Where is a mind to wander when the words "blue suede shoes" come to pass? How about the soothing lyrics of Hey Jude gliding through the air? These are some of the memories left behind by some of the greatest musicians of all time, Elvis Presley and The Beatles. It is rare to find someone that doesn't know them, even just their name if nothing else. They truly have left their mark in the world, but who left the bigger mark? Some may say The Beatles are the obvious choice, but when everything is laid out things tend to lean the other direction.
Elvis Presley has had such an influence over the world; he was even given the title of The King of Rock and Roll. As the journalist David Halberstam stated, “In cultural terms, Elvis's coming was nothing less than the start of a revolution.” Though he was not the first rock and roll star of the times, he was the one who truly brought the power of rock and roll to a new level. Part of what made his sound so unique, is how he encompassed elements of gospel, rockabilly, and rhythm and blues all wrapped into one amazing sound. In St James Evolution of Pop Culture the author claims that in revolutionizing popular music, he spawned countless imitators, including the pompadour rock and rollers who climbed the charts in his aftermath, and he influenced generations of performers and musicians, professionally and personally (Broekes 217). Even after his death, the famed rock and roll star sold over 500 million records! Many of his songs and
Elvis Presley is one of the biggest names in rock and roll. Singer, musician and actor he was an American icon. He is best known as the King of Rock and Roll. His musical influence included the country and pop music of the time, the gospel music he sang in church and the black R&B music he listened to as a teenager (Comprehensive History of Elvis Presley’s Dynamic Life). Elvis has influenced American culture not only while he was living but also in today’s 21st century. It wasn’t easy for him to be accepted; in fact many adults and the older generations of his time were appalled by his performances and his music. In time though, people were able to accept him and he became well-known all over the world. Even after his death Americans are
Singer, actor, or GI are three words people often think of in connection with Elvis Presley. Many people know that Elvis Presley was the King of Rock ‘N’ Roll, but he was much more. Elvis Presley changed the world by bringing new types of music to entertain everybody, making movies, and serving his country. He will be remembered as the King of Rock ‘N’ Roll.
Elvis Presley was one of the most influential rock and roll singers in the American history. Presley’s work revolutionized the music and brought about significant changes in the entertainment industry. He grew up in an environment where racial segregation between the whites and African Americans was highly pronounced. In fact, Presley schooled in Memphis where he graduated from a whites-only high school. However, he upheld the Black’s music and made it possible for their music to be accessed by the White American youths. Presley’s tracks broke past the racial barrier as many teenagers loved his amazing voice. Through his music, he confronted racism and challenged both social and moral values. Elvis Presley changed the manner in which the Black minority were treated in the U.S. through his music, and this initiated the fights against racial discrimination leading to the civil rights movement.
The Beatles are one of the most innovative rock bands of all time. They have not only changed the way rock and roll is looked at, but also the way that the music is recorded. They have influenced the artists of the 60s and the 70s, and also many generations later and to come. Originating from Liverpool, England, the Beatles, or the Fab Four, consists of Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. Topping the charts in ’63 with “Love Me Do,” and bringing in the highest rated viewing in history while performing on the Ed Sullivan Show, the Beatles are definitely a band that broke the sound barrier of rock
He was a poor man who became rich, a white boy who dressed and sang like he was black, and a mamma’s boy who was also a rebel. Elvis scared white children’s parents. They saw this child who could be their kid acting like a juvenile delinquent and they feared his music would ignite rebellion in their children. The teenage population was huge and the people were well enough off that the kids had money to spend and a desire to spend it. When Elvis started singing, suddenly they knew what they wanted to spend their money on. They wanted everything that Elvis had and they wanted to do everything that he did. He inspired a whole generation to be different. He showed them they could dance and they could be feminine and manly at the same time. Elvis showed the kids that they could have fun and they could have fun together regardless of race. Elvis inspired a graduation and he consequently became known as the King. He was the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll and the King of the baby boomers generation. Not only did Elvis encourage blacks and whites to get along together and have fun, inspire the fashion and musical tastes of a generation, and demonstrate that not all men must be manly, but he also started America on the path of children and their parents listening to different music. The teens of the 1950s loved rock music and that started the trend of each generation having their own music that they felt spoke to them. The 60s folk music, the 70s
In the early 60s, Britain was known in America for essentially the Queen and tea. However, that all changed in February of 1964 when the Beatles touched down on American soil for the first time. Their first hop across the pond was no ordinary endeavor, as most British boy bands or performers had a hard time making it in the states. However, their venture to visit The Ed Sullivan Show ultimately changed America’s future. From that point forward, Americans began on their journey to find hope and expression through the Beatles’ music and their influence. In present day America, it is hard to imagine a day that passes by without the media mentioning the British Royal Family, the famous British supermodel, Cara Delavigne, or the British pop band, One Direction. However, most of these British obsessions wouldn’t be as prevalent in America today if it weren’t for the Beatles appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show or the pop culture phenomenon that ensued thereafter. If one thing is for certain, the Beatles invasion into the U.S. masked ambivalent socioeconomic affairs in the early ‘60s and accelerated the change in American pop culture.
