Elvis is ridiculously overrated

[Intermission]

Still talking about him.

Not really.

 

[Intermission]

This is the biggest artist of all time, pound for pound? Explain to me why this person is worthy of cult worshipping.

If he had a face like Gerard Depardue, would he still sell all those albums? and it's not like he's some greek god in the face anyway.

Listen to the low notes... he cracks...

 

[mozfonky]

This is the biggest artist of all time, pound for pound? Explain to me why this person is worthy of cult worshipping.

If he had a face like Gerard Depardue, would he still sell all those albums? and it's not like he's some greek god in the face anyway.

his meaning was bigger than the music, that's one reason his image persists.

Musically, there was a lot to admire, a great artist who covered a lot of territory, R&B, Country, Crooning pop, Ballads, Gospel. He also added more to his covers than what was there in the first place in most cases, if he hadn't, that music would have never had more success than the originals, which, in many cases were just typical of whatever style they were in.

It's true he did not write but I'm convinced he could have, the things he changed in covers was so radically different that I don't get why he just didn't write his own songs, he rewrote some of the ones he did anyways.

As far as his looks? Ya, you're right, if he looked like Pete Rose, the girls wouldn't have went nuts but like Muhammad Ali once said, "'if' is a helluva word, 'if' you wasn't ugly you would be handsome".

 

[HHJ]

Not really.

Yep
Elvis
Elvis
Elvis

 

[HHJ]

It's all about Elvis

 

[Intermission]

When was the last time Elvis was in the news? He's not relevant anymore.

 

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his meaning was bigger than the music, that's one reason his image persists.

Fair enough, but it's either him or Jackson on most sold records ever for a solo artist.

 

[HOLA]

He'd be #1 on the charts AND UFC champ if he was around today.

 

[Intermission]

He'd be #1 on the charts AND UFC champ if he was around today.

100%

 

[mozfonky]

I think the fact there was only like 3 TV stations and 4 radio channels really helped drive sales back then.

For basically most artists.

it did, compare that with millions of channels today to get music as well as every no talent having access to what they do and it's a mess. They say Elvis had like, over 50 percent of the viewing audience for some of his early performances but there were only a couple channels back then.

Lots of factors that made up the 50's though, teens with freedom from just base survival for the first time in American life and with extra spending money.

 

[mozfonky]

He actually sung several opera songs and was universally praised.
I don't think you know what you are talking about at all.
Don't ask me another question.

People always deride the older Elvis but even on his last legs he could give stunning performances and his voice was never better in my opinion than in his later years when he was singing all the time. Of course, that's the era with the capes and spangles that people make fun of but he also worked with a legion of the best musicians he could find and his voice just got stronger and stronger.

 

[johnsmithjohnson]

People always deride the older Elvis but even on his last legs he could give stunning performances and his voice was never better in my opinion than in his later years when he was singing all the time. Of course, that's the era with the capes and spangles that people make fun of but he also worked with a legion of the best musicians he could find and his voice just got stronger and stronger.

It's just trolling. Don't waste your time. I walked one into a retard wall and he went silent. Probably mostly non Americans wanting to troll Americans meaning you know who.

 

[mozfonky]

His voice is iconic but if an american Idol judge hears that performance and those vocal cords I'm not sure an unknown elvis would have passed.

Those shows have really hurt music, badly. It's a global thing now and it's stupid. Prince did one of those shows as promotion for an album but he made it known he didn't agree with the premise of those shows. He knew what anyone who does it knows, that it takes work to get good and time, at any point along the way, someone like those judges can come along and ruin a lot of talent. Not everyone can handle that kind of crushing shit. It's known that Luther Vandross was booed during an early version of those shows at the Apollo, Lauryn Hill was too. They had the resilience to come back from that but it's not an ideal format for talent, not at all.

