BANGKOK - Strobe lights flashed as solid
beats and wild sounds permeated the atmosphere.
With the boisterous crowd turning ballistic, it
was hard to ignore this ongoing celebration. A
typical screen shot of the Thai capital's
exuberant nightlife? No, not quite. This
month, hundreds gathered at the grand ballroom of
central Bangkok's Asia Hotel to commemorate the
death of a king. It has been 30 years since Elvis
Aaron Presley, the "King of Rock 'n' Roll", ended
his glorious reign when he collapsed and died of a
drug-induced heart attack in
his Graceland mansion in Memphis, Tennessee.
Before his death on August 16, 1977, the music
prodigy had successfully sent the world into a
trance by producing evergreen hits such as "Hound
Dog" and "Jailhouse Rock".
With
irrepressible jubilation and unrestrained
flamboyance, the "30th Elvis Presley Memory Lives
on 2007" concert here was not a mere anniversary
of death, but rather a gala celebration of a life
and a legend.
Some among the largely
middle-aged crowd wore their "Las Vegas Elvis"-era
bell-bottomed trousers and their aviator shades
for the event that went on until midnight. The
impersonators had these on, as well as the flashy
sequined caped tops with huge stand-up collars and
their even more huge (fake) sideburns. As he was
in life - from a sexy, lean rockabilly to the
bloated Vegas self-caricature - there was an Elvis
for everyone. There was a thin Elvis, Elvises with
paunches, Elvises in a mix of costumes and color -
shocking yellow, blue, black, but all of them had
one thing in common - Elvis's signature greased
hair.
"This is my fifth time attending the
Elvis concert," said Kiattisaknikorn Thanakorn, a
financial adviser in his 60s. Admitting that he
understands meager portions of Elvis's English
lyrics, Kiattisaknikorn explained that both he and
his elder brother were Elvis fans since childhood.
"His fashion sense, his dancing and his
voice once made huge impacts on the lives of many,
and it's now possible for everyone to revisit the
past by simply attending concerts like this," said
Kiattisaknikorn.
First organized by the
Asia Hotel in 1997, this annual Elvis
commemoration event draws hundreds and thousands
of individuals from all walks of life. These
include impersonators, fans and tourists, as well
as hotel guests - tickets for the event ranged
from US$24-$45. Many other Elvis events have
spawned around Thailand, which is a not exactly
known as a sanctuary for aspiring Asian Elvis
impersonators.
"This is close to my 10th
year in Bangkok impersonating Elvis," recalled
Rudy Souza, an Elvis impersonator from Macau who
performed at the concert. Currently working in
Macau's hotel and casino industry, the private
entertainer, who has won several Elvis look-alike
competitions in his home town, speaks of his
adoration for the music legend: "Although Elvis
Presley's death was unbelievable, I feel as though
I am reviving his legacy whenever I impersonate
him."
Through performance after
performance by a string of impersonators onstage
that night, Elvis's timeless melodies and tunes
sustained the audience for hours, leaving them
begging for more. The glittery ambience, created
by dazzling sequins from the costumes, transformed
the ballroom into a '60s dance arena, prompting
such couples as American tourists Ann Casper and
Karl Deringer, who came dressed in '60s-era
outfits, to head for the dance floor.
The
crowd tirelessly prefaced each familiar song with
a wild cheer, but as soon as an impersonator's
thunderous Elvis voice bellowed through the
ballroom, abrupt silence from the floor preceded
continuous blinding camera flashes.
"Although this is only my second time
here, if I'm available I will come every year,"
said Tadthep Sujitjom, a 50-year-old businessman.
"This event is a good opportunity for fans to make
new friends with others who share the same
interests - people my age need social gatherings
like this.
"Although Elvis was popular
back in the '60s, and perhaps with his death he's
even more popular today, I don't quite fancy his
acting," added Tadthep in jest.
But
12-year-old Papontee Veerapravati, the youngest
performer that night, begged to differ: "Elvis is
not dead yet. He's still in everyone's hearts."
His mother said he took to Elvis's music
after seeing his parents listening to his songs.
"I started impersonating Elvis five years ago
because I was hooked on Elvis's music," said the
Bangkok international-school student who calls
himself "Elvis Pro".
Most performers
ultimately just want people to know about Elvis
"so that the king doesn't die", explained
Papontee.
Although the 30th Elvis Presley
Memory Lives on 2007 concert was designed to unite
Elvis fans and, even for just a while, step back
into the past, Elvis himself would have been proud
to know that proceeds from a portion of the ticket
sales went to the Thai Red Cross Society.
"Thank you, thank-you-very-much," Elvis
might have told Thailand. Yes, Elvis has left the
planet, but 30 years later he's still virtually
everywhere.
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