Reply With QuoteNo answers yet, maybe we all are mistaken...
But seriously, he had an awesome voice, the looks, his generoucity and he helped to create rock 'n roll just at the right time and died in a very shitty way.
I happened upon the following on YT......
"i am wondering if he sings in times like these (1977, My Way), with that voice, if he stands out between all the other singers. Not anything bad about EP though, but just wondering why he's such a legend."
Comments?????
"More people today should see him not simply as a performer, but as an artist with a great soul."
John Bakke, professor emeritus
University of Memphis
No answers yet, maybe we all are mistaken...
But seriously, he had an awesome voice, the looks, his generoucity and he helped to create rock 'n roll just at the right time and died in a very shitty way.
"Here's to our wives and girlfriends...may they never meet!".
Groucho Marx
No, you aren't mistaken, but his legend is such a mystery after all of these years....Originally Posted by President Presley
"More people today should see him not simply as a performer, but as an artist with a great soul."
John Bakke, professor emeritus
University of Memphis
That's also what I like about Elvis, he's a mystery, an enigma.
He didn't give much interviews. Last year I was so surprised
to know that Elvis was into spiritual things, I never would have
thought that. So now and then I/we get surprised when info comes out.
"Here's to our wives and girlfriends...may they never meet!".
Groucho Marx
I happened upon the following on YT......
"i am wondering if he sings in times like these (1977, My Way), with that voice, if he stands out between all the other singers. Not anything bad about EP though, but just wondering why he's such a legend."
Comments?????
I happened upon this in response ...
http://www.jamescampion.com/elvis.html
"More people today should see him not simply as a performer, but as an artist with a great soul."
John Bakke, professor emeritus
University of Memphis
A few:I happened upon the following on YT......
"i am wondering if he sings in times like these (1977, My Way), with that voice, if he stands out between all the other singers. Not anything bad about EP though, but just wondering why he's such a legend."
Comments?????
I can't quite pinpoint what the person is trying to say. Are they saying that Elvis doesn't sound very compelling or distinct or something? That could be interesting -- iconoclasm in and of itself doesn't bother me; it's context that matters. If they are saying that, then I can sort of agree. The EIC rendition of "My Way" may not mean as much without greater immersion in the rest of Elvis' life and times. Also: I don't think you can take a single one of EP's hundreds upon hundreds of performances, no matter how singular or brilliant, and say, definitively, "Wow! This guy was amazing!" Well, of course ... you can -- but I think the mystery of his artistry is only revealed (paradoxically) through considering everything. No other singer has so many facets.
That's right. In addition to perhaps being a mystery in ways he couldn't rationally control, he also added to his enigmatic appeal by keeping his interviews and television appearances at a strict minimum. In a way, Elvis Presley constructed Elvis Presley (with a lil help from The Colonel).
Cool article!
I'll quote my favourite passage:
There's also this, a large chunk of which has found its way to wikipedia:Elvis Presley never wrote a published song, designed a stitch of clothing, sculpted a single hair style or invented one dance step; but the man forever known as The King certainly sang, modeled, coifed and hoofed his way to the pinnacle of fame and fortune the world over. Presley was the package: the swooping, greasy pompadour, sneering smile, the slightest shake of his pant leg and an indescribable, godly voice meshed in sweet tones and snarling grit, all added up to arguably the most recognizable personality in the history of pop culture.
Unfortunately, the article isn't very accurate -- a number of errors are rendered, from calling Elvis' mother "Marie", to implying Elvis joined the army in either 1959 or 1960, to saying he returned to live performances in the mid-60's. The latter is particularly bizarre; doesn't everybody know Elvis was locked into Hollywood for most of the decade? I also object to the assertion: "He would never again be a significant voice in the landscape of popular music." That is untrue; his Memphis 1969 recordings are extremely iconic and extremely respected. MTV's "Unplugged" format may also have been inspired by a fresh airing of a re-edited version of the "Comeback Special" in the 1980's. To say nothing of the way every decade of Elvis' music has personally inspired millions of people, musically and otherwise.Watershed hits such as "Heartbreak Hotel", "All Shook Up", "Hound Dog", "Jailhouse Rock", and "Are You Lonesome Tonight" were eminately Presley's from the moment he put his stamp on them. His jagged, bubbly highs and Southern baritone jump from those recordings like spirits from a cauldren. Elvis crooned romantically, then screeched relentlessly; always pouring his heart into the lyric and melody. His blood, sweat and tears are on each and every song he recorded, even those less-recognized for their influence. His range of emotion and excitement speak honestly about the singer. After Elvis, the male vocalist could no longer just sing a song, especially in the new world of rock-n-roll. The "feel" of a performance far out-weighed the perfection of the take.
BEAUTIFULLY expressed!! I am not blind to his significance; albeit, more than a little amazed at the millions and millions around the globe (such as yourself, England, correct??) who are drawn to his style, reclusive pass, turbulent last years, year and after year. I guess I just thought since you guys had the Beatles, why you were interested in Elvis...lol
But in response, I believe that my original quote was regarding that performance. Perhaps she had never heard before. I do not know. Many things have been said about Elvis, both good and bad, but it isn't often that you find someone who expressed complete ignorance to his place in history.
