Elvis Presley‘s “Do the Clam” is one of the most infamous songs in the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll‘s discography. Its reputation is understandable, but it might be unwarranted. While “Do the Clam” is incredibly easy to mock, it has some redeeming qualities that go unnoticed. Here’s a very modest defense of one of the biggest punchlines in the 1960s rock canon.
Elvis Presley’s ‘Do the Clam’ is great because it’s bad
“Do the Clam” is a rock song were Elvis implores his audience to do a novelty dance called The Clam that never caught on. It has a fun beat, and Elvis’ vocals are as good as ever. However, the lyrics of the song are so ridiculous that many listeners can’t enjoy it.
Here’s the paradox: “Do the Clam” is good because it’s so oddball and undignified. It’s the pinnacle of so-bad-it’s good music.
Elvis Presley’s ‘Do the Clam’ is great because it’s bad
“Do the Clam” is a rock song were Elvis implores his audience to do a novelty dance called The Clam that never caught on. It has a fun beat, and Elvis’ vocals are as good as ever. However, the lyrics of the song are so ridiculous that many listeners can’t enjoy it.
Here’s the paradox: “Do the Clam” is good because it’s so oddball and undignified. It’s the pinnacle of so-bad-it’s good music.
- 3/3/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Cinema is a kind of uber-art form that’s made up of a multitude of other forms of art including writing, directing, acting, drawing, design, photography and fashion. As such, film is, as all cinema aficionados know, a highly collaborative venture.
One of the most consistently fascinating collaborations in cinema is that of the director and actor.
This article will examine some of the great director & actor teams. It’s important to note that this piece is not intended as a film history survey detailing all the generally revered collaborations.
There is a wealth of information and study available on such duos as John Ford & John Wayne, Howard Hawks & John Wayne, Elia Kazan & Marlon Brando, Akira Kurosawa & Toshiro Mifune, Alfred Hitchcock & James Stewart, Ingmar Bergman & Max Von Sydow, Federico Fellini & Giulietta Masina/Marcello Mastroianni, Billy Wilder & Jack Lemmon, Francis Ford Coppola & Al Pacino, Woody Allen & Diane Keaton, Martin Scorsese & Robert DeNiro...
One of the most consistently fascinating collaborations in cinema is that of the director and actor.
This article will examine some of the great director & actor teams. It’s important to note that this piece is not intended as a film history survey detailing all the generally revered collaborations.
There is a wealth of information and study available on such duos as John Ford & John Wayne, Howard Hawks & John Wayne, Elia Kazan & Marlon Brando, Akira Kurosawa & Toshiro Mifune, Alfred Hitchcock & James Stewart, Ingmar Bergman & Max Von Sydow, Federico Fellini & Giulietta Masina/Marcello Mastroianni, Billy Wilder & Jack Lemmon, Francis Ford Coppola & Al Pacino, Woody Allen & Diane Keaton, Martin Scorsese & Robert DeNiro...
- 7/11/2013
- by Terek Puckett
- SoundOnSight
Hitting movie theaters this weekend:
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules – Zachary Gordon, Devon Bostick, Robert Capron
Sucker Punch – Emily Browning, Abbie Cornish, Jena Malone, Carla Gugino, Jon Hamm
Movie of the Week
Sucker Punch
The Stars: Emily Browning, Abbie Cornish, Jena Malone, Carla Gugino, Jon Hamm
The Plot: A young girl (Browning) is institutionalized by her wicked stepfather. Retreating to an alternative reality as a coping strategy, she envisions a plan which will help her escape from the facility.
The Buzz: It’s certainly a great time to be a fifteen-year-old boy, isn’t it? It’s a shame I’m twenty years past my prime – Sucker Punch would have been 100% pure Pavlovian arousal for me back then. The batch of battling bombshells cartwheeling in all their gorgeously rendered video-game glory, coupled with the film’s flawless focus on, and impenetrable belief in, the great escape that can...
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules – Zachary Gordon, Devon Bostick, Robert Capron
Sucker Punch – Emily Browning, Abbie Cornish, Jena Malone, Carla Gugino, Jon Hamm
Movie of the Week
Sucker Punch
The Stars: Emily Browning, Abbie Cornish, Jena Malone, Carla Gugino, Jon Hamm
The Plot: A young girl (Browning) is institutionalized by her wicked stepfather. Retreating to an alternative reality as a coping strategy, she envisions a plan which will help her escape from the facility.
The Buzz: It’s certainly a great time to be a fifteen-year-old boy, isn’t it? It’s a shame I’m twenty years past my prime – Sucker Punch would have been 100% pure Pavlovian arousal for me back then. The batch of battling bombshells cartwheeling in all their gorgeously rendered video-game glory, coupled with the film’s flawless focus on, and impenetrable belief in, the great escape that can...
- 3/23/2011
- by Aaron Ruffcorn
- The Scorecard Review
A look at what's new on DVD today:
"Meskada" (2010)
Directed by Josh Sternfeld
Released by Anchor Bay Entertainment
When this thriller premiered at Tribeca this past spring, Alison Willmore wrote, "the second film from writer/director Josh Sternfeld ("Winter Solstice") has ambitions reaching beyond being a straightforward police procedural," though critics, including her, were mixed about the end result. Nick Stahl and Rachel Nichols star as small-town sleuths who investigate a botched home invasion case that claims the life of a young child in an affluent community and enflames class divisions when the main suspects are from the poorer community nearby. Grace Gummer, Meryl Streep's second daughter to go into the family profession, makes her film debut.
"Anywhere USA" (2008)
Directed by Chusy Haney-Jardine
Released by Cinevolve Studios
Winner of a Spirit of Independence prize at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival, Chusy Haney-Jardine's collection of three comic vignettes involves a...
"Meskada" (2010)
Directed by Josh Sternfeld
Released by Anchor Bay Entertainment
When this thriller premiered at Tribeca this past spring, Alison Willmore wrote, "the second film from writer/director Josh Sternfeld ("Winter Solstice") has ambitions reaching beyond being a straightforward police procedural," though critics, including her, were mixed about the end result. Nick Stahl and Rachel Nichols star as small-town sleuths who investigate a botched home invasion case that claims the life of a young child in an affluent community and enflames class divisions when the main suspects are from the poorer community nearby. Grace Gummer, Meryl Streep's second daughter to go into the family profession, makes her film debut.
"Anywhere USA" (2008)
Directed by Chusy Haney-Jardine
Released by Cinevolve Studios
Winner of a Spirit of Independence prize at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival, Chusy Haney-Jardine's collection of three comic vignettes involves a...
- 3/22/2011
- by Stephen Saito
- ifc.com
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.