August 16, 2010 9:43 PM

Elvis Fans Impersonate The King

By
Ken Lombardi
Topics
News

NEW YORK (CBS) Viva Las Philippines! Fans of Elvis Presley went all out in that nation in honor of the 33rd anniversary of the rock 'n' roll legend's death.

Impersonators and admirers alike from around the world showed up in the city of Manila for an annual contest where judges watched renditions of some of Presley's most popular tunes.

Contestants were of different age ranges, such as 14-year-old student Christian Angping, who would rather listen to Presley over current hit acts like Lady Gaga or Justin Beiber. "[Elvis'] voice is unique because nobody else sounds like him nowadays," Angping said at the event.

And let's not forget some of the more seasoned singers, like 73-year-old retired architect Walter Perez, who still gains extra income with his Elvis persona. "In my generation Elvis was a mythical God. He's a myth," Perez pointed out.

Juan Espinosa, along with Australian-Italian Eddie Lombardo (the only foreigner competing in the event), tied together for the first place prize. Lombardo noted that, "You have to get the essence of Elvis out, you have to get into the mood of Elvis and the way he sang the song, the way he put the feelings into the song. I mean anybody can sing a song, but you have to put the feelings."

Event organizers say that, prizes aside, contests like these still show that people from around the world are still all shook up over the King.


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