Ten Reasons Why Elvis Presley is Overrated

This is the worst list I have ever seen. Every reason you have listed is taken completely out of its cultural context. If you knew anything about the history and inception of rock and roll, you could begin to comprehend why Elvis is "rated" accordingly, and also why each of these "ten reasons" happened.

I agree with Keith. These are cheap shots. In the mid to late 1950s Elvis Presley practically created what came to be known as rock, transforming R&B into something new and permanent. Ignore the crappy movies and the later Elvis -- the Sun recordings & the early RCA's are truly iconic and solidify Elvis's stature as one of rock's greatest innovators.

Kevin Keller and Kate Kiefer, both give me nauseas. I will love to Elvis Presley forever and ever , I love his picture and I am a proud owner of her music and memorabilia. He saved human lives, for example, the life of one pregnant woman in a car crash - in mid sixties to earlies 70s - he is the best influence in my life. And If you are not well in mind, and you hate for to hate, both must turn the page and live your life Elvis haters.

I love his pictures, movies, music and I am a proud owner of his music his movies, other memorabilias and his worries for the other human beings. Nobody can compare to Elvis Presley. Excuse me for the words and mistakes in orthography. He could do many things but peoples as envious as you simply blocked it and impeded him to show all. But what could show, my God that beauty of human being!

As William Shakespeare wrote:

"...But man proud man
dressed in a little brief autorithy
most ignorant of what he´s most assured
(his glassy essence) like an angy ape
plays such phantastic tricks before high heaven as makes the angels weep who,
with our spleens, would all themselves laugh mortal..."

Or as Miguel of Cervantes Saavedra wrote also: "While the dogs bark is sign that we go for good road"

The quote of William Shakespeare is for both Kevin Keller and Kate Kiefer! Long live the king!

You cats are gluttons for punishment.

Kevin Keller and Kate Kiefer forgot to mention that the matter of "overrating", at least in Presley's case, is simply both cause and effect of Presley having been, form the start, the most over villified, least understood entertainer in the last half of the 20th Century.

Take each of the first five reasons.

That he was bad actor. Even if that were true, then why people would stop what they were doing (laughing at the script, or commenting how bad his acting skills were, at the theatre itself), the moment he started to sing? There's no denying Presley' screen magic was there, for any one to see. And you have to be an actor of some sort to be convincing when you sing, especially in front of a Hollywood camera.

The fake songwriting. So what? He did not take credit for re-writing songs during his time at SUN. And he did change the lyrics in some of them...

The title of Rock King. That was "Variety"'s labelling, after realizing that the new medium (rock), had finally "arrived", and that the person who put it in the map, finally, was Presley.

In the 12 months since January of 1956, he had 5 number one singles, 2 number one albums ( the first rocker to top the album charts), was seen live by 500,000 teenagers at 210 sold out shows, got the Catholic Church involved in making him the devil, sold 10 million records, half the output of RCA, then the world's biggest label, was seen by a cumulative TV audience in excess of 230 million in his 12 presentations, sold US$20 million in articles bearing his name, was responsibe for the doubling, tripling, and sometimes quadrupling of the sale of guitars, record players and televisions (see the early history of SONY, and check on Barry Gordy's biography as he reasons on why Matla, then Motown were created). And, to top it all, he was seen by 7 million people in his first motion picture. All, in a 12 month period.

And I am not even making an issue of the non-surprising fact he fused the two most importamt musical mediums then existent in America, C&W and R&B, and created a third, rockabilly, because that took place a full 15 months before his first year at RCA, which is when he was lebelled the King, by "Variety".

That he kept the title ( which he abhorred), for over 21 years, and a further 31 since he passed away is neither here nor there, but his sustaiable power rests on the interaction he had with his fans, for the entire time he was a public figure, including his 2 year Army stint. And you have to read the stories, of how that interaction took place, which have been passed from one generation to the next, to really understand the power of Elvis Presley.

That they can't enjoy his Gospel singing, well, that's a matter of taste, I say.

That there's so many imitators because immtating him is easy. Yeah, that's a bit like saying the formula for Coke was easy to come up with, then knock Pepsi for immitating what in reality is a fantastic drink. Wishful thinking, but in reverse...

The unvernished truth is that there's a lot of impersonators, because Presley's act was and remains very attractive for millions to watch. The demand is there...

Elvis was and still is the king of rock-n-roll. John Lennon said it best. " Before Elvis there was nothing". He was the first rock rebel and he tore down the door for all others to follow. Music was segragated before him. It took Elvis for artist of both colors to be accepted. BB King said that many years ago. When you have a entire site set up to try to take away from a artist, that tells you rite there that the artist must be special. Long live the King...PEACE

Kevin Keller and Kate Kiefer are idiots, even the Beatles considered Elvis to be the King of Rock.....after more than 30 years past his death Elvis is still considered the King.....6 years from now people wont even remember who Kevin Keller and Kate Kiefer were

Elvis overrated? I would say that Elvis is underrated, a great part of the society today see Elvis as a overweight person that died with a bad health (sure Elvis was overweight and in a bad health, BUT only for the last 2 years of his life, is it fair to judge a person for the last 2 years of his life?). Elvis achieved so much in his career that most of the people are unaware of (just like those who wrote this article it seems).

For example: In 2002 (25 years after Elvis' death), the Elvis album '30#1 Hits' went #1 in 27 countries, and the same year a remix of 'A Little less Conversation' achieved the same success. Elvis overrated? No...

This article is a joke.

Just one example:

"Ten Reasons Why Elvis Presley is Overrated

1. The movies.

Elvis was not a good actor,...."

It's like if i'm saying:

"Ten Reasons Why Dustin Hoffman is Overrated

1- The Songs.

Dustin was not a good singer,..."

But we don't care, Dustin is a actor (not a singer)

Elvis was a singer, but why the unknowns Kevin Keller and Kate Kiefer don't talk about the singer Elvis?

Why the unknowns Kevin Keller and Kate Kiefer don't talk about the voice of Elvis?

Elvis was the most important artist of the twentieth century.

This is the opinion of all historians of popular music of the twentieth century, and all musicians, and singers.

