R u seriously comparing the most profilic musician ever to Keanu Reeves Everything you said now is irrevelant if that is your comparison. Elvis was/ is an icon, and i think that status doesnt come from talent. Elvis most likely never wrote a song.. he fed off of African American singers and took their songs. Prince might not ever get to his iconic status, he sure was far more talented though!!! | |
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Prince claimed 47 spots in the Billboard Hot 100 list, including 19 in the top 10 and five hitting the coveted #1 spot. http://abc7ny.com/entertainment/all-of-princes-1-billboard-hit-songs/1302694/
Elvis 14 #1 hits 108 Billboard Hot 100 hits, the most among rock artists in the chart's history. 80 top 40 Hot 100 hits, the most such showings in the tally's archives 129 Billboard 200 charted albums, the highest total in the chart's 58-year history.
In adidtion, he had numerous top hits that predated billboard.
http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/5862369/elvis-presleys-billboard-chart-records
So as far as billboard success, Price is respectable certainly but not even close. Sales I suspect would be similar margins ,,, How else you gauge relative popularity I don't know. Only time will tell if his legacy will be lasting. [Edited 5/25/16 13:42pm] | |
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This is exactly the mentality I'm talking about: "performers from the fifties must be better because they happened at a time with a massive youth population and diners have been trafficking in 50s nostalgia ever since..." James Dean wasn't even the best of that generation, he took after Brando like everyone else. I like Elvis, and his legacy as "the King" is obviously safe (not that he's ever played outside of oldies programming and I never hear his music anywhere... just like I barely hear Prince), but the dude had, like, one musical talent. Not much of a songwriter, instrumentalist or producer. He could sing and dance but, relatively speaking, he relied on other artists way more than a lot of the greats. He came along at a time where he could have a massive influence on those who came after, and he happened to be the most successful white guy doing what a bunch of other black guys were also doing when America was sitll segregated. | |
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It is true Elvis was not a great musician, and he wasn't even a song writer.
His gifts were his voice, singing ability, looks, stage presence and entertainer, that is his legacy. About the implication that blacks brought singing and dancing to USA and Elvis was just copying them, I think that is a far fetched notion to say the least. Certainly blues influence rubbed off on him and it shows in his style, just as early blues players were influenced by something else. To imply that without blacks there never would have been an Elvis is clearly ludicrous, their contributions to early and modern rock/pop are clear enough without having to ridiculously overstate them. | |
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Prince may not have reached as many people as MJ or Elvis, he's still quite famous internationally, with branding that includes a colour and a symbol. Add to this his iconic movie and his incredible catalog, plus the vault... you have a recipe that only a marketing deuce could fail to use properly.
It hardly matters if MJ or Elvis stay bigger icons than Prince in death, the latter will always have the more enviable reputation.
