The Rewind Button is a group blogging project that I’m participating in. We’re taking on Rolling Stone‘s Top 40 albums of all time and writing our own reviews of them. There will be a new album and review each Thursday.

This edition is a dramatic scene featuring a conversation among music royalty in a game room.

King of Pop: You know, P., it was your hip swivels that I stole for my knee shaking.

King of Rock: The swivels, uh-huh, they were natural, not something created for show.

King of Pop: I don’t believe that. Don’t tell me that once you swiveled and heard the girls scream you didn’t swivel just a little harder the next time.

Queen of Rock: It’s not in the hips guys. It’s all in the chest, the way you shake what ya momma gave ya.

King of Rock: Another manufactured move. I’m natural. My music and moves come from my soul.

Queen of Rock: The only thing natural about you is how you naturally stole black music for your own gain.

King of Pop: That’s true! I took it back.

King of Rock: It wasn’t theft. It was a tribute, uh-huh.

Queen of Rock: What parts were tributes? The blues? The swing? Your voice?

King of Rock: All of it. If it weren’t for me, you’d be 20 years behind.

Prince of Darkness: I’m going to have to butt in here you don’t mind this crazy talk can’t we all get along and just play music or some pool?

King of Rock: I’m with him. Let’s love the music and stop picking apart who it came from.

Prince of Darkness: It really doesn’t matter in the end cuz we’re just listening to one big story with different chapters and narrators.

King of Pop: That’s the most insightful thing you’ve said in the last forty years.

Queen of Rock: It’s just that your chapter comes first when it shouldn’t.

King of Rock: Well, little darlin’, whose should?

Queen of Rock: Arthur Crudup. Bill Monroe. Kokomo Arnold. Do I need to go on?

King of Rock: I can’t help it if I had a bigger, uh-huh, stage presence than them. They should be thanking me.

King of Pop: They would if people remembered them. They’re a footnote to you.

King of Rock: Better a footnote than nothing.

Prince of Darkness: The pool table is ready let’s stop all this mumbo jumbo and play a round drinks are on me Jack Daniels anyone?

King of Rock: I got first shot.

Queen of Rock: Let me and Pop take first shot. It doesn’t always have to start with you.

King of Rock: Keep up this attitude and you’ll be out on your own.

Queen of Rock: It’d be better than following in your shadow.

King of Rock: Which you’ve taken full of advantage of.

King of Pop: Let’s take a break and relax. You know, the Prince of Darkness is correct. We’re all telling the same story. What’s it matter who started it? It’s how it ends that matters the most.

Prince of Darkness: If we keep up this criticizing like we do we’ll end it sooner than it should end let’s just play and enjoy the moment and not worry about who’s first or eleventh its all the same when you sleep at night.

End Scene

(Author’s note: Elvis’ version of “Blue Moon” floors me every time I hear it.)

Please visit these other blogs participating in The Rewind Button project: