Netflix’s new Elvis Presley documentary,Return of the King: The Fall and Rise of Elvis Presley, chroniclesPresley’s 1968 Comeback Special, but it also reveals a surprising detail about Presley’s perception of one of his most famous nicknames. Compared to other movies and documentaries about Elvis Presley’s life,Return of the Kingis much more focused on this specific performance and the impact it had on his career than it is on Presley’s personal life. This distinguishes it from recent movies such asElvis(2022) andPriscilla(2023).
However,Return of the Kingdoes provide some insights into Presley’s life and career outside this concert, such asPresley’s time in the armyandthe many movies Presley appeared in. This includes the early days of his career when he made a name for himself by dancing in ways that many found scandalous and suggestive.Return of the Kingalso reveals Presley’s own perception of the nickname he earned because of those dance moves—and it’s a bit of a sad irony.
This Nickname Was Certainly Not One Presley Chose For Himself
Presley’s singing and dancing are recognizable the world over now, but when he began his musical career in 1954, he captivated and scandalized audiences with his gyrating and dance moves, which many found to be overtly sexual. InReturn of the King, Bruce Springsteen specifically comments on"the open sexuality"of Presley’s appearance, highlighting the way he combed his hair and the fact that he was a man wearing makeup in 1956 in particular. For many, however,it was the way in which Presley moved his body while singing that really grabbed their attention, for better or worse.
When he began his musical career in 1954, he captivated and scandalized audiences with his gyrating and dance moves.
InReturn of the King, Presley can be heard in voice-over discussing the nickname"Elvis the Pelvis"that quickly became popularized in newspapers across the country due to the way Elvis danced on stage. Sounding resigned to his fate, Presley says:
“I don’t like to be called Elvis the Pelvis. It’s one of the most childish expressions I’ve ever heard coming from an adult, Elvis the Pelvis, but if they want to call me that, there’s nothing I can do about it, so I just have to accept it.”
This response to the nickname is somewhat surprising, given how well-known the name was then and remains to this day, butthat is precisely the ironyReturn of the Kingreveals about so-called Elvis the Pelvis.
Where To Watch Elvis Presley’s 1968 Comeback Special
Netflix’s Return of the King: The Fall and Rise of Elvis Presley revisits Presley’s 1968 comeback television special where he revived his career.
Why Elvis' Nickname Was So Significant
Despite Presley Disliking The Name, This Is Part Of What Made Him Famous
It’s understandable that Presley wouldn’t like the nickname Elvis the Pelvis. For one, this was something that many used as a way to disparage Presley’s behavior and argue that he was too inappropriate to be shown on television. For another, Presley evidently didn’t intend for the movements to be suggestive, so this nickname only furthered a narrative about his performance style that he felt was inaccurate.The irony is that this opinion of Presley’s dancing and the associated nickname are precisely what made Presley so famous.
Much of Presley’s fanbase, especially early on in his career, consisted of young women—so much so that there was national discourse about how to discourage teenage girls from being enthralled by him. These dance moves were part of what set him apart and made him so captivating to that demographic, and that nickname helped to give him staying power. WhileReturn of the King: The Fall and Rise of Elvis Presleyreveals that Elvis Presley did not appreciate the nickname Elvis the Pelvis, it’s clear that the name and its message helped him rise to fame.
