why mexicans didn't like elvis

[Lisarose]

WHY MEXICANS HATED ELVIS!

May 1959: While Elvis Presley's popularity in the U.S. was arguably at its all-time peak, Mexico was in the midst of a huge anti-Elvis backlash.

Tijuana tabloids called him a racist and homosexual, after the singer reportedly told gossip columnist Federico de León "I'd rather kiss three black girls than a Mexican." A Mexican woman in the same column was quoted saying "I'd rather kiss three dogs than one Elvis Presley." . . .

The book "Refried Elvis: The Rise of the Mexican Counterculture" (Berkeley: University of California Press, c1999) claims the original Elvis quote was fabricated. According to author Eric Zolov, "Herbe Pompeyo of Polygram Records in Mexico City claims that a high-up Mexican political figure wanted to contract Presley for a private party, for which he sent the performer a blank check to fill in as he wished. Presley, according to the story, returned the blank check, so the politico, extremely offended, invented the storyline about Elvis not liking Mexican women."
http://www.elvisunlimited.com/news.a...79&news_id=218

Sounds like a Mexican version of the Black rumor of Elvis allegedly stating that all a black person could do for him was shine his shoes! What a load of crappola! I suppose it does sell those rags.

[Unchained Melody]

Like you all, i find this to be nothing more than BS. People wanting attention.

[Donut]

Agreed! Two things come to mind that Elvis said that if said today he would be bar-b-que'd by the press. #1. Calling all the female reporters "honey" and #2 telling The Sweet Inspirations that he would replace them with The Supremes. Nowdays somebody would make something out of those statements.

I don´t know how to put this....
#3. What about "I was buried in a beaver"?

[Lisarose]

Originally Posted by utmom2008
Agreed! Two things come to mind that Elvis said that if said today he would be bar-b-que'd by the press. #1. Calling all the female reporters "honey" and #2 telling The Sweet Inspirations that he would replace them with The Supremes. Nowdays somebody would make something out of those statements.

I've stated before that I forgive Elvis a lot of things I wouldn't in others, and let me tell you - he's the only man I'd let call me honey in the business place! [or darling, or dear, just call me, Elvis! ]

I don´t know how to put this....
#3. What about "I was buried in a beaver"?

He would've been toast!

[Wendy56]

Back in that time (end of 1950s) Mexico was going trough a difficult transition. The "golden epoch" of the mexican movies was almost finished. Movie theathers were very important back then (tv didn't come out well until 1960). Also, the music culture we had here was strongly influenced by Cuba, with genders like danzón, mambo, cha-cha-chá, cuban son. And still, romantic balads singers (tríos) were yet very famous too.

Anyway, in Mexico (at least in Mexico City) the "night life" were in wild cabarets open the whole night. The transition started when City's governor Mr. Ernesto Peralta Uruchurtu announced this night life had to end. The image and reputation of the city had to be "cleaned up", so all cabarets closed very early and people couldn't go out after 1:00 am. I mean, he maybe was involved in this "bad-image" of Elvis because thought he (Uruchurtu) wouldn't have the control over his wild and young fans here.

That was the time when rumors about Elvis started. And he couldn't do much because of this "manager". Never came to Mexico and those rumors didn't end of a nice way. Here, rock'n'roll was gaining fans. The lead singer of a group named "The Teen Tops", Enrique Guzmán was the "mexican Elvis" of the time and real Elvis was left behind (when he did his Army service).

[Raised on Rock]

Back in that time (end of 1950s) Mexico was going trough a difficult transition. The "golden epoch" of the mexican movies was almost finished. Movie theathers were very important back then (tv didn't come out well until 1960). Also, the music culture we had here was strongly influenced by Cuba, with genders like danzón, mambo, cha-cha-chá, cuban son. And still, romantic balads singers (tríos) were yet very famous too.

Anyway, in Mexico (at least in Mexico City) the "night life" were in wild cabarets open the whole night. The transition started when City's governor Mr. Ernesto Peralta Uruchurtu announced this night life had to end. The image and reputation of the city had to be "cleaned up", so all cabarets closed very early and people couldn't go out after 1:00 am. I mean, he maybe was involved in this "bad-image" of Elvis because thought he (Uruchurtu) wouldn't have the control over his wild and young fans here.

