Elvis reaching a new generation or just great PR by EPE?

[vivaelvis]

I have read on a couple other forums (TMMB and FECC) that EP is losing his popularity with a younger 21st century generation and dying out. But I don't buy it nor see it. A friend of mine was just in Memphis passing through and decided to tour Graceland with his family. His kids are age 7 (boy), and two girls (11 and 14) and all wanted to see it. While there, he commented on the children and teenagers walking around the Plaza. His kids had so much fun and because of lack of time they didn't get to see everything, so now they want to go back.(y)

The other day, a 10 year old girl won the Elvis Quiz challenge on Sirius live at Graceland. She beat out a grandma and other middle aged contestants. She knew mroe about Elvis, Priscilla and Gladys and Vernon than most of the older fans knew. LOL

On Elvis' birthday, it was said to be a massive crowd at Graceland that rivaled the anniversary crowds. Among them were a lot of teens and young adults.

Pictures don't lie either. Many younger fans not born prior to 1977 were on hand. Such as these young ladies.

http://www.elvis.com/news/images/Image/Smugmug_2011Bday.jpg

http://www.elvis.com/photo/2180.jpg

So, is it just good PR by EPE that Elvis is drawing in record numbers of youngsters to Graceland or is it really happening? After what I amwitnessing lately, I say it's really happening.(y)

BTW, EPE announced during Elvis week that Elvis has reached 5 million followers on Facebook. Once again, numbers and facts do not lie.(y)

[mistymorning]

I'm glad to hear that and I'm sure he is still very popular with young generation , I myself am one of those young people !

[J.P]

that's absolutely great news (y) it's good to have new blood amongst the fans(y)

[Joe Car]

This is always great to hear. Thanks vivaelvis!

[King Of The Whole World]

I was not born when Elvis was alive. Two years ago in Memphis there were a lot of kids and many nationalities which is always amazing to me.

[debtdbruno]

I think it's to be expected as the generation that was around with Elvis die, there will be less of a fan base.......

It's his Iconic Image that will carry on more to future generations.....not so much his music......

[KPM]

Elvis will always steadily, consistently reach some young people, each year since 1954 he has gained young fans.
I am from the second wave of fans-born in 55 and in the 60s it was not always cool to say "I am an Elvis fans" (especially from 64 to 68)
But I was attracted to his voice, talent and charisma in 1962 and did not change my love of him or his music because of popular opinion.
Elvis can not IMO ever be the rising hot talent of 1956 again-but like the fable of the tortoise and the hare he will keep moving forward when all the young 'hares of the month" have dropped out of the race.
There will be ebbs and flows with his popularity-but gaining new fans is not hype.

[Steamroller Blues]

I have to agree debtdbruno.

[buttonhead]

Elvis will always steadily, consistently reach some young people, each year since 1954 he has gained young fans.
I am from the second wave of fans-born in 55 and in the 60s it was not always cool to say "I am an Elvis fans" (especially from 64 to 68)
But I was attracted to his voice, talent and charisma in 1962 and did not change my love of him or his music because of popular opinion.
Elvis can not IMO ever be the rising hot talent of 1956 again-but like the fable of the tortoise and the hare he will keep moving forward when all the young 'hares of the month" have dropped out of the race.
There will be ebbs and flows with his popularity-but gaining new fans is not hype.


Great post KPM,... I can't agree more, the new generations of singer and their music ..may be as eccentric as Lady Gaga, but none can really hold the candles as Elvis... He will still here to stay in music world even after no one will remember who Justin Beiber is .

Btw, I am that new generation of fans, although i am not on my 17 anymore :lol:

[Raised on Rock]

It's his Iconic Image that will carry on more to future generations.....not so much his music......

I don't think we should dismiss the voice and the music, the talent. I thinks it is because of his tremendous gift and charisma, which expresses best and above all things through his music, that the icon its alive and still so powerful.

It was via his music that he change popular culture and became the icon. I think there should be a balance between both in order to present ELvis to new generations.

True music lovers don't care that much about trends and I have found it is between true music lovers in new generations that it is where Elvis is taking over new hearts doing what he have done to most of us all, to change the way we feel and experiencie many things in life.

[debtdbruno]

I don't think we should dismiss the voice and the music, the talent. I thinks it is because of his tremendous gift and charisma, which expresses best and above all things through his music, that the icon its alive and still so powerful.

It was via his music that he change popular culture and became the icon. I think there should be a balance between both in order to present ELvis to new generations.

True music lovers don't care that much about trends and I have found it is between true music lovers in new generations that it is where Elvis is taking over new hearts doing what he have done to most of us all, to change the way we feel and experiencie many things in life.


I understand what your saying.....I just think the youth of today are fickle with their tastes.

