What makes Elvis an eternally "current" phenomenon?

[Cherokee]

I decided to start a new thread when I read Christel's post in the turban thread. Christel wondered:
What always atracted me and wondered me (besides his good voice, his carisma and his humor) is that he was a myth when he was alive and still is after so many years, even though he was a normal human being like us. To me ( and I think many others) he must have been something special. Afterall, there are many other good singers, still they never reached the level Elvis has.

Now, the cynical answer to the title of this thread would be: greed and marketing

Still, there's an apparent continuous interest in Elvis the man and the artist. It can't all be contributed to clever brainwashing techniques of the EPE/Graceland/heirs people.
But why does Elvis still generate so much love, interest, even fanatism - even in younger kids who weren't born yet when he died? Surely there were plenty of good singers (some may argue better singers) or actors who were big stars, but who were slowly forgotten or at best are not as popular now as they were when alive.
What besides his talent, his looks and the marketing makes Elvis last in a way, that he even outsells most living acts, 27 years after his death?

Yoko Ono tried to achieve the same for John Lennon's memory with various projects and other attempts to keep his popularity growing, yet doesn't seem half as successful at it as EPE is.

Anyone?

Curious Cherokee

[buttonhead]

to me what makes elvis an eternally phenomenon is still ..his charisma...and music..
other than that is the story of his life...from truck driver to king of rock n' roll... the other reasons for all that questions about his phenomenon is of course his fans, elvis got what he is today even after he is gone because of what he gave to his fans during his life time.. jackie sorry with my english..i just got a little lighten up after last night party

[NightRider]

I believe that there is still so much interest in Elvis because there has never been anyone like him....period. People have and always will try...but will there ever be another artist that could change the face of popular music as Elvis did ?

John Lennon was mentioned......but the man himself ( as good and popular as the Beatles were ) was not even close to Elvis in my opinion. His solo career although cut oh so short...would not have been anything like as popular as he had seen when with the Beatles.

Elvis was so big in the music industry whilst he was alive....21 years of hits....something that maybe only now has been equalled...but at the time and indeed for a few years after...no-one else had done what he had done.....there was so much material by Elvis.....and probably should have been more had he recorded as we would have liked all through the 70's.

He was/is a legend. In music terms....who comes even close ?

I think that is why he still commands so much interest all these years after his death.

[hounddogone2000]

what a good question,i believe everybody needs a hero and to millions its ELVIS there just isnt anybody that comes close i have been a fan since the early 70s and grow fonder of the man each day so apart from the obvious(the fantastic singing voice) i guess it must be the mans charisma. i did ask my 10 year old son once whether he was a fan because i was and he said no he loves elvis because he just stands out from everybody else.
FOR ELVIS FANS NO EXPLANATION IS NEEDED FOR NON ELVIS FANS NO EXPLANATION IS POSSIBLE

[stilllovinelvis]

That's an excellent question. But it doesn't have an easy answer. One thing I can think of... He was generously blessed with a lot of something special that is hard to put into words what it was exactly. He just had something X-tra. And he in some sense knew it too. And he knew where it came from. And he was on a continuous search to find out "why me?". Always searching for answers and to be closer to God. Maybe that's what "it" was. Despite his human flaws, maybe what we see and feel are some of the aspects of God, that is potentially in all of us, but shown through magnificently in Elvis and was a light so bright that it continues to shine even now. And "why" it was bestowed upon him could be considered a mystery. But I believe Elvis was and still is used by God in a way not everyone is aware of. I believe lives were and are touched and changed by God through Elvis Aaron Presley. Not everyone is going to get that. What we also see on the outside are his good looks and talent. Along with this special power, it's a very sexy, irresistable combination. But this may just be a by product of his REAL purpose.

[Jungleroom76]

That's an excellent question. But it doesn't have an easy answer.

I AGREE 100% WITH YOU....AN EXCELLENT QUESTION WITHOUT AN EASY ANSWER!!!

For me, the reason Elvis remains a phenomenon today is because he is a clutural icon!! He INVENTED rock n' roll (although some may try to argue this point)...most artists today, when asked, cite Elvis as a major influence!! What would the music of today be like, if it weren't for Elvis Presley?

