Happy Birthday, E.

♠
He felt like a different person, he told June, when he was onstage: “I don't know, it's hard to explain. It's like your whole body gets goose bumps, but it's not goose bumps. It's not a chill either. It's like a surge of electricity going through you. It's almost like making love, but it's even stronger than that.” Did it happen to all entertainers? June asked him. “I don't know. The few I've talked to experience excitement and nerves, but they must not feel the way I do. If they did, they would say more about it, don't you think? They say they get nervous, but after they sing a few lines they calm down. Hell, I don't calm down till two or three hours after I leave the stage. Sometimes I think my heart is going to explode.”

-- Elvis as quoted in Peter Guralnick's Last Train to Memphis

This scene comes from that golden summer of 1956, when Elvis was just beginning to consolidate his legend. Of course, the time would come when it was all Elvis could do to keep standing throughout a show. But it must be nice to be able to feel that plugged into the force of nature at least some time in your life.

I don't think Monk ever felt that way, at least not in his adult life. It was all one can do to mark the birthday of the King of Rock 'n' Roll, today. But you take what you can get. And there is something to appreciate in this.

xXx

Happy Birthday, E.

♠
He felt like a different person, he told June, when he was onstage: “I don't know, it's hard to explain. It's like your whole body gets goose bumps, but it's not goose bumps. It's not a chill either. It's like a surge of electricity going through you. It's almost like making love, but it's even stronger than that.” Did it happen to all entertainers? June asked him. “I don't know. The few I've talked to experience excitement and nerves, but they must not feel the way I do. If they did, they would say more about it, don't you think? They say they get nervous, but after they sing a few lines they calm down. Hell, I don't calm down till two or three hours after I leave the stage. Sometimes I think my heart is going to explode.”

-- Elvis as quoted in Peter Guralnick's Last Train to Memphis

This scene comes from that golden summer of 1956, when Elvis was just beginning to consolidate his legend. Of course, the time would come when it was all Elvis could do to keep standing throughout a show. But it must be nice to be able to feel that plugged into the force of nature at least some time in your life.

I don't think Monk ever felt that way, at least not in his adult life. It was all one can do to mark the birthday of the King of Rock 'n' Roll, today. But you take what you can get. And there is something to appreciate in this.

xXx