If There Can Be Only One King, Let It Be Elvis
I thought about all the news covered the last few weeks, Michael Jackson, Walter Cronkite, Karl Malden, news from India, Germany, Mercedes, and ridiculous stories like the one about Erin Andrews. But lets face it, one of the truly great things about having a voice is to be able to say what you want, at least in the digital age. What I want to talk about in this article is the unequivocal king of celebrity, Elvis Presley – the king of Rock and Roll.
Okay, you detractors out there, the Michael Jackson fans, the Rappers and U2 fans, just let me take you back to a place where someone extraordinary even among celebrities and heroes did the very best PR job anyone ever will. How is that you say? Well, Elvis Presley pretty much made celebrity what it is today. Was it just raw talent that did it? Decidedly not. Was it that talent and charisma interjected at the right time and place? Possibly. I think it was all these things and something a little more special than the “luck” these things imply. I urge you to just scan Elvis’ Wikipedia biography if you have any doubts after reading this.
Siting here wondering how to craft such a deep and impactful story in itself is staggering. I had trouble trying to put together the right words to express Michael Jackson at his unfortunate death, just how do you paint a picture in words of someone even more impressive and legendary (sorry if this diminished Michael or anyone else)? Perhaps the best way is to express the feelings of untold generations, and then to show some images and video. This will not do it I know, but unless the reader has a mind to do time travel, it may be the only way.
So, for the 50′s, 60′s, and 70′s no one person could ever hope to be as noteworthy as Elvis was. No way. He was the personification of cool, and is still an idol over half a Century since he set foot on the entertainment scene.
The fans called so loudly Elvis was drawn into films, perhaps the most notable of which, Viva Las Vegas, he co-starred with bombshell and love interest Ann Margaret in. I think my friends and I saw this 3 times in one day (but wait, it only cost a quarter back then).
But, the film which showcased perhaps Elvis’ most loved song was Love Me Tender, from 1956 – his debut as an actor.
In this next song Elvis asks for a big hunka love, and audiences and fans always did. No performer enthralled or endeared their audiences as he did. To date, Elvis is the most successful solo artist of all time, with the number of his tunes sold approaching one billion.
Heart throb, or All American Boy, Elvis was so many things to so many people. Many people remember Blue Hawaii as their favorite of his films, and of course another of his swooning love songs that ladies everywhere (still to this day) get starry eyed over. The reader can capture a little of the innocence of that time in this next clip. Cheesy, and I know, corny. Still, people young or old believed in that delicate fantasy we all lived in before Vietnam.
Perhaps no higher honor can be paid a person than to have their country’s leader speak solemn and true words over them. President Jimmy Carter was in office when Elvis passed away in 1977. He had this to say about “The King”, maybe the best legacy anyone could offer.
“Elvis Presley’s death deprives our country of a part of itself. He was unique and irreplaceable. More than 20 years ago, he burst upon the scene with an impact that was unprecedented and will probably never be equaled. His music and his personality, fusing the styles of white country and black rhythm and blues, permanently changed the face of American popular culture. His following was immense, and he was a symbol to people the world over of the vitality, rebelliousness, and good humor of his country.” – President Jimmy Carter
In 1968 Elvis did the famous “Comeback” sets, which led to the Las Vegas shows and specials everyone because so familiar with. The video below is not one of Elvis’ best vocals, but he is in his prime. Another point to make here is the fanatacism with which female fans love Elvis. Aside that, watch Elvis literally stops the show to autograph a lady’s drawings of him. Just who the hell does something like that these days? Elvis always did.
I remember back then, everyone was glad Elvis was back, singing, joking, part of the popular culture. From 1968 to 1972 The King was at the top of his game. Then in 1972 something happened that seemed to change Elvis, though we could not readily see it back then. Now I believe it was his separation and later divorce from his wife of 17 years, Priscilla. In these next videos, starting in 1972, it is easy to see (and hear in some songs) that the man is not happy or well.
Even in Aloha From Hawaii, which everyone thought was superb, looking at these videos it is easy to see Elvis is tired, maybe stoned, and has little of the exuberance of past performances.
I don’t intend to end this abbreviated story of one of the greatest performers who ever lived, maybe THE greatest on a sad note. But, for fans out there who saw Elvis at his best, seeing him performing at his last concert? Well, any Elvis fan who does not shed a tear at watching greatness reaching back to lost love and times, is no fan at all.
By anyone’s account Elvis Aaron Presley cared. Beyond charisma, talent, fortune and a deep spirituality, Elvis cared about people. The video below is of him in the early 70′s singing about the dreadful poverty and hopelessness part of America was experiencing (is experiencing even now) back then.
People now can only have an inkling of understanding about Elvis and the time he came from. Artists today actually bask in the light of successes an industry he helped create shines on them. Everyone from the Beatles, to the “King Pop” Michael Jackson, revered Elvis. There is no comparing these artists really. But if we have to measure them, if there has to be one king, then Elvis Presley was and is it. No other figure in entertainment really comes close. Elvis has been inducted into 4 different music genre Halls of Fame. No other artist ever, crossed not only artistic genres, but socio-economic, International, age, gender, or a multitude of others. It was sad to lose this wonderful spirit at the age of only 42, imagine it.
In 2002, the 25th anniversary of Elvis’ passing was solemnly visited by many fans. A statement from The New York Times on that occasion sums up what I have tried to show here, probably better than I have. I will end with “All I can tell you is that I am really sorry you missed him, ” if you are too young to remember, and leave you with:
“For those too young to have experienced Elvis Presley in his prime, today’s celebration of the 25th anniversary of his death must seem peculiar. All the talentless impersonators and appalling black velvet paintings on display can make him seem little more than a perverse and distant memory. But before Elvis was camp, he was its opposite: a genuine cultural force… Elvis’s breakthroughs are under appreciated because in this rock-and-roll age, his hard-rocking music and sultry style have triumphed so completely.” – The New York Times
About the Author
Phil Butler is editor-in-chief of Everything PR and senior partner at Pamil Visions PR. He’s a widely cited authority on beta startups, search engines and public relations issues, and he has covered tech news since 2004. Phil wrote in the past for ReadWriteWeb, Mashable, Profy, SitePoint, Search Engine Journal, AltSearchEngines. Follow Phil on Twitter or send him an email at phil [at] pamil-visions [dot] com.
No Daniel, it is not. I do not tolerate people who come here to insult others, to call them idiots ...
Maybe if Aristotle is still existing...he will scold and tell to Hawking that his concept is totally illogical!
“Because there is ...
Ms. Lica,
that is a childish reaction... 
I read a news God was not the Creator: Hawking published in The Times of India/ Ishwar nei nahin banayee ...
Wow you people are silly, Just because you don't understand advanced science (not saying that i do, i just dont ...
My vote's on Hawking. 
Comment by Cat on 11 October 2009:
Michael Jackson was not actually a fan of Elvis, by the way. But yeah, there is no comparing these artists, they are great in their own right. Elvis is surely not to be forgotton, ever.
Comment by Music on 11 October 2009:
I like Presley’s songs.
But there really has to be one king, and that is Michael Jackson.
Elvis was All American Boy, so let America love him. Michael Jackson will always be loved by the entire World, do you see the difference? “sorry if this diminished Michael or anyone else” – I think it is too late for all those who may want to diminish Michael, intentionally or unintentionally. Too late, the world already crowned him.
Comment by helen33 on 11 October 2009:
Just because one artist touched you more shouldn’t diminish the massive talent of another. Elvis was great. Loved him. Michael matched him toe-to-toe as a celebrity and surpassed him as a singer (greater range), songwriter (humanitarian message), dancer, performer, and artistic, technological innovator (his videos and shoe patents, for example). His massive global appeal was evident in the shut down of the Internet and the outpouring of affection from all age groups. (There will be birthday celebrations for years to come for him too). Jackson also crossed socioeconomic boundaries. The stats of both men are impressive. Presley has a 30 year start (selling records since death–and did he put out more albums?) on Jackson. That may change. But stats are only a part of it, no? Presley paved the way as a celebrity, as Sinatra, Davis, Cole and James Brown did. (Have you studied that man? Brown is truly magnificent! More than a Godfather!) Jackson took it to another level. He has been the biggest entertainer (in a wider field) for the past 25 years. And will influence future generations. He too was one-of-a-kind. Elvis was the King of Rock and Roll(although we all know that Chuck Berry and other blacks were the originators). Elvis brought black music to the masses. Michael integrated and merged the music to reshape the pop genre. Both massive feats. Both massive celebrity talents. There can never be one king. Elvis is king–for his generation. Just as Michael is for his.
Comment by AARTZ on 11 October 2009:
Well i get your point about Elvis being the King of Rock n’ Roll, but honestly, when you say that ” No other artist ever, crossed not only artistic genres, but socio-economic, International, age, gender, or a multitude of others”, you are not exactly correct.
Michael Jackson crossed artistic genre’s with his innovative music videos, constant change of musical styling ie rock, hip-hop, r&b, classical,…I think you get the point. As far as bringing together different races, genders,ages, social-economic, and ESPECIALLY International people, Michael Jackson had and still has some of the largest following in the music industry today.
Michael Jackson himself said that he was never really inspired or influenced by Elvis in a direct manner so that notion you mentioned is also incorrect.
He has also been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, BOTH WHILE HE WAS ACTUALLY ALIVE. While Elvis had great appeal, he did not make the record books like Michael Jackson in his lifetime. You cant deny that Thriller is the biggest selling album of all time by a solo artist, and no other album has been able to come close to it other than the Eagles and theirs was just a greatest hits album.
And Jackson also was a great humanitarian, even going as far as doing a world tour and giving millions to charities from that tour. He even spoke at Oxford University to raise awareness of the downward spiral of family life today, among various other charitable acts. $300 million given to charities all over the world cannot be denied.
Now i know that you knew when writing this that some fans of other people would come out to tell you you were wrong but Im not saying your completely wrong…just slightly. Michael Jackson is the King of Pop. Let Elvis rightfully be the King of Rock. There is NO king of all music. It just doesnt exist. Not even in Elvis.
Comment by Marian REVISED on 11 October 2009:
Excellent article — as I am also an Elvis fan. Who wouldn’t be if we are serious about talent and music and reach in time?
I must say — that the world is big enough for two kings . . . and there is so much on Michael Jackson that casual fans or even moderately excited fans of MJ do not know. I was a fan, but not until his death did I take it upon myself to research for 4-5 hours a day, seven days a week, his trajectory, the prolific body of work he left, his popularity, his trailblazing ability in dance, singing, composition, a new media form then of short film for music, and whether accidental or not, race relations and his seeming colorless, not being identified by color . . . going past it, leaping from genre to genre, age groups.
I am not in any way at all detracting from your love, our love for Elvis, who Michael Jackson would be the first to say deserves accolades and adulation, and who MJ himself imitated in some of his moves in the History Tour era . . . but I would advise, before we give one crown out, to either consider the ability to have two crowns at the table, or to, before you King one man over the other, to research every bit of information on “all” of MJ’s published and unpublished works.
I wonder if Elvis had nearly 800 polished final cuts for his producer to pick from for Elvis’ biggest album. Quincy Jones had nearly 800 cuts to pick from that MJ worked on for Thriller, I’m talking polished, final, ready-to-go cuts.
So, please, for the sake of accuracy, let’s not minimize the breadth and reach of one man to make room for another. They were both great. And if it were to stand in a quantitative way, not only qualitative, if quantitatively, we were going to crown one king as to his reach, age groups, decades, what have you, it might surprise you that, production-wise, one would come out way ahead.
Qualitatively, everything is subjective.
They are both kings, and unless one king is going to forfeit his crown, we should just keep it that way, as research will show the vast genres MJ was successful in, the vast number of monies he gave, 300 million, to charities, and the continued records he set and broke.
MJ would be the first to honor Elvis . . . and to raise his flag, but as a fan of both, I will say, please write one more article in three to six months after you have researched the plethora of MJ’s work in film, production, direction, choreography, the producers he worked with including Scorcese, Spielberg, John Landis, Bob Giraldi. They are both large, and I wouldn’t be setting out to disprove you unless I felt there was something to bring to the table. The vault is full of rich renderings. Let’s give them each their crowns.
It would be a sad thing to crown Elvis over MJ, if that is indeed your intent, even though you are doing it respectfully, sad indeed if, say, in a quantitative way, Elvis came up short. Let’s be generous and say they both deserve their kingships.
I look forward to the hope that you will revel in the works of Michael Jackson and that you are aware of them all.
(Please approve this version, I hit submit before I edited for more accuracy, and thank you)
Comment by Guest on 11 October 2009:
So everything wrong about today’s culture started from Elvis? Get a life. Only loonies would care so much about dead junkies like Elvis and Jackson.
Comment by helen33 on 11 October 2009:
One more thing.
Check out this John Landis interview on his memories of MJ
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=5147693n&tag=api
Comment by Phil Butler on 11 October 2009:
Wow Guest, I must have said the wrong thing. Well, I do know that junkies can get over what ails them, if they are lucky. The affliction that transforms people into donkey’s however, is irreversible.
Always,
Phil
Comment by Phil Butler on 11 October 2009:
Marian, Thanks for stopping by and taking your time. Of course you are more right than wrong. I obviously saw both performers, being an old guy. My intent here was largely missed as I expected it would be by some. This is perhaps even more sad than the passing of legends.
Always,
Phil
Comment by Phil Butler on 11 October 2009:
Hi Aartz, Point taken and agreed with, but as the title suggests? If you had to pick one? I actually intended to transport people, rather than minimize anyone. Thanks for your measured and appropriate comment tho – really.
Always,
Phil
Comment by Lynne on 11 October 2009:
I guess it is like that saying “Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder” I never see “Best”, “Second Best” etc etc….just beautiful people that touch us in so many different ways with their talent, warmth and personalities. Some pull on our heart strings more than others; when they are gone a huge hole is left and the world seems a sadder place.
Michael is more a human being than king to me. I cannot pin point it but I am waiting to hear the flap of his wings. There I said it and I am not religious at all. I think Elvis and Michael are both amazing people. The world is filled with beauty and talent…Michael saw that.
Lynne
Comment by Phil Butler on 11 October 2009:
Hi Helen, Never tried to diminish MJ, see other posts of mine and other authors here. Let’s make this simpler for the quantitative people out there. If you go to Wikipedia, look for Michael Jackson, and try to read all that has been written since Wikipedia allowed for such things, you will have to scroll down 15 times to see everything there is on Michael. If on the other hand, you want to read about Elvis, you will wear out your mouse of scroll bar by pushing the text upwards 23 times.
Not the best way to gauge these things but a way. As for the others, well let’s see. Sinatra, 11 times. Nat King Cole (by the way my favorite of them all) 5 times. James Brown (whom I would not even put in the same sentence as these others, even tho I admired him, but that is me) 11 times.
Now, if we wanted to get real picky about this, and use our new found tool for gauging celebrity, then we could look for people with talent that perhaps surpassed even those mentioned. Let’s look at Barbara Streisand for example, 11 Wiki scrolls of fame to go along with all the Grammys, the Oscars, and records she has sold. How about the beloved Beatles? 13 Wiki Scrolls. Bing Crosby? 10 Wikis. The Beach Boys you say? 10 wikis. A Madonna fan? 9 and one half if we start slicing and dicing. How about Celine Dion for the talent oriented vocal fans? 10 and one half. The Rolling Stones, the greatest rock band in the world maybe? 10 Wikis. A purist? Luciano Pavarotti? 6 Wikis. Someone with longevity and talent like Tom Jones? 6 Wikis. Pure voice? Maria Callas? 11 and one half.
Whew! Or, Enrico Caruso maybe, for those who think I never gave a passing thought to other singers? 8 wikis. U2? 9 Wikis. Elton John? 11 Wikis. Phil Collins? 8 Wikis. Miles Davis? 10 Wikis. The beloved Bee Gees? 9 and one half Wikis. Diana Ross? 9 Wikis. Dolly Parton maybe? 11 Wikis. Just to find a good stopping point, let’s take a look at Cher! 12 and one half Wikis!
As you can see, if you take as much time as I did to do this fun little comparison, the Wikipedia “challenge” is a fairly accurate barometer for fame and talent. Are there others who could be in this list? Sure. Are there any with over 20 pages of Wikipedia data on them? I honestly doubt there is anyone on Wikipedia who has more than Elvis. You go check and see for fun okay?
I know this is not a very scientific way of arguing my point, but I am not really arguing any way. I hope you also noticed that I actually have thought processes which extend past any shallow interpretation of my music appreciation.
Have fun on Wikipedia, I did.
Always,
Phil
Oh! And, 10 for Muhammad Ali! Jesus has 18 and three fourths. God by as many names as have significant pages on Wikipedia including; God, Yahweh, Vishnu, Krishna, Buddha, Allah, Θεός, El, among others of course excedes any other entity when combined with 46 Wiki scrolls. Not meaning to sound blasphemous as only he knows. Why even John Wayne only has 8 pages of information on Wikipedia!
Earth itself has 15 pages too, I gotta stop this.
News Flash! Found one person more famous than Elvis! He was not very nice and could not sing however. Can you guess? He had a mustache, that is all I am saying, here is the most famous person on Wikipedia. with over 29 pages of text and images.
Comment by vanessa on 11 October 2009:
well, you’re quite an old man thats why you prefer elvis. But in our generation, Michael jackson is our king!
Comment by Phil Butler on 11 October 2009:
Does that mean I cannot like him? Well, one day you will be old too, and trying to share something with people (I hope). They will come and be mean too I bet.
Always,
Phil of antiquity
Comment by Phil Butler on 11 October 2009:
Now Lynne, That is the most humane, reasonable, and correct response I have ever read in any comment anywhere.
Really.
Always,
Phil of Wikistralia
Comment by Matt on 11 October 2009:
Many artists have been influenced by Elvis because he was one of the pioneers of rock’n'roll but not necessarily because he was the best ever. The Beatles loved his earlier stuff but not his later stuff. Elvis didn’t write a lot of his own songs like The Beatles did. In my opinion, The Beatles outshone Elvis completely. Elvis, like many artists, eventually lost popularity but The Beatles stayed number 1 until they decided to call it quits in 1970.
Comment by Phil Butler on 11 October 2009:
True Matt, but the Beatles only have 13 Wikipedia pages roughly measured by the number of times one has to scroll to cover their legacy
Aside that, Paul and John damantly said they would have been nothing without him. Just some tid bits. As for Elvis and ongoing popularity, millions still listen to his songs too. As an icon, there should not really be much contention here, all things considered. I am not trying to negate anyone, but only to weigh things properly. Elvis, even though his songs do not fit into everyone’s mold of musical joy, the man has sold a billion records. A billion! That is pretty good considering in his prime there were not a billion people in China yet! I think we have to get real here. Michael had his day, Elvis his, but who is the King of entertainment? I have my case and it is a strong one.
This was not the reason for this article, but I know what the reaction would be. So, the title. I just wanted to share another time and place with readers. Apparently, most people just want to harp on what has just happened. Hell, Alexander the Great would not make a pimple on an elephant’s butt these days, especially if someone threw on a glove with no fingers and dressed up in a Haloween costume. LOL
Seriously, MJ was one of the greatest performers who ever lived, a Pop icon of dramatic proportions. Elvis? Well, he was very different and the same in many ways. If the weight of all the vinyl, all the newspaper, all the noise ever emitted by Elvis or from him is weighed against others, I think he is King of lots of categories. This is my opinion of course. You have yours. Consider though, I went to 3 MJ concerts, bought his records and CD’s as well, and enjoyed the basking in his art. The same goes for any number of other artists. If my perception is not good, then certainly people who never saw Elvis, never lived in the time, and cannot drag out the capacity to reason or imagine – well – their opinion is far more jaded.