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. 1. Well, where exactly does Elvis iconic status come from? His acting? You are saying that the most iconic performer in modern history of the world got that way because of no talent. Incredible. . 2. Yes, Elvis did write songs; however, Elvis is not famous for being a songwriter. His talents when it comes to song composition lie in the interpretation of the song given him. If you think "Hound Dog" was a top song before it got into the hands of Elvis you'd be wrong. Elvis, like Sinatra, had an uncanny instinct in how to make a song better. . 3. He fed off of African Americans? Uh oh, there's the old white man steals from other cultures card. Sure some of Elvis' early hits were originally black r n b tunes. But he turned them into rock and roll tunes. Got it? He didn't release the same version of Mama Thornton's "Hound Dog." And by the way, most of Elvis' big tunes were written by Lieber and Stoller - two Jews from New York. I guess he was a Nazi - pilfering the work of Jews. . . Boy, your understanding of Elvis is very limited and based on the standard b.s. that is thrown out there when people who don't know Elvis speak about Elvis. Stole from blacks! No talent, just flash! Hey, was Elvis a creepy strange dude? Sure. But he was also an entertainer unlike any before or since. And by the way, without Elvis and what he did to change the cullture of modern society there would be no Prince. If Elvis didn't come along and do what he did, Prince would still be working as an usher in a movie theater. | |
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Haven't you heard yet? Elvis is alive! "Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything." --Plato
https://youtu.be/CVwv9LZMah0 | |
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what a weird thread... Prince 4Ever. | |
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Cloreen said:
. 1. Well, where exactly does Elvis iconic status come from? His acting? You are saying that the most iconic performer in modern history of the world got that way because of no talent. Incredible. . 2. Yes, Elvis did write songs; however, Elvis is not famous for being a songwriter. His talents when it comes to song composition lie in the interpretation of the song given him. If you think "Hound Dog" was a top song before it got into the hands of Elvis you'd be wrong. Elvis, like Sinatra, had an uncanny instinct in how to make a song better. . 3. He fed off of African Americans? Uh oh, there's the old white man steals from other cultures card. Sure some of Elvis' early hits were originally black r n b tunes. But he turned them into rock and roll tunes. Got it? He didn't release the same version of Mama Thornton's "Hound Dog." And by the way, most of Elvis' big tunes were written by Lieber and Stoller - two Jews from New York. I guess he was a Nazi - pilfering the work of Jews. . . Boy, your understanding of Elvis is very limited and based on the standard b.s. that is thrown out there when people who don't know Elvis speak about Elvis. Stole from blacks! No talent, just flash! Hey, was Elvis a creepy strange dude? Sure. But he was also an entertainer unlike any before or since. And by the way, without Elvis and what he did to change the cullture of modern society there would be no Prince. If Elvis didn't come along and do what he did, Prince would still be working as an usher in a movie theater. Your last line is hilarious.I suppose If there was no Elvis Presley, Prince wouldn't have been born if you want to expand your ludicrous premise. Prince would have found a way. He was born to make music. I suppose If there was no Beatles, The Smiths would all be working in the DSS in Salford lol. | |
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With me and where I am at- off the beat and path I play Prince here non stop- I also have lots of recordings I should not have...filipinos are friendly people- I get many visitors/ friends.... and I am a girl chaser so many hear the music....all listen, seem to like it....if I'm playing videos the ladies all say he was good looking guy but that is about it....no one has ever asked me yet for a copy of anything......here in the Philippines they are shy people but HUGE on Kareoke- the shy type of ladies have no problem doing kareoke in a big crowd that is kinda amazing to me .
CNN Philippines did some small stories on him when he passed- most folks I come across NEVER heard of him....frustrating in a way as I can go into Ayala Mall in Cebu and there is a Jamaican/ Bob Marley Store....they love Elvis Presley and 50/50 on Michael Jackson with all the allegations about children on Jackson he is not so much liked.
Kareoke/ Video Machines Here ( they are EVERYWHERE)= I can find Elvis, Lady Gaga, Michael Jackson, Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber and of course filipino music/ singers but I have yet to come across even 1 Prince song....I have requested with some owners of establishments to get him on there and the conversation ALWAYS starts the same with them asking " Who?"
