The 'get him, he's a squirrel' saying......

[debtdbruno]

When I listen to concert footage, where Elvis has his monologues sessions, he seems to constantly put himself down.
Like the 'squirrel' bit, 'sending him away for another 8 years', etc.....

Is it just part of the stage repertoire, or is he actually insecure and trying to cover over it, by making fun of himself?

I listen to it, and it's funny...but at the same time I wished he didn't pull himself down.
Is it a 'Southern' thing?

Thanks, Deb

[Raised on Rock]

I think that was just his sense of humor, like really not taking himself seriously at all.

Being the superstar that he was, the living legend that he became, all kinds of expectations where on him, specially around the time of his comeback to live performances, so sure, some insecurities where working on him, so this laugh at me thing he often did on his monologues, where a way I think, to laugh all that stress out of his system, making feel him not as "The King" talking to his crowd, "Mr. big deal" returning to the scene, but just to make people look at him simply as this squirrel looking cat from Memphis doing his thing, his very simple thing, some blues, little rock and roll, let's have laugh at this stone cold natural freak. I tend to think that you can deliver more in that frame of mind, than trying to be all what it is expected, the stiffness some perceive in Elvis at the Aloha special, might be due of being too self conscious, opposed as the little nervous but trying to get loose and relaxed Elvis of '69.

On the other hand Im sure he knew, insecurities aside, that since his TV Special, through his return to live performance, that squirrel looking stone cold natural freak was delivering good stuff. In other words he was just joking, not really being self deprecative.

[Lisarose]

Personally, I just think he was saying whatever came to his mind as he was trying to catch his breath, if it got a laugh, he'd repeat it at the next show.
I do know that he never wanted anyone to think he was the conceited sort, however.
Lisa

[LISY]

He used it a couple of times when he was catching his breath....it got a laugh so use what works I guess..but also I think he understood that on the surface what he did was primal and he always had the thought that it was all a bit crazy and just wanted people to know he didn't take it for granted....

[May]

Personally, I just think he was saying whatever came to his mind as he was trying to catch his breath, if it got a laugh, he'd repeat it at the next show.
I do know that he never wanted anyone to think he was the conceited sort, however.
Lisa

Completely agree. (y)

[debtdbruno]

Thanks guys for the comments.
I assumed he was joking, but I would hate to think that he did think of himself as a 'squirrel'........'freak' etc.... maybe it's a reference back to the 50's when he was classed as unusual??!!!

[dannyboy1]

I don't have any evidence to support this, but I feel that Elvis was quite sensitive to criticism at times and would bring it up on occasions when it could be seen to be just plain ignorant. How many backwoods bunnies get to headline in Las Vegas?

The same thing was in play later in 1976, when he'd say "People say I can't play the guitar any more. Well you, by God, watch me!"

[KPM]

Well in 1955 Elvis many probably did see Elvis as a squirrel and he knew this from personal experience-when I was in school a squirrely guy was "odd, out of step with the crowd" in 1955 that was Elvis
I think he was telling it like he remembered the reactions to him in high school and in the beginning of his career-many thought he was squirrely.;)

[KPM]

Well in 1955 Elvis many probably did see Elvis as a squirrel and he knew this from personal experience-when I was in school a squirrely guy was "odd, out of step with the crowd" in 1955 that was Elvis
I think he was telling it like he remembered the reactions to him in high school and in the beginning of his career-many thought he was squirrely.;)
Of course the irony of it was-all the ones who thought he was squirrely or odd-were not the one standing on stage with the world watching his every move-sometimes irony.................is pretty ironic and filled with satisfaction.:D

[Merry]

I didn't know what the saying meant, until now.

Quite honestly, anyone who follows others like sheep and is the same as everyone else isn't an individual, and not of interest in my opinion, lol.

I always do my own thing, too.

Yeah Elvis :newyear:

No wonder I always loved and respected him. (y)

[Raised on Rock]

...maybe it's a reference back to the 50's when he was classed as unusual??!!!

It sure is a reference back to the 50's, he used to start that "squirrel" punch line with -Back then you didn't see lots of people with long hair, sideburns and flashy clothes-, or somewhere around the monologue when he talks about his career, the early days and stuff.

Summer '69, around the time of Woodstoock, and all the hippy culture on the spot, press bringing out constantly the long hair, the flashy clothes, and referring to them as freaks, those comments on Elvis monologue, also could have some resonance about how he did was the guy who started it all, and do sound hip rather than deprecative.

[debtdbruno]

Well in 1955 Elvis many probably did see Elvis as a squirrel and he knew this from personal experience-when I was in school a squirrely guy was "odd, out of step with the crowd" in 1955 that was Elvis
I think he was telling it like he remembered the reactions to him in high school and in the beginning of his career-many thought he was squirrely.;)
Of course the irony of it was-all the ones who thought he was squirrely or odd-were not the one standing on stage with the world watching his every move-sometimes irony.................is pretty ironic and filled with satisfaction.:D


Yeh, like that Ken.............(y)(y)(y)