how a man can generate so much passion around the world, without do some concerts in a foreign country or wrote some songs, even almost 40 years after his death, and with "only" 20 years of career (included some bad movies). I absolutely wanted to know how he became this cultural figure in this world. For me, the most incredible is the fact that he became a legend without going outside USA ! It's incredible because in the 50,'s, 60's, 70's, we don't have internet or the communication tools that we have today.
So when I get back in France, I read the Peter Guralnick biography and this book was just incredible. I learned so much about rock, country, r'n'b and gospel music, I discovered so much about Elvis, and the more I read, the more I was sad to see the downfall of Elvis. I was almost crying at the end of the book, and the day I finished this book, I was unable to listen an Elvis' song, because I was too sad !
I am so sorry, this text is so long ! ^^
Well, I can't explain what happened in me the day I visited Graceland, I really, really, really don't understand, but I bless this day so much ! And I don't know what Elvis music did in my mind but I am happy to find some people to discuss about Elvis and about his music
And that's why I am here, because I prefer to share this new passion with you
See you !