The Japanese PM showed off his Elvis impression
Posted on 06/30/2006 1:16:45 PM PDT by familyop
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has visited the home of his musical hero, Elvis Presley, as a guest of US President George W Bush.
The Japanese PM showed off his Elvis impression
Mr Koizumi burst into song with a few bars of "Love Me Tender" in the Jungle Room of Graceland on a private tour led by the singer's ex-wife.
The tour is being widely seen as Mr Bush's thank-you to a loyal ally who is due to step down in September.
The visit follows talks that focused on N Korea and beef imports on Thursday.
Serenade
To the strains of Presley's greatest hits, the two leaders were served fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches - a favourite of Elvis - as Air Force One flew them to Memphis.
Koizumi: Elvis' biggest fan Bush's reward to ally
In-flight entertainment on the presidential plane included DVDs of the singer's films.
White House press secretary Tony Snow donned gold-rimmed plastic sunglasses for occasion.
Mr Bush and First Lady Laura Bush were greeted at Graceland by Presley's daughter Lisa Marie and her mother Priscilla, after passing the King's famous pink Cadillac which was parked specially in the driveway.
Then, amid the Hawaiian-style furniture and a waterfall feature in the room where Elvis used to relax, Mr Koizumi serenaded the US president and his wife.
"Love me tender," he sang, and then, draping his arm around Lisa Marie, moved on to "Hold me close, hold me tight" - the opening lines of "I want you, I need you, I love you".
'Much in common'
At a state dinner on Thursday to mark what has been dubbed the "sayonara summit" (sayonara means goodbye in Japanese), Mr Koizumi had quoted the same song in a toast to continued US-Japanese relations.
In his toast, Mr Bush hailed Mr Koizumi's similarities with the rock and roll icon.
The sound track during the flight was Presley's greatest hits
"Like you, he had great hair," he said to laughter from the guests. "Like you, he was known to sing in public. And like you, he won admirers in countries far from home."
Mr Koizumi's lifelong devotion to Elvis is well known. He has sung Elvis songs to world leaders and done duets with celebrities including Tom Cruise.
Mutual thanks
The light-hearted end to Mr Koizumi's visit follows a day of talks on more serious issues in Washington on Thursday.
The White House spokesman donned Elvis-style sunglasses
Both leaders warned North Korea on claims it is planning to test-fire a long-range missile thought to have Alaska within its range.
Mr Bush thanked Mr Koizumi for Japan's support in Iraq and Afghanistan and hailed the country's decision to restore beef imports from the US after fears over a cow with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE).
Mr Koizumi said there had been no other world leader with whom he had shared the same "heart-to-heart" friendship and trust.
Priscilla must have been like....oh brother!
He was absolutely beyond adorable!
Dude, that rocks. Nice to see the pres having a bit of fun with a trusted ally and friend. Very kool story.
Is that fractured Japan-English or Scooby Doo?
Me, too.
Yes, I did see it. Did you know he is a former Marine aviator? He may be a Desert Storm vet (I know I should do the research...).
Fried peanut butter ? My goodness, I had never heard of that.
It was nice to see two world leaders just having some fun. It was quite charming.
PM Koizumi is in a very small, elite club of people that can be called true friends of America. He's a fine man and Japan was lucky to have him.
http://www.foxnews.com/video2/player05.html?063006/063006_ff_elvis&FOX_Friends&%26%2392%3B%26%2339%3BElvis%26%2392%3B%26%2339%3B%20Reports&acc&Caught%20on%20Tape&-1&new
Don't know if this link will work or not, but it's the link to Greg Kelly and Fox and friends.
From PBS website no less:
Elvis Presley's Grilled Peanut Butter
and Banana Sandwich
2 slices of white bread
2 tablespoons of smooth peanut butter
1 small ripe banana mashed
2 tablespoons butter
Spread the peanut butter on one slice of bread and the mashed banana on the other. Press the slices gently together. Melt the butter (or to be truly Elvis-like, melt bacon fat!), over low heat in a small frying pan. Place the sandwich in the pan and fry until golden brown on both sides. Eat it with a glass of buttermilk.
I'm sure that is on the American Heart Association's list of recommended desserts.
This was one of my all time favorite diplomatic encounters.
Here 50 years after a very destructive war, the next generation of leaders of the combatants has a lesiurely tour based on the passion of one for the pop culture of the other.
It illustrates so clearly the japaneese yearning for things American and why we are now the closest of allies in a dangerous asian world.
I personally am fond of Elvis's "bowl of bacon" that he had placed on his piano when he was at home.
I'm sure that's okay.
Yes, the Japanese clearly recognized his value in his landslide victory last year.
This quote from Prime Minister after the attack on the World Trade Center I think is the most interesting that I have read:
Mr Green said: "Most world leaders, as you'd expect, expressed great sympathy, promised to cooperate with the United States. Koizumi was one of a small handful of world leaders who, on his own, decided and said to the President : 'This is a war on terror. This is not a law enforcement action. This is not a natural disaster. This is a war on terror of epic proportions'. And this was very much how Koizumi himself conveyed his thinking about this to the President. And he said 'You must prevail and Japan will help.'"
That's truly world class in my opinion.
What are we waitin' for?
Let's leave right now
We're goin' to Graceland
And I don't care how
E Pluribus Elvis
That's what I say
We're goin' to Graceland today
LOLOL! Guess I'm famous now??
|
 |
 |
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