Always,
Phil
Comment by Debra on 11 October 2009:
Wow, so if you’re going by run each artist throught the Wikipedia challenge, just name Elvis what he truly is then, the Wiki King of King of Rock & Wiki. Me, I think and always will think, MJ is the King, and I’m a 55 year old grandma, so yes I have seen and lived through the Elvis era as well. I don’t think anyone can touch MJ for his talent (singing, songwriting, dancing, short films), grace, humanitarian efforts, his worldwide appeal to people of all ages, races, socioeconomic groups. I really think you’re comparing apples and oranges.
Comment by Choppababy on 11 October 2009:
I fell in love with both as a very young girl. I loved to watch Elvis Presley movies thought he was so sexy and cute. The love I felt for Michael was very different his songs are the songtrack of my life. When Michael died i actually felt like i lost a loved one. I grieved for Elvis when he died but it did not last this long. Michael’s music touched very sense of my life he made me cry, love, think and most of all DANCE. His music takes over your soul you have to react to it everytime! I’m sorry Elvis just did not have that great of an appeal to me or my generation. By the way I’m 43.
Comment by helen33 on 11 October 2009:
Hi Phil.
My point wasn’t about the quantitative. As I said, “But stats are only a part of it, no?”
All of those artists are on my favorites list. Will enjoy Wiki on that no doubt.
Great posts, Aartz!
Comment by stuart ashton on 11 October 2009:
Michael Jackson is one of the greatest superstars the world has ever seen and he’s a person who goes all out for peace and hope. He visits hospitals everywhere on earth, takes over the costs of medical treatments for uncountable children, he gives them presents, invites them to his house, talks to them and stays at their side if they die. He invests in more charity-organizations than every other artist in the world and has founded such himself. With benefit-concerts which extents are not reached and public appearances he draws attention to all the misery, but even more he works in secret. He doesn’t do it to draw attention to himself but for the work itself and for a better future. He’s a man with an endlessly great heart who cares much more for others than for himself.
Many of his supporters and friends follow his example. But in the history of mankind it has already happened too often that under the cloak of fame and efforts for charity especially this persons who did the most were forgotten.
Many big musicians and stars perished of their own greatness. Elvis Presley died because he wasn’t able to cope with his fame any more, John Lennon was killed by a man who begrudged him his success, Romy Schneider, Rex Gildo, Kurt Cobain, Tschaikowsky and many others finally committed suicide desperate and lonely.
People who unselfishly went out for others had to pay too high a prize. Nelson Mandela scraped a long time living in prison, as well did Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Ghandi who were finally assassinated by fanatics. Jesus of Nazareth was executed for his efforts to heal the world. And Princess Diana of Wales had do die in the try to protect herself from what happens if the privacy of a person and with that the person him/herself gets forgotten.
The world should not one day remember Michael Jackson only because of ‘Thriller’. Michael Jackson is so much more than ‘Thriller’.
And Michael, the man who gives so much of himself, should not one day stand there unable to give something more because he has already given everything and never got anything back. He should not one day have to ask: “What more can I give?!”
Comment by stuart ashton on 11 October 2009:
I am going to relay a story about Michael Jackson as told by Karen Faye, his makeup artist. Now you tell me if this is not dedication.
Michael was headlining two benefit concerts for the International Red Cross, Nelson Mandela’s Children’s Fund, and UNESCO. MICHAEL JACKSON AND FRIENDS.
The roster of performers and their entourage flew from Seoul, Korea where the first concert was held, to Munich on a chartered plane.
It was such a wonderful flight because we were able to spend some time and get to know everyone. There were performers from all over the world.
We arrived at the Munich Olympic Stadium in the afternoon on June 27, 1999 to prepare for Michael’s evening appearance.
Michael introduced Andrea Bocelli in the late afternoon.
The sun was setting. The darkness changed the entire feeling of the arena. It was a hot summer evening. The crowd had been enjoying performances by other artists all day: Luther Vandross, The Kelly Brothers, Ringo Starr… but it seemed the audience was waiting for Michael. The excitement was building.
Magically, the stage was being transformed with emerging walls of lights, screens and equipment that had been created for Michael’s show, that were hidden behind the other performances.
Michael Jackson, Michael Bush and myself were using the last minutes to take care some details in the dressing room, just stage right. A long check list: Microphones, wires, wardrobe changes, towels, song list, ice, Gatorade, fans, grease paints, powder. Michael did some stretches to warm up, as the lights lowered in the house.
I could feel the energy of anticipation the crowd directed towards us. Any hint of Michael’s appearance created excited chaos in the crowd. He would peek out at the audience from behind the curtains. The band came up the back stairs. Michael met them for the traditional prayer joining their hands.
The show began with all the frenzy and excitement that they all did. We have been doing this for many years. After I prepared for the next change, I watched from stage right.
Everything was going perfectly…. the medley…Beat It…Black or White with Slash…
Billie Jean.
The local performers for Earth Song started filing on stage. Earth Song began… then the bridge appeared, just as it had done in Korea. The children and adults slowly entered and filled the stage. The song builds…. Michael flies up the bridge and gyrates and pounds his feet, twirls as the bridge lifts away from its braces. Smoke, explosions, bombard our eyes and ears…the bridge continues higher and higher, but unlike rehearsals, and the last show…. it didn’t pause at its pinnacle… INSTEAD it came careening down gaining speed with Michael tightly grasping the railings… still singing. I started screaming, but I could not even hear my own voice over the pyro, music, and the audience. I started running out from behind the stage in horror as the bridge quickly disappeared below the front of the stage, slamming down on the concrete floor. Security grabbed and stopped me, thinking I was going to ruin the performance.
Backstage, there was crying and screaming, only the crew and performers knew there was something desperately wrong. From our vantage point we had lost sight of Michael, as the bridge had fallen below the front of the stage. My heart stopped beating, while in the strong arms of a perplexed security guard. Even though the show continued for everyone else, time stood still for me as I could not imagine how Michael could have survived such a fall.
But slowly, and after what seemed like an eternity, as the music and applause continued, I saw one arm reach for the floor of the stage…then a long lean leg, another arm, another leg…he was up, center stage… finishing the end of Earth Song! My mouth dropped open in relieved amazement .
Looking dazed, he made his way to our side of the stage. “Michael, sit down….”
“NO!” He demanded.
“Security… please get him to the hospital!” I was begging.
“NO!” He grabbed the microphone and ran out to finish performing “You Are Not Alone”.
I could not believe what I was witnessing. He finished the song, took his final bow, and returned once again to his stage dressing room and then… collapsed. Security whisked him off to a hospital in Munich.
Band members, dancers, Slash and crewmembers all shocked and amazed at what we had witnessed wrapped up the show with prayers in our hearts.
Once back in the hotel… I started making the phone calls to find out how he was. I got the reports that nothing was broken, but he was badly bruised, and his back was very badly strained. It had been a miracle. Being the performer he was, he knew how to land.
The next day we were to leave for Paris for a photo shoot. This had been postponed until
He was better. I asked him…why did you continue? I cannot believe you were able to do that.
“You know Turkle, the only thing that I heard in my head, was my father’s voice saying to me, MICHEAL, DON’T DISAPPOINT THE AUDIENCE!”
Let’s Dance.
Comment by Tom Joyce on 11 October 2009:
Michael Jackson was a worldwide superstar. There can be no doubt about that following the worldwide reaction to his death. Elvis was basically a white American superstar. Now Elvis may have been as popular worldwide as MJ had the worldwide communication MJ used been available when Elvis was at his heyday, but it wasn’t.
Jackson won; I believe it was 8, Grammys for Thriller. Among them were best pop vocals, best rock vocals and best R&B vocals. So he certainly crossed genres. He not only crossed ethnic barriers, he kicked them down.
Elvis has had more time to sell records than the Beatles or Jackson as an adult solo artist, so he should have more sales.
Anyway, the main reason I can never see Elvis on a pedestal as high as the Beatles or MJ is because Elvis never created music or dance. As you say, this is only my opinion. I’m 63 and grew up with the Beatles as my heroes, and they still are, but I certainly remember Elvis in his prime.
Comment by friend on 11 October 2009:
I have to say that although Elvis is the King of Rock N’ Roll, Michael Jackson is the King of music.
Michael Jacksons musical influence is reflected in artist of today. Elvis unfortunately was not a serious artist IMO. He was a showman but he didn’t write songs. He wasn’t celebrated in every corner of the globe like Africa, or Cambodia, or some remote village somewhere.
Michael outsold (with only 6 studio solo adult albums), outdanced, and out performed anybody you can name.
Sure Elvis was great and will never be forgotten but Michael Jackson changed what it mean to be a superstar and so he deserves the title of King, of music that is over Elvis Presley.
Comment by Paula on 11 October 2009:
I say there can’t be two kings and one king was crowned in an unacceptable manner.
People, I suggest that you all do some research starting with who pioneered Rock and Roll, because it wasn’t Elvis, as was already mentioned, Chuck Berry and other Black artists was performing Rock and Roll long before Elvis, however because of the time era (Blacks not being promoted as entertainers for the masses)Out steps this white, beautiful, boy named Elvis who moves and sings like the Black artist he grew up imitating and instantly becomes a celebrity.
Who was he a celebrity to? Non other than White America, it was White America who promoted him and White America who crowned him. If Elvis was known in other countries it was not due to his music but due to his movies which promoted his music. He was not an entertainer of the world.
Elvis music and movies carried the same themes throughout, you could predict what was going to happen in his movies, and his songs followed. Boy meets girl, boy chase girl, boy gets girl, boy lose girl, boy in the end gets girl back. His song “In The Ghetto” deviated and was one of his best songs ever to me because it had depth and meaning of life (although I love “love me tender”). And as far as you using this song to show he cared about people I don’t think so. I was old enough to remember the racial comment Elvis made towards Blacks and it was not nice however he did later apologize.
Oh, and as far as the comment that Michael imitated Elvis, dead wrong, Michael has no moves that even resemble Elvis moves which only consisted of Elvis gyrating his hips. Whoever made this comment has not seen either one of these men dance their dancing is no comparison.
However, my point is, is that Elvis lived at a time when White was right and that’s all that mattered therefore once again when he came on the scene “White America” went crazy and crowned him.
Michael Jackson came on the scene when “White America” was still ruling however, this entertainer grabbed their hearts when he was but a mere boy and never let them go, he wasn’t in movies but because of the depth and meaning of his music he was able to touch the hearts of the whole world, people who don’t know English know Michael Jackson music.
Michael Jackson’s music from the start was in depth and meaningful to life. Let’s not talk about his dancing which he imitated the best and than turned around and perfected what we imagined was already perfect, no wonder Fred Astaire one of the greatest dancers spoke of Michael as being a great dancer.
PHIL: Listen to Michaels’ music and than stop and listen to the WORDS, he sings WORDS, just a WORD becomes a song. Listen to the song “Music and Me, Heaven Can Wait” “Ain’t no sunshine when she’s gone” “Speechless” “Butterflies”. At the end of “Speechless” you think you are listening to an instrument listen closely because it is his beautiful voice. In “Heaven Can Wait” listen to how he sings the word “No”, you never knew that word could sound so beautiful. Michael songs all tend to be of different subject matters crossing the vast interests of peoples hearts. His songs cannot be predicted in what they are going to be about. I my self am still discovering his music and the DIFFERENT sounds and meaning his songs take on.
Elvis could never match Michael in singing, in sound, in dancing or in humanitarian actions and simply loving people.
Elvis crowning was acceptable to a particular segment of people while Michael’s was acceptable to the world.
I’ll say this again “White America” crowned Elvis when there were lots of other entertainers performing the same sounds as Elvis, the “WORLD” crowned Michael because there was no one else like him in the world.
Michael outshines Elvis in every category you can come up with which translates into Michael the true King of music period. I don’t believe that will ever change anytime soon because lots of entertainers who are successful with singing and dancing are imitating Michael and they cannot perfect something that as already been perfected.
Comment by Paula on 11 October 2009:
I forgot to mention I love Viva Las Vegas and my favorite song in that movie is “I Meed Someone To Lean On”
Comment by MJforever on 11 October 2009:
Whatever…..Geoge Carlin says it best.
link if embed does not work.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hI3TNIgOIBg
Michael I love you sweet angel you will never be forgotten in my heart.
Comment by Christine on 11 October 2009:
I agree with everything you said about Elvis, he was the King of Rock n Roll although I believe he did not like this title , he said there was only one king and that is God. Elvis was not only a fabulous entertainer, singer, good looking but also such a humanitarian, I watched the dvd A Generous Heart and it made me cry because the people he had helped in lots of different ways could not say enough to praise him. I believe his dad used to go on about him giving his money away to those less fortunate but I believe all he said was “well I`ll have to do another concert” he was truly a wonderful human being , if not perfect but who is? I will never forget my time at Graceland sitting in the meditation garden and feeling Elvis prescence there, it was as my friend says “paradise”(and she used to be a Beatles fan) . Yes, Elvis had it all, a real humanitarian, God Bless Elvis the brightest star in the sky.
Comment by christine on 11 October 2009:
No I have not already said that, show me where
Comment by ISA REID on 11 October 2009:
I DO NOT THINK SO, ELVIS WAS ANOTHER ERA, AND A DIFFERENT MUSIC – MICHAEL WILL ALWAYS BE THE KING OF POP AND THE KING OF HUMANITARIAN WORK AND LOVE FOR CHILDREN I WISH EVERYONE TAKE THE TIME TO GET TO KNOW THE REAL MICHAEL JACKSON — IT SHOULD ALWAYS BE
ELVIS THE KING OF ROCK AND MICHAEL THE KING OF POP FOR EVER
Comment by BA for MJ on 11 October 2009:
OK. Here it goes the war over who is King. Listen, unequivocally, Elvis was the King of HIS Generation. Did the man have talent? THAT ANSWER IS BEYOND A YES – However, let us take a closer look at the talent of Michael Jackson. To start, at the age of 5, he was able to sing and harmonize with his older brothers. Then, at the age of 12 he was singing a blues song like a 45 year old man. Additionally, at the same age, he was able to inflect his voice and create emotion like a professionally trained singer, which he was never professionally trained. To add to all of this, from the time he joined his family’s group to the moment he died he was able to direct, choreograph, and learn dance steps on the first try. Beyond his singing and dancing abilities, Michael Jackson was a songwriter who was able to compile and complete a story within a 3- 15 minute time frame. Additionally, and in the same vein, Michael Jackson was able to take that 3- 15 minute written story and transcribe it into a mini-movie. Now, the talent doesn’t end there. He was not only a songwriter but he was also a story writer and poet. His drawing ability was intrinsic in that he had never been professionally trained yet he was able to sketch and paint as if he had professional training. Yet, let us go back to his musical abilities. Michael was also a producer of which he had his own production studio. If anyone is not fully aware of what this means than one must only think of the great Quincy Jones to understand the likes of this talent. So what does this mean? Well, Michael was able to write the song, sing the song, produce the song, and perform the song. His talent was not just limited to the expression it was the totality. Now, if we are to take this only one step further maybe some real light can be shined on to the question of who is the best of all time. Elvis, God bless his soul, I absolutely love him, I do, has sold over 1 Billion albums since his appearance as an entertainer in 1956. Michael, born in 1958 and having not hit the entertainment scene until he was 12 years old which would mean his debut occurred in the year 1970, has sold over 750 Million albums. Now, that means that Michael in 39 years has sold only 250 million albums less than what Elvis has done in 53 years. With this new album coming out and plenty more to come, if the unreleased songs are compiled as it is rumored, to be able to sell 250 million more albums is more than a likely possibility, as it is probably going to be a very easy goal to obtain. And, to add to this Michael Jackson holds the record for having the greatest selling album of all time, “THRILLER” which has sold over 70 million copies over all with 30 million sold in the US alone. Now, I am not downing Elvis but I have to say that it looks like the proof is in the pudding. So everyone, with all of this said, please tell me, “Who really is the real King?”
Comment by BA for MJ on 11 October 2009:
Cat – you stand corrected. Sorry. Michael Jackson was a fan of Elvis. Actually, he had a painting commissioned by Nate Giorgio with him and his heros sitting at a table. Among them were: A. Lincoln, A. Einstein, J.F.K., Alexander G. Bell, Walt Disney, Charlie Chaplin, and Elvis Presley, and I am believing James Brown (though the figure has a resemblance to Little Richard).
Comment by mary davis on 11 October 2009:
Elvis was a great star but lets face it–Elvis did not write a lot of his songs. Most of his early songs were written by unsung black talents like Big Mama Thornton(she wrote Hound Dog). Elvis also copied the black rock and roll performers performing style and was made rich by racist US whites who would not buy “race” music but would buy it from a white star. Elvis was a big star partly because he had talent but also because of the facts I stated above–racism enhanced his career and is the reason so many people like the author of this article are trying to say he was greater than MJ, which he most decidedly was not(whites are still trying to hang onto white supremacy now that we have a black president but they need to realise it is a new day). Elvis said lots of racist things too–including saying all a black man could do for him was bring a message to and from another white man. He met Michael Jackson(MJ) in Vegas at the end of his life and while Elvis was kind to the young J5 star to his face, he called MJ a little N—r boy several times in later conversations with his staff.
MJ was anti-racism and he was a great Humanitarian and while Elvis was gorging on fried banana sandwiches in Graceland, MJ was giving away 300 million in charity. His music crossed racial and national boundaries.
MJ was also supremely talented in singing,songwriting, etc. He was a dance innovater and populariser. MJ was unique in that he could do both singing and dancing at an extremely high level. His songwriting ability is underrated–some of his most massive hits were written by MJ himself. His Thriller album is the all time best seller for a reason.
MJ was a GLOBAL Icon–not just a US and some of Western Europe phenomenon like Elvis. MJ had fans in the US, Europe(including the former Soviet countries), Asia, Africa, Australia–MJ was HUGE on a worldwide basis. Elvis was not and is not. He is big in the US, maybe England and France, a bit in Japan,etc. MJ is huge in the those same countries and then some. MJ’s post mortem sales spike was way bigger than Elvis’–pushing many of the albums of contemporary artists off the top of the chart. MJ has sold more than 15 million records since his death in only 3 months and also DVD’s, books, newspapers,etc. That did not happen with Elvis. I know as I am old enough to remember Elvis’s death. MJ’s mourning was way bigger.
There is no comparison between the two except they both were pop stars, both were called king in their lifetime and they both died of drugs but MJ was the Emperor of Music on a worldwide basis and therefore was a far greater star than Elvis.
Comment by MJisKING on 11 October 2009:
WELCOME TO THE 21ST CENTURY PHIL.
WHERE MICHAEL JACKSON IS OUR KING.
SERIOUSLY, YOU’RE LIVING IN THE PAST PHIL. QUIT LIVING IN THE PAST.
Comment by MaxineLOVESMichealJ on 11 October 2009:
I dont really know Elvis that much, actually quite a few people dont because he was based in a certain area..however you have Michael Jackson and its worldwide..Africa, Asia, Europe, America and the other places, that to me is sucsess. Elvis was good in his hey day, no doubt..but Sonny Jim, Michael Jackson was on a totally different level.
Comment by Paula for BA on 11 October 2009:
Sorry BA but you stand corrected, Michael Jackson WAS NOT a fan of Elvis and it is because of what MJ and myself stated Elvis was racist against Blacks and Michael was very much aware of the statements which were made by Elvis.
After that statement we were not allowed to buy or bring Elvis music into our home. However I believe the correct statement he made was “The only thing a Black man can do for me is to shine my shoes” Everyone in the Black community was aware of this statement and Michael no doubt would have known this too, he would have been about 10 or 11 at the time. So please don’t start rumors about Michael being a fan of Elvis no he was not and I believe I saw the painting online which you were referring to and I don’t remember seeing Elvis in that painting but I will look again.
This reminds me of the statement someone mentions on this post saying Michael Jackson imitated some of Elvis Presley moves, that’s just a flat out lie.
However there was another painting with women in a pond surrounding Michael and someone writing about the painting stated that one of the women had a striking resemblance to Lisa Presley, perhaps you are meaning that painting.
