“Do what’s right for you, as long as it don’t hurt no one.” ~Elvis Presley
Wowwee Alive Elvis Animatronic Robot available at Sharper Image and Hammacher Schlemmer – $299.95
If you’re an Elvis fan, have I got news for you. You won’t be getting this Elvis head from me this, or any other, year. And I’ll tell you why. But first, in case you were tempted to buy this thinking you would have the whole of The King’s catalog, you should know that this robot bust performs only 8 songs (from the 1968 Elvis Presley Comeback Special):
- That’s All Right
- Hound Dog
- Heartbreak Hotel
- Love Me Tender
- Jailhouse Rock
- Blue Suede Shoes
- Trouble
- Baby What You Want Me To Do
Eight songs not enough for you? Well, it takes a lot of robotics engineering to have his mouth, eyes, and head move rhythmically to the music. But he does more than just sing 8 songs. He also keeps you company.
When the infrared sensors in his jacket detect you’re near, he says “bring it on back now” or another one of the 37 recorded phrases. You think you might get sick of that? Fear not. Elvis head has a karaoke feature so you can sing along or attach your MP3 player and just listen to music.
Some of the ad copy reads:
State-of-the-art technologies animate Alive™ Elvis® so he looks, feels, sounds and moves like “The King.”
Feels like “The King?” Feels? Whatever could they mean?
With Alive Elvis, you can touch his soft hair and sideburns, stroke his skin, feel his 1968 black leather jacket, look into his clear baby blues, and marvel as his lips form their distinctive “curl” before he sings in that soulful voice.
Stroke his skin? Whoa. I’m reminded of the documentary Guys and Dolls about men who own Real Dolls for sex and companionship. They call them “alternative partners.” So, why not have an Elvis bust as a friend? And if you happen to have a crush on him, all the better.
Experience four modes: Press “Alive” and Elvis comes to life — checking you out and talking you up; select “Monologue” and he’ll share moments from his life and times; pick “Song” to hear him sing eight of his biggest hits; or choose “Sing Along” to duet with Elvis, karaoke style (after jacking in your own microphone).
Checking you out and talking your up, huh? Sounds like fun. And by fun I mean creepy. One customer reviewer (ELVISDEVOTEE) wrote:
“Any true fan of Elvis’ will be really disappointed. The voice is not Elvis’!!! The singing and speaking voice is that of an impersonator. And I agree with the other reviewer, the robot looks more like K.D. Lang than Elvis. The concept is great and the materials used to create the bust look life-like, but the facial features and mechanics fall short of capturing any essence of the King. For three hundred dollars I was expecting more. Especially being cheated of Elvis’ real voice!”
Last I checked, it was sold out at Hammacher Schlemmer! Yep, SOLD OUT. But that’s not why you won’t be getting one from me. 
