Anyway, this got me to thinking. Who was my first celebrity crush?
At first I thought it was Patrick Swayze, quickly followed by Keanu Reeves and Axl Rose. But then I remembered, no, my very first celebrity crush was Dale Midkiff.
Why? Well, let me tell you a story, you're not busy right? Good!
My father is a huge Elvis fan and that gene was passed to me...it's a sickness really. I'm a big Presley fan, play me some Don't, Suspicious Minds, Hard Headed Woman or In the Ghetto and I'm a happy girl.
As a child I would dance around the living room to my Daddy's Elvis Records. And when the made for TV movie Elvis and Me came out, it was an EVENT. Nevermind that I was only 8 or so - I watched Elvis and Me with my Daddy.
And it shaped me. I fell in love ( love!) with Dale Midkiff. In my 8 year old mind I was going to grow up and marry him, no question. But (since he was older than me) if I couldn't marry him, I was going to find and marry a man that looked and "acted" just like him. And come to think of it, he does look a bit like my husband Shane don't you think?
Now, in the movie Elvis was portrayed as a cheating, lying husband. But there was another side of him that was what any 8 year old girl would want in a man. He was tough - willing to fight for his woman -
"Back off man! Back off!"
Lots of fun and spontaneous, wanting only to be with her -
"Come here Miss, where me out."
Passionate but dedicated to his dream -
"Someday we'll have everything."
If the above references don't make sense to you, watch the clip below. This 9 minute segment was a big part of why I fell in "love" with Dale Midkiff. It picks up after Priscilla tells Elvis that his bodyguard made unwanted advances.
*SWOON* What a man right?
Well, I'm happy to report I got a man just like that (minus the lying and cheating) loving, dedicated and passionate about me. I'm so thankful Dale (I like to pretend we're on a first name basis) was my first celebrity crush because those childhood memories really do shape you. How different would I have been had a crushed on someone like - I don't know - Charlie Sheen?
I still have a healthy adoration for Dale, he's a great actor, handsome and has been in some morally strong, quality films. I rediscovered him in the Love Comes Softly series. They are fantastic movies with a strong Christian theme. *Lurve* them!
So, be honest, who was your first celebrity crush and why?
People have crushes on Steven Tyler? I love Aerosmith and all, but... my crush was on Joe Perry.
ReplyDeleteI had many celebrity crushes but I do remember my first one - Paul McCartney. Just like everyone else I knew.
Michael Jackson. The 1983 version, when he was actually human and attractive (yet quite feminine, though). I was 10 and definitely had plans to marry him when I grew up.
ReplyDeleteMarbel - Oh, Paul McCartney, he's another one that has aged really well and is still handsome!
ReplyDeleteMs.Understood - MJ and I were going to be BFFs. I think I once posted about how I missed my chance to dance on stage "with" him at a concert. Still kicking myself for that one.
First celebrity crush was Yul Brynner in the King and I. I was 5. I thought he was the most exotic being I had ever seen.
ReplyDeleteAs for Dale, he is worthy of crush, adoration, lurve, admiration. I first discovered him in The Magnificent Seven (TV series) and have been a bit in love ever since. Having been blessed enough to meet him twice last year, I can tell you he is everything you described and more. Hardly perfect, but definitely Tall, Dark and Awesome.
I have had so many celebrity crushes over the years. This is really going to show my age, some of my first were Shaun Cassidy and Leif Garrett. But I also really like the three you had listed above. Elvis was always a big hit in our house and my dad still has his cds in the car to listen to every time we take a trip together.
ReplyDeleteBlessings
Diane