"Do something worth remembering.” - EP
Welcome back to another Elvis discussion. This article will discuss how Elvis impacted various aspects of our culture. There is no doubt that Elvis Presley shifted the cultural landscape of America and the world. He was different in a time of conformity and blandness. He changed the way we listen to music, the way we dress, and the way we view the world. And John Lennon wasn’t joking around when he said that famous quote, “Before Elvis, there was nothing.”
Before Elvis Presley, there wasn’t anything considered "cutting-edge" going on in the entertainment industry. You had your crooners, such as Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, who were ballroom-type singers. When Elvis arrived on the scene, it was like someone from outer space had shown up. America had never heard anything nor seen anyone like him, but they loved it. I’m not about to sit here and say that Elvis invented rock and roll because he didn’t and he acknowledged this. Rock n’ roll was derived from rhythm and blues, country, as well as gospel music. Pioneers such as Fats Domino, Little Richard, Chuck Berry, and Bo Diddley all contributed to the phenomenon of 50s rock and Elvis respected all of these musicians. Little Richard himself referred to Elvis as an ‘integrator’ and a ‘blessing’ who ‘opened the door for black music.’ As I mentioned above, there was nothing prior to Elvis. When I say nothing, I mean no huge rockstars (rockstars weren’t even a thing). Also, back then teenagers didn’t have any music to identify with. They listened to the same records as their parents, but they weren’t fit for the young people. When Elvis hit it big, he won the attention of many young teenagers - both girls and boys. Along with establishing a rebellious image, Elvis broke down racial barriers as he helped popularize black music in a time where the two worlds were heavily divided.
From humble beginnings in Tupelo, Mississippi, in the space of just a few years Elvis became an international superstar of fabulous wealth. Growing up, Elvis listened to blues, country, and gospel. Once he moved to Memphis, he was exposed to the blues-soaked Delta. He frequented Beale Street, which was known to be a place were famous Black blues musicians hung out. Elvis didn’t see music as “black” or “white”. He saw it as music - something that moved and touched the soul. I find it fascinating how he appreciated music from all sides of the spectrum. In the summer of 1954, Presley cut a record with the producer Sam Phillips, who ran Sun Records on Union Avenue. The song was “That’s All Right” (the b-side was Blue Moon of Kentucky) and history was forever changed.
People have to understand the 1950s. Every aspect of life was segregated, including music. Black people had their own style and white people had their own style. Along comes Elvis, a white guy, singing rhythm and blues (mainly a black genre) but it wasn’t only that. A lot of older people took offense to this, but both black and white teens loved it. The music was an amalgamation of country, gospel, and rhythm and blues, but it needed it’s own name. The name “Rock n’ Roll” was born!
It wasn’t only the music the Elvis was singing that made people scratch their heads. It was the way he looked and dressed. Elvis pushed gender boundaries throughout his career. It’s quite challenging to imagine someone before Elvis, a guy particularly, to wear a pink shirt, pink socks, and a pink belt. Elvis experimented with different styles in fashion. He even made floral print shirts stylish during 60s when he wore a red hibiscus shirt for the movie Blue Hawaii.
After the song “That’s All Right” took off, as did Elvis’ singer career, he signed with record label RCA, arranged by his soon-to-be manager, Colonel Tom Parker. From then on, it was non-stop success with songs like “Heartbreak Hotel," which was the first RCA-released single. This new sound was at first dubbed "rockabilly," which was rock n’ roll played by hillbillies. Some people claim that Elvis created a whole new style of music: "it wasn't black, wasn't white, wasn't pop, or wasn't country—it was different." Elvis went on to appear on a variety of US television variety shows, such as the Ed Sullivan and Milton Berle shows. On these shows, Elvis showed off his trademark dance moves, most importantly the hip-shaking. The media dubbed him “Elvis the Pelvis” because of this. Debuting his infamous pelvic moves during his performance of “Hound Dog” on ‘The Milton Berle Show,’ Elvis caused an uproar across the country. Many found his performance to be overly sexualized and obscene. Following television performances, such as ‘The Ed Sullivan Show', they were quick to censor his pelvic thrusts by filming him from the waist up. This seems like nothing compared to what most performers do today, but no one has ever seen anything like this. Elvis even appeared on Steve Allen’s variety show and called it one of the most embarrassing moments of his career because Allen had him singing “Hound Dog” to an actual dog.