And the unknowns Kevin Keller and Kate Kiefer prove it, because 31 years after the death of Elvis, they always speak of Elvis.

In reality, they are amazed by the legend of Elvis.

Huge kisses to all Elvis fans around the world.

(A French fan of the Beatles)

I agree with this article! Elvis is one of the worst actors ever, and just because music is his forte, people shouldn't forgive his terrible acting. There are so many musicians turned actors out there, and all of them do a hell of a lot better job than Elvis ever could have done. Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Will Smith, Madonna...

cece: "While the dogs bark is sign that we go for good road".
And in 6 years from now people wont even remember who are cece, Kevin Keller and Kate Kiefer were: Long live Elvis Presley, the king!

Have you guys actually ever listened to Elvis sing???? My God, he could sing the phone book and it would be a hit. You obviously don't know what you are talking about. I love the KING OF ROCK AND ROLL, now and forever

You Are a complete uneducated moron and the biggest loser ever to waist your time to find a way to criticize a dead man. You must be a Michael Jackson freak jealous of the REAL King's fame and popularity. If it weren't for this "overrated" man then you wouldn't have never heard of those four lads from Liverpool as they, The Beatles were inspired by that overrated man, as was your boyfriend Wacko.

FYI, it's not a bunch of old folks dragging their kids to Graceland. It's the other way around. More than 50% of the yearly visitors to Graceland are 35 or younger. Get your facts straight moron.

Lastly, Elvis has sold more records worldwide than The Beatles, Rolling Stones, and Wacko all combined. He's sold over a BILLION and a half worldwide!!! Yeah he's really overrated.

GET A FREAKING LIFE YOU PIECE OF WAISTED SPERM.

I don't normally leave comments on web sites, but after skimming through much of what was left before me I just wanted to say that I have long posited the central theory of this article - Elvis is indeed waaaaaaay overrated.

Also, my congratulations on having the guts to say it so publicly. You'll continue to receive a lot of backlash, but you certainly at least have my support and admiration for doing so. Most journalism nowadays, music-related or otherwise, seems afraid of offending large portions of the public...it's refreshing to see that Paste would publish this, even as only the opinion of two of its writers, on its web site, knowing the vitriol that was sure to follow. Well done!

rebuttal

1 the Movies

Elvis acted in 28 movies as the lead, 1 as a supporting role and did 2 concert docs - all of them made big money over their production costs.

Like any actor, there were good and bad ones and they were no worse than other star vehicles of the time.

Many had stood the test of time - King Creole, Loving You, Viva Las Vegas for examples

2 songwriting credits, this was standard industry practice at the time and Elvis himself put a stop to it.

3 Title - a tile Elvis never asked for or wanted - and as John Lennon said, without Elvis, there would not have been The Beatles.

4 - Gospel, false claim entirely, Gospel music would have remained a niche market if Elvis hadn't brought it into mainstream - these songs were often his very best vocal work

5 His fashion was copied by many other performers of the day, and there's not much fashion that doesn't look funny with 30 years distant

6 Vegas - Elvis did a lot for Vegas tourism and the repetition has more to do with what the fans wanted to hear than what the artist performs - any band or performer who tours does a same set list on each tour, Elvis' 70 shows had more variation than the article writer knows and often he did songs in concert that he never recorded

7 Impersonators are not Elvis' fault - many performers, including the Beatles, ABBA, Led Zep and others also have impersonators

8 Jailhouse Rock was the first rock n roll movie with the songs naturally occurring in the plot rather than dropped in when the characters bumped into various one hit wonder hits of the day

9 Graceland has significant cultural and historical value to US history

10 that Elvis won't go away is the ultimate proof that is he culturally relevant and talented

Helooo, helooo, helooo Pubah(LOL)you are a melodramatic worse than the writers of the soap operas, helooo Keller helooo Kiefer: "When the dogs bark is sign that we go for good road".
Long live the king Elvis Presley!
They are burned because Elvis Presley the the tip of the iceberg of the art and the humanity with kindness that the unhappy G Pubah, Kevin Keller and Kate Kiefer never will possess.G Pubah is a poor hungry stranger. Elvis Presley will always be sent as an example and stone in which many will trip of the envy:P

Gene, I wish I could actually understand what you were trying to say... I am glad that you think we are sad people with no lives because we think Elvis is overrated. Sorry that I had the audacity to believe that people were entitled to an opinion. Look up "opinion" in the dictionary, you might learn a few things.

One thing is "opinion" other is crap and to live on Elvis.In this article of trash clear the one is seen that want to win fast money at the cost of Elvis Presley. That they work on another thing or in another thing.Only I see some poor mediocre envious that want the easy money although it be to vomit lies that other swallow as the dog that eats vomit, citing to a writer on the slander. A thing is the opinion, another the vomiting lies.

And other Elvis fan "He can go where I think with that crap Elvis was the best and still is".

Your lies produced yawn

The question of the millon: if Elvis Presley is so overrated because they write on him?

It's amusing when ignorant kids make lists.

It is not the audacity to say that Presley is overrated that sets the not- so-well informed apart, inviting quick retorts that make sense from those who are really knowledgeable on the subject, but the reasons they cite. Contemplate, if you must, the following statistics.

With 1,234 biographies in print, overrating is no longer an issue, as long as another musician does not draw similar interest. We are therefore talking about an historical figure.

Moreover, one could talk about, say, this or that President being overrated, but only insofar as another president, or his legacy, starts raising the ante to such a degree that the accomplishments of the former start to be seen in a different light, less substantive.

Presley is, in fact, underrated in certain issues, first and foremost as a singer, and as a human being and as a humanitarian as well. Yet, he manages to wipe out the competition, as a solo entertainer, simply because he was the closest anyone could get to being the person millions of people wanted to be, the emphasis being in wanting to be, not wanting to be like, which is different.

Kudos. Elvis is horrible. I really don't get why he's remembered, anymore, than, say, the monkees. Both really terrible bands that never wrote anything.

A person whom I know well, and who read my most recent comment wanted me to clarify the difference between people wanting to be someone, and wanting to be like someone. The latter is usually reserved for certain people whose lives seem extremely rewarding to replicate, career wise.

