That’s right! Just because I said so!

It appears to be Saturday again. That means it’s time to answer 9 questions from Crazy Sam! Why 9 and not a nice, round number like 10? Because Crazy Sam!!

Saturday 9: Just Because (1956)

Unfamiliar with this week’s tune? Hear it here.

1) In this week’s song, Elvis complains that his girl has confused him with Santa Claus. This time of year, Santa is prominent. Did you more recently hear Santa referred to in a song, see him in a holiday decoration or ad, watch him in a film or TV show, or maybe even met him in person, ringing a bell or asking kids if they have been naughty or nice?

Ya know…I can’t think of the last time I saw Santa. Oh! I remember. When flipping through Disney Plus the other day, that new Santa Claus show came up in my highlight banner.

2) Finally, Elvis just can’t take it anymore and breaks up with her, just because. Is there anyone in your life who has a way of pressing your buttons and getting on your nerves?

Uh, yeah. My children. I don’t plan on breaking up with them, though. I mean, they drive me absolutely batshit, but I still love ’em…just because.

3) “Just Because” is one of the last songs Elvis recorded at Sun Studio in Memphis. TripAdvisor recommends a Sun Studio tour as one of the top things to do in Memphis. Have you ever been to Memphis? If yes, what did you do?

Nope. I’ve been to Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, Knoxville, and Chattanooga, but never Memphis. Tell me what I’m missing. I hear Memphis is so cool that just walking in Memphis inspires you to sing about it.

4) Elvis left Sun for RCA, a much bigger record label. As part of the deal, RCA negotiated for the rights to all his unreleased Sun songs. “Just Because” is one of them, and it was included on Elvis’ first RCA album. Have you gotten a good deal on anything lately?

You’d think I’d have an answer for this since Black Friday was like two weeks ago, but I’m coming up blank. The Black Friday deals this year were kinda lame. I’ll come back to this later.

Some time later…

Welp, I can’t think of any exceptional deals I’ve gotten except for some pajamas I found for C at Walmart on Black Friday.

5) In 1956, when “Just Because” was released, non-stick cookware was first introduced. Do you have any Teflon in your kitchen right now?

More than likely. Though I gotta say, even on Teflon-coated pans, I still manage to burn stuff to them. Not sure if that’s an indictment of the pans or me…

6) Elvis thought peacocks were beautiful and commissioned stained glass peacock panels for his living room. Do you have any stained glass in your home?

Only if it was accidentally stained.

7) He tried to keep peacocks at Graceland. One of the birds saw its reflection in Elvis’ gold Cadillac and started pecking, ruining the car’s expensive paint job. Elvis donated the peacocks to the Memphis Zoo. Have you ever had a bird as a pet?

I have a bird on each hand but am otherwise birdless. In the past, I have had dogs, cats, an iguana, and a ferret as pets. Never a bird, though.

8) Elvis decorated the long Graceland driveway for the holidays with blue lights. His father teased that with the airport nearby, pilots might confuse their driveway with a runway. What airport is nearest your home?

CVG. I spent most of my life so close to that airport that all I heard all day was planes taking off or coming in. Now I’m far enough away that aircraft no longer rattle my house. Now it’s trains rolling down the tracks only a block away that slaughter the silence. Grrrrr…

9) When Elvis was alive, he kept the holiday lights up until January 9, the day after his birthday. That tradition continues at Graceland today. Conventional etiquette tells us Christmas decorations should go up the day after Thanksgiving and come down before January 6 (the 12th day of Christmas). Do you think it’s ever too early, or too late, for Christmas decorations?

For me, from Thanksgiving to the weekend after New Year’s Day is generally when I have my stuff up. That said, when others put up their stuff and for how long doesn’t bother me. If people wanna put their decorations up in July and leave them up until the following June…more power to them.

Thank you for tuning in to this week’s episode of The Saturday 9! Click here if you’d like to play our home game!

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