Post by sunnyd on Jul 25, 2017 2:48:52 GMT
I have no doubt in my mind that my current taste in music stems from my dad. I have vivid memories waking up Sunday mornings to him blasting The Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel, The Grateful Dead, The Who, Crosby, Stills & Nash and many others both on the stereo and with his guitar. Recently, I came across Paul Simon's album Graceland, a favorite of his. I found myself playing the title track "Graceland" over and over again while I walked to class. For those who don't know the song, it's about Paul Simon taking him and his son on a pilgrimage of sorts to the famed house of Elvis Presley: Graceland, Memphis TN. There is a line in the song that struck me for whatever reason. Simon sings: "For reasons I cannot explain there's some part of me that wants to see Graceland". Need I anymore reason to make the trip myself? I immediately called up my dad and proposed the trip to him and he was on board. And so I embarked on my very own pilgrimage to Graceland.
I'm not a crazy Elvis fan. I deeply admire what he did for music and I like some of his songs, but I feel that to truly be a fan of Elvis, you had to be alive during his rise and eventual stardom. I can't really comprehend how cutting edge his sound and style were. However, as soon as I landed (yeah i know, this is the roadtrip section, but honestly we were only in the air for a little over an hour) in Memphis, as strange as it sounds, I felt his vibe. Memphis was the epicenter of Soul and Rock n Roll in the 50s and 60s. Theres so much musical history in the city you can feel it. We stopped at the Stax Records Recording Studio, home of soul stars such as Otis Redding and Sam & Dave. We stopped at Sun Studios, dubbed The Birthplace of Rock and Roll where the first Rock and Roll single was recorded. It was absolutely stunning. The small, one-room studio, stuffed between two restaurants, was where Johnny Cash and Elvis had their beginnings. We walked down Beale Street, played Gibson's that were more expensive than my car, saw B.B. King's golden music note, and ate some damn good barbecue. Then came the time to make the trek to The King's palace.
My first impressions of Graceland when I saw it from the street where rather underwhelming. At it's peak, Graceland was surrounded by acres of vast fields and farmland. But suburbia had crept its way closer and closer, making Graceland a sort of island amongst stores, houses and restaurants. However, as we drove through the gates decorated with musical notes that Elvis designed himself, the mood shifted. Suddenly we were no longer on a busy city road in 2017. We stepped away from the hustle and bustle of the outside world. Time seemed to stop and my stresses melted away. We were at the front doors of Graceland.
I'll end it here, because Graceland to me is different than Graceland to you, which is different than Graceland to Elvis and Graceland to Paul Simon. Sure, I could describe to you what every room looked like, but what good would that do? The vibe of Graceland was the most important part, and the vibe is how you perceive it, which is different than how I perceive it. To me, Graceland was about remembering your roots. It helped me appreciate that everything that was going on in my life 10 years ago is what got me to where I am today. Whether it be the sports I played, the relationships I had, or especially the music I listened to, it all sculpted me. Later in the song, Paul Simon sings "I've reason to believe we all will be received in Graceland", and it held true. Once you walk through the front doors, all barriers melt and everyone is welcomed. You don't need a reason to go to Graceland. The reason will make itself clear once you're there.
I'm not a crazy Elvis fan. I deeply admire what he did for music and I like some of his songs, but I feel that to truly be a fan of Elvis, you had to be alive during his rise and eventual stardom. I can't really comprehend how cutting edge his sound and style were. However, as soon as I landed (yeah i know, this is the roadtrip section, but honestly we were only in the air for a little over an hour) in Memphis, as strange as it sounds, I felt his vibe. Memphis was the epicenter of Soul and Rock n Roll in the 50s and 60s. Theres so much musical history in the city you can feel it. We stopped at the Stax Records Recording Studio, home of soul stars such as Otis Redding and Sam & Dave. We stopped at Sun Studios, dubbed The Birthplace of Rock and Roll where the first Rock and Roll single was recorded. It was absolutely stunning. The small, one-room studio, stuffed between two restaurants, was where Johnny Cash and Elvis had their beginnings. We walked down Beale Street, played Gibson's that were more expensive than my car, saw B.B. King's golden music note, and ate some damn good barbecue. Then came the time to make the trek to The King's palace.
My first impressions of Graceland when I saw it from the street where rather underwhelming. At it's peak, Graceland was surrounded by acres of vast fields and farmland. But suburbia had crept its way closer and closer, making Graceland a sort of island amongst stores, houses and restaurants. However, as we drove through the gates decorated with musical notes that Elvis designed himself, the mood shifted. Suddenly we were no longer on a busy city road in 2017. We stepped away from the hustle and bustle of the outside world. Time seemed to stop and my stresses melted away. We were at the front doors of Graceland.
I'll end it here, because Graceland to me is different than Graceland to you, which is different than Graceland to Elvis and Graceland to Paul Simon. Sure, I could describe to you what every room looked like, but what good would that do? The vibe of Graceland was the most important part, and the vibe is how you perceive it, which is different than how I perceive it. To me, Graceland was about remembering your roots. It helped me appreciate that everything that was going on in my life 10 years ago is what got me to where I am today. Whether it be the sports I played, the relationships I had, or especially the music I listened to, it all sculpted me. Later in the song, Paul Simon sings "I've reason to believe we all will be received in Graceland", and it held true. Once you walk through the front doors, all barriers melt and everyone is welcomed. You don't need a reason to go to Graceland. The reason will make itself clear once you're there.