Millions took inspiration from, say, a person like Nehru, but those who took it from, say, Ghandi, not only proved it, sometimes with their lives, but wanted Ghandi not just as a reference, but inside of them, for life.

However, the difference with those who want to take a person's life as a reference, and what happens with those that want to be that other person, whether they know it, or not, has also a disadvantage with respect of the latter.

An example. You have, say, Martin Luther King as a reference, so the probability that you'll always have in high regard is extremely high. You want to be, say, Martin Luther King and, suddenly, even before you realize it, you also realize you can't be, because of x or y reasons.

Half of the people in this teorethical case would continue with their admiration of MLK, even for life, but the other half won't.

It is called instant envy, the worse feeling one can ever hope to experience. There are even extreme cases when people who want to be someone, but for some reason know they can't or won't, decide to kill those they wished they'd be, like the two persons who assassinated Ghandi and Lennon.

Hey Rob, you're not understanding why Presley is remembered, or that he's horrible, is fine by me. But there you go, again, saying something that surely makes you the most likely target for a tart on your face, when you cite his non-writing skills as a reason for you're not understanding why he would be so remembered, in the first place. All you have to do, is research why would someopne care, in the 1950's, whether a singer wfrote his songs or not.

With a voice, an unrerring ear, a stage act, a presence, a backing band, a manager and a charisma like Presley had, to address not just fans, or the press, or a camera, small, as those that film you when you're going to appear on national television, or of the Panavision type, when you are making a motionm picture, that guy did not need to write a single line, not in 1954, nor would he need it today, to make the huge splash he did. Wishful thinking? Not really, as every rock act that was infleunced by Presley, had he not existed, would have yielded totally different results. It would have been a totally different rock world, so a person with Presley's unique characteristics, the Elvis of 19, mind you, and without wrting skills, would still take this country by storm because everything this teorethical Elvis would do, would be seen as new.

As to the Monkeys, they started being a band that was created, by TV moguls, but little by little they even started to write their songs, so your notion that that was what Presley and the Monkeys had in common goes down the drain. And the reason they are not nearly half remembered as Presley is is also simple. They did not turn the music world upside town, with their advent.

To Jim Burrows

You say: " Contemplate, if you must, the following statistics.

With 1,234 biographies in print, overrating is no longer an issue, as long as another musician does not draw similar interest. We are therefore talking about an historical figure."

?????????

“There have been over 8,000 books about the Beatles"

Only the group!

And the career of the Beatles, it was only 8 years: 1962-1970.!!!

(You can find this information on the news last week)

Hey Bob, you're so easy!! I recommend you stay away from debating me, at least on this particular subject; why" Well, you did not do the proper research. I did, before I wrote the message.

First of all, just type "The Beatles" on the search engine, under books, at Barnes and Noble.

Any book that's been catalogued under the Library of Congress has to be there.

Here's what you'll get, today, not last week.... A whopping 934 (nine hundred and thirty four), items. I repeat, nine hundred and thirty four items.

That's a lot of books, but the four Beatles, as a group, let alone individually, can't hold a candle to the King, in terms of books published, since an identical search under Elvis Presley will yield 1,139 items. yes, 1,139 items.

Now, if you just type Elvis, on the same search engine at Barnes and Noble, you get an additional 90 books, "only" two dozen of which are Elvis-related (LOL), the others being mostly about Elvis Cole, a character in many of Robert Crais novels, based on, yes, you guesses it, Elvis (LOL).

The latter brings me to the other reason you should stay away from debating me.

And that is you don't seem to have read what I stated, and that was that no other musician has received greater attention than Elvis.

Or do you consider the Beatles as a single artist?

Read my statement again, but even the Beatles, as a group, let alone individualy, have less books written about them, than does Elvis.

Sorry...

Hey Bob Marley!! here's how Elvis massacres the members of the Beatles, either collectively or individually, in terms of books published

Beatles 934 vs 1,234 for Elvis

Now, individually

John Lennon 594 vs 1,234 for Elvis
George Harrison 390 vs 1,234 for Elvis
Paul McCartney 314 vs 1,234 for Elvis
Ringo Starr 52 vs 1,234 for Elvis

Now, the only way in which the members of the Beatles can beat Elvis, in terms of books, is if you add not just the number of books written about the Beatles as a group, but those of every book written about any one of the four Beatles, individually, as well.

If you do that, then your theory about their 8 year career goes down the drain, as this would mean you are comparing the life, and after life of Elvis Presley ( 21 whilst alive, plus 31 since he passed away, for a total of 54 years, since he became a public figure), against the life, and after-life, of not just a group which only had a life of 8 years (1962-1970), but adding the individual totals of the 4 members, namely,

i) 39 years for Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, each, as active solo artists (that's 78 years between the two who are alive).

ii) 11 for Lennon whilst alive, plus 28 since he was assassinated, for a total of 39, as well.

Finally, the same for Harrison.

That's 39 years, each, multiplied by 4, for a total of 156, plus the 8 when they were together, remember?, Well that's 164 cumulative career years for the 4 Beatles, against 54 by Elvis.

Case closed...

Hell yes, Tupac twitters!

The Library of Congress:

"American Memory is a gateway to rich primary source materials relating to the history and culture of the United States."

And the Beatles wasn't an American group

Usa are not the center of the world.

So, clic news on google, and you will see the true

"There have been over 8,000 books about the Beatles"

Only the group!!!

Despite a very short professional career: 8 years only...1962-1970

You can find this information on Internet!

You can find this information on Internet! click news

Elvis Acting was fabulous in "King (or is Kid?) Creole," and in the one with Hope Lange. In other words, when he had something with real plot & character he pulled it off fabulously. No one could make those other goofy movies seem other than goofy. Watching him it occurs that he was probably too genuine to feel anything other than self-conscious when he knew he was being misused.
I'm obviously no Elvis fanatic (or 'd know the names of those movies), but his voice was/is one of the most incredibly nuanced & affecting voices ever. He had so many beautiful colors in his vocal palette. He was one of the first casualties of unscrupulous management & fame combined.

