Author Topic: CUBE-E (Project of the Week for 6th of March)  (Read 520 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

moleshow

  • Czar of Nerdy and Useless Information
  • Administrator
  • Full Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 220
  • Debatably Helpful
  • Location: Kay See Ehm Oh
    • View Profile
Re: PROJECT OF THE WEEK (6th of March): CUBE-E
« on: March 20, 2017, 02:06:11 am »
unfortunately, i don't have as much to say about The Baby King. but i'll bring up what i find is notable.

the fact that it is all told  by an aging Elvis impersonator speaking to his children adds a couple of layers to a section about Elvis. the aspect of impersonating Elvis is fascinating. you have the aspect of the tradition of elevating a person beyond their personhood into a cluster of traits, and then into an idea. an individual is sucked dry of that which is not simple and then filled with air, ready to be filled with whatever and whoever wishes to fill the empty space for a period of time. they may not fit, they may leave open space, but they will try to fill it. our impersonator is aging and no longer trying to meet a desire of the culture, but still telling those who will not experience that phenomenon in the context of that specific person themselves.

the music in this section is just okay, in my opinion. it's so heavily visual and Live in Holland really disappoints with the addition of little "popping" noises to imitate old vinyl on it. i don't like it. (this is not to say that The King and Eye isn't great! i love their renditions of the songs, with the original concealing factors stripped away and the ugliness laid bare before the listener.)

but the Night Music version of Teddy Bear is desperate and depraved. the dancers entwine each other in a red string while our faux-Elvis holds it around his finger, observing. the dancers then become violent and entangled in their knotted string, unable to free themselves from that which they invited to hold them together. desire and disgust conflict so intensely, while the aspect of being unfortunately inseparable becomes visible. there is no resolution. the heart with the roses during Fool Such as I is lovely as well.

when the dancers get all their neon attire for Love Me Tender, it's enchanting. it's enhanced by the fact that the Elvis impersonator has shifted to mimic the tale he tells his children shortly after about The Baby, where he gets all old and fat. and dies. but our King has a snazzy belt and cape. he looks like a hero. he pleads to the audience, he begs, beseeches. for them to love him. to need him. after all, he is the King of Need, but always a Baby. the tune of Hound Dog is allowed to breathe fully as the lamp turns off. having shed the weight of the temporary identity's fate, our impersonator lightens the mood by dancing around a little with the puppets a little bit. it's precious and lighthearted. there is a similar childlike joy to his behavior that is also found in Buckaroo Blues' presentation of cowboys during Saddle Sores.

sort of touching, i'd say.
"All our lives we love illusion, neatly caught between confusion and the need to know we are alive."