There are so many ways to examine the life and legacy of our Lord Elvis (blessed be He) that it's hard to find a way to examine it that will prove His divine status to the masses. This is no simple or irrelevant task, either, since such a vast majority of the world's people endorse this historio-mythical person or that as their Messiah, their Avatar, their Messenger, their God's-Manifestation-As-Human.
As far as I'm concerned, one listen to any single gospel song as recorded by Him should be enough evidence. Apparently not.
But I've been reading a biography of Sun Ra, a man who was a scholar of history, religion, astrology, numerology, and etymology. And he combined the knowledge and ideas of, oh, just about every religion (mainstream and cult) in trying to find an answer. And he made it work. So in using those, I've come up with answers.
-Etymology. The name "Elvis." Well, one might examine the roots of Elvis's own religious background. Elvis and His family were Pentecostals; it's a sect that has direct ancestry in the loosely termed Evangelicals, which in turn has direct ancestry in Lutheranism. Which is a German-based ethos.
And of course, all of Christianity--indeed all Judeo-Christian-Islamic thought--is based in Israel.
El - The original Hebrew word for God. Root of "Eli" (another Hebrew word for God) and "Allah."
Vis - German word for "face."
Elvis = "Face of God."
Religious languages tell no lie. And even the most stubbornly heterosexual of men will have to admit that Elvis (blessed be He) had one beautiful face. Divinely beautiful, even.
Numerology.
Elvis (blessed be He) had 16 letters in His name. Elvis Aron Presley. (Count 'em.) That's four fours. (4 X 4 = 16) Four is the number of the Gospels; four is the number of directions; four is the number of seasons; four is the number of classical elements; four is the number of letters in the Tetragrammaton (the Holiest of names for the Hebrew God).
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - MauriceColgan
Arch Angel Michael, Now that one of the world's most amazing artists, Kate Bush, is singing about Elvis Presley on her latest single release, "King of the Mountain" from her forthcoming album "Aerial", we may tend to agree with you. Considering Elvis had the looks of a Greek God according to many.
See statue of Liberty:-)
2 - Joanie
While I don't think Elvis is God, I will stipulate that he's pretty awesome.
Signed, the former non-Elvis fan who recently converted.
3 - Jesus Christ
What a load of bollocks.
4 - Michael J. West
Well you're hardly an objective opinion, are you, J.C.?
5 - Steve
Very funny, very clever. I think it is too clever for some and they will only see the serious facade of the article that was constructed to showcase the humour.
6 - DrPat
Yep. I guess I'll have to be an agnostic for Elvis, too...
7 - Eric Clapton
I'm God. Elvis was just a King.
8 - Tim Witt
The Statue of Liberty doesn't represent a Greek God. Bartholdi, the sculptor, modeled the statue after his mother.
Its blasphamy to suggest Elvis looks more like a mother than God. Say ten hail marys and check yourself into the nearest home for the silly.
I think some of the responses are too clever for some and they will only see the serious facade that was constructed to showcase the humour.
9 - Sharon
Great article - but did you like the CD?
10 - Scotty Moore
Nail on head. Elvis is about the music.
Its very sad that Elvis is used by one and all as: a figure of fun, a brand name for merchandising, as a means to make money and as an excuse to get publicity for oneself.
ELvis was not a God a joke or a meal ticket he was just a great artist.
Listen to the classic album thats pictured in the article and comment on that if your can. That would be the 'clever' thing to do.
11 - Michael J. West
I love that album, as much as I love everything Elvis (and blessed be He) every did.
And while I agree that it's sad, the degree to which Elvis has been used, I will make no apologies for having used Elvis as a deity.
PRAISE BE TO ELVIS TO WHOM ALL PRAISE IS DUE.
12 - Arty Fartblast
I have listened to the Clambake album and there are several secret messages thought to reveal the answer to life the universe and everything
When Clambake is played backwards Elvis can be heard singing ekabmalc
ekab malc - in the Aramic language ekab malc translates as
ebak - what are we doing here
malc - buggered if I know
13 - alienboy
And of course elvis is an anagram of lives...
14 - Joanie
Alienboy, Elvis can also be anagrammed into evils. Or veils. Take your pick.
15 - alienboy
I know, Joanie, I know, it's just with the article being about his godlike status...
16 - vern halen
I'm still waiting for the movie of The Last Temptation of Elvis. Or for Dan Brown's version of The daElvis Code.
17 - Joanie
The Last Temptation of Elvis was a handful of valium, wasn't it? Or maybe it was Cybill Shepherd.
18 - vern halen
Actually there was a compilation album called The Last Temptation of Elvis that came out in the late 80's or early 90's. Mostly alternative bands, as far as I remember.
Does anyone know if Having a Party Onstage with Elvis is available on CD? No unnecessary filler like, y'know, songs or anything. Just the King's snappy stage patter. The reason I ask is strictly in the interest of pursuing qaballah hidden in the words of His Elviship.
19 - Michael J. West
Having Fun with Elvis On Stage is available on an import CD from...Poland, I think? But I got mine on vinyl through the good people at eBay.
For your qaballah study, I might point out that every seventh word on the album is "Well."
20 - Paul Wood
'The Last Temptation of Elvis' was a double CD for the Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy charity which featured other artists take on Elvis songs.
Everyone apart from Paul McCartney who did a cover version of 'It's Now or Never' covered a song from an ELvis movie soundtrack including Bruce Springsteen who performed 'Follow that Dream'.
There were also a couple of takes on that album at the end from Elvis himself singing...
'The King of the Whole WIde World' from the movie Kid Galahad
".. the man who can sing when he hasn’t got a thing. He’s the king of the whole wide world.Come on let’s sing, sing brother sing..."
As ELvis did sing when he didn't have a thing he must therefore be the King..... of the Whole Wide World.
Being a King isn't the same thing as being God 'the creator and master of the universe' however.
The only thing Elvis created was MUSIC and nobodys going to tell theres a religious message in Hound Dog.
Though hang on a minute Dnouh! When Hound Dog is played backards it becomes a song about God.
OKay I'm starting to believe
"..Come on let’s sing, sing brother sing..."
http://www.nordoff-robbins.org.uk/
21 - Victor Plenty
All this aggravation ain't satisfactionin' me.
22 - Big Dave
Your numbers our not very impressive, when you have to devide all that crap, it does not support case at all!! I am a huge Elvis fan, but get real brother.
23 - Peter Cook
How very interesting. I read this article with interest and the article was very interesting. I have always had an interest in interesting articles about Elvis and this interesting article about Elvis was very interesting indeed. Indeed it was much more interesting that the last interesting article I read about Elvis which was very interesting but not anywhere near as interesting as yours. All in all its all very interesting.
24 - Larry Geller
Thanks for backing up my theorys about Elvis.
25 - Marty Slacker
This is just the kind of California cult crap that Larry Geller used to put into ELvis head.