Paul told Elvis “that if it weren’t for him there would be no Beatles, that he made it possible for everyone else, that he was the king”. Everyone looked up to him when it came to his music, in 1955 Elvis began to develop his fans they were drawn to his unusual musical style with his gyrating hips and good looks. Presley opened the door for white americans to listen to African American music, his popularity increased the opportunities for African Americans which had a positive effect on racial relations. Without Presley nobody would have the courage to form a band or have more opportunities for other
Elvis presley is and still is the king of rock n roll. Even though he had an interesting childhood, career and personal life, and legacy and death. As the king says himself “Until we meet again, may God bless you as he has blessed
Elvis Presley was, is, and will forever be known as the King of Rock and Roll. No matter what the public thought of him, he did what he loved because he believed in his music and lifestyle. Elvis once stated, “Rock and roll music, if you like it, if you feel it, you can't help but move to it. That's what happens to me. I can't help it.” This quote sparked a feeling of ambition and drove the dreams of almost every single rock and roll star who came after him. Elvis’ true passion for his music, inspired an inexplicable amount of people to pursue their dreams and be passionate about what they love. Elvis Presley by Tony Gentry explains how Elvis Presley became one of the most iconic figures in music history.
Additionally, people made a change in the music they listened to. Elvis Presley the pioneer of rock and roll changed entertainment forever. Elvis’s fleshy face, erotic physique and sexually suggestive gyrations attracted the baby boomer of the decade. Because of these features and his unique dance moves, he faces controversy in the face of the media and some common American people. Parents did not want their children to adapt to the “King’s” ways. The new attitude followed on youths disobeying order. The same situation would follow on to the next decade and eventually on to the future.
One of the most influential groups of the 20th Century—the Beatles revolutionized rock and roll into what we know it as today. Not only were they great musicians, they wrote and composed each of their songs. The band proved to be popular and exciting causing mass hysteria at each of their public performances. The “Fab Four’s” talent was so great that the phenomenon was termed “Beatlemania” in Britain and eventually erupted in the United States being called the British Invasion of the Beatles (Britannica Online, 2005).
The foundations of today’s popular music were built by an unlikely source: a poor white
His sexually provocative performance style horrified the public and was regarded as vulgar and inappropriate, but Presley’s smooth looks, voice, and charming personality eventually won society over. Elvis Presley Enterprises states Elvis had forty top ten hits. Presley is now considered one of the most symbolic cultural icons of the 20th century. Elvis Presley is referred to as “The King of Rock and Roll”. Society does not understand how to process individuals like Presley who are not a “carbon copy” of itself.
The Beatles were one of the most influential music groups of the rock era. They were able to conquer and influence pop culture with their music. Initially they affected the post-war baby boom generation of Britain and the W.S. during the 1960s, and later the request of the world. Certainly they were the most successful group, with global sales exceeding 1.3 billion albums. During the sixties, The Beatles using revolutionary ideas in their music inspired a generation of young adults across the globe to look at life from their perspective.
Popular artists in today’s culture have been greatly influenced by many great artists from the past’s popular culture such as Elvis Presley. Elvis Presley was one of the most popular artists in the 1950’s. He was a revolution in music, being given the title “king of rock and roll” and introducing a new style of music to make its place in popular culture. Throughout his career, he sold more than one billion records and without realizing it, became an influence to many recent artists and bands in popular culture today such as Justin Bieber and Reece Mastin. Jessica Reaves from Time.com states that “Presley’s name fairly droops under the weight of its acquired cultural significance. Briefly tagged a teen idol, the king of rock and roll swiftly transitioned into category defying superstar. Today, professors devote whole careers examining Elvis’s influence on cultural mores”. Elvis’s style and new ideas inspired many new artists and made rock and roll popular. The Beatles are a