Firstly:

I'm not a fan of Elvis like you because i don't know all the songs which Elvis sung.

I'm not a fan of Elvis like you because i don't know all the story of Elvis..

Secondly:

I'm not a fan of Elvis like you because i don't know all the songs which Elvis sung, but I know approximately two hundred (200) songs which Elvis sung.

I'm not a fan of Elvis like you because i don't know all the story of Elvis, but i know some information about Elvis.

Third:

Sorry for my basic English, i'm just a little French boy.

As William Shakespeare wrote (to bob marley and lee):

"...But man proud man
dressed in a little brief autorithy
most ignorant of what he´s most assured
(his glassy essence) like an angy ape
plays such phantastic tricks before high heaven as makes the angels weep who,
with our spleens, would all themselves laugh mortal..."

Or as Miguel of Cervantes Saavedra wrote also (to bob marley and lee): "While the dogs bark is sign that we go for good road".

Who cares about the fool quartet and I will never ask for them. And if you are not fan of Elvis Presley: why do you talk and ask about him?????? }:P

Who cares about the fool quartet and I will never ask for them.
And if you are not fan of Elvis Presley: why do you talk and ask about him?????? }:P

to bob market and le: Who cares about the fool quartet and I will never ask for them. And if you are not fan of Elvis Presley: why do you talk and ask about him?????? }:P
"While the dogs bark is sign that we go for good road".

"And if you are not fan of Elvis Presley: why do you talk and ask about him?????? "

I'm a fan of Elvis...but i'm not a fanatic

1/ If you want to listen all the US music of the twentieth century, it's impossible to buy all the discs, all the artists, all the groups.

Too much expensive...

So listen Elvis, because when you listen Elvis you listen all the US music of the twentieth century...

It's the most eclestic singer of the history of American popular music of the twentieth century.

(A Beatles fan who talk about Elvis can't be wrong)

I AGREE, ELVIS SUCKED, AND I WISH HE WOULD GO AWAY. THE MAN HAD VERY LITTLE TALENT. JUST HAPPENED TO BE AT THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME. PEOPLE NEEDED SOMETHING DIFFERENT BACK IN THE BORING 50'S. LONG LIVE THE BEATLES!

I agree with Keith as well. Paste should fire this writer. No publicity is bad publicity in this case I guess.

I agree. I dont get y ppl are in love love love with this man (or Micharl Jackson). Y there elvis impersonators, so stupid.

Graceland, Priscilla, & LisaMarie Pressley all need 2 [b]cut a WEEKLY check[/b] --yes I said WEEKLY- [b]checks[/b] 2 Big Mama Thornton's heirs, Otis Blackwell's heirs, & Ken Darby's heirs.

There are so many things wrong with this article that I don't even know where to begin. Paste magazine's tagline is "Signs of life in film, music and culture" but yet Kevin and Kate obviously have not understood the attraction of Elvis Presley.

Elvis had such a profound influence on Paul McCartney and John Lennon that they did not even think about being in music until they heard Elvis Presley.

John Lennon said it best "Before Elvis, There Was Nothing"

You failed to open your think tanks for this article if you cannot figure out the impact and talent Elvis had on music history and culture and feel he is overrated.

For this story, you should have changed the magazine's name to "Waste" magazine.

All The Best,
Cory Cooper
Elvis Historian, Consultant, Technical Advisor
ElvisExpert@aol.com

I don't think elvis is overrated or underrated...he is just rated. He is remembered as a beloved icon. he isn't the best singer or actor or whatever. but he has spanned generations...not many people have done that...so you don't like elvis...i'm sure plenty of people don't...but the article just seems unnecessary...just because you don't like something doesn't mean it's overrated...but whatever...its just a really obviously biased article...whatever...

As a musician, I think Elvis is actually underrated. Too many people confuse Elvis the musician with Elvis the icon. His music (especially that of his later years) doesn't really get that much attention; Elvis (the person) does.

The writers of the article, and all those who agree with them, simply don't understand how influential he was. Among those to cite Elvis as an influence include The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Led Zeppelin, David Bowie, Bruce Springsteen, The Who, The Doors, Tom Petty, Elton John...and the list just goes on. Think about this; without Elvis, rock music (and music in general) wouldn't be as we know it.

First off I am a 49 year old woman who has been a diehard Elvis fan since I was 5 years old. I have been to Graceland many times over the years and I have literally made friends with tons of wonderful Elvis fans all around the world through the internet and on my many trips to Graceland not to mention with some of Elvis' family and friends to. The Elvis fans are the best and most loyal fans of any entertainer in history and they always stick up for Elvis and always will and I know your disgraceful article will stir up alot of anger amongst the Elvis fans. I hope they bombard you with letters. How dare you disrespect the memory and legacy of such a wonderful, kind, caring, loving, very generous and extremely talented man like Elvis. You should be ashamed of yourself. You could only wish that you were as loved and respected by thousands of people around the world like Elvis is and that you are as popular as Elvis is which you will never be. Elvis was and always will be the Greatest Entertainer and Singer to ever walk the face of this earth not to mention a wonderful and very talented actor to. There is so much more to Elvis that makes his fans and literally thousands of people all around the world love him and respect him the way we do such as the fact that Elvis had so much respect for his fellow mankind, he had a deep spiritual side to him and was very religious. He loved God and his country and he proudly served in the army without wanting any special favors. Elvis loved his family, friends, fans and total strangers and he constantly was giving away money, cars, houses, jewelry, animals to people and charties. You name it he gave it away. And these are only some of the many reasons his fans love him and respect him so much. Could you leave a legacy behind like he has, No you can not and you never will. So why don't you just stop disrespecting such a wonderful person like Elvis and just keep your disgraceful comments to yourself. Like I said I hope the Elvis fans bombard your mailbox with letters telling you off because you certainly deserve to be put in your place.