Elvis had charisma....he exuded confidence and raw energy....and the fans back in the 50's had never experienced ANYONE like Elvis....it's almost as if Elvis tapped into their deepest, darkest desires with his rebellious style of music.

But, perhaps the simplest answer (if there is a simple answer to this question) is THE VOICE!!! There has never been, nor will there ever be, anyone that could sing like Elvis. And the biggest part of that is, no matter what the style of music, whether it be rock n' roll, blues, country, or gospel, Elvis could sing it all!!! I don't know of another artist in the history of music that could sing ANY style of music, and make it their own. Elvis was able to wrap his voice around the lyrics of any song, in any genre of music, and make it an ELVIS song! (h)

That's the best answer I can come up with!!!

TCB!
Mike

[P.S. Annie]

Good question, like mentioned before not easy to answer. For me it is because he changed modern music, but also the young people became an important industry because of him. Before music, and life generaly was for the grown-ups. Now the youth took over. Besides that, and maybe more importantly like Mike said, the Voice is one of a kind, it has a unique sound, an abbility to touch your soul. He could sing everything and he did sing everything. He was a perfectionist. A man with great charisma and great feeling for music. An interesting personality....well I could go on and on

[Sonny]

It's a hard to thing to make clear, I guess.

All of our answers and stories are along the same lines, because we all get the same feeling when trying to explain this wonderful man and why we like him and his music so much.

Sure, it's his voice and the way he changed popular music in the fifties, but besides that it's more, much more. It's the whole package!

Can you name another singer with that much variety in music: rock and roll, country, blues, gospel, folk, jazz and everything in between.

Besides this music, his personality never changed that much during all those years. As you read the stories, watch interviews and so on: he more or less remained the person he always was. He never forgot where he came from, or what his family went through in those early years.

He had everything: the looks, the moves and the voice...

I guess there will never be anyone like him again. Anyone even trying, would always be compared to him...

Sonny

[TCE]

First of all thanks for dedicating this treat to a remark I made. ( For ones I said something usefull. lol.) Ofcourse I want to contribute to it.
I know the question and answer ain''t easy, but I'll try. To me Elvis just had it all. His looks, charisma, humor, voice etc. However I think the main things, that made him bigger then anyone else were: he changed the music style and made it open for all kinds of peole (afterall, before Elvis the music was devided in black and white), he showed people respect and that everybody was equal, no matter what. Ofcource he also was a goldmine and attracted greedy people aswell. He just did what no one did before or after him. Even nowadays popular singers or groups use moves he came up with (Mostly without even knowing it themselves.) or dress excentric. But Elvis started it all. Maybe this doesn't belong here, but I just want to tell it: I often heard people say: that guy with the strange suits and belts. He's just showing off. However I laughed my eyes out a couple of years ago, because what was fashion? Trousers in the same shape that Elvis wore in the 70's and a year later belts where in that looked much like the ones Elvis wore in the 70's. I call that hypocrite. They didn't liked it when Elvis wore it and now they where wearing it themselves.


Be safe and take care,

christel (TCE)

[Cherokee]

Okay, my own take on this

I think the fact that much of his life resembles some classic story lines throughout history has a lot to do with the impact it has on people.
Tragedy: poverty, stillborn twin, a bleak outlook on the future for the family
until:
Luck/Gift of God?: the surviving child of the dirt poor, unfortunate family, turns out to have a God given talent and the unlikely people are suddenly touched by "luck".....
but:
Money Can't Buy You Love/Luck(1): the most beloved person in his life, the one he REALLY wanted to have a better life, only gets to enjoy their fortune for a few short years..... his successes made him stand apart rather than make him "one of the boys" which is what he always wanted..... and partly by choice, partly by fate he ends up like a precious songbird in a gilded cage....
Money Can't Buy You Love/Luck(2): isolation leads to estrangement from the world, probably the realization that all the money, fame and attention have not brought him what he thought it would bring him, when he was still poor. Again a, self imposed?, bleak look on the future (certainly after publication of "that book")..... a daunting task ahead of reinventing himself, cleaning up etc. I'm not saying Elvis was suicidal, or that he killed himself. I am saying that he'd been an insecure person all his life and the stress he faced in his final months couldn't have been helpful to his physical condition and failing health.....

So: his life story contains all the elements of story telling, be it Greek tragedies or current (romantic) novels..... it has an almost fictional universal appeal, only it was this man's REAL life.......

And to tie in with this thread : I've often wondered if he'd still be as popular as he is now if he'd looked like Roy Orbison. Somehow I think not. Orbison, too, had a wonderful voice, came from poverty, made his fortune with his God given talent and had many, many personal tragedies in his life. But somehow he didn't have the appeal that Elvis had, nor the charisma. So it must be the combo of looks, charisma and a life that includes many universal themes that make Elvis still so popular today.......

Thanks all for contributing to this thread, Elvis Philosophy 101!

[Jungleroom76]

NICE ASSESSMENT CHEROKEE!!!

The classic RAGS TO RICHES story....living the American Dream, growing up poor and becoming one of the richest and arguably the most well known person in music history!!

A VERY COOL story indeed!!! (h)

TCB!
Mike

[carolynlm]

I think basically just listening to Elvis sing makes you feel good. And that laugh.........and that smile.....Once in a while someone comes along that has it all together, I know Elvis is one of those people and I also think Diana Spencer had it, although I doubt she could sing.....It's just a gift......

[Cherokee]

bump

[EnigmaticSun]

That's an interesting thesis - Roy Orbison was different. A lot of people don't think that he was very attractive while it could be said that Elvis was a 'big hunk of love'..! Roy Orbison could sing this dramatic song while standing motionless like a pillar - Elvis on the other hand was the hip-shaking king, that cat called domino..

I think that Elvis' special quality was not just his pretty face or charisma - I prefer the voice with incredible passion from the late 70's, where you cry real tears as the wounded king sings his tired heart out. The importance of physical appearance is secondary.. I guess that his special vibe was something that came from the inside - Elvis wasn't empty or boring.

Roy Orbison was a completely different fellow, though he had his specific qualities. I think that Elvis admired Orbison and vice versa (Elvis did say that Roy is one of the finest singers in the world).

Elvis' life story is somehow Biblical and that's why it's timeless and fascinates people all over the world.

[franny]

This is a good question and I have often wondered this myself, but not because I don't know why he remains such a huge popularity...

I think it's his incredibly voice, but I also think it's because he grew up so poor and even though he became the KING he remained true to himself and didn't change the way he treated people...He always gave so much of himself on/off the stage...This is why so many fans care about him...How many of us care about another singer the way we care and always will care about Elvis...

He had his own style and did his own thing, but he really gave his all when he sang and it showed...He was singing from the heart...He was magical!!

franny

[EnigmaticSun]

Not the only musical genius ever to roam the earth, Elvis was very special, especially for an artist from the 20th century. I found the musical scene to become empty-minded after Elvis' passing away, though some other incredible artists were still active in one way or another (Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis). Some other people had already passed away, such legends as Buddy Holly, Hank Williams and Jim Reeves.

Elvis was no Mozart or Bach, but an incredible powerful & versatile musician. He had a strong voice and could play quite a few instruments. I would have loved to hear him sing in an opera (for example 'Don Giovanni').

Another reason, of course, is that Elvis didn't change his opinion about people and life in general. No arrogance! Elvis wasn't threatening or creepy; some ultra-strict people from the south pray for Armageddon, when all the little devils come out and they reign victorious, but Elvis wasn't like that - he was honest, compassionate ?nd talented!

[spinout-designs]

That's the milion dollar question isn't it, (great topic by the way) just what is it that continues to inspire such loyalty and devotion from so many people the world over, almost three decades later.

Marketing surely played a part in the 50's in getting him noticed, but only so far, and only for so long. I personally don't attribute much of his longevity to marketing. Once you get an interest in Elvis, you pretty much pick up the ball yourself from that point on and run with it.

Furthermore, the late 70's Elvis remains a firm favourite with many, yet there is very little marketing of this image at all is there ?

I have pondered this myself on occassion, just what is it about this guy that sets him apart from the rest. I mean to say, I like many artists and many genres of music, yet Elvis still remains in a league of his own.

Im not sure it can even be defined as such.

It has been said 'he started it all'. Of course his place in music history is assured, but I think more than being an originator, it is the way over the years he proved himself to be so versatile, being able to sing any genre, to the point of making even the most mediocre of movie song listenable and yes even enjoyable that is a more influencing factor.