That was the time when rumors about Elvis started. And he couldn't do much because of this "manager". Never came to Mexico and those rumors didn't end of a nice way. Here, rock'n'roll was gaining fans. The lead singer of a group named "The Teen Tops", Enrique Guzmán was the "mexican Elvis" of the time and real Elvis was left behind (when he did his Army service).

Rock and Roll music, and his main name: Elvis Presley was not welcomed by large amount of people both in the U.S.A. and the rest of the world back in the 50's, it was consider vulgar, a bad influence on young people etc. For the younger fans that weren´t there, taking a look into "This is Elvis" or "ELvis '56", two fine documentals on Elvis Presley, may give more insight about the why´s he wasn´t acepted, and how all the censorship, police man filming Elvis shows, and record burning happened.

Now as Wendy explains, around the late 50's, goberment censorship got heavy in Mexico, (witch-hunt Eisenhowar era like) by then, American rock and roll music was big enough to be a main object of censorship, so this was the times were the rumor we are talking about in these thread started to circulate, but once again if there is any need to be told again, that didn´t had any real efect on the fans, I mean both Elvis Presley and rock and roll fans, yet, in the same way it happened in the states, when Presley went to the Army, Chuck Berry to Jail, Buddy Holly passed away, Jerry Lee was trashed bad enoughto kill his carreer by the media, and Little Richard quited for a while, during 60-63 rock and roll music seemed to fade away and so, many Mexican rock and roll bands quit, some of their lead singers became ballad singers, actors and whatever, maybe following Presley career steps even.

Interesting story, in '60 when G.I. Blues was premiered in Mexico City, Presley-Mania went so wild (if still there is anydoubt Presley was still loved by his fans over here after those stupid rumors) that the film was needed to be stoped at the middle of the sreening, so fan exitment became anger, police needed to empty the cinema and so they did, and it was not a nice scene, so Presley films were banned in many cinemas for about a year or so.

Anyhow by '61 Presley image as a rock and roller was about to die out in the U.S. and the rest of the world until the '68 comeback, and by the time Fun in Acapulco starring Elvis Presley, Ursula Andress and Mexican actress Elsa Cardenas (so yes he kissed at least one mexican girl, altough he got paid for that lol.) premiered here in Mexico in '63, Presley image was by then total part of the establishment, the movie and the soundtrack was quite popular over here for obvious reasons, and ironically the only ones that by now might have not liked him were the die hard rock and rollers once also Presley die hard fans, same as in the U.K. or U.S. they were into ROlling Stones and Beatles now. So the lost in popularity that Presley might had during the the early 60's had nothing to do with the Elvis being a racist rumor, but with his change of image from a rocker to Mr. Nice guy, and then with the each time less interesting movies and soundtracks, same as everywhere I guess.

As a footnote goberment and media censorship over rock and roll music was still very hard here in Mexico during the rest of the 60's and early 70's, and fake nasty rumors like that about Presley saying unpleasant things about our country happened again with the Beatles, as Mexico City was on the list for their last world tour in '66, but someone in the goverment made sure that didn´t happend banning them from playing here being untrue racist comments supossedly made by them the excuse, but it was well known that the one and only true was: rock and roll was not welcome here by the establishment. We got Jim Morrison and The Doors in '67 though.

P.S. Once I attended a Mexican ELvis fan club meeting were Elsa Cardenas attended, and she got nothing to say about Presley ways towards her except the same comments all of his co-stars always say: he was a total gentelman with her, very sweet, respectful, etc. etc. etc. Same story was two others Mexican Presley co-stars Dolores del Rio (Flaming Star), and Katy Jurado (Stay Away Joe).

[cameron]

Thank you both {Raised on Rock and Wendy} for filling us in on that history.
I find things like that interesting .

I went to YouTube and found Enrique Guzmán
.He was very good and a handsome young man ,TYVM .
I got Angel in the Morning. .

[Raised on Rock]

Thank you both {Raised on Rock and Wendy} for filling us in on that history.
I find things like that interesting .

I went to YouTube and found Enrique Guzmán
.He was very good and a handsome young man ,TYVM .
I got Angel in the Morning. .