Elvis was seen as “the devil” because of his so-called dangerous image and rebellion. Parents did not want their children listening to him, and many stations across the country were breaking his records on air. Elvis was labeled a "sexhibitionist," and his suggestive manner was criticized by churches that claimed his moves corrupted the minds of young Americans. Outraged parents, meanwhile, equated rock-and-roll with delinquency and rebellion.
Robert Jennings, a columnist for the Saturday Evening Post, described Elvis’ stage performance: “Spasms ran through both his legs, and soon the entire midsection of his body was jolting as if he’d swallowed a jack hammer.” Since the early days when Elvis first performed onstage, women have gone absolutely crazy, while teenage boys have been filled with jealousy over the effect Elvis had on women. He was considered a threat because he caused women to lose control in an era when girls were “to be seen and not heard." He became a symbol of teenage rebellion and was condemned because of it. Not only was Elvis highly influential among females, but among males as well. Young males began to imitate Elvis by slicking their hair back and growing sideburns. Soon all the teenage boys began to get Presley’s infamous ducktail haircut, black slacks, and open-necked shirts. The girls wanted to be with him, and the guys wanted to be just like him. Elvis captivated the youth of America.
An important point about Elvis’ impact on culture is that he came along during a crucial time in American history. The post-World War II era looked promising, and the television was a huge event in a household as the whole family gathered together in the living room to watch. Elvis’ television appearances allowed millions of people of all ages to watch him for free. When asked why he became the phenomenon he did, Elvis replied humbly, “People were looking for something different, and I came along just in time. I was lucky.” Elvis didn’t expect to rise to fame as quickly as he did.
During the 1950s, Elvis Presley was highly influential not only in changing the social and moral values of American society but also in creating a new trend in music. Through rock n’ roll, the American youth obtained their own identity, one with new values, roles in society, and beliefs that differed from their parents. Elvis’ contributions to rock n’ roll allowed for pivotal changes in American culture.
I don’t only want to only focus on the 50s aspect of Elvis’ career. I did so earlier because when he first appeared on the scene, he shook everything up. As the years went by, Elvis started to act in movies, making 31 one of them and 2 documentary films. At one point, he was one of the highest paid actors in Hollywood. Could you imagine that - Elvis already a megastar in the music industry also was cutting ground in the film industry. Although most of the films were not the best, Elvis did manage to star in a few that showed off his acting abilities, such as “King Creole”, “Flaming Star”, and “Wild in the Country”. When given the right script, Elvis did a wonderful job on the silver screen.
Later in his career, Elvis changed his musical style and his personal look to keep up with the times and remain popular among older audiences. He returned to live musical performances during the 1970s. Because his career went through so many changes, he was popular with different types of people for different reasons. Elvis has to be one is the only artists who is inducted into the R&B Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Country Hall of Fame, and the Gospel Hall of Fame, and many others. Elvis had to be one of the most diverse artists that has ever graced the earth. He played everything from gospel to country to blues. Although he didn’t write his songs, he made every one his own. That’s the magic of Elvis Presley!
In conclusion, Elvis’ iconic music and presence made him a cultural phenomenon with a legacy that remains unparalleled. He remains the best-selling solo artist of all time! The truth is Elvis came along and inspired a new generation. Some artists that look up to Elvis like the Beatles, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, and Elton John speak of his impact. Whichever way you see, Elvis Presley was a strong influence that people can't ignore.
Thanks for reading! Leave any comments that you have for me down below! ⚡️