Jan 4, 2021
Justin & Gurdip start off 2021 and Season 4 of TCBCast reacting to Peloton's new exclusive Elvis remixes, then examining the first five chapters of the infamous 1977 book "Elvis: What Happened" by Steve Dunleavy, Dave Hebler and Red & Sonny West, as selected by TCBCast listeners.
Justin points out the importance of context; particularly
Dunleavy's long history in the right-wing tabloid media sphere, but
also acknowledging his strength as a writer. Gurdip ponders whether
the karate experts in the book are really as lethal as they say,
and both guys consider the deeper moral questions raised by the
book. Is there a difference between excusing or simply
acknowledging Elvis' behavior, and can you do either while also
celebrating his cultural contributions? And how are the most
salacious stories Dunleavy used to shock America's perception of
Elvis tied in with broader socio-political issues, such as
America's modern opioid problem and the hyper-masculine culture
Elvis grew up in? All heady stuff for a first glance, and not
something we typically cover. From here on out, we'll be reviewing
the book roughly one chapter per episode while other main topics
resume.
(A Personal note from Justin: Please let us know what you think of
our approach to this content. As we discuss in the show, we are
here to examine how and why historical events happened, and how
they're specifically depicted in this telling. We trust our
listeners to participate in thoughtful and respectful discussion
about the contents of this ongoing segment.)
For Song of the Week, Justin starts 2021 off with an affirmative, uplifting deep cut from 60 years ago, the beautiful "Starting Today." Gurdip, on the other hand, highlights "Don't Ask Me Why" from 1958's King Creole soundtrack.