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Things That Go Pop!

Triple Elvis: How does Stojko rank against Presley and Costello?

Thursday, November 5, 2009 | 04:24 PM ET

Elvis Costello, left and Elvis Presley, right, face musical competition in the form of skating champ Elvis Stojko. (Getty Images)

Elvis Stojko was always a dramatic figure skater but until today, many Canadians didn’t realize that underneath the form-fitting costumes beat the heart of a singer.

In the press release for his just-released single, Let Me Be the One, we’re told he has spent “several years…in the studio” in an attempt to kickstart his new career as a musician. Stojko’s debut album, 100 Lifetimes, will follow later this fall. Track titles include Fire Ice, the pugilistic-sounding Drop the Gloves and Dizzy (the latter perhaps inspired by all those figure skating spins).

We’ve just heard the new song and, well, it’s not entirely embarrassing. (Sadly, the MP3 isn’t available online yet.) Stojko and his team have produced a fairly inoffensive love song with some modern techno-dabblings — and perhaps some Auto-Tune on Elvis’s voice. We see it as a fusion of Tal Bachman’s She’s So High and U2’s With or Without You — the kind of thing you’d hear sitting in a dentist’s chair, playing on an adult contemporary radio station.

Although it’s just day one of Stojko’s life as a music pro — surely it isn’t too soon to evaluate his artistry alongside the first two Elvises (or is it Elvii?), Presley and Costello.

Overall sound
Elvis Presley: rhythm n’ blues, gospel, country and rockabilly
Elvis Costello: new-wave anger meets melodic pop genius
Elvis Stojko: Middle-of-the-road pop blandness. Although he often skated to the soundtrack of the Bruce Lee biopic Dragon, Stojko is clearly stuck on the sweeping grandeur of mid-‘80s U2. (The guitar licks on Let Me Be the One sound like they came from Edge’s reject pile.)

Vocal style
Elvis Presley: combines gospel passion and erotic fervour
Elvis Costello: combines angry snarling and smooth tunefulness
Elvis Stojko: combines limited range and Bono’s breathy, spoken-word shtick

Sample lyrics about romance
Elvis Presley: “Love me tender/ Love me sweet/ Never let me go.”
Elvis Costello: “Don’t say you love me when it’s just a rumour/ Don’t say a word if there is any doubt / Sometimes I think that love is just a tumour/ You’ve got to cut it out.”
Elvis Stojko: “Remember the first look or glance/ When I lost any chance/ Of imagining a lifetime without you (hoo, hoo).”

Visual presentation
Elvis Presley: Heavy reliance on sideburns and pelvic movement
Elvis Costello: Horn-rimmed glasses, thin ties, knock-kneed and jerky strutting around stage (ca. 1977)
Elvis Stojko: He hasn’t toured as a musician yet, but we imagine he’ll rely heavily on his signature martial arts moves and probably eschew his skating costumes in favour of black T-shirts and black jeans.

Figure skating ability
Elvis Presley: nil
Elvis Costello: non-existent
Elvis Stojko: former world champion, particularly strong on quad jump combinations.

--Greig Dymond

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Comments

Hugo

Regina

Oh come on, give Stojko a break. He never claimed to be on par with Presley or Costello, he's just exploring another avenue.

Posted November 6, 2009 04:35 PM

West Coast Ann

Why Not? the guy needs a job!....one doesn't die just because they have finished their career skating folks....
How critical and really closed-minded......of all the detractors. Sometimes the Music world thinks of itself as just so esoteric that no one else could possibly contribute. They can, they do, and really, you elitists in the Music world can jump in a lake...

Posted November 6, 2009 04:46 PM

Ehm

Ottawa

"Although it’s just day one of Stojko’s life as a music pro — surely it isn’t too soon to evaluate his artistry alongside the first two Elvises (or is it Elvii?), Presley and Costello."

Oh yes it is. This was a pointless article of similar quality to free busstop newspapers. I hope CBC doesn't start a trend by ranking singers who have the same first name. The last two categories were even more pointless. I think the author was trying to fill space.

Let's give Stojko a chance. Remember Presley was told to go back to being a truck driver.

Posted November 6, 2009 10:04 PM

Vancouver

One thing about Stojko, he never asked to be compared against any other Elvis. (If I remember correctly, it's just that his mom was a huge Presley fan.)

Contrast that with Costello, who actually chose the stage name Elvis ... cocky, no?

Posted November 6, 2009 10:09 PM

who-r-we

alberta

As children we are always encouraged to try new things, take risks, failure is just an opportunity to learn etc,etc. But in reality, if you do take risks and try new things, the pop culture,through the media, will make you rue the day you did. Man leave him alone. There are as many musical tastes out there as there are singers! I'm sure he will find an audience the same as the other two Elvis'. Neither of which are my listening faves.

Posted November 7, 2009 12:33 AM

MelodyO

Calgary

I thought this article was pretty funny, and won't stop people from loving OR hating Elvis's song. FWIW, just hearing his name after all this time brought back a sentimental rush of memories of his skating career (thanks, YouTube!). Elvis has contributed a lot to the Canadian landscape, and I wish him the best in this, and any other venture he chooses to undertake.

PS Dear Elvis: never use the word "tumour" as a lyric rhyme. Just a suggestion. :0P

Posted November 7, 2009 01:17 AM

Eileen B

This is priceless!

Posted November 9, 2009 04:48 AM

Ottawa

Wow, I'm surprised by the number of Stojko fans that have made their way here. I get that you want to give the guy a chance, but lets face it - if he wasn't Elvis Stojko and was just some guy that wanted to make a career of bland music, would you be so ready to defend him?

The only reason this guy has an album out is because you already know his name. Really, this album has more to do with his ability to spin on skates, than it does his ability to sing.

Posted November 11, 2009 05:54 PM

DBerry

SSMarie

I think I'll wait to hear his music before passing judgement. Seems fair that way. What doesn't seem fair is comparing him with the King of Rock and Roll before we even have the chance to hear him. Lazy journalism here.

Posted November 11, 2009 11:23 PM

united nation

toronto

I hope elvis stojko wants to boycott the Olympics in B.C. after all the united nations have found Canada not to be a very good example when treating Aboriginal peoples. I am sure he is not a a hypocrite and will promote a boycott of the upcoming winter Olympics just as he wanted athletes to boycott China's Olympics.
As far as his singing career, he will not go far.

Posted November 12, 2009 01:47 AM

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