I hope I'm wrong

[Jungleroom76]

Elvis died in 1977, yet here in 2012 we are having this very conversation! How many of the so-called singers that are out there today will have the same staying power in the future? My guess...very few, if any!!! :hmm:

While I am sure that Elvis is reaching a new, younger generation of fans, I suspect that the EPE PR machine may be spinning the numbers a little to show more of a movement toward the younger generation than is really happening. I also grew up in a time (the 80's) when it was not cool to be an Elvis fan and was often mocked and teased when my peers discovered that I was an Elvis fan. But judging from the younger fans heard live on the various SiriusXM programs at the Graceland studios and the pictures/accounts coming from Graceland, it is certainly exciting as an older fan to see that Elvis' music is transcending the generations and reaching younger fans! Several of my closest Elvis friends are actually quite a bit younger than I am, which also speaks well of the move toward younger fans!! (y)

As long as some unforeseen event doesn't come along to change the current dynamic, I don't suspect that the movement toward bringing new generations of Elvis fans along will change anytime soon!! :clap:

TCB!
Mike

[Raised on Rock]

I understand what your saying.....I just think the youth of today are fickle with their tastes.

I hope I'm wrong

Well that's what they say about teenagers into Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis or Chuck Berry, into rock and roll back in the 50's. And of course there were fickle teenagers that where rather into Pat Boone, lol.

[debtdbruno]

Well that's what they say about teenagers into Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis or Chuck Berry, into rock and roll back in the 50's. And of course there were fickle teenagers that where rather into Pat Boone, lol.

agree. They are so keen to give the word 'Icon' to celebs today, but as we've said, these people will soon be forgotten.

Surely though, as the people of Elvis' age today (77) die, there won't be AS MANY new, younger fans to replace them?

[elvislina]

wow that is Isabella my friend on facebook :D

[elvislina]

looks to me Elvis is still out and running after us girls ;) that happend to me when i was 11 lol xD this is the way we become fans ;)

[vivaelvis]

When I was growing up, Elvis seemed to always be the butt of the jokes. But now he's the center of a discussion. I hear and see more Elvis today on tv, on radio, at sporting events, sports bars, malls, even on billboards than I ever did growing up in the 80's and early 90's. He has as much a presence today in pop culture and society as he did in 1977. In fact, I think he's more popular today dead than he was then alive. I know it sounds impossible but look around. Elvis literally is everywhere you look!:supriced:

Just look at Sirius Radio. There's no pure Michael Jackson or Beatles channel, but there is Elvis. The Sinatra channel doesn't play just Sinatra but other artists from his era. Same with the BB King channel. You don't get that with Elvis 19. It's all Elvis 24-7.(y)

Almost every teen star today credits Elvis in some way as an inspiration to them or their music. Especially the young ladies. His remixes are blasted in teen nightclubs and his gospel music is played in churches of all religions. His fanbase is getting younger and younger as each decade passes. Name another entertainer who's had over 17 million visitors who paid to walk through their home. Graceland may actually be the closest thing to Disney where Elvis, like Mickey, appeals to ages, races and cultures. I don't know of any other human that the same can be said about.

[Raised on Rock]

agree. They are so keen to give the word 'Icon' to celebs today, but as we've said, these people will soon be forgotten.

Surely though, as the people of Elvis' age today (77) die, there won't be AS MANY new, younger fans to replace them?

Well I guess it won't be '56 o '69 again. There probably won't be as many new fans, but not as to little as to worry his memory will be lost. I think by now Elvis surely have reached the point of inmortality. But definetly, the way EPE handle his image today, will have the most important impact for the next two decades.

[Raised on Rock]

I hear and see more Elvis today on tv, on radio, at sporting events, sports bars, malls, even on billboards than I ever did growing up in the 80's and early 90's. ...In fact, I think he's more popular today dead than he was then alive.

AGREE 100% He has reached somehow a diffrent status than when he was alive, and growing up in the 80's and early 90's too, I've also see much more presence and respect today than back in those decades, its not longer a laugh to say you like Elvis, and he is less percieved as the fat impersonactor, and much more percieved as the icon, so things are going aces to me.

For example, look at the way Elvis music its been used in recent tv comercials, like the recent AXE one, or the C&A in Brazil, or the use of his image by clothes designers, or references in movies or tv series, you see, you didn't or rarely you found Elvis handled this way back in the 80's and 90's, (back then you might find the fat impersonactor on a friedchicken add, the cheap Elvis t-shirt and the bad elvis joke on a movie), not now, Elvis image has moved to promote fashion, to portray a cool image among young people in adds or movie alusions, Elvis image has positively changed among younger generations for sure.