Gigi Dixon

Elvis is underrated! The fact is he started a revolution and paved the way for others. His style was and is unique because he dared to experiment. Yes the movies were bad written. But it takes a good actor to make these movies watchable and Elvis did that. They are still watched by millions. And movies such as “King Creole”, “Flaming Star”, “Change of Habit” and “Charro” are all great movies that unfortunately doesn’t get as much deserved credit.
As for the rest, they are all out of context. Before you make such stupid statements about an CULTURAL icon you should go get your FACT straights! Like it or not, Elvis started a culture, a revolution. Without him there would be no Beetles, nor a Britney spears!

You have obviously done this to get a reaction & to get attention
There are millions of Elvis fans world wide.
I think that says it all, Don't you?

Obviously Elvis must have made an impression on you, why else bother to write this clap trap? for everyone of your 10 reasons, there are 10'000 fabs, that says it all doncha think!! Get a Life!!

How can you compare a group of 4 to one man?????? You need to do your homework better. This really ticks me off and the person that says Elvis sucks, rock on Beatles, well I can tell you, he has more die hard fans then the Beatles ever will!!!! So put that in your pipe and smoke it!!!! Do more then 75,000 people crowd to the Beatles home once a year and pay tribute to the Beatles???? Hell NO! There's no explaining to you people what this man did for the music in this country, your too stupid to ever understand it.
So pull your head out and come back to reality.

Overated my ass, Elvis influenced a lot of people to go into music as John Lennon said,'before Elvis there was nothing'i agree his films went down hill a bit in the 60's, the same old storyline, but his early films JR, LY, KC, LMT had great story lines & he acted realy well in them, who on todays music industry will be talked about 30yrs after there death ? not many if any, so whatever you say Elvis will still be in front of them all, sounds to me like you should get a life, was you beaten as a child ? was you bullied at school ? there must be something big wrong with that braincell of yours, that is if you have a braincell.

To barbara: I do not understand why you insulted the Beatles.

This is not the Beatles who wrote this article.

Another thing: you write

" Do more then 75,000 people crowd to the Beatles home once a year and pay tribute to the Beatles???? "

No,...only six hundred thousand fans (600,000 fans) go to Liverpool each year to visit historical places concerning the Beatles.

I firmly disagree with Kate and Kevin- Harum Scarum looks absolutely phenomenal.

These graffiti are written by fans who each years coming from Asia, Continental Europe, Africa, South America, North America.

It's the most famous studios in the history of popular music of the twentieth century.>

These graffiti are written by millions of fans who each years coming from Asia, Continental Europe, Africa, South America, North America.

It's the most famous studios in the history of popular music of the twentieth century.>

Each three months the mayor of London must clean thousands of graffiti on the walls of Abbey Road.
These graffiti are written by millions of fans who each years coming from Asia, Continental Europe, Africa, South America, North America.
It's the most famous studios in the history of popular music of the twentieth century.

You know what I am so sick and tired of people kicking people to the dirt when they can't be here to defend themselves. I hope that ever Elvis Fan out here rips you a new one. Who are you to say that Elvis was and is still over rated? Seems to me a bit of jealosy is involved because you will never have a legacy like Elvis had. Or be loved and admired as Elvis still is today nearly 32 years after his death and the love for him will continue long after we are all gone. So get over it. Leave him alone and further more get off us Elvis fans. We will continue to
stand behind Elvis til the day we die and our kids and grandkids who have become Elvis fans as well will beat you down. This is not the first time I have had issues with reporters and it sure won't be my last. One turned tails and supports Elvis after all the letters and emails he had from around the world. Want his name I will gladly give it to you if you do in a private email. Just keep saying all the garbage you want, but we'll still be here to defend Elvis!!!!!!!
Still TCBing for Elvis here in Michigan

If you think it a good intellectual exercise to separate a cultural icon from his cultural context, I guess you could see Elvis in that light. To my way of thinking, those ten bullet points are the very reasons Elvis is awesome.

Movies? Name another musician turned actor that made as many that made as much money in today's dollars. The fact that many of them were junk means that E carried those pictures with little more than a few songs and the force of his personality, wit and charm.

Songwriting credits? Elvis was not alone but, indeed, as pointed out above, was a major force in doing away with a sordid practice that's creeping back into the business today.

The Title? I'll admit that I once thought Chuck Berry was more deserving of that title, but I believe I've since been proven wrong, from any number of angles. He certainly had some kingly qualities among them humility, generosity and the common touch of elevating his fans by his presence, making them feel like kings. And as has been pointed out, he disliked the appellation, it was hung on him by others.

Amazing Grace? I can't think of any major artist who had such outrageously successful careers in two genres simultaneously.

Fashion? Okay, you got me there, but the cape was "borrowed" from James Brown, and the sideburns are making a comeback, in case you haven't noticed.

Vegas? Yeah, Elvis invented what guys like Sinatra used to call Las Vegas FU money, so guilty as charged, but still awesome.

The Impersonators. Of which there'd be none if there weren't a market, and there are more working E impersonators than any other variety.

Jailhouse Rock? Why am I not surprised you didn't go into more detail, there? Something you didn't like about the innovative choreography, the camera angles, the impassioned (as usual) vocal performance?

Graceland-I think it more than holds its own both as a monument to bad 70s taste and a clue to The King's psyche, and also shows you can't take the country out of the boy.

He won't go away. Damn straight. Long live The King.

your a tossa mate, not worth bothering with, as is some of your mates replys FACT ELVIS IS STILL THE WORLDS BIGGEST SELLING ARTIST, SELLING MORE THAN THE BEATLES & SINATRA PUT TOGETHER IN WORLDWIDE SALES, IF YOU THINK ELVIS'S MOVIES WHERE BAD CHECK OUT THE BEATLES, HE DID 28 THEY ABOUT 4/5 SO THEY MAY HAVE BEEN A REASION FOR THAT, IF YOUR GOING TO HAVE A DIG MATE, GET A DECIENT SPADE

So here we have another Gumshoe Reporter spewling discrediting remarks about a person not here to defend theirself. It is obvious you were not "Born to Rock" as our beloved Entertainer of the Century", Elvis Presley was and did. Your razor-tongued lashing list,was quite a boring READ, and not the least bit amusing . I am sure your were attempting to get a LOL from your online audience. All you can expect now is an Audience Freeze.
With your very Limited knowledge of the life of Music Icon/ Elvis , it proves to all his fans that you have a jealous, mean streak and you realize that you can never fill his shoes , or "Walk a Mile " in his shoes., so you are trying with many failing attempts to discredit the memory of a person that millions of fans will continue to cherish for longer than you will be reporting, and then some.
So you can take your Ball to another court, because you will never WIN in this game. "Happy Writing"

