It's Easy To Relax: The Eilert Pilarm commercials (video)

(5 videos after the jump)

You remember Eilert Pilarm, don't you? He's the Swedish Elvis impersonator who doesn't really look that much like Elvis, and doesn't really sing like Elvis (or any other singer, for that matter). He was a regular staple on WFMU's Incorrect Music, where Irwin dubbed him "The King of Sweden".

Well, apparently there was enough interest in Eilert at the turn of the millennium that he was hired to do a series of commercials for Kelda, a brand of sauces in Sweden. So the nation of Sweden was treated to the sight of Eilert in his Elvis costume, coaxing a group of children (ostensibly his own, though a Mrs. Pilarm is nowhere to be seen) to shake their hips like Elvis, sing into an air mike, and dance around while Eilert sings "Jailhouse Rock" (or as he sings it in his own inimitable style, "Yailhouse Rock").

Though the Eilert Pilarm ad campaign and promotional Website are long gone, you can relive the glory days of Eilert-mania by watching the commercials that Eilert made for Kelda.

The Swedish tagline of each commercial ("När det är lätt att laga mat är det lätt att slappna av") was translated for me into English by the proprietor of the Eilert Pilarm fansite as "When it's easy to cook, it's easy to relax." The message being, obviously, that if you use Kelda sauces in your cooking you'll have loads of free time to pursue that Elvis impersonator career you've been dreaming of. Even if you don't particularly resemble Elvis.

Eilert sings for the children (1.81 meg Quicktime)

Eilert and son(?) (1.08 meg Quicktime)

Eilert and family dancing (698 KB Quicktime)

Eilert's air guitar solo (722 KB Quicktime)

Eilert cooks dinner (1.84 meg Quicktime)

Comments

[Chooch]

I'll second that!

[nartub]

The thruth about Eilert...

Begin from the glorious student-town Uppsala, i can tell you Eilert is just the kind of guy you want for your little student parties. He comes and perfoms for around 2000:- (that is more or less $280) and he is just content with sleeping on the couch somewhere and a cheap dinner.

Also what does it matter if you look like Elvis, and you cannot sing. When you sincerely believe you ARE Elvis what else can you do? Yes people its true. Eilert used to be a mental case, and although now recovered he is still doing the Elvis for fun and profit.