The Elvis bridge

The other morning I was listening to some New Edition at home. For those who are unaware, New Edition was an R&B group from the ’80s. New Edition was very popular in my high school when I was growing up.

When my wife entered the room, she said “Oh my goodness. What are you listening to?”

I told her it was New Edition.

She was unfamiliar with the group.

My wife’s tastes tend more toward

Bob Seger and Bon Jovi. She grew up going to Def Leppard and Poison concerts.

During my formative years,

I listened to a lot of LL Cool J,

Prince, Beastie Boys and Tupac

Shakur. This type of music was not being blasted from the speakers in my wife’s car, I can assure you.

Where my wife was a Heavy Metal fan, I was a Heavy D fan. She loved Whitesnake. I loved Whodini. While she was listening to AC/ DC, I was listening to Run DMC. We could not be more different in our musical tastes.

I have tried over the years to expand her melodic mindset. I had her listen to James Ingram and Patty Labelle to no avail. She was a no-go for UTFO which meant no way would she get to NWA.

She has also tried to persuade me to come to the headbangers ball. Journey was too long of a trip for me. I was not willing to pay the price for Cheap Trick and Survivor left me wishing I were dead. Foreigner was not speaking my language and I actually booed Motley Crue.

Just when we thought there was no bridge to cross our musical chasm, along came Elvis. Is there anyone who does not like Elvis? The King of Rock ’n’ Roll was our common ground. From “Jailhouse Rock” to “Always on My Mind” we agree Elvis is fantastic. The boy from Mississippi mended our lyrical house divided.

If we look for it, there is common ground upon which we all can agree. No matter how much we disagree or see the world differently there is something, that can bring us together. It may take some long hard looking and perhaps a little compromise but agreement can be found.

Our neighbor is not our enemy because he voted for someone we did not like. That bumper sticker we disagree with does not mean we should hate the person in the car in front of us. Your day should not be ruined because of an idea someone voiced on social media.

Let us not have “Suspicious Minds.” “It’s Now or Never” if we want to have “Peace in the Valley.” So do not get “All Shook Up” and instead build a “Bridge over Troubled Waters.” Because if we do not find some form of understanding for each other we are all looking at a very long stay in “Heartbreak Hotel.”