Comment by Paula for BA on 11 October 2009:
I guess I should have checked the painting before I spoke, Elvis is on the painting but this is not the painting I am referring to. Sorry for misspeaking on the painting BA
Comment by sentinel on 11 October 2009:
to the gut that said Jackson had a better vocal range than elvis..are you having a laugh?Who was looked upon in awe by Dylan,Lennon,Springsteen,Leonard Bernstein,Bono,Bowie,Jagger et al..not Jackson.Who is the most impersonated artist in the world?Who has had the most NO I’s and remember Elvis music career was shorter.Who had the greater cultural impact..I am a Brit and believe me Elvis impact on the birth of rock in our country was massive…no ELvis…no Beatles…quote by John Lennon.Will Jackson be remembered and loved in 40 years time as much as Elvis…I seriosly doubt it.
Comment by NCMag on 12 October 2009:
When you first juxtapose Michael, U2 and rappers at the first few lines, I know I couldn’t continue reading this. I haven’t experienced Presley’s time thus I won’t have a word on that. Maybe you are right, but this witless article unfortunately making this argument unconvincing from the beginning.
Comment by eunice on 12 October 2009:
I do not agree with you. Elvis might be the King to your (edited for suggestive racial overtone) America, but Michael Jackson is the King to the whole world. There are a lot of people outside the world who do not even know who Elvis is (by the way, I am a Korean), but everyone all over the world including the third world countries, knows who Michael Jackson is. When he passed, the whole world cried. His memorial service was watched by over 1 billion people worldwide. He is simply the BEST.
Comment by Pape on 12 October 2009:
i’m music producer, born in Africa grew up in Africa came to the US in 1999 same year i know about Elvis. To see people comparing Michael Jackson to Elvis is just unbelievable.
Elvis belong to the US, Michael belong to the whole.
There are no MJ before him and they will have no MJ after him.
He is the best entertainer that the world ever witness. he gave joy and inspiration to millions around the globe, America should be happy that MJ is American.
My mom lives in a village in Dakar Senegal and the only American artist she knows is Michael Jackson, when i grew up i thought that Michael was Senegalese because of his popularity, it was the same in the whole continent of Africa, America, Asia, Australia, Europa.
No disrespecting few people know Elvis in Africa, Asia, South America…….
Michael Jackson is the king of all music.
Pele the king of soccer.
Michael Jordan the king Basketball.
One more time Elvis was great but please don’t never ever put his name next to Michael.
I wish Michael was Senegalese because people in his own country don’t even give him the respect he deserves.
RIP Michael you will forever be the KING, we won’t let this time people change history.
Comment by Terri on 12 October 2009:
More impressive and legendary that Michael Jackson. This is subjective, but still… more impressive? Impressive? I can’t ask enough. Really? In what way is he MORE impressive?
Can’t we just love them both? They’re so different! There’s really no need in the world to compare and have one of them win. It’s silly. Neither of them are “kings” – they were people who lots of people were entertained by. There doesn’t have to be just one.
Comment by Terri on 12 October 2009:
of course i made a spelling error…. sigh…
Comment by Marian REVISED on 12 October 2009:
MUSIC! The comment made by Music, RIGHT ON. You’re right, too late, the world has crowned him.
Comment by Marian REVISED on 12 October 2009:
Right on HELEN33 . . . these are the best, most thoughtful and intelligent comment I’ve seen yet! Wonderful comments
Comment by Marian REVISED on 12 October 2009:
Helen, thanks for the John Landis video. I have done droves of research, and it still surprises me all I have not touched or seen of the plethora of info. I love John Landis. And I’m forgiving the words wierdness and weird and strangeness. I don’t get it, to me Michael was just genius . . . he wasn’t run of the mill, that’s for sure . . . but . . . wow . . . it hurts me deep in the gut that we are able to use in our vocabulary words that we really don’t mean to use. Or do we? I adore Landis, and I have always been able to see that he adored Michael. My favorite moment is when Landis, MJ, and the girl were in rehearsals for the Thriller video . . . okay, so the girl is like “not” getting what she’s supposed to do, and Landis in his emphatic voice is saying, JUST, WHEN YOU HEAR THE MUSIC, WALK . . . or something like that, and MJ is, truthfully, acting like a 10 year old, and I mean that as a compliment, he’s like, trying to get in on their conversation, has a ton of energy, no one’s listening to him and MJ is over their shoulders, talking to himself, essentially, “We’re busy, we got a lotttttttttta work to do.” Snaps his fingers . . . as in when you snap all four in each hand, runs spastically across the dance floor and back and then SCREECHES to a halt with his feet. I can’t NOT smile when I watch that. WOULD that we could all be so joyful. I love you, MJ . . . and thanks to Helen for that link! WHAT JOY!
Comment by Marian REVISED on 12 October 2009:
I mean, I am having as much fun reading the comments on this article . . . as I did reading the article itself. LYNNE, I ADORE WHAT YOU SAID! . . . Phil, had to laugh at your reply to Guest . . . Guest, I don’t get it, why are you reading about Elvis and MJ if you think they are just no good drug users? That comment was uncalled for. And PHIL . . . really, I think your article did transport us . . . I truthfully haven’t seen such smart and heartfelt comments in spades . . . I don’t think, anywhere, excpet for a handful, of course . . .
Comment by Marian REVISED on 12 October 2009:
Okay, sorry, I cannot stop with the comments. Phil’s reply to Vanessa, exquisite, but Vanessa, I love your commitment to MJ and your passion. STUART ASHTON, stunning entry.
Comment by Marian REVISED on 12 October 2009:
Okay, one final comment and I’ll stop . . . Stuart, when I said STUNNING ENTRY, I was talking about we shouldn’t identify Mike by only Thriller . . . wow, the real STUNNER was your personal story. May I have your permission and Phil’s to cut and paste your comment, crediting Phil’s article as the springboard for your comment. The world needs to hear this. Please, write a book! . . . MARY DAVIS and BA for MJ, right on! ISA, I also wish people would take the time to know the real MJ and ALL of him, but rest assured, they are . . . he’s going to be up on peoples’ pianos, his sculpture or bust, alongside Beethoven and Bach, our grandkids will see that . . . And CHRISTINE, I love your love for God and for reminding us of Elvis’ love for God, I think this is another area that MJ and Elvis are very similar, and why I do not feel idolatrous with my love and devotion to and obsession with MJ, not a once, if ever, did MJ ever take credit for his talent, it was always JEHOVAH, GOD, THE CREATOR, always thanking his Maker. Thanks to God for both these men in our lives, as for me, Elvis was great, but MJ IS KING and well, not as for me, the world shook when he died, and we gasped for air, like Elvis fans did, and PHIL BUTLER, THANK YOU for the platform you gave us all, and for the intelligent comments most of your readers made . . . really, I have been researaching MJ in a hugely serious fashion since the announcement of his death . . . and have cried daily, and have celebrated his music daily . . . and Phil, I think this has been the most or one of the most memorable articles of all, since then, and the comments, you guys are awesome! . . . *You do not have to approve all (or any) of my comments, I really got carried away, but wanted to respond to every commenter, or the majority, because . . . these seem to be very passionate and heartfelt answers that took time and energy and love. Peace. WE ARE THAT WORLD. WE ARE THOSE CHILDREN.
Comment by Phil Butler on 12 October 2009:
Mag, What were you unconvinced of? That someone thought Elvis was? What? Oh, I see, you mean the second paragraph where I asked fans of other genres or artists to allow me to “try” and transport them. Sorry I did not in many cases. But I wasn’t mean and nasty was I. Hey, did you read the three stories I did about Michael? Oh, you cannot read me because I am beneath a standard of wit.
Come on, try to come and be kind rather than jump headlong into confrontation. If the story sucked, watch the videos.
Always,
Phil
Comment by Phil Butler on 12 October 2009:
Hi Sentinel, That comment about Jackson’s vocal range kind of puzzled me too. I think we all love performers and are all guilty of not doing our homework too. Elvis sang in just about every genre there was. Another trend in comments that bothers me is the racial one. Elvis had his roots in gospel as everyone knows, and was much beloved by the African American community. Also, this nonsense about Elvis being only an American icon is foolish at best. I think before people just disagree with all of what I said, they should at least read the Wikipedia stuff on these artists. Elvis was loved worldwide. The Aloha From Hawaii telecast, in case no one cares to look, is still the most widely watched television broadcast by a single entertainer ever made. The show by Elvis (for charity I might add) reached 1.5 billion viewers in 1973.
Does anyone here realize what the implications are of reaching 1.5 billion people in 1973? I will not go into too much detail here, but suffice it to say there were not many televisions back then, let alone people to watch them. To frame this, in 1973 the population of China was only 892.1 million. For further clarification, there are only 1.5 billion TV sets in the world today according to most experts. So the, it can easily be said that Elvis’ Aloha broadcast was watched by anyone in the world who even knew of someone with a TV set.
You know, I don’t know what you guys think really. I am not trying to back MJ, or even to over glorify Elvis. This is just a trip to a place in our minds and hearts we may not have been to. Michael was a fabulous performer, and I think a very kind and loving person. Elvis was like him. As far as notoriety is concerned though, as far as a body of work and a legacy, it could be argued that Elvis had much more impact. This is where we went with this discussion. So, someone go out there and find evidence to the contrary. It is hard because everything is so far removed in Elvis’ case.
Always,
Phil
Comment by Phil Butler on 12 October 2009:
Hi Maxine, Uh! Look again if you will, Elvis is as was more known world wide, perhaps not by the 80′s generation, but by the other 3/4′s of the demographic. You know, everyone says I am just an old timer rooting for who I liked, when the opposite is going on with regard to the assumption that MJ was more this or that. Do some research, and also realize that being an “old timer” I saw MJ doing stuff before most of you were born. Come on, this is not an age thing unless you make it one.
Always,
Phil
Comment by Phil Butler on 12 October 2009:
Thanks MJisKing, I am glad someone finally identified there is a past to be from.
So what you are saying is that no icon can be one unless he, she, or it is accepted by an age demographic? What are you saying? MJ is not from the 21st Century you know. Let me ask a question. If you were not aware of a great king that lived some time in the past, and it turned out that even though you never heard of him, he somehow had a great impact not only on your life but the lives of billions of other people, would what make him less a king?
Just food for thought,
Phil
Comment by Daniel on 12 October 2009:
Elvis was a true American that lived the American dream, he was a nobody, poor, and became a somebody, and some people just dont like it. For you Beatles fans, look at Forbes list of richest dead celebrities, Elvis #1, John Lennon #4. “Before anybody did anything, Elvis did everything”. And for you MJ fans, well i really dont have to say anything, I mean hes MJ, him being dead doesn’t take back the things he did. Elvis will never be touched, the mans been gone 32 years and still makes $50 million a year.
Comment by Daniel on 12 October 2009:
I fully agree with you Phil.
Comment by Phil Butler on 12 October 2009:
Hi Daniel, Yes no matter how one weighs these arguments Elvis can easily be said to have eclipsed everyone else. Sure there are big numbers on the others sides of things, but what if we factor in inflation, or simply technology. One good example here might be comparing Achilles to say some Pro Wrestler, uh – Rich Flair for those who remember him. Okay, Rick Flair is known by 100′s of millions of wrestling fans, but Achilles lived in a time when there was hardly any mail, let alone TV. So, how is it that Achilles has been remembered for 3,000 years? Will he be remembered when Rick Flair’s name is gone altogether? Of course he will, but why?
I won’t get into that now, but if you think about it, maybe the readers will grab hold of the idea here. Of course MJ will always be remembered, but I just wanted to show a parallel. Elvis came along when there was barely even TV, and it can be argued that he actually helped promote it in its infancy.
Just more thoughts,
Phil
Comment by Aditya Lohia on 12 October 2009:
Sir, by your picture you look like you maybe 40+ and definately not someone who hasnt lived long enough to understand things. I am just fascinated by how people cannot stop comaparing George Bush to Ronald Reagan, Marlon Brando to Johnny Depp/ etc, David Beckham to Michael Jordan and so on and so forth. I wonder what skills make them eligible to compare people of two different generations and circumstances. I dont believe anyone can even compare anyone in the current generation, forget about some who are 20 years apart. If you like their music listen to it, enjoy it, please I beg of you…dont pollute anyones legacy…trust me it doesnt matter.
Comment by Phil Butler on 12 October 2009:
I agree Aditya, The premise of this article was not to do anything but introduce Elvis and particlarly the time he lived in. I made a small error in being defensive in the introduction because I knew trying to reveal more of Elvis, and yes interjecting him atop other artists to a degree, would inflame some people. I have been doing this a long time and am perhaps sensitive about comments. Elvis was a different character than MJ, tho they share some common aspects. That in itself is interesting, but food for another article.
What is significant to me tho, is that the recent death of poor Michael has somehow turned everyone into a fan. 3 months before his untimely death he was no where in the news. I am glad at least that people are realizing his significance now tho. As for the king, as I said in the title – “If there has to be one, let it be him”, I think that says it all. “IF”
Always,
Phil
Comment by christine on 12 October 2009:
Well said, Not everyone had tv`s in 1973 so to achieve an audience of 1.5 billion says it all. Elvis was not racist. As a child in Tupelo he used to sneak off to Shake Rag to play with the “black kids”. Why is it you have to bring in the BLACK card when you are TRYING to make a point. Alot of you are not old enough to remember Elvis in his “living” years, 600.000 people a year are still visiting his home, 32 years after is death. Ask yourslef, what does that say?
Comment by Phil Butler on 12 October 2009:
Christine, Thanks. The thing is, I admire all the folks coming to comment about Michael. You can see their love for him in the words. My partner also noted that none of the comments are really mean. I think this is indicative of people who love what we might call “gentle” or angelic figures. Michael Jackson was in essence an angelic child to me. Sure he could be provocative, but his essence was one of innocence in a grown up world. Perhaps the same can be said for Elvis, but I have not thought about it.
If for no other reason than to talk about and celebrate these great figures in our lives, I think articles like this (tho maybe written better) and talking is a good thing. I hope people enjoy this as much as I do. As you suggest Christine, the time back then (even for MJ) was not like it is now. I wish we could recapture the good parts of it for young people, it was quite fascinating.
Always,
Phil
Comment by ROSA on 12 October 2009:
ELVIS E’ PIU’ GRANDE
LO ERA, LO E’ E LO SARA’ PER SEMPRE.
IO HO 40 ANNI E SONO ITALIANA E SONO FAN DI ELVIS DA 30 ANNI
ELVIS E’ FAMOSO IN TUTTO IL MONDO NON CAPISCO CHI AFFERMA IL CONTRARIO. OLTRE ALLA MUSICA ROCK ELVIS HA FATTO CONOSCERE NEL MONDO ANCHE GENERI AMERICANI COME IL COUNTRY IL BLUE IL GOSPEL, E PER QUESTO L’AMERICA LO DEVE RINGRAZIARE.
MJ MOLTI MIEI COETANI NON CONOSCEVANO NEANCHE UN SUA CANZONE PRIMA DELLA SUA MORTE.SI, ERA FAMOSO NEL MONDO SOPRATTUTTO PER LE ACCUSE DI PEDOFILIA.
PENSO CHE I FAN DI MJ (REPRESSI)SIANO SOLO MOLTO MA MOLTO INVIDIOSI.
Comment by Phil Butler on 12 October 2009:
Yes Rosa. Elvis is the greatest. It is so nice to see people from Italy have not forgotten.
Grazie Rosa, Elvis è veramente il più grande. Siamo lieti Italia non ha dimenticato di lui.
Always,
Phil
Comment by Mihaela Lica on 12 October 2009:
I grew up with Elvis Presley, I was a MJ fan as a teen – we even had a “fun club” in our highschool. It was in 1989, after the Romanian revolution. MJ was new to us, while tapes of Elvis were present in every home I know. If you asked me back in 1989 who was the greatest singer of all times… Michael Jackson was the one and only answer. But now, years later, I can only agree with Phil. I guess MJ will always have his fans – his image will never fade. But he will never be as great as the King of rock’n'roll. MJ is the king of Pop if you want, but not the king of music. None of these two can ever compete for this title. Mozart, Bach, Verdi… now that’s music by definition. This debate, as interesting as it gets, shows that people are blinded by their idols so many times, they almost close their minds to other values. The point Phil was trying to make is valid and it stands: no other artist in the history knew the popularity Elvis had at his time:
while Michael Jackson was only popular from 1971 to 1995, 33 top 30 hits, 13 #1 hits – and now, after his death.
Comment by ROSA on 12 October 2009:
SALVE PHIL,
MI SONO CHIESTA SE I FAN DI MJ HANNO MAI VISITATO GRACELAND, O PARTECIPATO ALLA CANDLELIGHT SERVICE.
IO HO VISITATO GRACELAND 5 VOLTE, HO VISTO FANS ANCHE MOLTO GIOVANI COMMUOVERSI ED EMOZIONARSI DAVANTI ALLA SUA TOMBA.
NEL 2007 ERAVAMO 80,000 DURANTE LA CANDLELIGHT.
ED ERAVAMO LI’ PER ELVIS A 30 ANNI DALLA SUA MORTE!!
Comment by S Judah on 12 October 2009:
Firstly – In terms of musical relevance, there is no artist that can compare with Elvis. Elvis was the big bang of popular music as we know it today. Every rock star or band directly or indirectly has been influenced by Elvis, whether they know it or not.
As John Lennon said “before Elvis there was nothing” and Little Richard “He opened the air waves for us all”. All of you who have doubts should try to understand the importance and relevance of these words.
Secondly – To those who try to diminish Elvis’ talents with comments that he did not write his songs. You just don’t get it. The beauty of the voice, the presentation of the words, the stylisation that infused and inspired the songs, that from his mouth became they something else. It inspired an entire generation to take up music, eveyone wanted to sing and become a rock star.
The Beatles, The Stones, Dylan, Credence Clearwater, Ten years After,Led Zepplin, Deep Purple, U2 and Bono, The Greatful Dead, Springsteen, Tim McGraw, Garth Brooks, Steppenwolf, The Doors , The Who, The Animals, Queen and how about Issac Hayes “Elvis was the Man”, I could go on and on.
Thirdly – as for this racist thing, it is wholly, and totally untrue.
Heed the words of the great BB King.
The following is from an article in Music Trader – Australia’s Music Monthly:
B B King:”I liked Elvis a lot. I saw him as a fellow Mississippian and I was impressed by his sincerity,” said King who toured Australia in May ’97. “I thought he was honourable when he came to play The Goodwill Revue, a yearly benefit in our home town for needy black kids. When Elvis appeared he was already a big, big star,” said the legendary bluesman. “Remember this was the fifties, so for a young white boy to show up at an all-black function took guts. I believe he was showing his roots. After the show, he made a point of posing for pictures with me, treating me like royalty. He’d tell people I was one of his influences.”
And finaly let me leave you with a few comments on that voice, that magical instrument of his.
“But it was on the gospel numbers, such as the stunning “How great thou art”, (1977) that Presley showed the awesome power of his voice. The fact that he has one of the greatest voices in popular music has been obscured by the mystique that has surrounded him.”
Steve Millburgh, writing for the “Omaha World Herald”,
“I remember Elvis as a young man hanging around the Sun studios. Even then, I knew this kid had a tremendous talent. He was a dynamic young boy. His phraseology, his way of looking at a song, was as unique as Sinatra’s. I was a tremendous fan, and had Elvis lived, there would have been no end to his inventiveness.”
B.B. King, King of the Blues.
“Blues, country, pop, rock and roll, gospel, and beyond, this man could sing anything. From the rockabilly of the Sun Sessions, to the MOR of “Wooden Heart”(1960), to the later day “Burnin’ Love” (1972), Elvis proved that he had the skills as a vocalist that few have, or will ever have”
Rob Jones, Canadian musicologist
“When healthy and serious, he was flat-out the world’s greatest singer. In his voice, he possessed the most beautiful musical instrument, and the genius to play that instrument perfectly; he could jump from octave to countless other octaves with such agility without voice crack, simultaneously sing a duet with his own overtones, rein in an always-lurking atomic explosion to so effortlessly fondle, and release, the most delicate chimes of pathos. Yet, those who haven’t been open (or had the chance) to explore some of Presley’s most brilliant work – the almost esoteric ballads and semi-classical recordings -, have cheated themselves out of one of the most beautiful gifts to fall out of the sky in a lifetime. Fortunately, this magnificent musical instrument reached its perfection around 1960, the same time the recording industry finally achieved sound reproduction rivaling that of today. So, it’s never too late to explore and cherish a well-preserved miracle, as a simple trip to the record store will truly produce unparalleled chills and thrills, for the rest of your life; and then you’ll finally understand the best reason this guy never goes away”.