Even Duran Duran here played to sold out shows in Manila. Sad. | |
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. Your last line is hilarious. I suppose If there was no Elvis Presley... Prince would have found a way. He was born to make music. . If there were no Elvis, yes, I agree with you, Prince would be making music....but he'd be doing it part time after he got home from work as an usher in a movie theater. . You really do not understand the cultural impact of Elvis. Not musical impact, societal impact. Prior to Elvis the music and entertainment industry was for older people. You think Al Jolson was packing in teenagers? Sinatra changed that a bit, but it was Elvis who exploded the notion that records/entertainment were to be sold to middle aged people. An entire youth market began with Elvis and his leading the charge with rock and roll. We still experience that youth market today. That youth market is the number one demographic for selling music. Elvis was the man who brought that on. . If there were no Elvis, Prince would be playing his music after coming home from work at the movie theater to sixty-five year old men in a run down jazz club with bare light bulbs hanging from the ceiling. And believe me, he wouldn't be playing "Jack U Off." He'd be playing that adult crap from "C-Note" or "N.E.W.S." boring the old drunks to tears. | |
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. 1. If there were no Elvis, John Lennon would have been playing skiffle songs on his cheap guitar for the rest of his life. You don't see that? What else was a 17 year old to do? Rock and roll was not an option for young people before Elvis. Rock and roll exploded and became mainstream, became a form of music young people would play, because of Elvis. . 2. So what Prince was never influenced musically by Elvis Presley. Elvis' influence on culture is not limited to music alone. Let me ask you, you think Prince would have been risque, would be shaking his hips if Elvis hadn't do that? You think stars before Elvis like Benny Goodman, Woody Guthrie, or Hoagy Carmichael were doing that!? Elvis as an on stage performer influenced Prince and every other modern performer whether they know it or not. Elvis gave a show. Before that we had singers just crooning their songs stock still on stage. And then the whole idea of marketing beyond the vinyl record was Elvis. Example: the guy made 31 films. Hmmm, I wonder where the whole notion that Prince can star in a film came from? No Elvis, Prince would be starring in his own home movies with his movie theater usher friends. . .
[Edited 5/26/16 11:00am] | |
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You are talking about supposition here as if it's fact. I was going to suggest the Lennon/skiffle thing as I had a feeling you'd reply with that. My apologies. So here it is. If there was no Elvis Presley, it wouldn't have stopped Prince from getting his performance nods from James Brown. Unless James Brown is mysteriously non existant in your sci fi alternate reality. We've established that Elvis couldn't hold a candle to Prince were musicianship is concerned, so that wouldn't matter. Hmm what else?. Presley's neutered 50s sexuality? Have you seen the 70s? Was Presley responsible for the Summer of Love as well? No, that was probably counter culture, the Skiffle playing scousers and some dirt cheap drugs. Ole Elvis and Tricky Dicky Nixon were Golfing buddies by then scheming up a way to rid the world of those darned hippies..
No, I'm afraid he indirectly influenced a burgeoning sexuality among 50s and 60s youth but by the late 60s, he was a dinosaur. Someone would have been doing some weird shit on stage. Nope. Not needed. Prince blew the doors off that in 1980 where everyone got down. Songrwiting? Not really. All his best songs were written by other people. Prince wrote all his. Prince has probably written more gospel songs than Elvis ate cheeseburgers (that one might be a tie)
So, it's abundantly clear my good man, that Prince would not be a movie usher in an Elvisless world.
Or work in a pet shop which would have been nice for him admittedly as he was a vegan.
P.S Elvis's films were fucking terrible. | |
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What's this about cheeseburgers? Elvis was famous for eating fried banana and peanut butter sandwiches.
"Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything." --Plato
https://youtu.be/CVwv9LZMah0 | |
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thedance said:
Yep! Also please make note that Prince's hands were the same color as Elvis's face and Elvis's hands are the same color as Prince's face, so see there they are equals... | |
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Very well said jaypotton, unlike the USA! | |
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Prince would run circles around Elvis arse in playing Musical Instruments! I never saw Elvis blowing up solos, he played rhythm but he couldn't even touch Prince's solos fool! | |
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Race in regards to what, that white folks are superior, old Klansman arse people, The Confederate flag, and slavery history or wish Black Folks was still picking cotton?
