What do you associate with Memphis?

[Ahnyx]

There's been a lot of discussion here lately about what Memphis is "known" for. Local writers always assert that there are three or four things that most non-locals think of when they hear "Memphis." I won't name them until everyone has answered so I don't taint anyone's response. :-)

So, I'm curious. What (if anything) is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Memphis, Tennessee?

-Melanie
mama to Xavier and Galen

[Peggyann]

BBQ, Elvis and Music

~PA~

[indigo]

There's been a lot of discussion here lately about what Memphis is "known" for. Local writers always assert that there are three or four things that most non-locals think of when they hear "Memphis." I won't name them until everyone has answered so I don't taint anyone's response. :-)

So, I'm curious. What (if anything) is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Memphis, Tennessee?

-Melanie
mama to Xavier and Galen

Martin Luther King's assassination. But that may be foremost in my mind because of the anniversary of the shooting.

After that: BBQ and blues.

I've never been to Memphis, though!

[cinnamon]

Martin Luther King's assassination. But that may be foremost in my mind because of the anniversary of the shooting.

After that: BBQ and blues.

I've never been to Memphis, though!

Ditto this, except for the never-been part. I also think of Elvis and Rhodes.

[Ahnyx]

Yeah, I meant to post this question last week so the current events wouldn't nudge folks to think of that.

-Melanie
mama to Xavier and Galen

[Bickery]

A particular yaapster :hug2:

This is after I'm done trying to remember if Kentucky is N of Tennessee or vice versa (actually, I've finally gotten that into permanent memory just recently!)

[Sarah]

There's been a lot of discussion here lately about what Memphis is "known" for. Local writers always assert that there are three or four things that most non-locals think of when they hear "Memphis." I won't name them until everyone has answered so I don't taint anyone's response. :-)

So, I'm curious. What (if anything) is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Memphis, Tennessee?

-Melanie
mama to Xavier and Galen

Elvis, heat and mint juleps.

[Sue]

Isn't the Grand Ol' Opry (did I spell that right?) In Memphis? nevermind that's Nashville.

[Ali]

Martin Luther King's assassination. But that may be foremost in my mind because of the anniversary of the shooting.

Early morning, April four
A shot rings out in the Memphis sky
Free at last, they took your life
The could not take your pride
Pride (In the Name of Love by {guess!} U2

[Sue]

When I think of Mint Julpis I think of North Carolina. Mostly because of In the Garden of Good and Evil (though I am not sure anyone actually drinks a Mint Julip in that) and I *just* saw Thank you for Smoking.

[Sue]

Still get chills when I hear that part being sung. As a matter of fact, that is what turned me into a U2 fan. And still my favorite part of any of there songs.

[Ali]

For me, when dh and I worked together, I arranged flights to Nashville for him and another employee for training. They were supposed to go to Memphis :bag: ROFLOL! Good thing neither one had flying fears. OMG, that was funny!

[Amylita]

The first thing I think of is the bridge that has the Arkansas/Tennessee state line, is that actually in Memphis? Otherwise, St. Jude's Hospital and the Pyramid Arena. Can you tell I've driven 40 through Tennessee a few dozen times? LOL

[cinnamon]

Now that I'm thinking about it... isn't that hotel with the ducks in Memphis? nt

[chantele]

Mel, because you're the only person I "know" who lives there.
BBQ
Elvis
Music
and now cheerleading because I just finished reading this http://www.cheerthebook.com/
which was awesome btw and I definitely recommend it.

[Brenda]

There's been a lot of discussion here lately about what Memphis is "known" for. Local writers always assert that there are three or four things that most non-locals think of when they hear "Memphis." I won't name them until everyone has answered so I don't taint anyone's response. :-)

So, I'm curious. What (if anything) is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Memphis, Tennessee?

-Melanie
mama to Xavier and Galen

Blues music.
The song by whatshis name, "Walking in Memphis".