Nice to hear you enjoyed the info Cameron. Now Enrique Guzmán its a good example of one among many artists around the world that shaped their careers following step by step Presley´s career, achieving big succes in their respective countries by doing that. Guzmán is one that at least from '57 until '69 (No concerts years for him) seemed to just follow Presley formula as if it was the safest formula to play, proving it with succes in México, Spain and several other Spanish speaking countries.

He, Guzmán, was a rock and roller though te 50's, became a ballad singer around the early 60's, starred in a bunch of teenage musicals through the 60's, going from Mr. nice guy around '63-'66 to a more playboy like image by '67-'69, no rock and roll comback for him, and then by '69- '70 started to play big hotel showrooms. Anyhow, lacking from a fan ban base as huge as Elvis, by ´71 the Jerry Lee Lewis-Johnny Cash formula suited better for him and so he starred his own comedy and variety show with his wife Silvia Pinal through the '70s. He still performs these days.

Hope not going too much out topic, my point here is how Elvis Presley was an artistic role model for other performers as much as an icon for a whole generation here as same as in any other country. Mexicans hating Elvis? total BS. Everybody wanted to be Elvis right? from Lennon to Guzmán lol. (Not comparing them at all).

Here are some clips from Enrique Guzmán kind of following the Elvis formula pattern:

This is from the movie Acompañame '65 (Come With Me), http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zk-U-...eature=related The Viva Las Vegas formula.

Around the time of Double Trouble, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6ZGQ96tyBY Both movies suck anyway, lol.

This is from Ok Cleopatra '69: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXyBsNbCucQ The plot: a total Easy Come Easy Go/Live a Little Love a Little mix and rip off lol.

Back in '61 trying on a more Dramatic role although still a musical, the first and only one as it was not so much of a succes, similar story isn´t it? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7vq0Tj87eY

Won´t bore you no more as this might be a little out of topic.

[cameron]

[QUOTE Raised on Rock].
..

seemed to just follow Presley formula as if it was the safest formula to play, proving it with succes in México, Spain and several other Spanish speaking countries .

I only know a small amount of Spanish, but I enjoyed this. It appears he did follow along the same career formula as Elvis.
I appreciate you doing all this. I love learning about different countries and people .
{I never did learn to dance like that though.}
Thank you so much !

[Raised on Rock]

WHY MEXICANS HATED ELVIS!
The movie Los chiflados del rock'n roll, a musical spoof, was promoted with posters showing Elvis in drag, being shot by rifle-toting men in sombreros, under a banner reading "Die Elvis Presley!"
http://www.elvisunlimited.com/news.a...79&news_id=218

So about this movie, I had to do some research on that one, it turns out that the movie came out in early '57, right in middle of the cultural/generational shock that rock music caused around the world, it was also the time when rock and roll records were by rule making much more money than all the previous popular acts, in the U.S. many blues, jazz, country and pop artist saw their careers falling apart because of the rock music craze, Mexico was no diferent, and the same happened with many bolero and ballad singers, even actors from the so called golden era saw their good time fade away when "Love Me Tender" or "Jailhouse Rock" premiered over here.

So this movie "Los Chiflados del Rock" (The Crazy Men of Rock) was a parody about how american rock and roll music, along with Cuban influenced rythms like mambo, where not only finishing and era of double morals and sexual repression but with hundreds the careers and night clubs. The plot: A group of five nightclub owners, all played by actors from the golden era of mexican cinema (representing the older generation that simply hate rock music) face the bankruptcy of their business unless they can come up with an idea to make money quickly. The idea: update their acts doing mambo and ROCK AND ROLL PRESLEY STYLE. So the movie poster: showing Elvis in drag, being shot by rifle-toting men in sombreros, was about how the old generation of nightclub costumers were shocked by these NEW IDEA, they also represent the old macho generation who could not understand this pink dressed cat wiggling his *** singing Blue Suede Shoes, obviously for them Presley was a maricon, just like in the States Presley was a "Negroe" from the point of view of the old racist generation. So that´s the story of that movie poster reading Die Elvis Presley, it is no representative of how MExicans didn´t liked Elvis Presley, the movie was nothing but a comedy about a generational clash reaction, and these was TWO years before that prefabricated rumor about Presley not liking mexican women was started.