His powerful perfomance in 68 is testimony to his music, to his power. There is no doubt about that. I remember watching that when I was about 14 in the 80's and, although I couldn't express it, knew that it was something quite powerful and provocative!!! Now that I am older, I have come to truly believe that his music recorded with Chips Loman at American was some of the most amazing and REVEALING of his entire career. If anything, he revealed that the passion that drove him early in his career, was, if anything, more unrestrained and powerful!!!
"More people today should see him not simply as a performer, but as an artist with a great soul."
John Bakke, professor emeritus
University of Memphis
Thank you. The best thing about my response is the reward of seeing you say more, much more.
Ah, yes. I don't think there's any way to conclusively measure, but it's often said that Elvis is more popular in the UK and Europe than he is in the States! Elvis is an encapsulation of America, but that's what gives him his universal appeal -- America is a nation of immigrants and a land of extremes, both of which are present in his music and his persona. The Beatles? Fantastic, but give me Elvis' quixoticism any day.I am not blind to his significance; albeit, more than a little amazed at the millions and millions around the globe (such as yourself, England, correct??) who are drawn to his style, reclusive pass, turbulent last years, year and after year. I guess I just thought since you guys had the Beatles, why you were interested in Elvis...lol
True. Maybe this person doesn't warrant length defences. As a rule of thumb, you should ignore 99% of what is written on YouTube. This goes for any topic.But in response, I believe that my original quote was regarding that performance. Perhaps she had never heard before. I do not know. Many things have been said about Elvis, both good and bad, but it isn't often that you find someone who expressed complete ignorance to his place in history.
I still haven't placed my feelings on the 1969 recordings in perspective. Maybe I never will. I'm torn between different periods for different reasons. One of my favourite tracks is "Edge of Reality", which is a curveball in his entire catalogue. In a way, I prefer the laid back swampy groove of his 1970 "Country" album to the 1969 sessions -- musically, I feel 1969 is superior (if there is such a thing), and I definitely have no problems extolling what I think are that set of recordings' many virtues, but I have a personal fascination with the feel of the tracks and the recording process for the country album. I would also say the best of the "Aloha" concert contains very specific and different artistic highs that I find more appealing (in some ways) than 1969. But it's apples and oranges. The music from 1969 is formidable and a real force to be reckoned with. Double this for his live performances in 1968.His powerful perfomance in 68 is testimony to his music, to his power. There is no doubt about that. I remember watching that when I was about 14 in the 80's and, although I couldn't express it, knew that it was something quite powerful and provocative!!! Now that I am older, I have come to truly believe that his music recorded with Chips Loman at American was some of the most amazing and REVEALING of his entire career. If anything, he revealed that the passion that drove him early in his career, was, if anything, more unrestrained and powerful!!!
Thank you. The best thing about my response is the reward of seeing you say more, much more.
Ah, yes. I don't think there's any way to conclusively measure, but it's often said that Elvis is more popular in the UK and Europe than he is in the States! Elvis is an encapsulation of America, but that's what gives him his universal appeal -- America is a nation of immigrants and a land of extremes, both of which are present in his music and his persona. The Beatles? Fantastic, but give me Elvis' quixoticism any day.
I still haven't placed my feelings on the 1969 recordings in perspective. Maybe I never will. I'm torn between different periods for different reasons. One of my favourite tracks is "Edge of Reality", which is a curveball in his entire catalogue. In a way, I prefer the laid back swampy groove of his 1970 "Country" album to the 1969 sessions -- musically, I feel 1969 is superior (if there is such a thing), and I definitely have no problems extolling what I think are that set of recordings' many virtues, but I have a personal fascination with the feel of the tracks and the recording process for the country album. I would also say the best of the "Aloha" concert contains very specific and different artistic highs that I find more appealing (in some ways) than 1969. But it's apples and oranges. The music from 1969 is formidable and a real force to be reckoned with. Double this for his live performances in 1968.
Fans from every corner of the world still amaze me immensely!!! I was raised here in South Louisiana (hurricane country!) and am only a few months older than Elvis' daughter so I wasn't part of his original musical revolution. By the time I had ever heard his name, he was doing Aloha in Hawaii. My parents, however, were there for the revolution, explosion and remember what it was like growing up hearing Elvis for the first time in a very conservative south. I always considered Elvis a Southern US thing!
I guess my feelings on his recordings in 69 would be because it was truly an original non-movie album - with different players involved, in a different studio, different musicians. I don't know if you have heard it, but I have The Memphis Sessions and this is probably one of the reasons I am so fond of the music made at this time. His other music, notwithstanding, is great. Even those albums where he wasn't making the absolute best music, he could still emote a song like none other, he could still carry a huge vocal range with lots of energy and more emotion than one person should be blessed with.
"More people today should see him not simply as a performer, but as an artist with a great soul."
John Bakke, professor emeritus
University of Memphis
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