WOW.Didnt know there was an Elvis thread here..Respect to the King.Admire his work and his history in music
The man had a 24-year long career as a legendary singer and performer?Nothing against Elvis, but what work though?
The man had a 24-year long career as a legendary singer.
Since when is recording tons of records and performing live shows not 'working'?FTFY
He was a talented singer, but he really didn't do much work outside of touring.
'A lot of people have accused Elvis of stealing the black man's music, when in fact, almost every black solo entertainer copied his stage mannerisms from Elvis'.
I wasn't just a fan, I was his brother. He said I was good and I said he was good; we never argued about that. Elvis was a hard worker, dedicated, and God loved him. Last time I saw him was at Graceland. We sang Old Blind Barnabus together, a gospel song. I love him and hope to see him in heaven. There'll never be another like that soul brother.
Elvis had an influence on everybody with his musical approach. He broke the ice for all of us.
I remember Elvis as a young man hanging around the Sun studios. Even then, I knew this kid had a tremendous talent. He was a dynamic young boy. His phraseology, his way of looking at a song, was as unique as Sinatra's. I was a tremendous fan, and had Elvis lived, there would have been no end to his inventiveness.
When I first heard Elvis' voice, I just knew that I wasn't going to work for anybody, and nobody was going to be my boss. He is the deity supreme of rock and roll religion as it exists in today's form. Hearing him for the first time was like busting out of jail. I thank God for Elvis Presley.
Since when is recording tons of records and performing live shows not 'working'? Do you also think Michael did not 'work'? He recorded a lot less music than Elvis and performed not nearly as many live concerts.
You 'fixed' the part where I said he was a legendary performer. Sorry, but I'd rather listen to what Jackie Wilson had to say about the man:
Maybe you do not find Elvis impressive as a performer, but his performances in the 50s were groundbreaking at the time and an inspiration for many future artists to get into music. His '68 comeback special was another huge event. Whether you personally like him or not, I do not see how you can deny that he was an icon.
Well, you removed the part where I said he was a legendary performer.LOL I never said he wasn't an icon, but the fact of the matter is he never toured outside of America, he didn't write a single song, he couldn't dance, and nothing he did was truly groundbreaking (not if you know the history of music in America at least).
I did not say it is the gospel, but I do think it says something when so many legendary artists have these things to say about someone. As for the second part of your sentence, that is just insulting. You honestly think that men like Jackie Wilson, James Brown and B.B. King only said these things about Elvis because they'd be afraid to say anything less than positive about a white star? You've got to be kidding me.Additionally, what Jackie Wilson said isn't the gospel, and do you honestly think that a black man would say something dissenting about a white star a big as Elvis back then?
I did not cite that Jackie Wilson quote to bring up race, that's what you apparently read into it. I brought it up because you 'fixed' my original post where I said that Elvis was a legendary performer. Jackie Wilson's quote supports the idea that he was.heck I didn't even bring up race because my actual question was what work did Elvis do, but since you brought up race it's also a fact that there were a lot of black artist doing what Elvis did, but Elvis became as popular as he did because he provided a white face for what was at the time a genre of music being sung mainly by black people.
Elvis had a wider appeal because he was white no doubt, but to say his success came 'mainly' because he was white is laughable. Why did no other white artists at that time become nearly as successful as him, then? Ridiculous.Whether you choose to believe it or not it's just a fact that Elvis' success came mainly because he was white, Elvis was aware of this himself.
Of course MJ had a wider range of abilities. But again, the only reason I mentioned this is because you say Elvis 'did not work'. When you look at how often he performed and how many albums he recorded, I cannot see how one can say that he 'did not work'.As for the Elvis MJ comparison you made Michael sung, Michael danced, Michael was able to write his own music, and to this day most artist and entertainers say that he has inspired them in some way, but I hardly ever see anyone say that they're inspired by Elvis, also quality>quantity.
Well, you removed the part where I said he was a legendary performer.
If you mean groundbreaking in terms of being an innovator, then I do not think Elvis was a huge innovator musically. In terms of having an impact and exposing people to new ideas, his influence was huge, however. And his stage presentation was ahead of its time. As for not touring outside of America, his career was hugely mismanaged. There certainly was not a lack of appeal outside of the US.
I did not say it is the gospel, but I do think it says something when so many legendary artists have these things to say about someone. As for the second part of your sentence, that is just insulting. You honestly think that men like Jackie Wilson, James Brown and B.B. King only said these things about Elvis because they'd be afraid to say anything less than positive about a white star? You've got to be kidding me.
I did not cite that Jackie Wilson quote to bring up race, that's what you apparently read into it. I brought it up because you 'fixed' my original post where I said that Elvis was a legendary performer. Jackie Wilson's quote supports the idea that he was.
Elvis had a wider appeal because he was white no doubt, but to say his success came 'mainly' because he was white is laughable. Why did no other white artists at that time become nearly as successful as him, then? Ridiculous.
Also, do not forget that there was plenty of initial resistance against Elvis from white people because he performed 'black music' and because his stage mannerisms were deemed too sexual. What he did was groundbreaking in that regard, even if the music he performed was not particularly innovative.
Of course MJ had a wider range of abilities. But again, the only reason I mentioned this is because you say Elvis 'did not work'. When you look at how often he performed and how many albums he recorded, I cannot see how one can say that he 'did not work'.
As for his influence, I guess that depends on who you listen to. Have you ever considered the fact that Michael died almost 7 years ago, whereas Elvis has been dead for nearly 39? Many artists who themselves became legendary, like Bob Dylan who I cited above, might not even have gone into the business if it was not for Elvis initially inspiring them.
^^Yes. Elvis worked and worked hard and he was a huge influence on his contemporaries, the young rockers who came after him as well as pop culture.
As well as Sinatra did before him.
This is NOT a diss against Michael.
If you think making around 35 movies as not work, I don't know what to tell you. :rofl: For a period, Elvis was the highest paid actor in Hollywood as he got a percentage of profits from his movies, which most Hollywood actors did not get at the time. They just got a upfront salary.And outside of touring, I honestly don't see what real work he did
If you think making around 35 movies as not work, I don't know what to tell you. :rofl: For a period, Elvis was the highest paid actor in Hollywood as he got a percentage of profits from his movies, which most Hollywood actors did not get at the time. They just got a upfront salary.
I'm not an Elvis fan although I saw lots of his corny movies at the neighborhood theater when I was little.I mean't as a music artist not as an actor. :yes:
And for him to be remembered as some musical giant (on par with the Beatles and MJ) I really don't see what he did that was so amazing outside of being a good singer, but if someone could tell me I may change my mind.
I read an article the other day about one week in Elvis's life in 54. He made about 100 appearances traveling all over to radio and tv stations. He was working.
Yes I know Elvis had some influence and was a pop culture icon (I'm not denying that), but in all honestly I don't think it's quite as big as people say, and it really grinds my gears when people act as if he was some ground breaking innovator that created rock and roll when he wasn't (all he did was introduce it to and make it safe for a white audience).
And outside of touring, I honestly don't see what real work he did(I guess just singing in the studio counts to some people), which is why I asked my original question (that no one has really answered).
And I love Frank Sinatra's voice!
There hasn't been another crooner with a voice quite like his!
There's this cartoon I like where Frank Sinatra is a skunk and he has a bunch of other forest animals going crazy over him because of his voice LOL.
Also, from what (which admittedly isn't much as I'm not an Elvis fan) I know Elvis was a pretty nice person, so I have no problem with Elvis the man, I just think that Elvis the singer is overrated. :yes: