Elvis and the Count.

[MauriceColgan]

Be a little patient this IS about Elvis Presley.

Throughout out my life I have been listening to recordings of the great voices in music, from Caruso to present day vocalists.

Recently I bought a John McCormack box set. I listened with amusement to a music snob on the DVD who was criticising the great Irish Tenor for including in his repertoire some sentimental ballads.

Like Elvis, John McCormack came from a very poor family but because of his amazing voice became one of the most famous singers in the world and in the process made a huge amount of money.
He sang in many Operatic and Popular music Concerts in Ireland, Italy, England, Australia and the USA.
Realising his career would be best served by touring America he became an American citizen.
Wherever he sang the Concerts were booked out. His rendition of ?The Battle Hymn of the Republic? foreshadowed Elvis? ?American Trilogy?. He even made movies and starred alongside Henry Fonda!

He really had an amazing career. He sang in front of an estimated one million people in the Phoenix Park in Dublin, and was made a Count by the Pope!

Now we get back to the arbiters of taste how often do we read sneering reviews by music snobs in magazines and newspapers, how often do we listen to the music critics on TV and radio attempt to dismiss Elvis?

Many a time I could have shot a TV or radio! If only I had a gun

Yes these music critics with their condescending attitude often attempt to undermine Elvis?s achievements by pointing to his less committed recordings as if they were representative of his career as a whole.

These same critics remember, are writing in mere newspapers and magazines, and talking on TV and Radio shows often without an Elvis fan in site to correct them.

Has just one of these critics, usually masters of the English language ever produced a work of art, a ?War and Peace?, a ?Crime and Punishment? or even a ?Grapes of Wrath?? Have they written even one immortal article? Yet they strangely try and compare a poor boy from Tupelo Mississippi, with an untrained voice to the mighty singers of Grand Opera

These days Operatic Tenors can sing ballads on TV and sing along with popular artists on stage. Yet still we have the snobbery. Rock magazines are almost as bad as
Classic FM magazine, in which you would be lucky to find the name Elvis Presley!

Art books are so inclusive in comparison Rembrandt alongside Renoir, Van Gogh alongside Van Dyke. But times they are a changing. The PC works for Elvis!

It's great to see how Elvis against all the odds became the most loved singer that ever lived. What a voice! No wonder his music is back on the Billboard charts with a vengeance!

http://irelandtoo.blogspot.com

[vulcandude]

I have never heard of this singer you talk about, (sadly), but I do agree with you that too many music critics dismiss Elvis' music. Most of them love to point to the large body of VERY forgettable songs from his movies, and use that as proof that maybe he wasn't all that great. But again, these same music critics rave about songs like "Jailhouse Rock" or "Teddy Bear", forgetting that they too were from movies. While it is true a lot of his later movie material sucks the high wind, we still have wonderful classics like "Viva Las Vegas", "You Don't Know Me", or even "Change Of Habit". Ever since the start of his career, critics were dismissing him, and sadly, it will always be that way.

[MauriceColgan]

Vulcandude, a lot of people here in Ireland have never heard of John McCormack one of the world's greatest singers!

Even I neglected his music till just recently. The man had an astounding career when you read his story. He and the great Caruso were good friends..almost rivals..but Caruso had a more powerful voice.

I don't agree the critics will get away with dismissing Elvis forever. More and more Evis fans are getting the opportunity to counter their views.

The critics should be taken to task at every opportunity.

[JDD]

Ever since the start of his career, critics were dismissing him, and sadly, it will always be that way.

Most likely due to the fact that Most people probably can't name two of Said critics without researching them, and people Know who Elvis is around the world and he's still cranking out hits in some countries with the old stuff. Including recently with the "horrible" Movie Music

Elvis has become an easy target for some of them because they think we fans are all crazy. Which if true it would be unwise for them to keep angering the Crazy folk, so who's really the crazy here?




I've never heard of John McCormick either Maurice, maybe next time I have online time to kill I'll do some research.

[MauriceColgan]

Most likely due to the fact that Most people probably can't name two of Said critics without researching them, and people Know who Elvis is around the world and he's still cranking out hits in some countries with the old stuff. Including recently with the "horrible" Movie Music

Elvis has become an easy target for some of them because they think we fans are all crazy. Which if true it would be unwise for them to keep angering the Crazy folk, so who's really the crazy here?

I've never heard of John McCormick either Maurice, maybe next time I have online time to kill I'll do some research.

Nice one JDD know the Elvis critics here in Ireland..I've been invited to cross swords with a few of them

I'm busy researching John McCormack myself..a little ashamed about it too!
I like Josef Locke another Irish Tenor a lot more... the movie "Hear My Song" starring Ned Beaty gave him a little boost shortly before he died.

Really great voices should be recognised by Elvis fans...........it's the business we are engaged in

When we can compare Elvis to the great Opera singers we are on to something! Don't ask me what just yet..crazy people need time to figure things out