[Brian Quinn]

What goes around - comes around. Styles and Fashions come and go but real talent will always shine through. Elvis still remains the biggest Icon in the World - he is everywhere from movies to TV Advertisements from books and magazines to cartoons from being represented by Impersonators to College Courses from DVD's and CD's to the 'Elvis In Concert' touring shows from Top Fashion Houses to concerts in Cathedrals from museums to stage plays - I could go on. His voice, moves and looks are what made him and it will be these traits which will endure forever. The Beatles will be remembered mainly for their music. Michael Jackson will be remembered mainly for his dancing but Elvis will be remembered for being the template for all of them with his eclectic style and having the talent to sing in virtually every musical genre that was available to him.

Whilst Elvis' original fan base will naturally fade away it wil be replaced by their sons and daughters and by people in general who happen to stumble upon him via his films and recorded legacy. What is important is that EPE and SONY put together some definitive packages/films to portray the best of Elvis e.g 'Young Man With The Big Beat'. After all it was Elvis himself who stated that he hoped he would be remembered for the best he had to give.

He was truly 'sui generis' (one of a kind) and I do believe he will remain so with future generations to come especially with people like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=YGdUdahaxKM#

Brian (y)

[debtdbruno]

well said Brian...............

[Jungleroom76]

Well I guess it won't be '56 o '69 again. There probably won't be as many new fans, but not as to little as to worry his memory will be lost. I think by now Elvis surely have reached the point of inmortality. But definetly, the way EPE handle his image today, will have the most important impact for the next two decades.

100% AGREED!!! (y)

TCB!
Mike

[KPM]

What goes around - comes around. Styles and Fashions come and go but real talent will always shine through. Elvis still remains the biggest Icon in the World - he is everywhere from movies to TV Advertisements from books and magazines to cartoons from being represented by Impersonators to College Courses from DVD's and CD's to the 'Elvis In Concert' touring shows from Top Fashion Houses to concerts in Cathedrals from museums to stage plays - I could go on. His voice, moves and looks are what made him and it will be these traits which will endure forever. The Beatles will be remembered mainly for their music. Michael Jackson will be remembered mainly for his dancing but Elvis will be remembered for being the template for all of them with his eclectic style and having the talent to sing in virtually every musical genre that was available to him.

Whilst Elvis' original fan base will naturally fade away it wil be replaced by their sons and daughters and by people in general who happen to stumble upon him via his films and recorded legacy. What is important is that EPE and SONY put together some definitive packages/films to portray the best of Elvis e.g 'Young Man With The Big Beat'. After all it was Elvis himself who stated that he hoped he would be remembered for the best he had to give.

He was truly 'sui generis' (one of a kind) and I do believe he will remain so with future generations to come especially with people like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=YGdUdahaxKM#

Brian (y)
I have said this for years, you can attract people with a huge blitz of promotion such as the 25th anniversary year where so many things related to Elvis were being promoted and he was it seemed everywhere......and fans will be won over (although many are fair weather fans at times)
But the life long fan-the one who will not run to the next big promotion-are the ones who discover him all on their own, from stumbling upon one of his films or hearing a certain Elvis song that "touches them inside".....I know some young people have said just seeing his photo has prompted them to want to know more about him........IMO that type of discovery is what makes more lasting fans.
Year in year out fans are begun by "stumbling upon him"

[King Of The Whole World]

Brian, thanks for posting the link to the video.

I am one of the Elvis fans that was not born until after Elvis died. I remember when I was about 7 or 8 years old and my aunt played Heartbreak Hotel and Hound Dog for me and I was hooked. The Elvis bug has never let me go. I remember hearing that voice and looking so cool on the album covers, I wanted to know more about this guy.

[Albert]

Let's hope that this new generation is being catered to better than the past ones.

Forget about the 50s Elvis and focus on the cool, larger than life 70s Elvis. From a marketing perspective you can't get different groups of customers (youngsters, hipsters, married people, seniors, etc) using one packing/product/commercial/etc. Each groups has to be approached and serviced separately

[Jumpsuit Junkie]

Elvis has a magnetism that allures people to him. EPE have done the right thing over the years they have slowly but surely hidden the Elvis from 1975-77 and concentrated on the vibrant Elvis of the 50's, 60's and early 70's. Not everyone is happy with the way they have handled things but the Fat and Forty Image has slowly but surely being replaced by a more balanced Image.

No one can deny Elvis' talent, you don't have a career spanning 6 decades without having something special, EPE have helped cultivate a people friendly Image of Elvis that younger fans can be drawn to, if fans want to know the full story of Elvis' life there is plenty of material out there for them to fill in the blanks.

Of course there will come a time when the avid fan numbers will dwindle, but that time isn't here just yet!

Viva Elvis (y)

[debtdbruno]

well said Matt.......totally right.

They've done what they could with what they have at their disposal......we might not like potato heads etc.....but they don't have the music catalogue to play with