Mike Handley, narrator and TV/radio spokesman, in the ‘The Jim Bohannon Show’
“The voice is so melodious, and – of course, by accident, this glorious voice and musical sensibility was combined with this beautiful, sexual man and this very unconscious – or unselfconscious stage movements. Presley’s registration, the breadth of his tone, listening to some of his records, you’d think you were listening to an opera singer. But…it’s an opera singer with a deep connection to the blues.”
Jerry Wexler, co-founder of Atlantic Records
“The young Elvis Presley, without any doubt.”
Top New Zealand opera star and soprano Kiri Te Kanawa’s answer to UK show-host Michael Parkinson ( who probably expected her to name Luciano Pavarotti, or Maria Callas), when asked whose was the greatest voice she had ever heard.
Comment by ROSA on 12 October 2009:
E PER FINIRE,
SONO STUFA DI QUESTI CONTINUI PARAGONI.
ELVIS E’ ARTISTICAMENTE,UMANAMENTE E MORALMENTE SUPERIORE A MJ
ELVIS DOVREBBE ESSERE LASCIATO IN PACE E NON ESSERE PARAGONATO A NESSUNO.
ORA SI STA VERAMENTE ESAGERANDO, MA COSA HA FATTO DI VERAMENTE GRANDE MJ? ORA CHE E MORTO E’ DIVENTATO PER MAGIA IL PIU’ GRANDE?
E PRIMA?
MA BASTA!!!
I FAN DI MJ SONO RIDICOLI,PATETICI. DOVREBBERO ASCOLTARE ALTRI CANTANTI COSI’ SCOPRIREBBERO CHE NEL MONDO C’E’ DI MEGLIO!!
MA MOLTO,MOLTO MEGLIO!!
Comment by Pape on 12 October 2009:
Sorry Elvis nobody knows you in Africa, MJ was a gift from God.
Comment by Pape on 12 October 2009:
Bob Marley was inpired by Jimmy Cliff but today Bob is the biggest reggae artist in the planet so MJ might be inspired by Elvis but today the world crowned Michael Jackson.
MJ belongs to the circle of GREATS like Socrates, Einstein, Galileo, Michael Jordan, MLK, JFK…………..
Comment by S Judah on 12 October 2009:
Comments to Page – comments such as your’s has no basis in fact and shows a lack of comprehension on the development of popular music and the sustained global popularity and iconic nature of Elvis.
Comment by Phil Butler on 12 October 2009:
Wow! All of Africa? All of Africa has never heard of Elvis? Senegal is a neat country, very nice people, but none of them ever heard of Elvis? Sorry, I am just having trouble wrapping my mind around this. I cannot imagine an entire continent without a TV during the early 70′s somehow, but I guess it is possible. I do know that Elvis is popular even now in Japan, China, India, and other parts of Asia. Of course he has always been popular in Russia, all of Europe, South America, and etc. Did you read or look at any of this stuff the world wrote or said about Elvis?
What you are basically saying is that because you did not know of him, or some people you knew, he did not exist for billions of people? Michael Jackson is not diminished because of Elvis’ popularity. What you are saying does not make sense. Michael Jordan is also not the king of basketball, another African American you may have never heard of was by almost anyone’s account. His name was Wilt Chamberlain, look it up. Pele is a given for anyone.
Always,
Phil
Comment by Paula on 12 October 2009:
Hello Phil and all you Elvis lovers and Michael Jackson Lovers I love beautiful men so I LOVE THEM BOTH. However I found a great article which YOU ALL SHOULD READ. LET THE TRUTH BE KNOW, ELVIS DID NOT SAY THOSE RACIST COMMENTS LIKE I WAS RAISED TO BELIEVE. I STILL REMEMBER MY FATHER TELLING ME WHAT HE SAID WHEN I WAS ONLY A LITTLE GIRL.
http://www.elvis.com.au/presley/elvis_not_racist.shtml
Comment by Pape on 12 October 2009:
I’m a music producer for more than 15 years, i worked in the African showbizz for more than 10 years, what i say earlier about Michael being the king was based on facts.
I heard some of Elvis tracks and i like it, he’s very good but it’s a mistake comparing him to KING MJ.
America is not the world, it’s just one part of the world, Elvis was a king in the US but not in Africa, not in Latin America, not in the middle east, not in Australia………..
Just pick one country in the whole MJ was not KING, like i said if you go to Africa it seems like MJ was born there, seems like he is part of us.
Each one has it’s opinion but this time History will remember MICHAEL JACKSON as the greatest entertainer that ever live.
Not this time, The world has spoken, History has been written so let’s just let things be, in french we say “La majorite l’emporte”.
By the way Phil thanks for the answers, but saying that Will is the King of basketball woowww, no words for that, go http://www.nba.com may be that will help, Jordan so far is the king and may be someday Lebron james will rewrite the book.
This is the question i have:
Between Elvis and Bob Marley who do you think is the most popular?
Thanks to Everyone
Comment by Paula on 13 October 2009:
But let’s put the comments in that article in perspective, they were pre-thriller and pre “King Of Pop” Michael is the only King today. I still love Elvis too.
Comment by Annemarie Swarts on 13 October 2009:
Yes, wow, Pape, ALL of Africa? We have a fan club in South Africa, with e-mail contact from Elvis fans in other African countries.
Paula, the racist comment that Elvis supposedly made, has never been verified. It was an early tabloid smear. Do yourself a favour and check the facts at http://www.elvisinfonet.com/spotlight_elvis_not_racist.html.
Elvis is The King. Short and sweet. Has always been, will always be. In the words of but a few celebs…
“Elvis defined what it was and is to be an entertainer.” – Faith Hill
“Without Elvis you’re nothing” – Madonna
“No one will ever touch Elvis.” – Garth Brooks
“No one, but no one, is equal, or ever will be. Elvis was and is supreme.” – Mick Jagger
“There’ll never be another like that soul brother.” – James Brown
“There have been a lotta tough guys. There have been prentenders. There have been contenders. But there is only one King.” – Bruce Springsteen
Elvis is everyone’s generation, and he always will be.” – Margaret Thatcher
“Elvis was the king. No doubt about it. People like myself, Mick Jagger and all the others only followed in his footsteps.” – Rod Stewart
“Elvis is the coolest”. – Pink
“I owe Elvis my career, and the entire music business owes him it’s lifeline.” – Cliff Richard
“Elvis was, is and will remain the ultimate rock star.” – Robbie Williams
“Elvis Presley was the greatest who ever was, is or ever will be.” – Chuck Berry
“Elvis was the embodiment of the whole American culture.” – Frank Sinatra
“Elvis Presley is the greatest cultural force in the twentieth century.” – Leornard Bernstein
“If any individual of our time can be said to have changed the world, Elvis Presley is the one.” – Greil Marcus
“He was an integrator, Elvis was a blessing. They wouldn’t let black music through. He opened the door for black music.” – Litttle Richard
“Elvis was the greatest who ever was, is or ever will be.” – Chuck Berry
Comment by AARTZ on 13 October 2009:
Phil,
Whats troubling me right now is that your saying that your not trying to declare a winner of the king title, that you simply wanted to transport people back to a time when Elvis was king. And its true. Back then he was. He has millions of fans to this day, and unlike some others on here, I will not just stand here and pretend that he isnt known throughout the world. But…..then i see your comments like this:
“… no matter how one weighs these arguments Elvis can easily be said to have eclipsed everyone else”
&
“You know, I don’t know what you guys think really. I am not trying to back MJ, or even to over glorify Elvis. This is just a trip to a place in our minds and hearts we may not have been to…. As far as notoriety is concerned though, as far as a body of work and a legacy, it could be argued that Elvis had much more impact. This is where we went with this discussion. So, someone go out there and find evidence to the contrary”
I’m confused as to what you wanted to achieve here exactly. You say that your not trying to put Elvis in the god-like category, but then you say that he outdid everyone and no one can compare? Im trying to be as balanced as I can here, given the I am a bigger Michael Jackson fan than an Elvis fan
( and to date i have watched Kid Galahad more times than i care to share) and that i do agree with some of the things you have said about Elvis, but it seems that as much as you want to keep things neutral, you are not being neutral. I think thats very clear from the very start in the title. Not that its not your right to pick a side, God knows I and many others have. But some of the contradictions coming from you are just confusing.
Honestly though, with some fans of other major artists such as MJ and the Beatles, how could you have not seen these kinds of oppositions coming?
I still stand by what i said earlier, your not completely wrong, just slightly.
To everyone else,
This is going to sound a little defensive, but here I go:
What I think is important for those who say Michael hasn’t been this famous since HIStory to know is that Elvis had a huge lull too. And when someone said that just because Michael died doesn’t mean all that he did in the past is forgiven, do people forget how old Mrs Presley was when Elvis first started dating her ? And what about Elvis’ massive drug addiction? I think its just insane that the faults of Elvis can just be forgotten and that Jackson’s are still center stage along with his musical legacy. But perhaps like Presley, another 20 years from know, people will know Michael for his achievements. THATS WHAT’S IMPORTANT HERE! Elvis did some amazing things for his time and has affected millions of people. I can say truthfully and confidently that Michael Jackson has done the same if not even more so in CERTAIN categories. I dare someone to challenge me on that.
Like I said before. Let Michael be the King of POP and Elvis the King of Rock. ELvis did not MAKE the music industry, and neither did Jackson. They were just the major players.
I stand by what i wrote here. Any of you can have a difference of opinion with me. Thats only fair.
Comment by Phil Butler on 13 October 2009:
Hi ARRTZ, I am sorry for the confusion. I wanted to transport people primarily, but out of course, and in describing Elvis (plus holding to the title etc. ) the inevitable happened. You are right to a degree though, I should have stated that my primary motivation was to…..
Anyone can see I went to some trouble to do what I said I wanted to, not many write articles and search down half a dozen videos for people. Come to think of it that is kind of stupid of me, because so few actually watch them. I guess I was of two minds. I love MJ too, I hate it when we lose such dynamic people in our lives. Elvis, from my perspective and millions of other people’s, was the king – period. To be honest, when I was a teen and in my twenties too, Elvis songs were not my thing. In recollecting though, and remembering all the moments he (and MJ) inhabited in my life, I really identified with Elvis’ huge fan following. I do not know what more I can say.
Always,
Phil
Comment by Phil Butler on 13 October 2009:
They have a saying Pape, I will not repeat it here, but everyone had one. Chamberlain still holds two full pages of records in the NBA’s book. There is no comparison. Your are talking apples and oranges. I do not want to go into this, I do not have the time. People like you can never be convinced and it does not matter. Sorry, this is just the way it is.
Always,
Phil
Comment by Phil Butler on 13 October 2009:
Oh last comment for Pape, it is Wilt, as in Wilton Norman Chamerlain in case you want to go to NBA dot com and read what the greatest basketball players and coaches, sprotswriters, and fans had to say about him. Charles Barkley, one of MJ’s best friends even called Wilt the greatest player who ever played. Don’t be so “modern centric” dude, you miss alot.
Comment by ROSA on 13 October 2009:
TO PAPE:
TI CONSIGLO, DI CAMBIARE MESTIERE, PERCHE’ SARESTI UN FALLITO A VITA, VISTO CHE DI MUSICA NON CAPISCI NULLA.
IL SENEGAL NON E’ IL MONDO.IL SENEGAL????WHERE IS ??????
MA CHE CULTURA MUSICALE AVETE? MA COSA CAPITE DI MUSICA VOI, CHE SAPETE SUONARE SOLO I TAMBURELLI.
MA PIANTALA CHE SEI RIDICOLO!
MJ HA FATTO SOLO CANZONETTE DI MUSICA POP, E NIENTE ALTRO.
ELVIS HA CANTATO IL ROCK, IL BLUES, IL COUNTRY, IL GOSPEL, LA CANZONE MELODICA ITALIANA ECCC.CIOE’ TUTTA LA MUSICA.
E POI ..
IO COME PERSONA DI COLORE VI VERGOGNEREI DI MJ VISTO CHE LUI NON VOLEVA ESSERE NERO, MJ VOLEVA ESSERE BIANCO!!!
MJ AVEVA BISOGNO DI CURE.ORA SO CHE ANCHE I SUOI FANS HANNO BISOGNO DI CURE.
INFINE
IL MONDO HA GIA’ IL SUO RE, ELVIS
THE ONLY KING : ELVIS
ELVIS IS THE KING IN THE WORLD ANG MJ THE KING IN AFRICA.
OK PAPE
ARE YOU HAPPY, LITTLE PAPE???
Comment by INTER on 13 October 2009:
FOR PAPE:
Elvis Today – Brazil Vivaldo Pereira Da Silva Filho cx. postal 2493 Salvador Bahia 40022-370 Brazil
Gang Elvis Fan Club of Brazil Walteir Terciani Caixa Postal 99 Santo Andre Sao Paulo 09015-970 Brazil
Elvis Presley Artist of the Century – Brazil Ana Luisa Wambier Fialla Rua D. Pedro II, 551 – Paraná CEP: 83280-000 Brazil
Elvis Alive Fan Club Norton de Almeida Coll Caixa Postal 347 Sao Paulo 01059-970 Brazil
Elvis Back Maristela Roman Rua Joao Ramalho, 1142 Apt 05 – Perdizes Sao Paulo 05008-002 Brazil
Elvis On Tour in Brazil Fan Club Elenice Coutheux de Oliveira Lima R. Joao Mafra, 240 Saude Sao Paulo 4288000 Brazil
Elvis Presley Fan Club of Brazil Jacqueline Ulmo 111, Prof. Hilario De Carvalho St, Apt 112 Sao Paulo 05641-070 Brazil
Elvis Chile Mario Silva Fajardo Casilla 8, Correo 16, Maidu Santiago Chile
Esto Es Elvis Eduardo Alejandro Herrera Cabezas Las Norias #2682 Maipu Chile
International Elvis Presley Fan Club (Hong Kong) Kevin Wong P.O. Box 70582, Kowloon Central Post Office Kowloon Hong Kong
Elvis Presley Fan Club – India (Pune) Zahir E. Chinoy 203 Gera Chambers, Off Boat Club Rd. Pune Maharashtra 411 001 India
Elvis Presley Fan Club – India (Singara) Fali Singara India
Elvis World – Japan Haruo Hirose 4-2, Seiran 2-Chome, Otsu-shi Shiga 520-0833 Japan
C’mon Elvis Fans in Japan Fan Club Yoko Hika 1231-19-B-1205 Hatuzawa, Hachiaji Tokyo 193-0845 Japan
Elvis Presley Society of Japan Tomikazu Taguchi Main Stage Ginza 1004, 8-16-3, Ginza Tokyo 104-0061 Japan
EPFC – Korea Jong Jin Lee 129-1, Majang-ri, Gwangtan-myeon, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do Paju 413-850 Korea
Forever For Elvis Georgina Trejo Cedro 226-7, Col. Sta. Ma. la Ribera Mexico D.F. 6400 Mexico
Forever Elvis Presley Fan Club Ricardo Bolanos La Cordillera 460-470-3er Piso La Ensenada L-12 Peru
Elvis Presley Friendship Club Lucito Bertol DZSR 4th Floor, Phillippine Information Agency Bldg, Visayas Ave, Quezon City, Metro Manila 1100 Phillipines
How Great Thou Art Gridneva Yulia Petro-Slavyanka, Zeliony per.3 Saint Peterburg 196642 Russia
Elvis Fan Club – Singapore Mike Makendhiran Blk 447, #03-515 Singapore 540447 Singapore
Singapore First Elvis Fan Club Daniel Chan K.B. Apartment 78, Marine Drive, #02-36 440078 Singapore
“”Elvis Presley Fan Club of Africa Annemarie Swarts PO Box 3247 Tyger Valley 7536 South Africa “”"
Comment by Phil Butler on 13 October 2009:
Inter, Thanks so much for your time and passion for supporting the king. I think we are starting to see something kind of extraordinary here. This has become not so much an argument against Michael or anyone, but a validation (which is sort of what I was looking for) of a kind of excellence that both these performers exhibited. Someone does not know Elvis so well, enjoys and love what Michael Jackson was and it, and assumes so much without looking into even the possibility that anyone else has the right frame of mind or “voice” if we can call it that.
A man came here to express a limited view, which is all most people have time for these days (we are all guilty of it), and behold, every valid point comes out sooner or later, thanks to people willing to give their time in an effort to let people see. Not in an effort to one up anyone. Bravo! It would have taken me hours to compile such a list (I was actually trying). Michael Jackson was a pehnomenon, we loved him to. But, in a very real way, we cannot minimize Elvis, lest we do the same thing to MJ in the end. I hope people can begin to see this. We validate one another, with each other. We all serve as milestones in each other’s lives.
All I really wanted anyone to see was a place and time they may never see, never enjoy, and never be able to compare this time we live in to. How can we go forward without measuring the past correctly? Thanks so much for all your comments, everyone. Really. You have been by and large very kind and loving toward these icons in our lives, and polite here as is not always the case. God Bless all of us with such beauty and wonder as we experience through great people, and through one another.
Always,
Phil
Comment by Phil Butler on 13 October 2009:
Unbelievable, What can I say. Even I am amazed that after 53 years so much adoration is still felt for Elvis. 53 years! Phenomenal. I know that MJ will enjoy such fame too, but for now, until all the votes are cast, no one has ever impacted people so. We have to remember though, when we were young, how we wanted our older contemporaries to see our view. I for one remember parents and the older generation showing me people and events I put little value on. Why? We just all need to be heard, to have our heroes, to have a voice, to be validated. That’s why. Once I looked at some of the people being suggested to me, then things became more clear. Correctly assessing the value of these people actually enhanced everyone’s values.
Deep thought I know, but necessary thought if we want to seek truth and the way things should be. Thanks again, so much. Please do not be angry at people who have their “delusions” if we can call it that. 10 or 20 years from now, they will see things differently too. I assure you of that.
Always,
Phil
Comment by Pape on 13 October 2009:
For Annemarie and Inter.
Just as a reminder South Africa is just one country in Africa.
Michael Jackson has thousands of fan clubs in Africa alone, before MJ may be Elvis was the king but God brought us the real king crowned by billions of people around the world.
Before Jesus and the prophet Mohamed there was hundreds of prophets but the most popular are the two last one.
Without a doubt Elvis was great from what i hear from people here in America but was the Chosen One, you ask today Bruce Springteen, Madonna, Mick Jagger, Faith Hill, Franck Sinatra they will tell you that MJ is the real king.
God is great, He took a poor kid from Gari Indiana and make him the greatest ever may in the future they will be somebody who will top MJ because in the kingdom of God the word “impossible” doesn’t exist.
Sorry once again if i offended anybody.
Comment by MaxineLOVESMJ on 13 October 2009:
Nahh diss aint an age thing buddy, MJ’s music is old skool too you know, I’m chuffed yhuu replied though..kool..enihu..im young..so old music really aint my thing, I hate it when my mum and dad bust there old tunes in the car but with Michael I can listen all day…and anuvva thing,some of my family liv in Nigeria and dey r like…’who is Elvis?’…i gotta big family and not one of dem noee him. Im not saying Elvis wernt known, Im not saying he wasnt good, Im just lettin yhoo noee Micheal was soo much more popular and better by far..thx
Comment by INTER on 13 October 2009:
PAPER
YOU ARE THE KING OF STUPIDS!
MJ IS THE KING ONLY FOR YOU!!
YOU ARE DESPERATE!!!!
