Byline: Katie Norman
THE world cup is coming to Cardiff - but fans will be wearing sequined jump suits rather than national sports shirts.
The final of the Elvis Tribute Artist World Cup will take place in the Welsh capital next year after the city's bid to host the event was chosen over competition from an unnamed English resort and an American casino.
replica breitlingNational champion Elvis impersonators from 16 countries across the globe will travel to Cardiff for the international final at St David's Hall on Sunday, July 4. Countries competing are Australia, Brazil, Canada, England, Germany, Italy, Japan, Malta, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Scotland, South Africa, Spain, Venezuela, USA and Wales.
In the run-up to the competition, each national champion will be hosted by a different Welsh town, where they will give a charity concert and try to drum up support.
The Elvises will then travel to Cardiff for the main contest, which will coincide with an American Independence Day festival weekend at The Hayes.
As well as public performances from the multinational Elvis tributes, the festival will feature Welsh musicians performing classic American tracks and other themed attractions.
The man behind Cardiff's bid to host the event is Peter Phillips, organiser of the Porthcawl Elvis Festival, which takes place this weekend.
He believes the success of the annual Porthcawl event, which is now in its sixth year, has contributed to Cardiff's winning bid.
He said: "Porthcawl Elvis Festival has really enabled South Wales to carve out a niche for itself in the Elvis world.
"It's got bigger and bigger every year. This year, Russian Armed Forces Television is even sending a film crew along."
Merthyr Tydfil-based Elvis impersonator, Juan Lorenzo, 45, is among the many tribute acts due to attend this weekend's festival in Porthcawl. Juan believes Elvis' working class upbringing, combined with his raw talent and tag heuer replica good looks, has been key to his successful career and enduring adoration. He believes Cardiff will be in for a treat when it hosts world-class Elvis acts from around the world.
He said: "Some of them sometimes lose a bit of the diction if there's a language barrier, but they're top notch. I think in some ways they have even more enthusiasm than the English-speaking guys.
"It will be great for Cardiff. I think people will notice the great strength of spirit of the competition. It is competitive but everyone's incredibly respectful to Elvis and to each other.
"You'll just get a flood of Elvises and when you see them all together it's really funny. It's just a gaggle of quiffs and glasses, like some kind of military
embroidered patches operation.
"What's really nice is that you get Elvises from all different periods of his career, from the box jackets and big trousers right through to the GI look when he was in the army. And because he recorded such an array of music, from country and gospel to rock and pop, there's so much to choose from."
TOP TEN WELSH ELVIS SONGS 1. Suspicious Mines 2. Love Me Tondu 3. Cawl Shook Up 4. Bluebird Suede Shoes 5. Viva Llantrisant 6. Jailhayes Rock 7. Always on my Maindy 8. The Wonder of Ewe 9. Shake Rattle and Roath 10. Heathbreak Hotel
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http://www.pet2.cc/blog.php?user=mywatches&blogentry_id=52
http://www.portraitofguam.com/Susan-the-bag-lady.html
http://www.songs2mobile.com/s2m/index.php?do=/public/blog/view/id_131/title_sea-and-be-seen/
http://leb.fm/blog/view/id_260/title_4-men-are-arrested-in-missiona/
http://bacasable.eoliss.com/mywatches/2010/02/03/reviews-elbowroom/