 

[mozfonky]

From reddit:​

Elvis Presley is arguably the most overrated artist of all time​

"Elvis rocketed to fame in 1956, breaking the conventions of entertainment and music at the time: a white man that sounds black and does rock & roll music (at the time many racist Americans referred to it as "n*gger music"), dances and shakes his hips (hugely controversial at the time) and wears an extensive amount of jewellery. He was a great singer, dancer and looked great, however, just a few years later he enrolled in the US army during the height of his fame. Once he returned, he ventured more heavily into the film industry and by then British rock bands, more notably The Beatles, arrived and dominated music in the US. Once he returned to primarily making music, he didn't have that same energy in both his voice and dance moves. It's often said that he was never the same once he returned from the army, meaning that his prime and huge musical success only really lasted 2 years. Other than his first album, he also didn't really have any classic or noteworthy albums. Really, after the mid 1950s the only other noteworthy accomplishment in his musical career was the Aloha from Hawaii Via Satellite concert."

Albums weren't sold the same in the 50's, they didn't become complete works of art until the 60's. The market was singles driven. He still had tons of great music and great albums, he released dozens so unless you've went through them you wouldn't know.

Even Elvis didn't seem to be aware of what is still considered by many to be his most potent, revolutionary music. The Sun Sessions, when he was still a relatively unknown kid singing on an independent label. Primitively produced but powerful and even he would just laugh when those records were brought up and say, "they sound funny boy!" Lots of people thought the records he made before his "2 year prime" (Hound Dog, Jailhouse Rock, etc..,) were the Sun Sessions, they definitely are his most original, fresh and artistic/visionary. He does what many great rockers did later, he conjures up an alternative universe of his own making that conveys to the listener. And..., he did plenty of great work after too.

 

[mozfonky]

Elvis is the very blueprint of an entertainer that music companies use to create the “industry plants”. The only difference being that he in fact was the total package (looks, talent, charisma) for his time, while today’s propped up pop stars only need look the part.

You asked if he would have been as successful if he were ugly and the answer is probably not. Currently only Ed Sheeran can say talent got him where he is, because that ginger hit every branch of the ugly tree. Then contrast him to all these prepackaged pop stars that get where they are by answering a casting call for good looking boys or girls for the next super group. For every good looking pop star, there’s a less attractive but equally talented girl or boy slogging away for a chance at fame.

So is he overrated? No. He’s the alpha that started modern pop stars. Was he the most talented? Also no. Prince would mop the floor with him. He was just the right person, in the right place, at the right time. As it works with most big breaks.

If you really want to bitch at something, why not rail about these talentless nepo babies being propped up by their parents.

Prince loved him, one of my fave post-death stories of Prince was that they found a vhs of Elvis' 68 special laying around, at the ready to watch in his living quarters.

 

[mozfonky]

Fair enough, but it's either him or Jackson on most sold records ever for a solo artist.

Both terrific artists with controversy around them. MJ's legacy? I really don't know how that's going to last with the stuff. They won't "cancel" him but I wonder how much more damage the legacy can take before he's more infamous than famous. They sure seem to be rushing the MJ biopic out before more victims come out and sue. They paid several million to a family a few years ago and they can't keep doing that for every kid with a claim and still stay in business.

 

[mozfonky]

When was the last time Elvis was in the news? He's not relevant anymore.

his legacy will be fine, as will the Beatles and other similarly marketed icons. Prince is the one I'm worried about, I'm not sure if he doesn't get forgotten.

 

[FyrFytr998]

his legacy will be fine, as will the Beatles and other similarly marketed icons. Prince is the one I'm worried about, I'm not sure if he doesn't get forgotten.

Prince gonna be just fine. As the newer generations find out just how much of a musical genius he was and the influence he had on the artists they like.

 

[Intermission]

his legacy will be fine, as will the Beatles and other similarly marketed icons. Prince is the one I'm worried about, I'm not sure if he doesn't get forgotten.

Prince's own performed music in his prime is way more 80s tied compared to MJ. MJs music doesn't belong to any era.

But it's also the fact that MJs music is arguably a little bit more grand. I just don't feel Princes output was at the same level even though individual components were awesome, such as his guitar skills.

 

[Batjester]

His voice is iconic but if an american Idol judge hears that performance and those vocal cords I'm not sure an unknown elvis would have passed.

American Idol is just as much about presentation as it is about a performers voice. Elvis had presentation for days and a voice the made it all work.