Comment by INTER on 13 October 2009:
“A lot of people have accused Elvis of stealing the black man’s music, when in fact, almost every black solo entertainer copied his stage mannerisms from Elvis.”
Jackie Wilson
“You have no idea how great he is, really you don’t. You have no comprehension – it’s absolutely impossible. I can’t tell you why he’s so great, but he is. He’s sensational.”
Phil Spector
“Elvis is the greatest cultural force in the twentieth century. He introduced the beat to everything, music, language, clothes, it’s a whole new social revolution – the 60’s comes from it.”
Leonard Bernstein, 1960s.
“Elvis Presley’s death deprives our country of a part of itself. He was unique, irreplaceable. More than twenty years ago, he burst upon the scene with an impact that was unprecedented and will probably never be equaled. His music and his personality, fusing the styles of white country and black rhythm and blues, permanently changed the face of American popular culture. His following was immense. And he was a symbol to people the world over of the vitality, rebelliousness and good humor of this country.”
President Jimmy Carter, 1977. His official statement following Elvis’ death.
“Elvis had an influence on everybody with his musical approach. He broke the ice for all of us.”
Al Green
“He was an instinctive actor…He was quite bright…he was very intelligent…He was not a punk. He was very elegant, sedate, and refined, and sophisticated.”
Walter Matthau, who co-starred with Elvis in King Creole (1958). From a 1987 interview.
“There have been a lotta tough guys. There have been pretenders. And there have been contenders. But there is only one king.”
Bruce Springsteen
“…it was like he came along and whispered some dream in everybody’s ear, and somehow we all dreamed it.”
Bruce Springsteen
“When I first heard Elvis’ voice I just knew that I wasn’t going to work for anybody; and nobody was going to be my boss…Hearing him for the first time was like busting out of jail.”
Bob Dylan
“Elvis was the king. No doubt about it. People like myself, Mick Jagger and all the others only followed in his footsteps.”
Rod Stewart
“He was a unique artist – an original in an area of imitators.”
Mick Jagger
“Before Elvis, there was nothing.”
John Lennon
“This boy had everything. He had the looks, the moves, the manager, and the talent. And he didn’t look like Mr. Ed like a lot of the rest of us did. In the way he looked, way he talked, way he acted – he really was different.”
Carl Perkins
“I wasn’t just a fan, I was his brother. He said I was good and I said he was good; we never argued about that. Elvis was a hard worker, dedicated, and God loved him. Last time I saw him was at Graceland. We sang Old Blind Barnabus together, a gospel song. I love him and hope to see him in heaven. There’ll never be another like that soul brother.
James Brown
“That’s my idol, Elvis Presley. If you went to my house, you’d see pictures all over of Elvis. He’s just the greatest entertainer that ever lived. And I think it’s because he had such presence. When Elvis walked into a room, Elvis Presley was in the f***ing room. I don’t give a f*** who was in the room with him, Bogart, Marilyn Monroe.”
Eddie Murphy
“It’s rare when an artist’s talent can touch an entire generation of people. It’s even rarer when that same influence affects several generations. Elvis made an imprint on the world of pop music unequaled by any other single performer.”
Dick Clark
“Elvis Presley was an explorer of vast new landscapes of dream and illusion. He was a man who refused to be told that the best of his dreams would not come true, who refused to be defined by anyone else’s conceptions. This is the goal of democracy, the journey on which every prospective American hero sets out. That Elvis made so much of the journey on his own is reason enough to remember him with the honor and love we reserve for the bravest among us. Such men made the only maps we can trust.”
Dave Marsh
From his book, Elvis.
“It’s always been my dream to come to Madison Square Garden and be the warm-up act for Elvis.”
Senator Al Gore
Accepting the nomination for vice president at the 1992 Democratic Convention & prior to Bill Clinton’s (aka “Elvis” by his security staff) acceptance of the presidential nomination.
“Ask anyone. If it hadn’t been for Elvis, I don’t know where popular music would be. He was the one that started it all off, and he was definitely the start of it for me.”
Elton John
“The first concert I attended was an Elvis concert when I was eleven. Even at that age he made me realize the tremendous effect a performer could have on an audience.”
Cher
“Elvis was a giant and influenced everyone in the business.”
Isaac Hayes
“I learned music listening to Elvis’ records. His measurable effect on culture and music was even greater in England than in the States.”
Mick Fleetwood
“I don’t think there is a musician today that hasn’t been affected by Elvis’ music. His definitive years – 1954-57 – can only be described as rock’s cornerstone. He was the original cool.”
Brian Setzer
Comment by Nicolette Meades on 13 October 2009:
It is amazing that people today still use Elvis as the benchmark. If Michael Jackson was the greatest, he would be the one other artists would be compared with. Plus, I think it is a bit early to make the statement that MJ is the king. Let’s wait and see if people will still remember him 32 years after his death. Pape, I hope you will be still alive in 2041. If so, let’s have this discussion again. O, and Pape, I’m a young, second generation Elvis fan and living in South Africa!
Comment by INTER on 13 October 2009:
FOR PAPER:
IF THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE KING
LET IT BE ELVIS
Comment by INTER on 13 October 2009:
IF THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE KING
LET IT BE ELVIS
Comment by ROSE on 13 October 2009:
Cara Maximel,
se tu non conosci Elvis, sono problemi tuoi?
mi dispiace per te,
e ti faccio presente che tu non sei il mondo
Per te MJ puo’essere il re, per gli altri e’ solo un cantante che avuto fortuna negli anni 80 e poi e’ caduto in disgrazia.
un uomo(uomo?)accusato di pedofilia,
che si e’ comprato i figli, che gli ha costretti a vivere incappucciati, e che viveva solo come un cane.
lui si e’ autoproclamato re, e lo ha fatto nel periodo in cui lui e la sua musica non interessavano a nessuno.
ci sono al mondo molti artisti piu’ grandi di lui.
Comment by ROSE on 13 October 2009:
“There have been a lotta tough guys. There have been pretenders. And there have been contenders. But there is only one king.”
Bruce Springsteen
BRAVO!BRAVO!
PAROLE DEL GRANDE BRUCE NO DI PAPER
BRUCE E’ PIU’ GRANDE DI MJ.
JAGGER E’ PIU’ GRANDE DI MJ.
ROD STEWART E’ PIU’ GRANDE DI MJ
CI SONO TANTE ROCK STAR CHE SONO PIU’ GRANDE DI MJ
MA TANTE
MJ E’ SOLO UNA POP STAR!!
COME MADONNA, SPEARS, ECC..
CIOE’ MITI DI CARTONE!!!
MA UNO CHE ABITA IN AFRICA COSA PUO’ SAPERE DI MUSICA
SENZA OFFESA!!!
Comment by ROSE on 13 October 2009:
“He was a unique artist – an original in an area of imitators.”
Mick Jagger
“Before Elvis, there was nothing.”
John Lennon
Comment by ROSE on 13 October 2009:
BACI, BACI DALL’ITALIA
VIVA ELVIS!!!
ELVIS E’ L’AMORE,
ELVIS E’ IL SOLE,
ELVIS E’ LA VITA,
ELVIS E’ L’ALLEGRIA,
ELVIS E’ LA MUSICA
ELVIS E’ IL SOGNO
ELVIS E’ LA BELLEZZA
ELVIS E’ IL TALENTO PURO
ELVIS E’ L’AMERICA VERA
ELVIS E’ LA PIU’BELLA CREATURA DEL MONDO!!!
ELVIS E’ IL SOLO,UNICO “RE”.
Comment by Martin on 13 October 2009:
First of all Michael Jackson was a one of a kind artist and the best around in the 80′s but there the bus stops. Lately facts and fictions,or for that matter,certain lies,have been ventilated trough the airwaves by people like Al Sharpton with quotes like: “He (MJ) broke down barriers ” and ” the best entertainer ever “. Excuse me? “Michael Jackson broke down barriers?”What barriers? You mean racial barriers? Wow, what did Michael Jackson do next, invent the internet? put a man on the moon? Please that is such a bull by Al Sharpton and some in the black community,that it is even to ridicilous to be taken seriously. Like all racial tensions were eased thanks to Michael Jackson? So all the work others did like Elvis Presley,Martin Luther King,Malcom X,Nelson Mandela etc etc. was nothing,cause Michael fixed that? Right…. Let me rephrase some facts instead of these lies by rev. Al Sharpton and others (including some newsmedia) In the 50′s blacks were treated in the U.S. as second class citizens and segregation was a normal thing in the South. That was also a time when the KKK was ruling in many villages and a major force in American society. It was a time when black music was banned from national,state and local radio and tv stations. Suddenly there was this poor white kid from Tupelo Mississippi named Elvis Presley who grew up listening to black music like Rufus Thomas,B.B.King and others and recorded some of their songs cause… he simply loved it. Elvis got the heat from the Frank Sinatra generation ( infact Frank Sinatra’s quote from the time said it all: This music is a danger to our society) and many other middle-class people in the U.S. It even went futher when people went on the streets with signs like “we serve whites only” and “this n..r music is the music of the devil by this Elvis guy”. On national tv Elvis was heavy censored cause of his movements and Elvis went on recording songs of black artists and crossed (without knowing himself) racial borders in the late 50′s and set the standard ( aka blue print) on what a real pop-idol should look and be like.Trough Elvis middle-class white America’s youth got to know black music better and with that helped breaking certain boundaries in the U.S for alot of black artist of that time who later on honored him in 1982 with a special black award. Michael Jackson never did something breaktrough like Elvis did. Infact Michael Jackson wanted more and more to be accepted by the average white community in America and showed that during his life when he hardly did anything that groundbreaking/progressive as Elvis did for the black community. Regarding best entertainer of the world or for that matter “King of Pop”, the facts show otherwise: When you are the best entertainer of the world, just holding 1 record (Thriller) isn’t enough. Elvis Presley holds the following records: nr # 1 in nr 1 hits(18),more then one billion records sold,inducted in the Halls of Fame of Rock,Pop,Country,Blues,Gospel(4) and name recognition with simply ELVIS! And then i leave out his records of beeing the first artist to do a unplugged scene( 1968 comeback special) and first artist to sellout MSG NY in 1972 4 nights in a row and on top of that, the first artist ever! to have his concert beamed troughout the world and seen by over 1.5 billion people worldwide in 1973.(that records still stands today) in a time when satellite shows were only used for presidential events like when Nixon visited China in 1972. So,Michael Jackson (if you compare facts with Elvis Presley) can’t be claimed as “the greatest entertainer of all time “cause the facts don’t add up to justify this “title”. Michael Jackson did though accomplish a great thing wich was the fact that he was there when MTV just got their start and he was the perfect person to use that medium and launch it to what it is today. Almost the same thing when Elvis Presley skyrockted trough television in the 50′s and becomming a overnight sensation. Michael Jackson’s Thriller clip was the 1st of it’s kind to be like a shortmovie with music and also set the tone for musicclips as we know it now. Regarding the title “King of Pop”. Michael Jackson proclaimed this himself a “King” instead of earning it. Infact the title came from a quote wich went on to a life of its own. It was at the 1989? AMA awardshow on MTV when Elizabeth Taylor with Eddy Murphy beside her as co-presenter who said (when Thriller received alot of awards) : “Wow.. he MJ) earned so much again, like he owns it all,like his is the King of pop,soul..”That last part got attention the next day in a tabloid and got taken over by other media, and before you knew it, it went on to become a phrase and appear at Michael Jacksons next concert when some fans held up signs with “King of Pop”. That is were this selfproclaimed title came from. Besides that: “King of Pop”is no overall “KIng”like Elvis Presley earned and is a lower ranked title. For that matter: Michael Jackson was never a “King”nor the “greatest entertainer of all time”cause the facts proof otherwise. Michael Jackson though was a one-of-a kind superstar who gave the world fantastic music and inspired many. Yet that alone is not enough to be seen as the best of the best. He is for sure ONE of the best!
Comment by nina on 13 October 2009:
Great article – one tiny correction – Elvis and Priscilla were only married for 5 years 1967 to 1072
as for the Jackson fans who resist the article
yes, Jackson was a global star, yes, he had white and black fans, yes he did videos
But Elvis did these things well before Jackson was performing.
Elvis’ movies are essentially extended music videos – and his 68 TV special was unplugged before there was an MTV.
Comment by Paula for Annamarie Swarts on 13 October 2009:
ANNAMARIE do yourself a favor and read my comment. You are so blinded by what you want to say about Elvis that my comment went in one eye and out the other. I said that the comment was not true and gave a link to prove it, so what are your talking about?
No matter what people think of Michael Jackson. You must realize that for this time we live in he is the one on top. Not Elvis. People here are talking about Graceland being visited by 600,00 a year, try 30 million watching Michael Jackson memorial. Michael is so popular that we don’t even know the exact area he is buried in. When did am Elvis concert sell over a million tickets in one hour? Never.
Elvis once again WAS CROWNED BY WHITE PEOPLE NOT THE WORLD THAT IS WHAT YOU PEOPLE ARE MISSING. IT IS WHAT THE WORLD SAYS NOT A SEGMENT OF THE WORLD. AND THE WORLD HAS CROWNED MICHAEL NOT ELVIS.
Elvis did not sell as many records when he was alive as Michael did, Elvis records has hit the (Bil) since his death.
THE WHOLE WORLD CRIED FOR MICHAEL, AMERICA CRIED FOR ELVIS AND SOME POCKETS OF THE WORLD.
Comment by Pape on 14 October 2009:
For Inter
Please don’t get mad about this we are just having a debate and i thing it’s fun, it’s cool to hear other people opinion, even if i don’t agree with you i still listen to you, after all we are brother and sister no matter the color, background……
it’s not you and i who decide who’s the king, it’s billions of people around the world i mean the WORLD.
Seriously even if i don’t know Elvis i still think that his music is great and some people like him.
Inter you should write a book about Elvis may that will convince more people.
The world has spoken, MICHAEL JACKSON IS THE KING too bad he’s black, sorry
Comment by Pape on 14 October 2009:
MICHAEL MICHAEL le vrai roi de la musique desole Elvis, repose en paix.
Comment by Pape on 14 October 2009:
Nicolette Michael will be bigger in 2050. Time will tell
Comment by Pape on 14 October 2009:
Please check these links and tell me what you think.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=En-cHBv7UpA,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUi2UCPe7Yo ,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WjOn5TNjBM ,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3wShd_bX8A ,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCqQ2JcQWGs ,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZI9OYMRwN1Q ,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8rYl6K2STc ,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W61Q-EZ8R7M ,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_hz2am90Hk ,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtyJbIOZjS8 ,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtGD6t75HS8
The list can go on and on.
Any child from Africa or Asia can sing any of these songs from top to bottom even in french speaking country.
Comment by Pape on 14 October 2009:
Person of the Millennium Award for his humanitarian efforts. Below is a list of charities he supported. R.I.P. Till We Meet! We love you more Michael!
{Michael Jackson’s Charities }
AIDS Project Los Angeles
American Cancer Society
Big Brothers Big Sisters
Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs of America
Childhelp USA
Children’s Defense Fund
Elizabeth Taylor Aids Foundation
End Hunger Network
Great Ormond Street Hospital
Jane Goodall Institute
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
Make-A-Wish Foundation
Prince’s Trust
Ronald McDonald House Charities
Starlight Children’s Foundation
TJ Martell Foundation
United Negro College Fund
The Millennium-Issue of the Guinness Book Of Records names Michael as the Pop Star who supports the most charity organizations, according to JacksonAction.com, which has an extensive timeline of Jackson’s charity work.
AIDS Project L.A.
American Cancer Society
Angel Food
Big Brothers of Greater Los Angeles
BMI Foundation
Brotherhood Crusade
Brothman Burn Center
Camp Ronald McDonald
Childhelp U.S.A.
Children’s Institute International
Cities and Schools Scholarship Fund
Community Youth Sports & Arts Foundation
Congressional Black Caucus
Dakar Foundation
Dreamstreet Kids
Dreams Come True Charity
Elizabeth Taylor Aids Foundation
Heal The World Foundation
Juvenile Diabetes Foundation
Make A Wish Foundation
Minority Aids Project
Motown Museum
NAACP
National Rainbow Coalition
Rotary Club of Australia
Society of Singers
Starlight Foundation
The Carter Center’s Atlanta Project
The Sickle Cell Research Foundation
Transafrica
United Negro College Fund
United Negro College Fund Ladder’s of Hope
Volunteers of America
Watts Summer Festival
Wish Granting
YMCA – 28th Street/Crenshaw
Comment by Phil Butler on 14 October 2009:
Man you are hung up on thinking people coming here consider the “blackness or whiteness” of this issue. You first say we are brother and sister, then list some black celebs as the greatest of all time, black this, white that, do you not realize who is starting to look like the racist here? I would have deleted half of these comments but no one as of yet seemed to take offense. “Some” people like Elvis? Michael Jackson was an extraordinary person and performer, I saw him on stage probably before you were born, watched him with my shipmates in the navy as he took over MTV, listened to an loved the guy all along. He was and it great. Maybe even the king of something or other?
You see, you have not even taken the time to think about what these other nice people have come here to say about Elvis, it is easy to see. They all know Michael Jackson, he is no secret to any of them. Do you see how most of them come and just put down some info, a little love, and then leave? Some came here to defend the racist card a few tried to play, but that was about it as far as conflict. You do not have to agree that Elvis was king, no one expects you to. But you can stop pulling that poor pitiful race card out of your pocket, I for one am tired of people using that on me. I am a caucasian, I never in my life treated anyone badly because of anything about them other than their attitude toward me. So, DO NOT COME HERE AGAIN AND USE THAT!
I should think you would find something here interesting. I know you are a busy man and have so little time, but take a look at something. This race thing is really making me angry and I don’t often get that way. You suggested Michael Jordan was the king of B-Ball. I suggested that Wilt Chamberlain is the alternative. Wilt Chamberlain was an African American who battled racism in a way you will never be aware of. He was my hero (or one of them) when I was a kid. The thing I want to point out is, if everyone who has less pigment in their skin than you is some evil bastard, why is it that people like Wilt even Michael Jackson are so revered? Were all of MJ’s fans from freaking Kenya? Or, did some come from lily white Lithuania?
People need to be more tolerant, I have been tolerant here Pape. I respect your opinion, and you are not wrong about some of these things. It is wrong, to come here to my publication, and with ever other word proclaim that anyone who is no black is bad. That is what you are saying. So, for the sake of relative kingdoms, where this news site is concerned, I am the king. I can erase all memory that you or your ideas ever existed if I so desire. So, stop digging at people in their most sore and vulnerable places. Submit evidence or whatever, there is no need to insult anyone’s race. You risk becoming what you hate and fear.
Always,
Phil Butler
Managing Editor
Everything PR News
Comment by Phil Butler on 14 October 2009:
The same goes for anyone who tries to turn things into some kind of racial battle for supremacy. I am sick of people perpetuating the myth that bigotry and racism are inherent so. Do not be so obtuse and decidedly angry about these things. Yes white people loved Elvis. So did a lot of black people. If white people had not accepted and revered Michael he would have been less successful. Stop pulling this race card. It paints you as a racist, like it or not. You might as well use the country card, or the state card, or hell say MJ copied Elvis by wearing some of his outfits, whatever. I just hate the race card being yanked out any time there is a discussion. “How many of those yellow people over in Asia loved either of these people”, good God people, some of you need a life.
Always,
Phil
Comment by SOUTH AFRICA on 14 October 2009:
MJ IS ONLY A MEDIOCRE SINGER AND VERY VERY UNGLY
ELVIS IS ONLY KING
ELVIS FOREVER
Comment by Di Allison on 14 October 2009:
Elvis was a genious to have changed music and influenced people to this day.
He was the leader and deserves to be called the King of Rock n Roll.
Elvis Always
Comment by ROSA on 14 October 2009:
To Pape:
caro, se per te e’ importante che MJ venga chiamato RE,
ok lui e’ il RE.
Cosa cambia, adesso?
Sei piu’ felice?
Sei piu’ ricco?
sei piu’ realizzato?
Mi sembri una persona disperata, un po mi fai pena.
Ma perche’ ai fans di MJ questo titolo è cosi’ importante?
RE o non RE non cambia nulla.
Tu ami MJ, OK
Io amo ELVIS PRESLEY,
MJ non mi piace e non mi interessa quello che ha fatto,
e ti posso assicurare che c’è tanta gente a cui MJ non interessa.
Il mondo ha altro a cui pensare.
Quindi, non sprecare il tuo tempo ha scrivere quello che ha fatto MJ perche’non interessa a nessuno.
e te ne devi fare un ragione di vita.
lo dico per il tuo bene.
Elvis e’ morto 32 anni fa, e siamo qui a parlare di lui.
GRANDE!!!!!!
AMO LA MUSICA ROCK,IL GOSPEL, IL BLUES E IL COUNTRY.
AMO ELVIS NO PERCHE’ E’ IL RE, O PERCHE’ HA VENDUTO MILIONI DI DISCHI,O PERCHE’ HA VINTO PREMI ECC.ECC.
AMO ELVIS PERCHE’ DA 30 ANNI MI REGALA EMOZIONI,E IO HO 40 ANNI.
E TU QUANTI ANNI HAI?
E POI..
LA STORIA E’ STATA GIA’ SCRITTA E TU E TUTTI I FANS DI MJ NON LA POSSONO CAMBIARE.
SE TI OCCUPI DI MUSICA, COME HAI SCRITTO, DOVRESTI CONOSCERE TUTTA LA MUSICA NON SOLO MJ
LUI ERA SOLO UN CANTANTE POP.
CI SONO TANTI ARTISTI STRAORDINARI AL MONDO.
APRI I TUOI ORIZZONTI E SARAI PIU’ FELICE!!!
TI CONSIGLIO UN VIAGGIO A GRACELAND.
Comment by christine on 14 October 2009:
Oh Paula,
It is obvious you have not researched Elvis. Whel Elvis performed the Aloha from Hawaii, it was watched by 1.5 BILLION across the world and remember, technology in those days early 70`s was not as it is today. I watched Michael Jacksons funeral but I am not a fan so you can`t go by those numbers watching his funeral. As for your comment about Graceland, yes 600.000 a year still pass through the gates,, 32 years after he died, would say that is some sort of record. Look in the Guinness Book of records for the sell out concert of a person no longer with us. It is obvious you are an Avid MJ fan and are blind to the truth about Elvis. He has so many plaques in Graceland for charities he supported but not only ones acknowledged but people in the street., He even threw the whole contents of his jewellers briefcase into the audience because he said they would benefit from it. So, as I say, it was thinga like that that Elvis did, buying a stranger a car, a kid a bike, a kid he met on a plane his diamond ring, just small acts of kindness . stuff that was not published . Watch the dvd A Generous Heart and you will see what I mean. Anyway, for anyone who is not into Elvis all I can say is Your Loss.
Comment by christine on 14 October 2009:
Click on to “Charities Elvis donated to” you will be surprised. It does say that a lot were not published.
Comment by Pape on 15 October 2009:
I think it’s time to close the debate, i know we’ll never agree in this so let the World be the judge.
Paula don’t waste your time, it’s not for us or them to decide who’s the greatest, it’s the voice of billions of people around the world. Time will tell
Thanks to everyone, it was a pleasure to be part of this.
One love
Comment by Michelle on 15 October 2009:
Oh my lord -I’ve never read such nonsense-how are we even comparing Michael jackson to Elvis?! there is no comparasion! Elvis started it all. The thing everyone is forgetting is that Elvis achieved everything without the help of the mass media and the internet- it didn’t exist. His success was due to a spontaneous reaction to his talent and uniqueness- he didnt need hype and whats more he carried
his success with humility- a word that did not exist in Michael Jacksons vocabulary. And whats all this about lack of impact throughout the world- are you mad? There isn’t a country in the world that Elvis didn’t touch- when he performed in Vegas people would fly in from around the globe, the viewing figures for the Aloha show do not even include the states and most of maninland Europe as it was shown later there. I was in Memphis in 2007 and amongst the 100,000 people I lost track of the number of countries represented but trust me it was world wide-and thats 30 years on. And as for this racist card – you could not be more wrong Elvis was the most colour blind person out there and, he grew up playing with black kids, listened to black music , bought his clothes in what were seen as black shops and hung out on Beale street- for a white kid in the fifites thats a big deal- try listening to what some of the black entertainers of the time who considered him a friend had to say about him before those sorts of ill founded comments are made- how about a comment from James Brown ‘he taught white america to get down’. Elvis is and always will be the yardstick from which everyone else is judged-he changed music, fashion and culture forever, sold more records had more hits and impacted on more peoples lives than anyone before or since. I’m 45 and know people 20 years older than me and 20 years younger than me who agree wholeheartedly with my comments. I do not know anyone my age, older,or younger who has ever said that Michael jackson had any impact on their life-people seem to like Thriller but thats about it- hes just not significant in any way other than a few good tracks. Finally who gave him and perpertrated this king of pop thing – oh wait I think it was himself- ulike Elvis who never took himself too seriously but everyone called him the King anyway!
Comment by christine on 15 October 2009:
Well said Michelle, I agree with all you have said. Furthermore, Elvis did not like to be called “King” as I said earlier he said there is only one king and that is God. It is fantasdtic to know that although Elvis left us 32 years on, there are very young children who love Elvis….he truly was and is the most popular entertainer of all time. FACT!
Comment by AARTZ on 16 October 2009:
It must be a sad world you live in Michelle. people aren’t affected by Michael Jackson? He didn’t carry himself with humility?! That actually might be the most nonsensicl statement i have seen on here so far. In almost every interview done with other people who have met and worked with Michael almost all of them described Michael Jackson as nothing but humble and very talented. Yeah he was weird sometimes, but Elvis was just as paranoid and drug addicted in the end as Michael Jackson was. People keep forgetting that , and making Michael Jackson the bad guy when in truth, at the end of both of their careers, neither of them were the KINGS the world made them out to be.
And as far as influence goes, look back the past 4 decades and you can find bits of Michael Jackson in everything from other artists music, movies, tv, fashion, etc. There is absolutely no merit to the claim that Michael Jackson has not been a major influence.
And im sick of that John Lennon quote, “before Elvis there was nothing”…thats absolutely ridiculous. That is a slap in the face to every other musician out there before Elvis could shake those hips of his that were just as talented if not more musically inclined. for the record, IM AM NOT SAYING THAT ELVIS WAS NOT AN AMAZING MAN, MUSICIAN, ICON, i am just saying that in mine and millions of others opinions, so was Michael Jackson. He meant more to us than Elvis Presley and thats what we are trying to say.
Its obvious to me that most of the defending Elvis fans here are biased and the same goes for us Michael Jackson fans. Its just the way it is. We are loyal to our icons and thats simply it. I dont really see how much more good this “debate” is going to do.
And Michelle, Michael Jackson did not declare himself to be anything and thats actually documented. Elizabeth Taylor said it at and American Awards show from there the fans took it on, and Michael started using it in advertising because other than a few thousand people who disagree, millions around the world wholeheartedly agreed with the title. You can actually here someone call him the king from the Victory concert tour with the JACKSONS, and thats while Thriller was just getting started.
(Listen at moment 5:25-5:27 at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebaYUNWOiL0) But if thats not enough for you and other Elvis fans, then thats too bad. The truth is though is that its never going to matter.No one is going to take it from him now, not even this discussion board.
Elvis fans have their “delusions” as you put it Phil, and Michael Jackson fans have their’s. So lets drop it. We’re getting nowhere.
(sorry if this sounded mean or intolerant. Im just a little frustrated with some of the Elvis and other MJ fans. No real offense intended)
Comment by nina on 17 October 2009:
writing songs is a real measure of a singer like writing scripts is the meaure of actors
writing and singing (and acting) are different skills.
nice to have both or all – but not having one does not diminish the other
Comment by Phil Butler on 17 October 2009:
AARTZ, I understand your frustration, it is so difficult for people to meet in the middle sometimes. Changing anyone’s mind is impossible, and was never what I intended in writing this. It would be rewarding if someone latched on to say, watching a video or two of Elvis, and then exploring further to find a little piece of the man and the time. Maybe one or two did, and never commented? The title of this sort of said it all. A writer presents a proposition (from the obvious one implied out there in the world) “If there must be…”, and then answers it from his or her own perception or experience “let is be …”, this is all this way about really. Of course people are adamant about their heroes, they should be. But, and after but is where all answers reside, authority has to come from somewhere. Whether is be long experience, perception, empirical evidence, etc, correctly cataloging our times is important. I aprpeciate all the comments here, and weigh them in light of my own authority and frailty as well. Look at one another, and then look at one another’s hearts …..You will find the same thing, love, desire, kindness, passion, and a little bit of self which sometimes powers unreasonable opinion.
Always,
Phil
Comment by Paula for Phil on 17 October 2009:
Phil, you really believe the statement below which you stated?
I can’t believe you said this and believe it.
“If white people had not accepted and revered Michael he would have been less successful.”
Phil, this comment proves you are missing the point that Michael Jackson fans are trying to make. IT IS NOT A PARTICULAR SEGMENT OF THE POPULATION THAT CAN CLAIM TO HAVE MADE MICHAEL JACKSON SUCCESSFUL, IT IS THE WORLD THAT HAS MADE HIM SUCCESSFUL.
What you are saying is without the support of White people Michael would not be the pop star we know his as? You have got to be joking.
Even those of us who are Black Americans know that he belongs to the world and not us. We simply never turned our backs on him when things got tough for him and neither did his fans who are of all races.
Comment by Phil Butler on 17 October 2009:
Paula, Did you read and understand that statement? It was a statement of fact in response to people pulling out race as a factor here. Read it again if necessary please. Let me state it again.
If White people had not loved MJ, then he would not have been as popular as he was. Or, if orange people, or yellow people, or brown haired people, or people from Lithuania, and etc. The people coming here were hard pressed trying to say Elvis was some “cracker” who was the king of “white people” or something to that effect. Do you see the context here? If black people had not loved MJ he would not have been “as” successful.
Any way, I meant nothing bigoted or mean there, just stating a fact is all. He would have been a significant figure without any ethnic groups support. So would Elvis. That is all I was saying. I wish people would get off the race card, at least for a while.
Always,
Phil
Comment by christine on 17 October 2009:
Here Here Phil, it seems that everytime there is a dicussion there is always someone playing the race card. What difference does race make when we are talking about singers or actors or footballers etc., a singer is a singer wether black white chinese greek and so on. For goodness sake get a life and lets leave the race card out of it.
Comment by Phil Butler on 17 October 2009:
Well Christine, To be honest, and not many will believe this, but I never really looked at people in my life as being one skin color or another. Maybe as a secondary identifying marker or something. I don’t know where that kind of habit comes from either really, but it is there. I have grown to actually hate this aspect of humanity honestly. We cannot help many things about ourselves, we just are. It is human to make these distinctions for one reason or another, but when they are obviously sensitive issues for many people, I don’t see why we cannot eradicate the negative connotation of them. Idealistic I know, but why not?
Thanks for the thoughts,
Always,
Phil
Comment by christine on 18 October 2009:
Hi Phil,
I hope you didn`t think I was telling you to “get a life” I was not.
I was telling the people who always bring race into an argument. The amount of times I have heard “its because I am black” nonsense.
I like you do not see people as a race but as a person. As I said in my last post, what difference does it make. In the 70`s there were quite a lot of black groups I thought were good, Tavares for instance. They were great guys I didn`t see them as black, just as 5 brothers who were great entertainers. Please everyone stop bringing race into an argument or discussion. Nothing to do with it.
Comment by Phil Butler on 18 October 2009:
I am with you on that Christine, BTW I really like Tavares too.
Always,
Phil
Comment by Pape on 19 October 2009:
AARTZ and Paula thanks for the wonderful comments.
Let them talk let them talk, Michael is the KING until God send us another one.
Sorry for all them Elvis lovers, it can only be one King in the kingdom of entertainment and that is MJ.
- Thriller
- We are the World
- Billy jean
- Heal the World
- bad
- Beat it
- Black or White
- Smooth Criminal
- Don’t stil until you get enough
- You are not Alone
- Don’t care about us
- Dirty Diana
- Earth song
- You rock my world
- Remember the time
- say say say
- Girl is mine
- Who is it
- Scream
- In the closet
- Leave me alone
- Human nature
- Ben
- Man in the mirror
- ABC
The list can go on and on, all this with the best video,Album and tour of all time.
What else do you want? Moon walk.
Can you picture Elvis doing the moonwalk, that will be funny.
Anyway as the french proverb said ” GOUTS ET COULEURS NE SE DISCUTENT PAS “.
A bientot les amis
Comment by MAT on 19 October 2009:
ELVIS IS GREATEST SINGER IN THE WORLD.
FOREVER
MJ?
MJ?
OH MY GOD!!!!!
Comment by christine on 19 October 2009:
Pape, dream on, if thats what you want to think but we know what is really true.
Comment by MAT on 19 October 2009:
POOR, POOR PAPE.
YOU NEED A LIFE!!!
Comment by TINA on 19 October 2009:
THE TALENT
THE VOICE
THE CHARISMA
ELVIS PRESLEY: T H E K I N G
Comment by MikeJack on 19 October 2009:
for PAPE:
yes,
you need a life
you need a woman o a man!
you need love
I’m soooo sorry for you!!
Comment by friend on 19 October 2009:
Elvis was a good entertainer but he was no innovator. He copied from the black entertainers and brought nothing original. He never had the bestselling ablum and when the Beatles cam he was blown away. Michael is the greatest of all time.
Comment by Phil Butler on 19 October 2009:
Rethink my Friend http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elvis_Presley_hit_albums
Unbelievable even looking at this from an Elvis fan.
Always,
Phil
Comment by Pape on 20 October 2009:
Bonjour les amis.
For you MikeJack.
i’m a music producer, I have a beautiful wife, she’s next to me right now, two beautiful daughters and businesses around the world, i’m also part of several non profit organizations in the Us and Africa, what else else do i need?
When God speaks human needs to follow, Michael Jackson is the King of past and present generations.
By the way i kind of like one of Elvis song, he’s good but compare him to king MJ is a sin
A bientot les amis
Merci
Comment by Phil Butler on 20 October 2009:
Pape my friend, God Bless ya man. You are a trip! I am glad MJ has fans like you actually. I bet Elvis does too, I know he does. But, the exercise here is to step outside one’s self a little and give a little. Don’t you think MJ or Elvism would want that? Or would MJ just be all “Bad” and refused to acknowledge his contemporary’s worth?
Take care,
Phil
Comment by christine on 20 October 2009:
Here we go again, playing the BLACK card. Can`t you come up with something else.
Yes, it is a sin to compare Elvis to MJ, Elvis was and is far better.
Comment by ANN on 20 October 2009:
Elvis Presley, the KING
Elvis is the greatest of all time.
Great enterainer and great innovator
Yes, Phill
Elvis is the KING
GREAT AND WONDERFULL
VIVA ELVIS
FOREVER
Comment by Pape on 20 October 2009:
Phil I agree with you this time, some love MJ some don’t, some love Elvis and some don’t. That’s life.
They are both great, and i don’t want nobody telling me this one is better than the other.
Christine there is no race card in here, my actual is White, my ex is white, one of my daughter is half black half white so me disrespecting white is disrespecting myself.
i have the right to say i don’t know Elvis, i have the right to say i don’t like Elvis music like some don’t like Michael Jackson too.
I like Eminem, i like Dolly Parton, i like the Beattles, Beastie Boys, U2……… so i don’t know where that race card comes from.
We are having a debate that’s all, i have people call me stupid and nobody said anything i could pull out the race card there but i didn’t, so let’s just have a conversation and hopefully each one will learn from it.
There is reason to be mad, people say lots bad thng about MJ here but i understand it’s show business, fans are always like that, Michael will never fight for that and i’m sure Elvis too.
We should all be free to express what we feel, i think that Elvis is not close to MJ so don’t hate me for that, it’s just my idea. At the and of the idea what matters most is the voices of billions of people around the world. I was just having fun here i know this blog won’t decide who’s King.
Christine i think what we share is bigger than than , you are a sister no matter what, same as Phil and everybody in here. Seems like my comments offended so many people i just like to challenge people and have a conversation, isn’t beautiful?
I apologize to every i offended just understand that for me MJ is the biggest entertainer that the world ever witness and i share that with millions of people around the globe.
If wasn’t NJ i don’t think i will be into music.
Hopefully i will understood this time, love you all
Pape Samba
Comment by Matt on 20 October 2009:
To Mary Davis. Sorry if someone has mentioned this already. It’s a small point but Leiber and Stoller wrote “Hound Dog”. Big Mama Thornton was the original recording artist but she didn’t write it. Elvis covered the song and his version is the best known. But I do agree with your point (and a lot of other people’s points) that Elvis didn’t write most of his hit songs and therefore, in my opinion, isn’t as good as a successful artist who does. Elvis didn’t have as much competition in his day compared to the amount of successful artists and one-hit-wonders we have competing today. I don’t like Michael Jackson though. Elvis may be the King of Rock, MJ may be the King of Pop but to me The Beatles will always be the Kings of Music.
Comment by christine on 20 October 2009:
Pape,
We are all entitled to our opinion and it would be a boring world if everyone liked exactly the same thing. As for competition, I don`r think most of todays artists compare to either Elvis or MJ, most are ten a penny , sound the same. As I have said before, I HATE it when people talk about rece, Black, whatever. Elvis mixed with black people and very much sounded like black music at the start but it doesn`t matter what race anyone is, if people can`t discuss things without bringing race into the debate then in my opinion they have nothing to say that is worth listening to. It is totally boring and a very poor argument. Anyhow, enjoy your MJ I will enjoy Elvis, have done since 1960 along with millions of others.
Comment by Paula for Phil and christine on 23 October 2009:
Yes Phil, I did read your comment but Christine obviously didn’t and I think you’ve had an opportunity to look at your own comment printed in black and white and have to agree that it was a racist statement although I never said that. Rather you meant it to be interpreted that way is another story. What your statement said and what you interpret it to mean is different.
“If white people had not accepted and revered Michael he would have been less successful.” If that is the case what happened to Donny Osmond? Didn’t White people accept and revere him? Yes, but the difference was is that unlike Michael, that’s all who excepted Donny Osmond and that’s why he wasn’t successful
When it comes to Elvis you HAVE to and MUST admit that race does play a factor in his success, or you can turn the statement around and say race played a factor why some were unsuccessful, simply due to the era which Elvis and other entertainers lived in. No matter what your music was, nor how good it was, if you were a Black Entertainer, living at that time in America you were limited as to where you could play your music, where you could go even what hotels you could stay while on the road and who would promote you. Why do you think “Motown” existed?
It was AMERICA who put Elvis on high and called him “The King” which at that time AMERICA was considered and interpreted in the minds of many, especially foreigners outside of the United States and Minorities inside the United States to mean “WHITE” people. That was reality for people living in that time period. You can’t get around that fact. You as a White man may have been able to see no color in people but if you were living at a time when you were judged by your color, it would be IMPOSSIBLE for you to make that statement due to the fact that you would have been constantly reminded who you were by your color.
Music touches our hearts which is “The Seat of Motivation” the motivations of our hearts are developed and intensified by the experiences in our lives, so, some music we relate to more than other music, it’s a simple fact, doesn’t mean the music we don’t relate to is not good music or we don’t like it, it’s just that it doesn’t motivate us or move us.
Elvis music does not move me or bring up emotional memories of me growing up experiencing life, “In The Ghetto” does. Michaels’ music does but I love Elvis music just as well. I know and listen to quite a bit of Elvis music. I like his voice but in all of his music his voice remains the same, and Lord knows the man was gorgeous. I feel those same things about Michael including him being a beautiful man but it is more intensified because of what he sings about and how his music relates to my life experiences, no it is not because he is Black and Elvis is white. While I do see color in people, I see no color in music, oh, yes love me some “country music” love me some “Brad Paisley” I never have and never will listen to filthy Rap Music.