First of all I have been an ELVIS fan since I was about 4 years old. That has been over 50 years. Second.... Just who do you think you are? Who made you judge,jury and executor? It's obivious to me as it is to any Elvis Fan that you don't have a rat's ass of an idea as to what you are talking about. If your going to write about someone, then please do your research and get it straight. Can you name another entertainer that still has the power of ELVIS? NO........I didn't think so. If it was your intention to insult fans of ELVIS, then you did your job. But, the backlash will be remembered long after your comments are gone from anyone's memory. I could give you 10 reasons why I think you are CRAZY. But any true ELVIS fan would already know those reasons. Now, get a life and leave ELVIS alone. As I'm sure you've seen, he is dearly loved by many, many people. I love him, always have and will until the day I die.

Patricia Emanuel
Panama City, FL.

To Jimi Hendrix, when Barbara asked whether more then 75,000 people "crowd to the Beatles home once a year and pay tribute to the Beatles", your answer should have been no, since they don't have a home, so to speak; what they have, as we all know, is 4 homes where they grew up, then there's the recording studios, and all the places that are related to the Beatles, and which they tour, in numbers exceeding 600,000. That should have been your answer.

However, please note that what Barbra should have asked, instead, is whether the city of Liverpool can claim to have more visitors because of the Beatles than would the city of Memphis, because of Elvis. That's my question to you. And the answer is no.

Why? Well, visitors to Graceland, last year, remained at 650,000 inspite of what was, throughout 2008, extremely high gas and airplane ticket prices.

This figure does not include the thousands who visit Graceland in both January and August (their numbers depending on whether the year falls on an important anniversary), nor does it include the 120,000 who visit Presley's home in Tupelo, 90 miles away, where he was born, nor the 200,000 who visit the SUN studios, in downtown Memphis.

The 650,000 figure refers to those who tour the house, and pay in between US$30 and US$70 dollars to do so.

That's one of the reasons why Presley is the top money maker of those celebrities who are no longer with us, making US$50m last year, as per Forbes magazine, a figure that's actually five times as much what as John Lennon made, and at least 15 times as much as George Harrison, or their respective estates made, I should say, in the period from October 2007, to October 2008.

In fact, in 2008, the Presley estate, 31 years after he passed away, made more than the combined total of three of the members of the Beatles, the only Beatle making more than what the deceased Presley made being Paul, whose income was about US$75 million, also in the period noted above.

you are just a fuckwit mate, you write a lot of shit.

Just the fact that we are still discussing Elvis 55 years after his emergence proves these writers know nothing. He brought rock and roll out of the cultural darkness (radio/TV/movies/print) and made it ok for kids to have their own music.
There was nothing before EP. His looks, style, coolness, rebel attitude and sound were a revelation to young people. My God, he shook his hips on TV and they wouldn't show it. So he did it some more until he prevailed. Suddenly, there was more than Julius LaRosa and Lawrence Welk for modern ears.

All these other Elvis fans have covered most of the point I wanted to make, but I just wanted to comment on your remarks about how he sang "Amazing Grace". He did a beautiful job on this song, sang it with great reverence as he did all religious songs. And he could not help the fact that his voice sounds sexy. That's just his beautiful voice!

Elvis Presley
Induction Year: 1986 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Induction Category: Performer

Elvis Presley is the undisputed King of Rock and Roll. He rose from humble circumstances to launch the rock and roll revolution with his commanding voice and charismatic stage presence. In the words of the historical marker that stands outside the house where he was born: “Presley’s career as a singer and entertainer redefined popular music.”

Presley was born in Tupelo, Mississippi, on January 8, 1935, and grew up surrounded by gospel music of the Pentecostal church. In 1948 the family moved to Memphis, where he was exposed to blues and jazz on Beale Street. After graduating from high school in 1953, an 18-year-old Presley visited the Memphis Recording Service - also the home of Sun Records - to record his voice. Owner/producer Sam Phillips was struck by the plaintive emotion in Presley’s vocals and subsequently teamed him with guitarist Scotty Moore and bassist Bill Black. In July 1954 the trio worked up “That’s All Right” and “Blue Moon of Kentucky” - blues and country songs, respectively - in a crackling, uptempo style that stands as the blueprint for rock and roll.

After five groundbreaking singles, Presley’s contract was sold to RCA Records and his career quickly took off. “I Forgot to Remember to Forget” - his last single for Sun and first for RCA - went to #1 on the country charts. “Heartbreak Hotel,” a haunting ballad, became his first across-the-board hit, holding down the top spot for eight weeks. Presley’s hip-shaking performances on a series of TV variety shows, including Ed Sullivan’s, generated hysteria and controversy. From blistering rockers to aching balladry, Presley captivated and liberated the teenage audience. His historic string of hits in 1956 and ‘57 included “Don’t Be Cruel,” “Hound Dog,” “Love Me Tender,” “All Shook Up” and “Jailhouse Rock.”

Presley’s career momentum was interrupted by a two-year Army stint in Germany, where he met his future wife, Priscilla. For much of the Sixties, he occupied himself with movie-making and soundtrack-recording. His albums of sacred songs, such as How Great Thou Art, stand out from this otherwise fallow period. Presley’s standing as a rock and roller was rekindled with an electrifying TV special, simply titled Elvis and broadcast on December 3, 1968. He followed this mid-career renaissance with some of the most mature and satisfying work of his career. Recording in Memphis, he cut such classic tracks as “In the Ghetto, “Suspicious Minds” and “Kentucky Rain” with the soulful, down-home musicians at American Studio.

If the Fifties were devoted to rock and roll and the Sixties to movies, the Seventies represent the performing chapter in Presley’s career. He toured constantly, performing to capacity crowds around the country until his death. Presley died of a heart attack at Graceland, his Memphis mansion, on August 16, 1977. He was 42 years old. How big was Elvis?

