Elvis Has Left The Building

The lights went dim. The timpani echoed throughout the Blaisdell Arena. Then suddenly, if for an instant, Elvis came back to life via a huge giant screen set up on stage along with the live version of his supporting band and singers. For that one instant when he first appeared on stage you felt a fraction of the electricity that man brought to Hawaii over 30 years ago.

I must say that I was overall skeptical, yet excited, about Elvis-The Concert, a virtual Elvis concert that came to Honolulu this past Sunday. But as soon as he appeared on the screen people screamed, women cried, and men sang along. Children’s eyes brightened, young girls swooned, and their boyfriends smiled.

There were two things that became evident from the concert: That man had a voice! Not once, even after death, did the huge band overpower him. Second is that Elvis completely had an incredible charisma that truly did set him apart from other singers. I know these are all obvious observations to many of you, but there’s a difference between knowing something and discovering it yourself. I discovered Elvis and his music all over again through that concert.

The real success of the concert was the live band, which played effortlessly through Elvis’ material. When Elvis and the band performed “American Trilogy” they got a standing ovation, half was for Elvis’ amazing voice and rendition of the Americana songs but half were also for the band who beautifully allowed us to hear the medley the way it was meant to be heard.

It would not have been complete without hearing the now cliché “Elvis has left the building”. I don’t think anyone was tricked into feeling like Elvis was alive and onstage again, one only had to look at the huge gaping hole on stage, but I don’t think any of us cared. This is the closest that many of us would get to see an Elvis concert (I wasn’t even born before Elvis died) and we thanked God for technology and willpower.

His music was good. His voice was amazing. His smile shone. While there may have been many “questionable” aspects of Elvis’ life to many there’s absolutely no question the man was a star.

Comments

I'm glad everything went well for you. That you were not disappointed..... That the billing lived up to its pre-concert hype. So often is not the case. By your approval of the performance, if not your enthusiastic review of the impersonation, itself, I would guess you would "not" have voted to use the Fat Elvis on his commemoration stamp. Yes.....there was once an Elvis postage stamp, if you weren't already aware of it. And there was a much publicized debate about which image of Elvis, was the appropriate picture to use on the stamp. One of my most prized possessions was a coffee mug with the Elvis stamp silk-screened on it. Much of the credit for the quality of the performance should be attributed to the Elvis Corporation back in Memphis. I believe Priscilla Presley still oversees the outfit. I'm sure the organization pre-screened the show, before they gave it their stamp of approval. As far as....."It would not have been complete without hearing the now cliché "Elvis has left the building".....this was not something Elvis trademarked since, of course, by then, he had already kicked the bucket. Elvis always ended his songs if not closed his concerts with, "Thankyou very much," which I have a feeling, was something he really meant.

I also attended ELVIS the concert and as a 22 year old in this time and day where music now is all about sex, murder, and money. I really enjoyed going to the concert as well as my 15 yr old brother. We left Blaisdell with inspiration and hope for Country and God. The man was simply amazing who gives a crap about what he looked like and what he did. I hope that concert will come back in the near future for the people who missed it it's an event you have to experience. Ecspecialy if you weren't leaving at the time. "Ladies and Gentlemen Elvis has left the Building."

Thanks for this lovely comment. As an Elvis fan (22 years old) I 'm really glad to hear such a sincere comment from a good listener.. I had gone to London just to see this concert ;just for that nnight;just for 3 days from Turkey. I had bought my ticket one year ago and it was a sell out performance.. yeah you are right.. HE IS A STAR...!

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