Most of all that forgoten '57 movie was a reaction to another mexian movie, the 1956 well remember and now a rock and roll lovers classic "Las locuras del rock and roll" (The Rock and Roll Craze), which was a pro-rock and roll movie, kind of a our version of "The Blackboard Jungle", It is importan to mention than if one big chunk of the old generations hated Presley, the Latin Jazz scene as well as other afrocuban rythms scenes here in Mexico, all musicians from the 40's, appreciated and accepted Elvis Presley and Rock music so well that in fact incorporated the new rythmn to their music, going as far as doing Elvis covers on their acts.

Gloria Ríos former Mexican Latin Jazz singer made her debut as a Rock and Roll singer doing a BIll Halley cover in the '56 movie "Las Locuras del Rock and Roll", also did she did a cover of Hearbreak Hotel. No need to say when you watch that clip that her stage moves generated the same kind of controversy here in Mexico that Presley did months ealier at the Milton Berle Show while singing Hound Dog in the U.S. no doubt then: Elvis Presley was a "bad" influence, no wonder, a year later -Die Elvis Presley- readed on the banners of an answer movie next year.

Here´s Gloria Rios: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GILybBOmMrc

And here are some other Latin Jazz bands from Mexico going rock and roll, sounds weird now, but back in the 50's they were dance floor efective, and good enough to got the censors in their backs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGn6o...eature=related

[MIElvis]

Who cares....enough people DID like him to make him the King of Rock & Roll, I would say that there were Mexicans in that group also. Why do we post such negative things?

[Unchained Melody]

Why do we post such negative things?

If you don't like the topic feel free to start a thread about whatever you would find appropriate to discuss !!

I found this to be a very interesting discussion with some great replies esepcially from you Raised On Rock, thanks for the video's aswell !!

[Diane]

I found this a very interesting thread as well as I'd never heard that mexicans hated Elvis....and don't believe it.

Thank you Raisedonrock and Wendy for your views as to what really happened. It's always good to hear both sides of a story.

Diane

[cameron]

So about this movie, I had to do some research on that one, it turns out that the movie came out in early '57, right in middle of the cultural/generational shock that rock music caused around the world, it was also the time when rock and roll records were by rule making much more money than all the previous popular acts, in the U.S. many blues, jazz, country and pop artist saw their careers falling apart because of the rock music craze, Mexico was no diferent, and the same happened with many bolero and ballad singers, even actors from the so called golden era saw their good time fade away when "Love Me Tender" or "Jailhouse Rock" premiered over here.

So this movie "Los Chiflados del Rock" (The Crazy Men of Rock) was a parody about how american rock and roll music, along with Cuban influenced rythms like mambo, where not only finishing and era of double morals and sexual repression but with hundreds the careers and night clubs. The plot: A group of five nightclub owners, all played by actors from the golden era of mexican cinema (representing the older generation that simply hate rock music) face the bankruptcy of their business unless they can come up with an idea to make money quickly. The idea: update their acts doing mambo and ROCK AND ROLL PRESLEY STYLE. So the movie poster: showing Elvis in drag, being shot by rifle-toting men in sombreros, was about how the old generation of nightclub costumers were shocked by these NEW IDEA, they also represent the old macho generation who could not understand this pink dressed cat wiggling his *** singing Blue Suede Shoes, obviously for them Presley was a maricon, just like in the States Presley was a "Negroe" from the point of view of the old racist generation. So that´s the story of that movie poster reading Die Elvis Presley, it is no representative of how MExicans didn´t liked Elvis Presley, the movie was nothing but a comedy about a generational clash reaction, and these was TWO years before that prefabricated rumor about Presley not liking mexican women was started.

Most of all that forgoten '57 movie was a reaction to another mexian movie, the 1956 well remember and now a rock and roll lovers classic "Las locuras del rock and roll" (The Rock and Roll Craze), which was a pro-rock and roll movie, kind of a our version of "The Blackboard Jungle", It is importan to mention than if one big chunk of the old generations hated Presley, the Latin Jazz scene as well as other afrocuban rythms scenes here in Mexico, all musicians from the 40's, appreciated and accepted Elvis Presley and Rock music so well that in fact incorporated the new rythmn to their music, going as far as doing Elvis covers on their acts.

