what's with ELVIS?
 

with the music thread going around concerning "bad music", it got me thinking about Elvis. i dont get his music, i cant rank it the worst. did he have any competition back then? (musical). admittedly, i have caught myself, singing "return to sender..."

cliff

Elvis was around during the 50s-70s if I am correct. He died before I existed so all I get are the reruns. His competition was probably many of the 60s bands like the Beach Boys, Beatles etc.
His songs aren't bad. They are just different.

I just saw him at a Dairy Queen in Odessa, TX. I think he was eating a Hungr-buster.

Re: what's with ELVIS?
 

Well, young'un, the answer was simple. Elvis brought 'race music' to the white airwaves. His earliest hits were just covers of songs that 'white' stations wouldn't play.

Even Elvis was attacked for the type of music he sang, though. Seems like lots of ministers warned that it was the type of music that would 'make good kids turn bad.'

Clearly, they were right, but America's youth woudn't listen (to the ministers).

Then Elvis got old and became a parody of himself.

But the young Elvis was pretty cool -- check out 'Jailhouse Rock.'

Just a different place in time as for the music style.
When I was younger I wasn't much of a fan of his, I listened to everything from the Stones and Zeplin to Neil Young etc etc etc.
My wife was more into Elvis back in his day, So I do get to listen to him from time to time.
It's just early rock with a kinda blues/gospel influence.
I must say I'm more into his music today, mostly his later stuff.

He was a very talented artist ( good voice ) in my opion, and could pull off of a song / hit with not much back up. Not easy to do :)
His career just wasn't handled well.

jailhouse rock...ok

i only have images of the later elvis...

hes the king dummy!!

actually i just went all old school and bought johnny cashs 16 greatest hits. thing is i dont care for country western, but his old school twang works for me as of late. i think it was that burning a-hole meds tv spot that had "burnin' ring of fire" as the musical score...

made me scratch my ace and chin,, but not in that order

Elvis Presley
Johnny Cash
Ray Charles
Aretha Franklin

If you don't get it, you ain't got it.

Some of Elvis' early stuff was just incredible.... His later stuff was mainly crap with a few chestnutts sprinkled in between. This was a result of his inability to cut his manager loose and take charge of his own career. There was talk that he wanted to do more original material, but management wouldnt let him.

go rent the Elvis 1968 special and youll see how good of an entertainer. musician and singer he really was. One of the best, most natural talents ever to come out of the US music scene.