[Peggyann]

That's Savannah

:kiss:

~PA~

When I think of Mint Julpis I think of North Carolina. Mostly because of In the Garden of Good and Evil (though I am not sure anyone actually drinks a Mint Julip in that) and I *just* saw Thank you for Smoking.

[~PQ]

Graceland, BB King, BBQ sauce, MLK

[Jill]

lol..seriously, I think of eating HOT HOT HOT BBQ on a HOT HOT HOT day, and that makes my brain think sweaty. Maybe STEAMY is a better word - but I can't edit my subject line - I don't in any way mean it to sound negative!!!!
:)
I also think of all the people I used to work with - our distribution center was in Memphis and whenever anyone got to go visit (I never got lucky enough) they would come back and talk about the great food and the parking lot BBQ parties the company would throw on Fridays after work. I was jealous. LOL.

[karunamayi]

Graceland by my man Paul

The Mississippi Delta was shining
Like a National guitar
I am following the river
Down the highway
Through the cradle of the civil war
I'm going to Graceland
Graceland
In Memphis Tennessee
I'm going to Graceland
Poorboys and Pilgrims with families
And we are going to Graceland
My traveling companion is nine years old
He is the child of my first marriage
But I've reason to believe
We both will be received
In Graceland

She comes back to tell me she's gone
As if I didn't know that
As if I didn't know my own bed
As if I'd never noticed
The way she brushed her hair from her forehead
And she said losing love
Is like a window in your heart
Everybody sees you're blown apart
Everybody sees the wind blow

I'm going to Graceland
Memphis Tennessee
I'm going to Graceland
Poorboys and Pilgrims with families
And we are going to Graceland

And my traveling companions
Are ghosts and empty sockets
I'm looking at ghosts and empties
But I've reason to believe
We all will be received
In Graceland

There is a girl in New York City
Who calls herself the human trampoline
And sometimes when I'm falling, flying
Or tumbling in turmoil I say
Oh, so this is what she means
She means we're bouncing into Graceland
And I see losing love
Is like a window in your heart
Everybody sees you're blown apart
Everybody sees the wind blow

In Graceland, in Graceland
I'm going to Graceland
For reasons I cannot explain
There's some part of me wants to see
Graceland
And I may be obliged to defend
Every love, every ending
Or maybe there's no obligations now
Maybe I've a reason to believe
We all will be received
In Graceland

[gfrach]

Elvis, Blues, and the Smokey Mountains even though I don't think Memphis is too near them.

[Peggyann]

Maybe it was Memphis
Pam Tillis

Lookin at you through a misty moonlight
Katydid sing like a symphony
Porch swing swayin like a tennessee lullaby
Melody blowing through the willow tree

What was I supposed to do
Standin there lookin at you
A lonely boy far from home
Maybe it was memphis
Maybe it was southern summer nights
Maybe it was you maybe it was me
But it sure felt right

Read about you in a faulkner novel
Met you once in a williams play
Heard about you in a country love song
Summer nights beauty took my breath away

What was I supposed to do
Standin there lookin at you
A lonely boy far from home
Maybe it was memphis
Maybe it was southern summer nights
Maybe it was you maybe it was me
But it sure felt right

Maybe it was memphis
Maybe it was southern summer nights
Maybe it was you maybe it was me
But it sure felt right

Every night now once Ive been back home
I lie awake at night drifting in my memory
I think about you on your mommas front porch swing
Talking that way so soft to me

What was I supposed to do
Standin there lookin at you
A lonely boy far from home
Maybe it was memphis
Maybe it was southern summer nights
Maybe it was you maybe it was me
But it sure felt right

Maybe it was memphis
Maybe it was southern summer nights
Maybe it was you maybe it was me
But it sure felt right
Maybe it was you maybe it was me
But it sure felt right
You know it sure felt right...


~PA~

[Anne]

Martin Luther King, Jr.'s assassination.
Elvis.
Paul Simon's song, "Graceland."

