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The thunder of trumpets and percussion fills the air as "Theme from year 2001" is played. The excitement rises
as the drums kicks off in a very lively, very primate rhythm.
KING MEMPHIS enters the stage with flashbulbs exploding and the air is filled with hysteria. One hell of a man dressed in the well-known white jumpsuit with the high-starched collar and the black hair and bushy sideburn well groomed. The audience is on their feet yelling and screaming.
He kicks off with a fast version of "See See Rider" that brings sweat on his face. The 11-piece band is sounding tight and the
chorus is very brilliant. Then he finally welcomes the crowd. You can hardly hear a word 'cause the screaming is so intense.
He moves on into some of the old songs like "All shook up", "Teddybear / Don't be cruel " swinging his guitar like a tommy-gun,
wearing it only as a prop. He throws away his guitar and introduces "You gave me a mountain" claimed to be his favourite. It's a very perfect and heart-stirring version where the whole band
is working well.
It is quickly followed by sentimental song like "Don't cry daddy". Sometimes this song is replaced by "In the
ghetto". Both songs that captures the heart and almost brings tears to their eyes.
Yeah, he really knows, what he is doing and what the crowd has come for. He mocks them and they love him for
it. Then a brief introduction of the band starting with the 3 beautiful girls that sings the backing-vocal, moving on to the brass-section and further on to the
backing-band.
The guitar starts playing, soon joined by bass and drums as they launches into "Burning Love". The crowd up on their feet -
rockin' and rollin'. Several decades passes by. Back to the duck-tails and pointed shoes. He stretched the song, fall to his knees, swings his hips - oh, yeah, great balls of
fire! Whippng the band, speeding the tempo up and up and up ! When he finally stops his face is pouring with sweat. A scarf is used and is giving to a fan with a kiss.
Then he asks the audience: "What would you like to hear?". Knowing very well what it's going to be: "Are you lonesome
tonight" or "Love me tender". The tempo is slowing down. But only for a couple of songs. Then he's back screaming "You ain't nothing but a hounddog" and they are out of
their seats again as the years roll away.
So he works his way through a long string of hits. Each and every one known to the audience. Changing tempos - uptempo and ballads -
sentimentals with only very little instrumentation and more volumnious like "The wonder of you", "American Trilogy" and "My way". Gives away kisses and scarfs to the excited fans.
Suddenly - all too sudden - it's all over! Announcing that this is the last song for tonight: "Can't help falling in
love". The crowd rises and so does their applause and screaming. It's a much faster version than the original from "Blue Hawaii" and it features the whole band.
Quite a sortie ! Ending the song in the way you know so well.
As the drums start pounding and thundering into a outtro that the band is struggling hard to keep down in volume - KING MEMPHIS smiles, waves and bows at the audience, they've all becomes his friends, his fans, his family by now. They are up on their feet - screaming and shouting and clapping their hands. They love him and he loves them.
Suddenly KING MEMPHIS is gone ! The curtain is brought down and the band is making an ending to the outtro. Though the crowd is still yelling for more - there will be no extras and KING MEMPHIS will not return again tonight.
Does that sound like Elvis Presley has been rising from the tomb ? He sounded like him, he looked like him, he
acted like him. You must pinch your arm again and again !
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