Phil, can we agree that once again, there were various artist, Black artist, older than Elvis and the same age as Elvis doing the same type of music and dance moves, so why was Elvis crowned “The King”?
Unlike Michael NO ONE was doing the dance moves he did, very few artist sang Falsetto – upper range close to opera as he was capable of doing, very few artist wrote and produced their own music and NO ONE had videos like Michael, NO ONE. This is NOT why the title “King of Pop” was given to him but, it is why it stuck with him, because he was an all around DIFFERENT entertainer which we had not experienced before, why do you think MTV became so huge? It was solely due to Michael Jackson videos and no, MTV did not make Michael Jackson huge, although they would love to believe that, People already knew and loved Michael Jackson for his dancing and singing. He captured the world when he was a mere Lad and he never let go. Had Michael went to any T.V. video show with his videos, that show would have been very successful.
Come on people, what dance moves did Elvis have other than gyrating his hips, holding his guitar in one hand and wildly swinging the other arm. What range did Elvis posses in his voice? Have you people even looked at Michael Jackson dance videos? Have you people even listened to the Pitch, Pace and power of his voice, Michael’s voice is as smooth as Nat King Coles and as high pitched at Johnny Matthews. Someone on this site stated that Michael imitated Elvis in dance moves. No, Michael imitated Fred Astaire, Charlie Champlain and others from long ago, but not Elvis.
What people are missing are the comparisons of toe-to-toe qualities, talents, diversities, the innovative, creativity areas and internationally known the two are and Micheal will undisputedly come out ahead. It can’t be denied.
By-The-Way Phil, Wikipedia cannot and should not be used as a barometer of true facts, anyone can add information to that site.
Phil, I don’t believe you’ve listened to Michael Jackson music as much as I’ve listened to Elvis.
I’ve listened to:
All the songs in Viva las vegas, I use to have the album, listening to it one day and my 2 year old nephew stepped on it. I actually kept the broken album with the album cover. Love “I need somebody to lean on” Another heart song.
Love Me Tender
You Ain’t nothing but a Hound dog
Jail house Rock
In the Ghetto
Crying in the Chapel — Beautiful, song this song does move me to tears.
Blue Suede Shoes
Heartbreak hotel
I know lots more of his songs. How many Michael Jackson songs have you listened to or seen his videos?
Comment by Phil Butler on 23 October 2009:
Paula, “He would have been less successful”, a statement of mathematical fact in response to someone on the edge of demonizing white people, or at the least fragmenting to conversation to spotlight MJ as a black person. It said what it said because someone suggested that Elvis was the “white peeps” king. I hope you see the antitheses of this.
It was and is America which made all these people famous. Let’s not abandon truth for the sake of hugging the world here. Without America in the equation MJ or 99 percent of the entertainers in the world would be local yokals.
No one who ever lived was as smooth as Nat King Cole.
Elvis did not have a team of chorfeographers to work with nor was there a need back then. If we are talking dancers maybe we should drag Baryshnikov into this. Michael as Fred Astaire, now there is an image, or Gene Kelly maybe?
Well, if MJ is more powerful, if people are the power behind this argument, Wikipedia is powered by people, so you see a very good quantifier. You try and go to add more stuff to either profile. If there is no more to add, there is no more. Besides the editors there or other people will delete bad data. It is only a percentage off, not the total articles there. The weight of data is pretty constant.
I was not on Mars when MJ performed, I actually saw him in concert when he was with the Jackson 5 back in the early days, and when BAD was released. This is not about destroying MJ after all, but about correctness. Observe other articles please. (you know you can just type Phil Butler and Michael Jackson into Google).
http://www.pamil-visions.net/michael-jackson-relived/22493/
http://www.pamil-visions.net/michael-jackons-katerina-witt/23679/
Wow two articles to one?
Always,
Phil
Comment by Pape on 23 October 2009:
Wowww wow Paula is on fire, here is somebody who knows what he’s talking about. Paula what you said about Wikipedia is true you can write whatever you want there.
Phil what do you mean here:
” Without America in the equation MJ or 99 percent of the entertainers in the world would be local yokals”
How many artists in the world made it big without America.
Bob Marley for example did it without America, it’s sad that some think America as the World.
Comment by Phil Butler on 23 October 2009:
Dad Gum, I am not trying to build anyone up or tear them down. It seems like you guys are. I use Wikipedia as a consistent gauge for possibly determining relative popularity only. No metric currently available is capable of determining the exact popularity of value of these people. It looks like, for some, no amount of talk or passion or ideas about this issue effect them. This is in effect, for a few, some sort of contest to see who can be, shall we say, RIGHT. What do you want all the people to do who love Elvis? Just give up and declare MJ the savior?
The problem here is, no one arguing these points for MJ has come up with anything other than misdirection to prove a point. MJ as the black messiah, MJ as the black Fred Astaire, MJ as everything from an opera virtuoso to the next President of the United States. It begins to look ridiculous to everyone except the people posting such lunacy. I admire your love and dedication to Michael, I am not just saying I admired him you know? I explained all this already ten times over. I do not know of an editor of a single publication on this Web who would have devoted so much time to the readers. NONE: The reason I respond is that, for the most part you all deserve a response. We all deserve to be heard.
But, saying things are so does not always get it done. I do not think one person who came here who is an Elvis fan, suggested anything other than MJ was a superb talent. The reverse is not the case. That is all I will say about that.
Always,
Phil
Comment by christine on 23 October 2009:
Here here Phil. You are exactly right.
Comment by QUEEN on 23 October 2009:
ELVIS IS THE GREATEST
ELVIS IS THE KING
NOW AND FOREVER
Comment by christine on 23 October 2009:
And so say millions all around the world. Amen
Comment by Paula for Phil and christine on 24 October 2009:
Excuse me Phil and Christine and the other people who are stuck in Elvis era. First when you get the desire Phil, listen to Nat King Cole sing “Smile” and than listen to Michael Jackson sing “Smile” Or did you even know that he remade the song? The smoothness of their voices will chill you.
A quote from Fred Astaire after seeing Michael Jackson dance
“Oh, God! That boy moves in a very exceptional way. That’s the greatest dancer of the century”. and “I didn’t want to leave this world without knowing who my descendant was. Thank you Michael!”
Fred Astaire (1899 –1987) – dancer
I would think that Fred Astaire being the greatest dancer would know what he was talking about, what say you Phil?
Michael Jackson dedicated his 1988 autobiography Moonwalk to Fred Astaire.
Phil, did you even know that Michael could tap dance, could Elvis?
Video of Michael Jackson tap dancing to “Puttin on the ritz”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uXlsf3tvNo
Video of Michael Jackson tap dancing with the famous Nicholas brothers, can you tell who are the professionals?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uXlsf3tvNo
Video of Fred Astaire dancing, these are the moves I am talking about which Michael Jackson perfected in his videos, especially the move at 3:26. It is these moves that Michael performs is why I say he got his moves from Fred Astaire, but you would not have know this because you were stuck with him doing the robot and dancing machine.
Phil, Statements can be challenged and below are several statements you make in your article which are similar arguments that are bestowed upon Michael. No wonder you are confused about Michael Jackson and what he accomplished, you say he was great etc… but you have not investigated Michael, How do I know? Because you speak of seeing a concert when he was a boy. Michael Jackson died at age 50 and you can only remember him with the Jackson 5 and “Bad”
Your statements:
If There Can Be Only One King, Let It Be Elvis
Why? Because you believe he possessed a talent greater than any other entertainer, perhaps in days gone by but Michael talents are established for today’s entertainers.
Elvis Presley pretty much made celebrity what it is today
Says Who Phil and again Why?
Michael Jackson MADE videos, dancing and music what it is today, This has been for the last 30 years. Artist today are NOT imitating Elvis, they ARE imitating Michael Jackson. Name me anyone imitating Elvis today, other than impersonators.
just how do you paint a picture in words of someone even more impressive and legendary than Michael Jackson, but Michael Jackson is very much impression and now legendary.
You’ve yet to show how Elvis is more impressive than Michael Jackson.
No other artist ever, crossed not only artistic genres, but socio-economic, International, age, gender, or a multitude of others
convince me that Michael does not fulfill this statement.
YOU AND CHRISTINE AND ANYONE ELSE WHO HASN’T AS OF YET, NEED TO GO AND VIEW MICHAEL JACKSON’S VIDEOS “DANGEROUS” “SMOOTH CRIMINAL” “YOU ROCK MY WORLD” ETC AND LISTEN TO HIS MUSIC. THAN LET’S SEE YOU MAKE THE THE COMMENT AND STATEMENTS PUTTING ELVIS ON HIGH.
Comment by Phil Butler on 24 October 2009:
Do you even read other people’s answers. I included some of those videos in one or more articles I wrote about MJ. Any the shoes is on the other foot. “If there has to be one king, let it be MJ?”
Always,
Phil
Comment by christine on 24 October 2009:
MJ made up his dance routines. Elvis did not try to dance, he jiggled and wiggled , something that came naturally, he said he could not keep still while he was singing his upbeat music. It proves one thing though, if people are copying MJ as you stated, it must be something quite easy to do with a bit of practice. When Elvis started out there were loads of artists who wiggled and jiggled Elvis like, however , no one could do it as good as Elvis did it naturally even with practise. Think about what you said, your words not ours.
Comment by S Judah on 25 October 2009:
The arguemnts here are nonsense, Elvis is historically, musically and culturaly the most inportant figure in the developement of populatr music. Everything as we recognise popular music to be starts with Elvis. He also just happen to possessed a glorious voice, with a versitility unsurpassed by any other popular singer.
And along the way had more hit songs, singles and EP’s and albums than any other artist, more gold and platinum certifications than any other artist, and is the only act where where it is reasonable to argue that his sales are over a billion, which is hundreds of millions more than anyone else.
Opinions and views we all have and all our good. But these are more than that, they are historical facts.
Comment by Paula for Phil on 25 October 2009:
Yes, I do read other peoples messages including yours, and the only video you have on your site that I mentioned is “you rock my world” and you still have not answered my questions of Michael Jackson.
Phil, maybe I am confused about what exactly you were trying to accomplish by your statement “if there has to be a king let it be Elvis” I was under the impression that you believed him to be king because of his talents however when others start questioning his talents against Michael Jacksons you seem to be confused in that it’s not their talents as to why one should ot should not be titled “King”.
Aren’t we talking about their talents? Or as you stated in your article, you just wanted to take people back to a time long ago, and that is the point, it was a time long ago that Elvis was king.
The comments which were made about Elvis when he died are the same comments made today about Michael ie, he affected whole generations, there won’t be another talent like his, he cut across racial lines, his talent and music is like no other entertainer we’ve seen. Yes, those comments were said about Elvis and they are now being said about Michael Jackson which means from Elvis stand point someone else did hit the entertainment venue who was as good as he was if not better in many ways. That someone being Michael Jackson.
They were great entertainers in their day it’s just that Elvis day was a long time ago and Michaels day is now. It’s that simple.
Comment by Paula for Christine on 25 October 2009:
You are not making sense at all, anyone who dances are making up dance moves including your darling Elvis. Yes I agree with you that their were others doing the same moves as Elvis, but I disagree that he did them any better.
Elvis was a beauty of a man and he moving the way he did simply excited all those young girls causing hysteria, it had nothing to do with him moving any better than anyone else. The uproar of Elvis moves was due to the fact that he was gyrating on television which was unexceptable, those other entertainers who were doing the same moves were not allowed to do them on television that’s if they got to be on television at all.
Your comment is foolish in saying Michael jackson made his steps up of course he did, but Elvis had no steps, he had no dance moves Choreographer or not, you still have to know how to move to a beat and wiggling your hips and swinging your arms is not moving to a beat. You stated this was a natural movement for Elvis, excuse me this is a natural movement for anyone who is not paralyzed.
You talk as though Elvis moves were unique what do you find so fascinating about moving your hips and popping your legs? Nothing to it.
You are right again, there are lots of people imitating Michael and with all the practice they do they still don’t come close to his style.
Could Elvis sing? Bet your bottom dollar he could. Cold Elvis dance? Bet your bottom dollar he couldn’t. Could Elvis write songs? Bet your bottom he never did. Could Elvis produce movies? Bet your bottom dollar he never did? Once again, Elvis talents lies in his singing which in itself was a great talent and gift. What was generated from his singing was a great thing that can’t be and has not been overlooked by the masses.
However, as I mentioned, no one today is imitating Elvis and his moves. Imagine how foolish one would look gyrating on video today. They would be laughed into oblivion.
Girl, you need to recognize.
Comment by Paula for Phil on 25 October 2009:
Yes Phil I do read others comments including yours and the only video you have on your post of Michael Jackson which I mentioned is “You Rock My Word”
I am confused about what you wanted to accomplish by your statement “if there could only be one king let it be Elvis” I thought you were meaning that because of his talent he should be “King” but when posters began comparing Elvis and Michael talents, I believe you became confused concerning what you were trying to accomplish or relay to the readers. Or did you simply want to, as you stated in the article, take people back to a time long ago when Elvis WAS King?
O.k., fair enough, but that was yesteryear and we are talking about today. Comments which were mentioned about Elvis when he died were the same comments mentioned about Michael Jackson ie, There will never be another entertainer who could match his style, he transcended race, No one else influenced generations the way he did,etc,etc,etc. So, since these same comments, which were said long ago about Elvis are being said today about Michael Jackson, than from Elvis stand point someone did come along who was as good if not better than he was and that is Michael Jackson.
Impossible for Elvis to continue to reign as King of when the entertainment business as progressed to what Michael brought it to today, that being one again and I can’t stress it enough, Dancing, Videos and Singing.
These men were both great entertainers for their generations and others. Elvis was “King” in his day which day was long ago and Michael Jackson is “King” in his day which is now, today. That’s all that needs to be said.
Comment by Phil Butler on 25 October 2009:
There is no confusion at all. If there has to be a king (I did not really think there needed to be one, but if everyone is going to insist) let it be Elvis (because relatively speaking, and given the differences in opportunity and etc there are between these two, he was far more popular).
MJ just died. Everyone who loved him including me feels at a loss. I just could not help but think of Elvis and want to share my ideas and some reality with people who may not have known him so well. It is fairly obvious at least, that even after having been dead for 35 years Elvis has many fans. I do not know if MJ will stack up like that or not. His last hit was 10 years ago or more, and if he had not died, not near so many people would be claiming to be his die hard fans. YOu perhaps, and some millions others, but not like this.
All the people who have come here in support of him on the level you insist upon, have for the most part been mean, irritating, nasty, or down right insulting in one way or another. I find that interesting?
I do not know what is so difficult about the idea of you suggesting that stupid or obtuse me watch Michael videos so that I will know him. Hell woman I know him better than you do, I grew up with his music. What was I, lost on Mars? I suggested you look at other posts so you would see I did not leave him out and to answer the question, “Has this old fart seen these wonderful MJ videos?”
You can come an comment as you will from now until the cows come home Paula, but I will not be answering them, let alone approving them if they are in any way insulting. I suggest you start a Michael Jackson website for fans and start selling T shirts or something. This conversation obviously has all the PROOF it is going to get. Needling me or any of these other people is helping no one.
Always,
Phil
Comment by S Judah on 25 October 2009:
Comment by Paula for Christine on 25 October 2009:
Paula, I am sorry, no one is actually imitating MJ (good as he was).
As for Elvis Seriously, every single rock star and rock band imitates Elvis, through direct or indirect influence, whether they no it or not.
The proof, have a look at Elvis live concert clips on youtube, the Tupelo concerts. You are witnissing the first rock concerts and you will see how every rock act has been influenced by Elvis.
Even when people don’t realise it Elvis is influencing singers and people today.
And here is famous vooice coach Renee Grant-Williams on Elvis.
By NewsReleaseWire.com, Oct 21, 2008
With Elvis Presley’s seventy-fourth birthday just around the corner on the eighth of January, it would seem there would be little new to learn about him, but it turns out there is. Although he may not have realized it, Elvis Presley’s sexy moves actually modeled the ideal physical techniques for supporting a rich, warm singing voice – techniques still studied today by some of the recording industry’s biggest stars.
“Elvis was the perfect singing machine,” says celebrity voice coach Renee Grant-Williams. “He had all the right moves.”
“I constantly reference Elvis in my teaching,” claims Grant-Williams. “He had very strong legs, which he used as the basis for his support. He literally pushed into the floor using that karate-type crouch. He kept his entire upper body very loose so that it could resonate. And the way he cocked his head over the microphone really allowed the sound to vibrate freely.”
“Did he know what he was doing?” Grant-Williams asks. “Probably not, but he had extraordinary instincts and in his own way, I think he truly studied singing. He used to sit out on the back porch for hours on late summer nights with the guitar his mother gave him, trying to imitate the singers he heard at gospel churches and nightclubs.”
Grant-Williams has taught the wisdom of using Elvis’ techniques to stars such as Hannah Montana, Faith Hill, The Dixie Chicks, Tim McGraw, Larry Gatlin, Bo Bice, and Huey Lewis.
“My students are surprised and grateful to have someone familiar they can relate to,” Grant-Williams says. “In fact, the first time I worked with Tim McGraw on using his body to support his voice, he looked up with mischief in his eyes and mumbled in true Elvis-style, “Thank you. Thankyouverymuch.”
Grant-Williams feels that even Elvis’ famous lip curl gave his voice an edge. “As sound leaves the body it needs to resonate against something specific,” she says. “There are options – you can direct that flow of sound to the nose, the throat, the jaw or to the sinus cavities in the face. But, I think what Elvis did – as evidenced by his lip curl – was to aim the vibration stream right at his teeth.”
“This was ingenious,” Grant-Williams says. “There’s a kind of sweet spot at the front of the teeth where vibrations can focus and still pick up resonance from all the other areas.”
“Because his moves and techniques live on, Elvis will never completely leave the building,” adds Grant-Williams.
Comment by christine on 25 October 2009:
Well Paula, I was going to write another comment but I just read the comments by S Judah and they say it all so I won`t bother. Elvis would have been 75 in January but I would dare bet that had he lived he would still have filled a baseball stadium with fans wanting to see him. What more can I say.
Comment by Jerry on 5 November 2009:
These poor people are crazy,you can only compare anyone with Elvis only after they have been gone for 32 years and still making 55 million a year. we will compare Micheal with him 32 years from now.
Comment by Phil Butler on 5 November 2009:
@Jerry, Uh, Yup!
Always,
Phil
Comment by christine on 5 November 2009:
My sentiments axactly.
Comment by Pape on 6 November 2009:
S Judah, Jerry & Christine you guys are such comedians, which world are you living? did you ever travel outside of USA.
i have a tickets for you to watch “THIS IS IT” the number movie in the world right now, 101 000 000 $ baby. MJ The king that’s it.
A bientot
Comment by friend on 6 November 2009:
Elvis’ day is over. Michael Jackson has surpassed him. Elvis will be remembered for being too out of shape to perform his final concerts. With Michael Jackson’s This Is It no one can ever say he was out of shape like Elvis in the end. Elvis is in a calss all by himself on that one. The King of POP everything he did surpassed Elvis.
Comment by Phil Butler on 6 November 2009:
You guys are a riot. Next we will be comparing Elvis to Michael in basketball, politics, hula hoop wiggling, cooking, and plastic surgery. Why not say;” My mind is made up, no matter what happens or who dies, I will never listen to anyone’s point of view, and if you mess with me I will come here forever to say the same thing over and over and over again.”
Well, except that there is always some other small tidbit. It is funny, many people have put suggestion or evidence to the fact that Elvis was just as big a star Internationally (especially given less TV exposure). No one considers anyone else’s argument at all it appears.
As for “This is It” I am glad it was a success. But, uh…Michael did not even get out of the house – he keeled over dead? Just cause he looked like a tooth pick does not mean he was in good shape. If Elvis had not choked on his own ham sandwich in the bath room, he probably would have taken his fat butt to the next show too.