[aleutsi]

There's been a lot of discussion here lately about what Memphis is "known" for. Local writers always assert that there are three or four things that most non-locals think of when they hear "Memphis." I won't name them until everyone has answered so I don't taint anyone's response. :-)

So, I'm curious. What (if anything) is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Memphis, Tennessee?

-Melanie
mama to Xavier and Galen

You, Elvis, music, Northwest Airlines and Industry/Mississippi River. nt

[Kimd]

I always think Kentucky because of Mint Juleps at the Kentucky Derby.

[Kimd]

Elvis, the Mississippi River, BBQ, my friend Joy.

[threecubs]

Elvis
Paul Simon's "Graceland"
Marc Cohn's "Walkin' in Memphis"

[Mumbly]

graceland
Hard Rock Cafe (just because we ate there)
BBQ (there's a certain one dd's friend and dad stop at every year on their way to Michigan. She told me the name of the place, but that was long ago.)

One of my memories of driving through Memphis-Years ago, when I was pregnant with Nathan, we went to my friend's wedding in Nashville. Dh and I were in our car, my parents and the girls were in their van. We were following my dad and somehow or another his took an exit he wasn't supposed to take, dh and I knew he'd taken the wrong highway. Well, he stops at a gas station to tell us he must have taken the wrong exit, but we must have been in a not so great part of town by the way everyone was looking at us. My dad is trying to look at the map and figure out where he was supposed to go, dh told him just follow us, because we knew where he'd messed up. We finally got it through my dad's head that we wanted to get the hell out of there. So, I think of wrong exits and being lost whenever I think of Memphis.

[BlueMama]

Graceland and the crime & poverty that is near it. We made the mistake of pulling into Memphis late one night and picking a hotel (very much not a hotel lol) right next to Graceland so we could get an early start there the next day. Big mistake and we didn't sleep a wink all night.

[mirage1]

There's been a lot of discussion here lately about what Memphis is "known" for. Local writers always assert that there are three or four things that most non-locals think of when they hear "Memphis." I won't name them until everyone has answered so I don't taint anyone's response. :-)

So, I'm curious. What (if anything) is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Memphis, Tennessee?

-Melanie
mama to Xavier and GalenThe book, The Firm, by John Grisham. :p

[Anne]

The book, The Firm, by John Grisham. :p

See, that's what I think of when someone mentions Grand Cayman--and I've actually been there a couple of times! :rofl:

[Gargoyle]

I think of the song Walking in Memphis by Marc Cohn, Elvis and Graceland, music and heat.

[Vicky]

There's been a lot of discussion here lately about what Memphis is "known" for. Local writers always assert that there are three or four things that most non-locals think of when they hear "Memphis." I won't name them until everyone has answered so I don't taint anyone's response. :-)

So, I'm curious. What (if anything) is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Memphis, Tennessee?

-Melanie
mama to Xavier and Galen

I am glad to see you here - it seems as though it has been a long time since I heard your "voice".

[Tracy]

Elvis.(nt)

[kathy caribe]

Elvis
green
Graceland
Santiago, Chile
trains
Puerto Montt, Chile
Paul Simon
Tracy Chapman
"Tren al Sur" by Los Prisioneros

It all makes perfect sense in my mind.

The first time I heard "Graceland" was on a train from Santiago, Chile to Puerto Montt, Chile. I got this same cassette at the same time as Tracy Chapman's and it was first time i'd heard her music. Whenever I think of this trip I think of the song, "Tren al Sur" by Los Prisioneros, a Chillean rock band from the 90's. And somewhere in there, while I'm reminiscing, I think of a Simpson's episode where Bart and the geeky kid stole a car and ended up at the ruins of a World's Fair that I associate, correct or not, with Memphis and/or Tennessee.

[Ahnyx]

They always say when you mention Memphis, people think of:

-Elvis and/or Graceland (I've never been!)
-Blues/music/Beale Street
-MLK's death
-Barbeque

and sometimes
-St. Jude
-FedEx

Thanks!

-Melanie
mama to X and G

[Wendy]

but other than being born there, I don't remember much about it because we moved away when I was a year old.

[Stacey]

nft