Statistically, he holds records for the most Top Forty hits (107), the most Top Ten hits (38), the most consecutive #1 hits (10) and the most weeks at #1 (80). As far as his stature as a cultural icon, which continues to grow even in death, writer Lester Bangs said it best: “I can guarantee you one thing - we will never again agree on anything as we agreed on Elvis.”

1/ First part of my answer

I think you made a big mistake.

This mistake is called:

"The Cult Of Personality"

Indeed,you say:

"That's one of the reasons why Presley is the top money maker of those celebrities who are no longer with us, making US$50m last year, as per Forbes magazine, a figure that's actually five times as much what as John Lennon made, and at least 15 times as much as George Harrison, or their respective estates made, I should say, in the period from October 2007, to October 2008."

But you don't talk about the Beatles(1962-1970)

When Mikhail Gorbachev said: "more than any ideology, more than any religion, more than Vietnam or any war or nuclear bomb, the single most important reason for the diffusion of the Cold War was...the Beatles."

Mikhail Gorbachev talk about the Beatles...not George Harrison or John Lennon.

He talk about the Beatles: 1962-1970

And you understand, if a man so serious than Mikhail Gorbachev believes that the Beatles are so important, it's because this group was not only a musical revolution, but also a sociological and cultural revolution.

So i don't understand why you carefully avoided to talk about the Beatles.(1962-1970)

He don't talk about John, Paul, George and Ringo, he talk about the Beatles(1962-1970)

The Beatles it's an entity...like Elvis.

But please, do not tell me that Elvis was alone and the Beatles was 4 men because you will prove your..."the cult of personality"

In concert Elvis wasn't alone ( musicians and chorists)

In studio Elvis wasn't alone(musicians;chorists;composer; authors)

Oh yeah, you can say people go to Graceland for Elvis but not for musicians,chorists,composers, and authors who worked durind 21 years with or for Elvis.(1956-1977)

Yes it's true, but I may be vicious like you and saying:

"But without all these musicians,chorists,composers, and authors, Elvis would be unknown today"

But i'm a serious little boy and i'm saying that people go to Graceland because Elvis is an entity.

The word "Elvis" is an entity like "Disney" ... ... or "Beatles"

People go to Liverpool each year for the Beatles, it's for the Beatles...Not for Ringo, Paul,George or John...Just for the Beatles.

Everyone on Earth knows the word "Beatles"

All people on our planet does not know the word "Ringo"

All people on our planet does not know the word "Scotty" (Scotty_Moore)

Everyone on Earth knows the word "Elvis"

I hope you understand my basic English.(Hey, I'm a French boy)

To Jim Burrows.

(The previous post was me : just a mistake for my nickname)

Second part of my answer.

You made another mistake when you write:

"what they have, as we all know, is 4 homes where they grew up, then there's the recording studios, and all the places that are related to the Beatles, and which they tour, in numbers exceeding 600,000. That should have been your answer."

Excuse me, but 600,000 fans per year, it's just for the city of Liverpool.

The recording studios like you write aren't in Liverpool but they are in London.

USA Today (24 March 2009)

"If you can't make it to Liverpool on your next trip to England but you're a Beatles fan, there are plenty of places in and around London where you can pick up the trail of the Fab Four.

A new book called The Beatles' London: A Guide to 467 Beatles Sites in and around London, published by the Northampton-based Interlink Publishing Group, shows you where they performed and recorded, where they lived, where they filmed movies, press pictures and album covers, and even where they ate, partied and married. The band members lived and worked in the city beginning in 1963.

Places where the group performed included the London Palladium, 7-8 Argyll Street, and the Prince Of Wales Theatre, 31 Coventry St., where the audience for one gig included the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret. In 1963 they briefly lived together at 57 Green St., until fans outside became such a nuisance that they had to leave, and they conducted the business side of their enterprise in various locations, included Apple headquarters at 3 Savile Row.

Most of their recordings were made at the famous Abbey Road Studios, 3 Abbey Road, but it was in a basement at 57 Wimpole St. where Paul McCartney and John Lennon once sat at a piano and wrote I Want To Hold Your Hand in 1963."

To Jim Burrows

3rd part of my answer

Excuse me, another wrong information in your post.

You wrote:

"That's one of the reasons why Presley is the top money maker of those celebrities who are no longer with us, making US$50m last year, as per Forbes magazine, a figure that's actually five times as much what as John Lennon made, and at least 15 times as much as George Harrison, or their respective estates made, I should say, in the period from October 2007, to October 2008."

"John Lennon made, and at least 15 times as much as George Harrison"

Why you carefully avoid talking about the Beatles???

Your number((if correct?)concerning ONLY George Harrison and Only John Lennon.

Not The Beatles(the group)

Liverpool Daily Post(Jun 27 2007)
(you can find on Internet: extract)

"How much is the Beatles legacy worth?"

This is all part of the Beatles’ story and a man who knows a lot about that is Jerry Goldman, the 60-year-old director of the Beatles Story museum and shop on Liverpool’s Albert Dock.

He calculates how much the Fab Four are worth to the local economy and their value is going up all the time, as Liverpool prepares to be one of the world’s greatest tourist destinations.

Of course, there are other reasons. We can anticipate the big bucks rolling in during next year’s European Capital of Culture and there should be benefits from this 800th anniversary of King John granting Liverpool its Royal Charter.

Grand National weekend packs all the hotels. Thousands visit the two cathedrals and Anfield and Goodison Park every year.

However, the impact of all these attractions is minor compared to that of the Beatles.

Jerry has been at the Beatles Story for five years. Last year it had a turnover of £1.5m and attracted more than 200,000 visitors.

“That is the tip of the iceberg as far as Liverpool and the Beatles are concerned,” he says. “There are three ways in which the Beatles influence the local economy.

“The first is the direct effect of Beatles on tourism – the people who come here only or mainly because of the Beatles. They do the Beatles Story, the Magical Mystery Tour etc. I reckon there are half a million of those a year. I think a fair estimate is that they spend £400 each. That includes hotel accommodation, attractions and shopping. So you have a direct spend of around £200m.

