Elvis Presley

[Deleted]

snarkblossom said:

Lisa Marie Presley is getting ready to pull a Natalie Cole and record a duet with Elvis dubbed over one of his songs. It actually sounded pretty good in the sound clip.

HeyAlice, some people think that Elvis was a racist because he was a white guy who co-opted black music for his own gain. In fact Elvis greatly respected black people and black musicians, but it's one of those things that keeps getting spread around because sadly, some people want to believe it to be true.

NWA's "Fight the Power" didn't exactly help matters either, particularly since Elvis' name was mentioned alongside John Wayne's (who WAS a racist).

[pathtaken]

OT On Wayne, doesn't didlling hispanic women make him OK? OT

Topic, Elvis was beautiful and talented, but a simple southern guy. Like a lot of hard living down home boys he got bloated and UGLEE after 30.
You should see my uncles!

[Ginger]

some people think that Elvis was a racist because he was a white guy who co-opted black music for his own gain. In fact Elvis greatly respected black people and black musicians, but it's one of those things that keeps getting spread around because sadly, some people want to believe it to be true.

But I don't think people accuse Elvis of being personally racist, just that he was the catalyst for a hugely racist societal phenomenon (i.e., black music didn't become incredibly popular until there was a white face on it, and it was whites who subsequently got rich and famous from it). To me, that's never equated with him disrespecting black people.

NWA's "Fight the Power" didn't exactly help matters either, particularly since Elvis' name was mentioned alongside John Wayne's (who WAS a racist).

Public Enemy "Elvis was a hero to most/but he don't mean shit to me" which is really about him as an icon, not a personal attack. I never made the John Wayne connection because I don't know anything about John Wayne. He don't mean shit to me.

ETA: I just looked up the lyrics and they say "Straight up racist that sucker was" so I guess I was wrong. Seems unfair to me. Pretty much *all* rock music from the 50s, 60s, and 70s came out of black blues & r&b. It's a shame that the original black musicians didn't get the popularity/glory/wealth for it, but I don't think white people should be restricted from building upon the musical tradition they started.

[Deleted]

He also insulted some of his backup singers in a concert (leading them to walk offstage during the show) with what a lot of people considered a racial remark. It was when he was getting really wacky, I guess. I think he said that they smelled like catfish. I read it on Snopes awhile back.

ETA: Found it. There's another really racist quote attributed to him there, but they debunked it. Probably didn't help with the rumors, though.

[shawnalanne]

Elvis was almost a religion in our house. His movies always on. His music playing. Not religion in the bible thumping Baptist way, but religion in the comfortable background way. I had just turned 4 when he died but I remember it pretty clearly as a big event in my life. Elvis and my Great Uncle, Marvin, died very close to each other and were very close in age. As a young child I thought of my Uncle Marvin as my guardian angel and would pray to him -- and sometimes Elvis at the same time.

I think what made Elvis stand out is that his fans did feel a personal connection to him, in that great way that country singers relate to their fans.

[Deleted]

heyalice said:

Where does the Elvis was a racist come from?

Elvis supposedly made a comment that "The only thing a Negro could do for him was shine my shoe and buy my records."

Elvis repeatedly denied making the comment and none of the "facts" matched up. The comment was supposedly made either in Boston or of the Murrow show. Only Elvis was never in Boston nor was he on the Murrow show. Even Jet magazine didn't believe the comments, but the rumor still persists.

An elderly AA friend and I got into a a huge fight because to this day she still believes that he made the comments. It's really sad that the rumor has continued because it wasn't even close to being the truth. But even people like Mary J Blige keep making ignorant references to it.

Here's an article that talks about Elvis and racism

I remember seeing Elvis in "It happened at the World's Fair" when I was 7 yrs old. I was hooked. I immediately gave up my crush on Bob from Sesame Street for Elvis. He was so much cutier.

I don't think I could name a favorite song because I really like them all. But I guess some of my favs are Bossa Nova Baby, The Wonder of You, It's Now or Never, In the Ghetto, Mystery Train, and I really loved the Rockabilly stuff like Blue Moon of Kentucky, I'm left, You're Right, She's Gone.

[jennipoo]

I have loved reading this thread.

Love, love, love Elvis. So do my girls. They asked Santa for all of Elvis' movies. My favorite movie is probably Blue Hawaii. My favorite song? Hmmm... I love them all.

I read Elvis and Me when I was about 10 years old. Even then it struck me odd that Priscilla would consider Elvis mostly faithful to her. There were maybe one or two references to other women. If I recall correctly, Ann Margaret was dismissed as a rumor (was she dating the director of Viva Las Vegas at the time?). Yeah.. Viva Las Vegas is probably my favorite song. I adore that movie.

[heyalice]

Thanks to everyone for answering my question. Quite unfair indeed.
This thread is great reading I tell you.

[mariposalabrown]

Seriously, keep it coming, guys!

Elvis practically being a religion reminds me of the sister in What's Eating Gilbert Grape.

[Deleted]

I can't imagine Elvis being racist. He was practically a religion in our house too and if anything, I remember him as being downright subservient in manner to anyone and everyone mostly.

Just today I listened to a clip on BBC radio online where they discuss Elvis. They particularly speak about his affair with Ann Margaret during Viva Las Vegas. Yep, they had one and yep it was hot!

Personally, I hope Colonel Parker is burning in hell for what he did to Elvis.