And as far as your last sentence that don't need to play "Head", that was very long time ago, and Prince didn't even sing the lyrics to anymore in his performances. But the radio could play God Is Alive, The Cross, One of Us, Thunder, Purple Rain, Anna Stesia, Holy River, Question of U, Gold, etc. | |
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. But by the point that Elvis was a "dinosaur," he had already done his job in starting the rampant sexuality of the late '60s! Guess what, Orville and Wilbur Wright flew the first plane in 1903. They and their plane were dinosaurs when the Space Shuttle took off. Does that mean they are not the acknowledged influence on it? . 2. Elvis films terrible? Uhh, you clearly have not seen VIVA LAS VEGAS. I don't want to question your sexuality, but a man is not a man if he hasn't seen Ann Margret in VIVA LAS VEGAS. (Hell of a lot hotter than that boy Kristen Scott Thomas in that Cherry Moon nonsense.) . [img:$uid]http://images4.fanpop.com/image/photos/18700000/Lucky-Rusty-in-Viva-Las-Vegas-movie-couples-18725270-1050-592.jpg[/img:$uid]
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Actually, im very versed in Elvis' music, my mom is a huge fan. I grew up watching the movies and listening to the music as well. Iconic status doesnt always come from talent alone. Thats what i meant with that comment. Marilyn Monroe was definitely not the greatest actress alive either. Iconic status has nothing to do with talent, that was my whole point.
2. Why do so many people wanna say one is pulling a card when u know my statement is true. Elvis fed off AA artists, not a falsity whatsoever lol. He might have wrote songs, he also stole some songs from AA artists and they never got a freaking dime from it. Ask lil richard how the game went down. it doenst matter what he turned the songs into. Elvis is not even the real king of rock and roll. Just cuz people say he is, it doesnt make it true. He did not MAKE rock n roll, he made it famous cuz of who? now u are getting my point. Yea elvis can 6e an icon 6ut he is definitely not a talented as Prince in any way, shape, or form.
The point is how are u gonna compare Prince to Keanu Reeves? I know u cud not mean that in a music sense. Elvis is way more keanu like than Prince could even 6e. IJS | |
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as long as there was a james 6rown, LIL RICHARD, SLY, etc there would have 6een a Prince. | |
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In Australia too- I dont think anyone thinks about that we just see him as Purple !! (Prince is Prince -not skin colour) [Edited 5/26/16 14:26pm] [Edited 5/26/16 14:26pm] Thank you Prince for every note you left behind 💜 | |
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Sometimes I curse the inventor of Photoshop! | |
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As you all can see Cloreen want respond when busted with some serious facts! | |
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I have been a member here for a long time and have often joined in the Prince/Elvis threads. These two men are the core of my musical taste and i could argue for days how similar so much of their work/image is, but to be honest, I am just to sad (still) from Prince's passing to get into it, besides this thread is really not about comparing their work or their lives but their legacy.
Ultimately, only time will tell if Prince stays as present in the mainstream as Elvis has. The same discussions were taking place after Michael died and there is still no easy answer or resolution to that discussion. Because, again, only time will tell. We will have to be 25 years past MJ's passing to really know and the same for Prince.
I do think that with Prince there is tremendous potential because of how enigmatic he stayed and how he kept his work from the public in the internet age. There are people who are just now really starting to get an idea of how powerful of a live performer Prince really was (via youtube). If the estate (whoever/whatever) that ends up meaning for Prince is wise in their releases instead of going for fast money grabs, then it is likely they could build a much larger fan base for Prince in death than he had in life, which is sad.
Something to consider, the fact that whenever anyone of any real importance in pop culture dies the first person that is brought up to quantify or contextualize their impact is Elvis. It is almost 40 years since he died and he is still the benchmark.
Ultimately, I find these comparisons fairly useless. Each artists legacy will be its own thing. No one can take Prince's impact out of the equation and the same is true for MJ and for Elvis and for Ray Charles and for Johnny Cash and on and on and on. | |
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Ann Margret was sexy no doubt. I'm Irish, so I love me a redhead. I suspect i'm younger than you (41) so you can have that one
Elvis's films were still crap though. Used to watch them with my Dad when I was a kid. He was an Elvis nut. He couldn't act for skins as my late old man used to say. He only watched them for the musical interludes.
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. You don't make 31 of them if they were crap. How many "Catwoman" movies did Halle Berry make? Get my point? . [img:$uid]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/04/Catwoman_poster.jpg[/img:$uid] | |
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