That's Alright, Mama

My daughter loves Elvis Presley. Loves. Extreme love. I blame her Grandmother for getting the ball rolling, because she provided the first taste of music. (My Mom is a true Elvis fangirl, but thankfully, not one of the psychotic ones) Then, she told my daughter that Elvis was her boyfriend before she met Pa. (I take back the psychotic remark)

My brother and I were raised on Elvis. Elvis and The Beatles. But it's Elvis I remember blaring from the old cabinet stereo in my parents dining room, the 45's dropping one after another..."I Want You, I Need You, I Love You", "A Fool Such As I", "Jailhouse Rock", "Love Me Tender", "A Mess Of Blues", "Anyway You Want Me", "Hound Dog", just to put a drop in the bucket. The 8 tracks were a given in our old Mercury Monterey, and Elvis' Christmas Album was a staple from Thanksgiving through New Years. (Only Elvis fans think a depressing song like "Mama Liked the Roses" is a classic Christmas tune)

So it didn't exactly surprise me that my daughter was loving Elvis as much as I did as a kid.

Thinking that this was a cute thing, and glad that she was showing an interest in good music, I let her hear the King Creole soundtrack, which admittedly, is one of my very favorite soundtrack albums EVER. Now and then I'd play it in the car, or it would shuffle up on my Zen. It started with Lover Doll, which she called "Lava Da". (Can't blame the kid, really. Elvis wasn't exactly known for his sterling pronunciation, coupled with his Mississippi accent. It's a wonder some of that early stuff is decipherable as English.)

Then, one night I heard her in her room singing, "If you're looking for trouble da da da da da you came to the right place da da da da da..." , the "da da's" obviously serving as a 4 year olds replication of electric guitar.

Then, every time we got in the car, she asked for Elvis. Talk about taking a good thing and beating it to a bloody pulp.

She seemed to slack off for awhile, thankfully, because I can get sick of the same thing over and over pretty quickly (aside from anything with the name "Finn" attached).

Then, the other day in a restaurant "I Want You, I Need You, I Love You" came on.

"ELVIS!"

She shreiked. Just like the squealing, fainting girls at his concerts.

It became obvious to me then. She's an Elvis fangirl, just like her Grandmother.

I told her that Elvis is NOT alive and well and living in Viva Las Vegas. I told her that under no circumstances will she get married by a preacher dressed as 1976 fat Elvis, complete with pork chop sideburns and sparkly jumpsuit and cape (although she has expressed an interest in being Fat Elvis for Halloween, since it involves all things sparkly and capey, and frankly, I think this would be funny as hell!).

I told her she will never see Elvis Presley walk out of a 7-11. *grin*

I also told her she had very good taste in music.

Just like her Mama.