Then there is the performance. He seemed to have a flair for the dramatic, to strike the right pose, to throw the right shape at the right moment to really sell the song so many times over the years.

Importantly, there is also the great sense of humour. Ok, sometimes it was a little off target, but in the main Elvis was a guy who was genuinely funny. He was also a guy that didnt take himself too seriously.

He was the biggest superstar in the world yet always remained humble, down to earth and grounded. Sure there was the flashy showbiz aspect too, but deep down the fame didn't change the person he was.

In New York when pressed for an opinion on war protestors where he replies 'I'm just an entertainer, I'd rather not say' some may argue he was playing it safe by not stating his politics publicly, yet I would suggest his tone and body language indicate this isn't a rehearsed response, but rather the way he actually feels, that he doesn't want to force HIS opinions on others, that he's not there for that purpose.

Perhaps, however, one thing that shouldn't be underestimated in why he remains so popular to this day is that asside from being a fantastic vocalist and showman, this was a guy that actually cared about people.

I think this comes through often in interviews, film clips etc. Again, this guy was the biggest superstar in the world and yet always found the time to spend with people, to sign autographs and to genuinely take an interest in THEM. That's the impression I get.

Right from the beginning you sense Elvis felt a tremendous affection for his audience, an affection that never diminished. He also never took his audience for granted, ' if they want the shirt of my back, they can have it, they put it there', 'tomorrow I may not be worth a ****'.

He was appreciative of his popularity, genuinely appreciative that people would take the time to come out to a show, or spend their money on what he did, and he gave much in return.

It may just be that giving so much of himself then (and continuing to give to this day) is one of the key elements in the loyalty and devotion he continues to receive in return.

There is no magic formula, he was a one of a kind, a fantastic, charismatic entertainer, a superstar and a very human being all at the same time. It's a combination of all those things.

[Menwithbrokenhearts]

Spinout - I agree.

I just looked a bit at the 56 exhibit at Graceland, seeing and hearing about all the Fan stuff that Elvis kept his entire life, filling up warehouses, made me think, why would he keep every teddy bear, trinket, framed photo, painting etc..? Every famous person that has ever been, will keep some, give some away, throw away others. He truly did appreciate even the slightest gesture and, I believe, every fan, casual to crazed.

And all those pictures taken at the Graceland gates, and elsewhere, where he is literally surrounded by fans, and there he is talking, shaking hands, signing, hugging, kissing, etc.. Not a hint of "The King" just an, albeit very famous, appreciative, kind, generous, good-hearted man.

I'm still amazed he would do those things, sometimes at the risk of his own safety.

He was genuine and unique in every respect.

[rocknroll]

He's an American original...we can claim him as our own.

He was the first...and the best.

He is the definition of 'cool'.

Charisma

Talent not seen then or since...had a great career in many different fields of music, therefore appealed to a huge audiance.

And lastly...EVERYONE is an Elvis fan, just not everyone admits it.

[ELV1S]

I AGREE 100% WITH YOU....AN EXCELLENT QUESTION WITHOUT AN EASY ANSWER!!!

For me, the reason Elvis remains a phenomenon today is because he is a clutural icon!! He INVENTED rock n' roll (although some may try to argue this point)...most artists today, when asked, cite Elvis as a major influence!! What would the music of today be like, if it weren't for Elvis Presley?

Elvis had charisma....he exuded confidence and raw energy....and the fans back in the 50's had never experienced ANYONE like Elvis....it's almost as if Elvis tapped into their deepest, darkest desires with his rebellious style of music.

But, perhaps the simplest answer (if there is a simple answer to this question) is THE VOICE!!! There has never been, nor will there ever be, anyone that could sing like Elvis. And the biggest part of that is, no matter what the style of music, whether it be rock n' roll, blues, country, or gospel, Elvis could sing it all!!! I don't know of another artist in the history of music that could sing ANY style of music, and make it their own. Elvis was able to wrap his voice around the lyrics of any song, in any genre of music, and make it an ELVIS song! (h)

That's the best answer I can come up with!!!

TCB!
Mike

I second that Mike , well put

Mark