You know, you do not service to these great performers but putting them in the wrong balanced light. MJ, Elvis, so many others.
Always,
Phil Butler
Comment by friend on 7 November 2009:
Uh, I think Michael died in his sleep. Not in the bathroom. Big difference. Sure Elvis was a great star, but Michael’s accomplishments far surpass Elvis. If you saw This Is It you would see that Michael was great without the bells and whistles. His rehearsals were fantastic and fun to watch. I don’t think either is better than the other, just different styles. But one obviously had a little more talent and a greater effect on mankind (in a positive way) than the other.
Comment by nina on 7 November 2009:
Jackson was not in any shape, he was clearly underweight – as bad as being overweight
He was using drugs at a level even famous drug using rock stars would shake their heads in shock at.
the real test for Jackson aka Pedo Pan – is to see how many people give a darn about him in a year, in 5 years or in 35 years.
Because 32 years after Elvis’ death, there’s so many people wanting to be near him and to mark the day that they had to create an Elvis week event.
There is no other celebrity who had a huge outpour of emotion at their deaths – who has matched this – not Princess Di, not Marilyn Monroe, not Valentino – not one.
Comment by Phil Butler on 7 November 2009:
I am sure it is obvious to you friend. No one said MJ was not ultimately talented. And, statistically or chronologically speaking, I probably know him longer than you.
As for his impact on people, I can tell from the MJ fan comments how positive and kind an effect he had. I am sure he would have been proud to know the humility, kindness, understanding, and deep thought all his efforts provoked in so many.
As for This Is It, I will wait until it comes out on video perhaps?
Always,
Phil
Comment by christine on 7 November 2009:
It is my guess friend you were not around in Elvis` early days to see just how he impacted. I missed the first few years(4) but know exactly how he impacted the world. As for your comment saying Elvis was not fit enough to do his tour, just shows how much you know or rather don`t know. He was set to start a SELL OUT tour on 17th Aug 1977. HE DIED ON THE 16th. Yes he was out of shape, bloated not fat caused by his illness, but it proves that he did not intend letting anyone down as he intended doing the tour. I do not mind listening to or reading anyone else point of view, but when they are making comments obviously off the top of their heads and not fact I find it ridiculous. I won`t be around 32 years after mj death but I would dare bet he won`t be selling as much as Elvis is now and still receiving awards. Check the facts then I may take you serious.
Comment by Phil Butler on 7 November 2009:
Yes Christine, and just type “The King” into Google. The second hit is Elvis. To be fair though, if you type in Elvis Presley, and then Michael Jackson, MJ has 10 times as many pages, no doubt because of this post
Always,
Phil
Comment by Phil Butler on 7 November 2009:
Oh, and BTW the 17th was my birthday.
Comment by Jerry on 7 November 2009:
Help,I really dont understand what people think , Fact according to Guinness world records Elvis has the most fan cluds world wide, Fact Elvis has sold over 1 billion records worldwide, the last i checked Elvis has more #1 hits than Mj ,And here Elvis is been dead for 32 years and still over 600,000 people a year visit his home , and once again $55 mil 32 years after death.I dont see the issue.
Comment by christine on 7 November 2009:
I agree Jerry, I don`t see the issue either but you don`t seem to be able to get through to some folk no matter what the hard facts are.
Comment by Phil Butler on 7 November 2009:
Yes guys, Jerry Lee Lewis fans still cling to the idea that Elvis would never be anything without him too. I expect Led Zepplin fans fail to see his significance too.
MJ fans seem to negate the existence of anyone else period. 
Always,
Phil
Comment by friend on 7 November 2009:
Bottom Line: Michael Jackson has the bestselling album of all time. Elvis does not. Michael has the most number one singles on an album The Bad album. Elvis does not. Michael was loved by many of all races. Elvis had a little problem with some segments of the minority population. Now in some ways they are the same. Michael was accused of child abuse as a poster pointed out but Elvis should have been called to the carpet for having that 13yr old girl living in his home when he was 24yrs of age. Michael wrote several hit songs while Elvis wrote none. Elvis wasn’t a dancer he just moved his hips. Michael electrified with his stage performances.
Michael Jackson sold more records than Elvis when he was alive though Elvis sold more of his records AFTER he was dead. BUT keep in mind Michael did it with 6 (yes only 6) studio albums. Elvis recorded way more albums to Michael’s 6. So that is impressive in itself and tells me who the better music maker was. Well at least to the record buying pubic. This Is It as critics have pointed out shows MJ not to be thr drugged out singer who couldn’t peform a concert the press wanted yu to beieve. The film is Michael Jackson’s legacy, and well let’s just say Elvis’ memory as a performer doesn’t have a legacy film like that. To be kind.
Comment by Phil Butler on 7 November 2009:
Well there obviously is no bottom line. No one really want to diminish MJ I don’t think. I guess it comes down to defensiveness about what one wants to believe. The interesting thing here is, people who enjoyed Elvis all those years, also enjoyed MJ for the most part. The same cannot be said for most MJ fans. Perhaps a generational thing? I just hate when it gets down to childish spitting of perception and even some numbers for the sake of propping up something that can never be determined scientifically.
My intent in writing this was to say my piece I guess. Maybe to share a heartfelt feeling from long ago? As anyone can see, I could wither in the streets trying to share a piece of chocolate to a starving mob, if any of them refused to even taste it. I would not starve though. Fans of McDonalds would cram Big Macs down my throat until I choked. Which is more popular by the way, chocolate or McDonald’s?
Always,
Phil
Comment by christine on 7 November 2009:
Here here Phil. All I can say to friend is, Dream on, I think I already said, you are talking off the top of your head and not fact. All I have to say on the subject is, if that is what you realy believe you just have not researched Elvis and if all you can see is MJ Tough, your loss, you have missed out on the best singer/entertainer the world has ever seen. YOUR LOSS. Sad really
Comment by Pape on 7 November 2009:
Christine keep dreaming, Number one album and number one movie worldwide, what else?
Comment by Phil Butler on 7 November 2009:
Okay, but Kings do not always rule by the number of their armies, but by the quality of them. :O For instance, Alexander. There is a quality aspect implied. The Rolling Stone attempted to tackle this with their own list of greatest albums, that would not be the ones the most screaming moon walkers, but valued according to the talent needed to compose or perform them. Arguable I know, but another measure.
http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/5938174/the_rs_500_greatest_albums_of_all_time
Always,
Phil
Comment by friend on 8 November 2009:
Elvis has his fans and Michael has his. I just don’t enjoy Elvis Presley. I saw his performances and it meant nothing to me. I’m sure many Elvis fans can say that about michael. But what’s funny is that the Beatles came out and obliterated Elvis yet people still to this day want to say that Elvis was King over Michael. They don’t dare say he was King over the Beatles. An Elvis performance, a Michael Jackson performance. Michael just does it for me. He sealed his status as the King of music with 6 solo albums only. It took Elvis 32yrs to get to $55 million dollars in earnings. It took Michael just 4 months to almost double that. Awards, broken sales records, all beat Elvis yet Elvis a NON songwriter is still king over a man who wrote We Are The World. I agree that Elvis is the King of Rock N’ Roll but Michael, he’s the King of Music.
Comment by christine on 8 November 2009:
if thats what you MJ fans think. keep dreaming, your loss
Comment by Phil Butler on 8 November 2009:
Friend, you are entitled to your opinion. But, don’t spit out numbers if you do not know what you are talking about. Rolling Stone did a fairly decent job of encapsulating Elvis’ fame, but the scope of what we are talking about here goes far beyond the numbers as we can count them. I supposed it is fair to estimate that a dollar bill in 1965 was worth about ten of anything MJ ever earned. Given the billion records Elvis sold, not including the $1 million he made per film in the early 60′s, the $1 million he made in his first 4 weeks in Vegas, some 1,100 concerts (It appears MJ even adding in the Jackson 5 day did something like 600), and no telling ho much Colonel Parker stole from him (Parker was getting 50 percent commission in an industry where the standard is 10).
As for Elvis not doing anything for you, that is a matter of preference of course. Michael hooting like an own, grabbing his crotch and appearing to walk backwards hollering “I’m Bad” was enthralling for me at the time.
Any way, I will stop unless someone comes up with something even more ridiculous. Cheers.
Always,
Phil
Comment by christine on 8 November 2009:
Couldn`t have said it better myself Phil. You said it all.
Comment by friend on 8 November 2009:
Phil,
I’m not sure which numbers you are saying are incorrect. I said that Michael had the bestselling album of all time ane Elvis didn’t. I’m sorry maybe Elvis has the bestselling album of all time. Could you please name it for me? I also said that Bad is the first abum (and I think it still holds the record) to have the most number one singles. Maybe Elvis did that and the numbers are wrong? Look we could go around and around on this but Michael is the undisputed king of popular music. Elvis is the King of Rock and Roll. Two different genres. It just so happens that Elvis sold a billion records since his career began including his 32yr after death career. Michael sold 750 million up until his death and he’s only been dead 5 months. That number does not include his after death career. I have produced numbers that can easily be checked. All you and the other poster do is say I’m wrong with no facts to back it up. So for now we’ll leave at Elvis is te greatest for some, and Michael is the greatest for others. They are bothe at the top of their genres. It just may be a generation gap. It will happen to MJ fans when the next big sensation happens.
Comment by christine on 8 November 2009:
I see you on another site FRIEND. yet again blowing your MJ horn. You have realy missed out. WATCH THE YOU TUBE, CELINE DION AND Elvis If I can dream. Truly amazing. I hate it when folk are brainwashed especially when they don`t research facts.
Comment by friend on 8 November 2009:
I already saw the Celine & Elvis bit. I also saw the special with Elvis on screen and his back up in person singing. I said Elvis was the king of Rock and Roll (though Chuck Berry did it before him)
You STILL haven’t given any numbers to back up Elvis accomplishments. I take it because there aren’t any.
Comment by Phil Butler on 8 November 2009:
Friend, There are enough numbers in the comments and links on this post to evaluate this. I am not trying to convince you of anything. I have already presented enough numbers and pleas, and arguments. I cannot reveal more than you are willing to accept.
Always,
Phil
Comment by friend on 8 November 2009:
Phil,
I’m not trying to argue with you. Like I said Michael is the King of Pop to me and Elvis is the King of Rock and Roll to you.
But MJ’s influence over modern day music puts him at a higher arch than any one individual artist ever.
Hey he has the bestselling album of all time. The end.
Nice talking to you Phil.
Comment by christine on 8 November 2009:
oh friend. you have set me a job now. Yesterday I found a long list of Elvis music awards some triple etc., I have forgotten where I found it amongst all the Elvis stuff on the internet. I am looking and will happily write it all downfor you. Just give me a while to find them and then hours to type them all out, If you know where this long list is Phil can you let me know. It is a list of all the Albums, singles, ep`s etc with all the platinum, gold and multiple awards. Thanks Chris
Comment by christine on 8 November 2009:
oh no friend, you think that is the end, you asked for facts and I promise you even if it takes me a day or two to do it all, then I will prove to you. you asked for proof, you will get it
Comment by Phil Butler on 8 November 2009:
Album sales are like WalMart sales in a way. Can we say that a Timex from WalMart is the same as a Rolex? The sales of an album, or several, does not exhibit anything more than a trend like on Google. I am not try trying to diminish anyone, but I guess it is a matter of course when discussing art or celebrity. It happens in ever genre. A Perry Como fan would be quick to suggest his voice over Elvis or anyone. You have to read all these comments to grasp the idiocy here. Some are calling MJ freaking Enrico Caruso, Bing Crosby, whoever. Next he will be the all time leading Olympic gold medal winner. Your assertions about his success are correct, but did he have the same impact? I am not convinced and won’t be. To an extent, we are talking about a time issue here too. Many things going on which cannot be hemmed up with an album sale or two.
Always,
Phil
Comment by Jerry on 8 November 2009:
This is funny to watch this go on, but all one has to do is Google, the most gold records for a artist, same as for the most records sold , the most # 1,s and so on , when one does this they find the thriller album is the best selling album of all time but that is the only place you find Mj ahead of EP.
Comment by christine on 9 November 2009:
ok friend you asked for a list of achievements. here goes.;
Set records for concert attendance , television ratings and record sales.
2. Sales of between 600 million and a billion worldwide.
3. 3 grammies for his gospel albums
4. One of the top ten outstanding young men for 1970voted by the United states jaycees.
1.5 billion viewers worldwide for the aloha from hawaii concert which remains the most watched broadcast by an individual entertainer in t.v. history.
You can verify all the above on wikipedia.
81 albums
elvis presley gold
Elvis gold
Loving you gold
Elvis christmas album 1957 package 3x platinum
King creole gold
Elvis` golden records vol 1 6 x platinum
500.000.000 Elvis fans can`t be wrong(Elvis gold records volume 2) platinum
Elvis is back gold
G I Blues Platinum
His Hand in mine platinum
Something for everybody gold
Blue hawaii 3x platinum
Girls girls girls gold
Elvis golden records vol 3 platinum
Roustabout gold
Girl happy gold
How great though art 2 x platinum
Elvis NBC tv special platinum
Elvis gold records vol 4 gold
Elvis sings flamin star Platinum
from Elvis in Memphis gold
Elvis from memphis to vegas from vegas to memphis gold
On Stage February 1970 platinum
Worldwide 50 gold award hits 2x platinum
Elvis christmas album 1970 package 9 x platinum (YES 9)
Elvis thats the way it is gold
Elvis in person at the international hotel gold
Elvis country gold
Elvis the other sides 50 gold award hits vol 2 gold
You`ll never walk alone 3 x platinum
Elvis sings the wonderful world of Christmas 3 x platinum
Elvis now gold
He touched me platinum
Elvis as recorded at Madison Square Garden 3 x platinum
Elvis sings Burning love and hits from his movies vol 2 2 x platinum
Separate ways platinum
Aloha from hawaii 5 x platinum (YES 5)
Elvis a legendary performer vol 1 2x platinum
Elvis recorded live on stage in memphis Gold
Pure gold 2 x platinum
Elvis a legendary performer vol 2 2 x platinum
From Elvis Presley Boulevard Memphis Tennessee Gold
Welcome to my world platinum
Moody blue 2 x platinum
Elvis in concert 3 x platinum
He walks beside me gold
Elvis a legendary performer vol 3 gold
Our memories of Elvis Gold
This is Elvis gold
Elvis Aaron Presley Platinum
Memories of Christmas Gold
The number one hits 3 x platinum
The top ten hits 4 x platinum
Elvis the king of rock n roll the complete 50`s masters 2 x platinum
Elvis from Nashville to Memphis the essential 60s masters platinum
Elvis his greatest hits(readers digest compilation ) Platinum
Blue Christmas Gold
Elvis golden records vol 5 gold
Amazing Grace 2 x platinum
If everyday was like Christmas Platinum
Walk a mile in my shoes the essential 70s masters Gold
50 years-50 hits 2 x platinum
Lets be friends Platinum
Elvis Gospel treasury Gold
The complete sun sessions Gold
Heart and Soul Gold
Its Christmas time 2 x platinum
The rock n roll era Gold
The Legend Lives On Gold
Platinum-A life in Music Gold
Elvis 30#1 hits 5 x platinum (YES 5)
Elvis 2nd to none Platinum
Elvis sings hits from his movies vol 1 Platinum
Almost in Love Platinum
Double dynamite Platinum
Love me tender(1987 compilation) Gold
I got Lucky Gold
C`mon Everybody Gold
Frankie and Johnny Platinum
Now the singles!!!!
Heartbreak hotel was the one 2 x platinum
Blue suade shoes/tutti frutti gold
I want you I need you I lve you/my baby left me Platinum
Hound dog/don`t be cruel 4 x platinum
Love me tender/anyway you want me 3 x platinum
too much/playing for keeps platinum
All shook up/thats when your heartaches begin 2 x platinum
teddy Bear/loving you 2 x platinum
jailhouse rock/treat me nice 2 x platinum
Don`t/I beg of you platinum
Wear my ring around your neck/doncha think its time platinum
Hard headed women/don`t ask me why platinum
I got stung/one night platinum
a fool such as I/I need your love tonight Platinum
a big hunk of love /my wish came true Gold
Stuck on you/Fame and Fortune Platinum
Its Now or never/A mess of blues platinum
Are you lonesome tonight/I Gotta know 2 x platinum
Surrender/Lonely man platinum
I feel so bad/wild in the country gold
Cant help falling in love/Rock a hula baby Platinum
Good luck charm/anything thats part of you platinum
She`s not you/ just tell her jim said hello Gold
Return to sender/where do you come from platinum
One broken heart for sale/they remind me too much of you gold
devil in disguise/please dont drag that string around gold
Bossa Nova Baby/witchcraft gold
kissing cousins/it hurts me gold
Viva las vegas/what`d I say gold
Aint that loving you baby/ask me Gold
crying in the chapel/I believe in the man in the sky Platinum
I`m yours/long lonely highway gold
Puppet on a string/wooden heart gold
Blue Christmas/Santa claus is back in town Platinum
Tell me why/Blue river gold
Frankie and Johnnny/please don`t stop loving me gold
If I can dream/edge of reality gold
In the ghetto/any day now platinum
clean up your own back yard/the fair is moving on gold
suspicious minds/you`ll think of me platinum
Don`t cry daddy/rubberneckin platinum
Kentucky rain/my little friend gold
The wonder of you/mama liked the roses gold
Iv`e lost you/the next step is love gold
You don`t have to say you love me/patch it up gold
I really don`t want to know/There goes my everything gold
Burning love/it`s a matter of time platinum
Separate ways/Always on my mind gold
Way down/Pledging my love platinum
My way/America gold
That`s all right Gold
Good rockin tonight gold
Now the extended play(incase you don`t know more than 2 songs but less than an album)
Elvis presley(including blie suade shoes) Gold
heartbreak Hotel gold
Elvis Presley(Including Shake rattle and roll) Gold
The Real Elvis Platinum
Elvis vol 1 2 x platinum
Love me tender platinum
Elvis vol 2 Gold
Peace in the valley platinum
Loving you vol 1 gold
Loving you vol. 2 platinum
Jailhouse rock 2 x platinum
Elvis sings Christmas songs platinum
King creole vol. 1 platinum
King creole vol. 2 platinum
Follow that dream platinum
Kid Gallahad Gold
Last but not least the DVD`s
Elvis `68 special Deluxe edition 4 x platinum
Elvis `68 special edition platinum
aloha from hawaii deluxe edition 3 x MULTI PLATINUM
#1 Hit performances GOLD AND PLATINUM
Elvis by the Presleys dvd DOUBLE PLATINUM
Well, there you go, you asked for proof and you got it, you can check all this out for yourself on the net. These are for sales not counting all the awards he had for charities he gave to. WHAT MORE PROOF SO YOU NEED……… CHECK THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment by christine on 9 November 2009:
ooops . forgot to say.. It was 81 albums, 53 singles, 16 Extended play and 6 dvd`s. Elvis was performing from 1956 to 1977 = 21 years.
Not a bad lot of achievements is it? I just have to add that you have to take into account when Elvis first started out there was not all the technology there is today and not everyone had music players. IF i MADE ANY SPELLING ERRORS DO FORGIVE ME, IT WAS TIRING TYPING OUT THAT BIIIIIIIIGGGGGGGGGGGGG LONNNNNNGG LISSSST
Comment by Pape on 9 November 2009:
Phil please don’t say that now “Album sales are like walmart” common, please please. Friend got you on this one. MJ is ahead of every single category, album sale, best video, best dance, best movie, most popular. Christine please don’t waste your time doing research all the facts are there.
“THIS IS IT” number one in the world.
Comment by Phil Butler on 9 November 2009:
And then we come to his movies! Oh Sorry, Christine will save that for the next round. But I want to add sales of the life like Elvis action figure which has gone platinum too
Thanks for listing all that gal, I know how much that took, I started to do it myself.
Always,
Phil
Comment by christine on 9 November 2009:
Oh Pape, you just won`t see it will you, you are well and truly brain blocked. Have you read all the above? lol.
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