Gloria Ríos former Mexican Latin Jazz singer made her debut as a Rock and Roll singer doing a BIll Halley cover in the '56 movie "Las Locuras del Rock and Roll", also did she did a cover of Hearbreak Hotel. No need to say when you watch that clip that her stage moves generated the same kind of controversy here in Mexico that Presley did months ealier at the Milton Berle Show while singing Hound Dog in the U.S. no doubt then: Elvis Presley was a "bad" influence, no wonder, a year later -Die Elvis Presley- readed on the banners of an answer movie next year.

Here´s Gloria Rios: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GILybBOmMrc

And here are some other Latin Jazz bands from Mexico going rock and roll, sounds weird now, but back in the 50's they were dance floor efective, and good enough to got the censors in their backs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGn6o...eature=related

Thank you !! This is one of the best threads here .IMO.
Rare to find an intelligent conversation----and Gloria Rios was wonderful !

[Wendy56]

Thank you both {Raised on Rock and Wendy} for filling us in on that history.
I find things like that interesting .

I went to YouTube and found Enrique Guzmán
.He was very good and a handsome young man ,TYVM .
I got Angel in the Morning. .

You are so welcome cameron.

P.S: Check, if you can, this link. One of my favorites song (there's an older version, but can't find it online).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuhFcz5G-kQ

[Wendy56]

P.S. Once I attended a Mexican ELvis fan club meeting were Elsa Cardenas attended, and she got nothing to say about Presley ways towards her except the same comments all of his co-stars always say: he was a total gentelman with her, very sweet, respectful (...)

You did? I was in the FFEFC. And Elsa (and a lucky lady for kissing Elvis!) is a fine woman. Got her autograph and heard nice stories about Elvis... .

[Wendy56]

Here you can see a parody of Elvis. Is a clip of a mexican movie. I don't remember the title, sorrry. The lead guy is "Roberto Cobos" (his name in the film is Elvio Prenteiz...), famous for his dancing style. His role in this movie is of a man that has a lot of cars and money, so he can get every lady he wants (plus an expert in rock'n'roll dancing). I thought this movie was funny and also funny to find it online.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXS7h...eature=related

[Wendy56]

My final comment about this topic-thread is: I get a bit(?) upseat when I hear "mexicans hated (or hate) Elvis" because is such a foolish thing. Not for one rumor or "red-newspaper note" Mexico is "guilty" for not liking Elvis Presley. May be people that don't like EP, but that's just normal I guess (like I may not like The B..tls). It's only a matter of musical taste. Also, I ain't gonna get tired of explaining why those old rumors were such a big lie and/or bad publicity. People can believe me or not, but what I can really say, is that there are big EP fans here in Mexico. I'm included in this group and feel so proud by being, for so many reasons, an Elvis fan.

[utmom2008]

Here you can see a parody of Elvis. Is a clip of a mexican movie. I don't remember the title, sorrry. The lead guy is "Roberto Cobos" (his name in the film is Elvio Prenteiz...), famous for his dancing style. His role in this movie is of a man that has a lot of cars and money, so he can get every lady he wants (plus an expert in rock'n'roll dancing). I thought this movie was funny and also funny to find it online.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXS7h...eature=related

That clip is hilarious!

[Raised on Rock]

You did? I was in the FFEFC. And Elsa (and a lucky lady for kissing Elvis!) is a fine woman. Got her autograph and heard nice stories about Elvis... .

I used to attend a fan club when I was around 17 old, can´t even remember the name of it, lol, they got a show in Radio 13 around '95: Una Cita con Elvis (A Date With Elvis), they rented a small cinema near metro Hidalgo once and they screened Fun in Acapulco, Elsa Cardenas was invited and she in fact was asked about that rumor and she said it was all BS.

Anyhow I stopped attending that or any other Elvis fan club in Mexico few years latter, and I do not attend any right now, although some Elvis mates of mine do, what can I say, busy man I am, yeah sure lol.

Do you attend any Elvis fan club right now?