I wish I could make a career out of being single.

Album Rating: 1.5

Elvis' greatest feat was furthering Americas progression into a less racist country.

Album Rating: 5.0

um, what?

Album Rating: 1.5

What I am saying is - Elvis Presley was one of the most overrated musicians who ever lived. The only reason he was popular was because he was a white man, and not a black man. There was nothing revolutionary about Elvis the musician, or even Elvis the performer.



His role in the erosion of musical racial lines is undeniable though. There was a time when even his music was blasphemy for sounding too black.

kill yourself bro

Album Rating: 1.5

Alright.

Album Rating: 4.0

I'm the first to say that Elvis never was a revolutionary musician but he popularized the rhythm n blues (which a bit later became rock n roll). That's a feat on its own, don't you think?



In the same way, we could also accuse Michael Jackson for being more of a performer than a musician.

Album Rating: 1.5

Yes that is his greatest feat. Increasing the acceptance of black music. Elvis was crucial for that.





"Michael Jackson for being more of a performer than a musician."



He was more of a performer. But unlike Elvis, MJ wrote his own songs and broke new musical ground.

Album Rating: 5.0

'The only reason he was popular was because he was a white man, and not a black man'



ah this argument again. he was popular because he was better. he was simply better than those that played the songs before him. he was the best, and most people would agree. chuck berry was big too because he was great as well, didn't matter that he was black. not to mention most of Elvis's career was built around original songs. Elvis has a bajillion albums, only on this and a couple others does he even play any old black songs. the black covers are like 1% of his musical catalogue. He did gospel, country, rockabilly and many other genres. listen to any early rock n roll album and you will hear the same exact covers too.. hound dog, blue suede shoes etc. This argument doesn't make sense imo. Elvis did write so many of his own songs, and was a talented rhythm guitar player and especially piano player. Elvis 'broke new musical ground' more than any other mainstream artist in history

Album Rating: 4.0

"Elvis's career was built around original songs"



not entirely true



"Elvis did write so many of his own songs"



but not many of them ended up in his albums and still he did not write that much

Album Rating: 1.5

"he was popular because he was better. "

Nope, merely an imitator.



" chuck berry was big too because he was great as well"

Ahhh but he was no king of rock n roll was he?



Again, white America wasn't fully ready to recognise the achievements of Chuck Berry.



No I'm not talking about just the covers, Elvis never wrote his own songs. He was a performer.





" Elvis 'broke new musical ground' more than any other mainstream artist in history"

It's sad that people still believe that myth. Elvis successful reinvented himself across a multitude of genres he was a latecomer to.





"If I could find a white man who had the Negro sound and the Negro feel, I could make a billion dollars."

~Sam Phillips

Album Rating: 5.0

everyone in music is an imitator to some degree, black or white. Even though Elvis is called the 'king', most people know Chuck Berry was very vital to revolutionizing rock. There were also many early white rock n' roll musicians that didn't get big 'just because they were white' like Andy Starr and Ronnie Self. Elvis had a better voice and charisma imo and just came in at the right time. but idk, I disagree in general. sounds like you are discrediting him because he was white. you don't have to agree that he was the best but he is one of the most beloved entertainers in history regardless. He was not an imitator merely an entertainer that used some (really good) elements of American music and people have tried to imitate Elvis more than any other musical figure in history. Elvis 'impersonators' are a thing because Elvis had such an original style that was very identifiable and all his own, especially in his later years. and that quote is dumb

Album Rating: 4.0

Personally, I love Elvis and the music he made, I just don't think he himself revolutionized anything.

Album Rating: 1.5

"everyone in music is an imitator to some degree.."

yes



"most people know Chuck Berry was very vital to revolutionizing rock."

Know, and not knew.



"There were also many early white rock n' roll musicians that didn't get big 'just because they were white'

Of course, and many of them were less musically talented than Elvis.



"Elvis had a better voice and charisma"

Sure, he was probably the most charismatic performer of his time and Elvis' best musical quality was his voice.



"sounds like you are discrediting him because he was white."

No that is not where I am coming from with this. If that was the case I wouldn't like any rock music for 'appropriating' black culture. I merely see his popularity as a result of white Americas lack of exposure to Black music. He made rock n roll biracial, but he never made rock n roll. (nor claimed to)

Album Rating: 5.0

Who gives a shit if he was white and not black?



lmao!

Album Rating: 1.5

Not me. But America in the 50s certainly did.

I think there comes a time when you just face facts and realise that Elvis was absolute perfection despite being ginger. Was he ginger? I dunno but despite that the man is the ultimate icon and an absolute legend.

Album Rating: 3.5

No frizzy ginger could lip curl - FACT

I know its not on this but Suspicious Minds is the best song ever probably.

That 50s Elvis jailhouse rock stuff is the absolute bollocks. A definite peak of pop culture plus you have to give it to the bloke he belted out some unbelievable tunes.