The second way the Beatles help the city is as a hook which gets people’s attention. When you market Liverpool you go to a trade show and the tour operators come and see you or a public show or read the articles in a newspaper, they are attracted to the Beatles.

“The Beatles are as strong as football in attracting people’s attention. Once their attention is caught they learn that Liverpool has wonderful cathedrals, galleries and beautiful buildings and nice restaurants and good hotels and it is probably worth going to see. That has to be very significant. What caught their attention was the Beatles, without them, they wouldn’t have come. I think that is worth an equal amount.

“Then you have to think of those direct Beatles’ tourists again. They have no idea about what else is in Liverpool. They want to see The Cavern, Mathew Street, John Lennon’s house and so on. At first, they have very low expectations of what is in Liverpool, but they are staggered by what they find here.

“I would say that direct Beatles’ tourism is worth £200m, but the wider figure is between £500m and a billion pounds.”

“There is no evidence that the Beatles’ phenomenon in Liverpool is slowing down, but there is great evidence that it is increasing,” says Jerry. “People think we must be getting a lot of 60 and 70-year-olds coming through, but are surprised to find that it is all ages with loads and loads of young people, who have discovered Beatles’ music

“Everywhere in the world, the kids are taught Beatles’ music. The Beatles Story is looking to increase business by 25% over last year and it was a tremendous year.

“This is what Memphis has got so right. They were also quite slow at the beginning to recognise the potential of Elvis. But once they decided to sell it as the City of Elvis, tourism rocketed."

"“I would say that direct Beatles’ tourism is worth £200m, but the wider figure is between £500m and a billion pounds.”"

£200 million = US$ 291million

£500 million = US$ 728 million

£1 billion = US$ 1.45 billion

Like you see, the Beatles are the Beatles.

Your number concerning only one(1) person.

Probably another example of " The cult of Personality"

What counts is the entity

The Beatles is a business more important than Elvis, John, Paul George and Ringo all reunite.

World record for the Twentieth Century

The two most important financial proposals for a Single Concert

February 1976 (6 years after the break-up of the Beatles).

"At the start of the month, Bill Sargent, a Los Angeles pop promoter, offers The Beatles a guaranteed $50 million to perform one reunion concert, which will be televised on closed circuit television throughout the world. His basic plans are laid out as follows:

1. All four Beatles will perform live at any location of their choice, anywhere in the world, and that they may perform individually but they must play together for a minimum of at least 20 minutes.

2. Bill Sargent will retain all rights and all interests in the show in all media in perpetuity. He estimates that the cost of putting on the concert will be about $68,000,000 but, by charging $50 a seat at all cinemas showing the closed circuit broadcast, he believes he can gross approximately $150,000,000 in one single night. First reports suggest that The Beatles are keen on the idea, although there are complications that stand in their way. Sargent reveals that he has met with lawyer David Braun, who represents George, and that John is "keen on the idea", having suggested a reunion some weeks before the news of Sargent's offer broke."

The Beatles refused!

$50 million in 1976 = $187 million in 2008.

7 months after : 20 september 1976

"Sid Bernstein - a promoter for the early Beatle tours in America - publicly offers the Beatles $230 million dollars if they would re-unite to do a concert for charity. John, Paul, George and Ringo turn down the offer."

$230 million dollars in 1976 = $863 million dollars in 2008.

To Jim Burrows:

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25255452-5006016,00.html

"Esposito also said Presley was not manipulated by controversial manager Col. Tom Parker and got upset by charges he sexualised music."

Your opinion?

What brainiac started this mess? Let's go over these ten so'called "Reasons Why Elvis Presley Is Overrated". What a ridiculous statement! #1.The Movies: Elvis was a very successful movie star. Granted, he was no great actor but that was not for lack of trying. Supply and demand; the fans got what they wanted. If you want DeNiro and Pacino, then watch DeNiro and Pacino! #2. The Fake Songwriting Credits: True, Presley was no songwriter, but as far as the ones he was listed on, all parties agreed to that agreement, no strong-arm tactics were used and Elvis' name only appears on a mere handful of titles. #3. The title, "The King Of Rock 'n' Roll": If anyone deserves that title, it's Elvis. John Lennon himself said, "If it weren't for Elvis, there wouldn't have been The Beatles". The King has had the furthest reaching influence on American pop culture more than anyone before or since. #4. "Amazing Grace" (and other terrible gospel songs): You're entitled to your opinion but this song was featured on an album that won a grammy award and as far as the remainder of his gospel recordings go, well, Elvis has been inducted into the Gospel Music Hall Of Fame. #5. The Fasion: Elvis started a lot of trends in his time. His jumpsuits may not fit today's style, but in his time it inspired other artists to copy him, like The Osmonds, The Lettermen and even Evel Kenevil. Elvis didn't invent sideburns, so that's just plain silly. It turned into a trend many copied but Elvis himself was one of the first to buck the trend by shaving them off for his 1958 movie, King Creole. #6. Vegas: If you knew anything about Elvis, then you'd know he didn't perform the same exact show every single time he performed in Vegas. He constantly changed the lineup not only for his fans, but for himself as well. If you're going to blame anyone for Celine Dion's concerts, blame Celine Dion! #7. The Impersonators: Sure, it's easy to be a bad Elvis impersonator, but very difficult to be a good one. To say most of what made Elvis memorable had nothing to do with music is one of the stupidest things I've ever heard. #8. Jailhouse Rock: I see no comments under this entry. It is, however one of Elvis' greatest rock songs. #9. Graceland: How many generations of Elvis fans have been visiting now, for years? How do you know parents drag their kids there, unwillingly? Another stupid statement. #10. He won't go away: Great talent doesn't go away, it lasts. Each generation discovers the greatness known as Elvis Presley and the supply & demand goes on. Elvis may have never written a song, but neither did Sinatra. If anything, Elvis is UNDERRATED as one of the greatest singers of all time.

Hello: I'm searching a information

Elvis performed 837 concerts in Las Vegas.

But how many people saw Elvis during this 837 concerts?...(total)

Thank you in advance

I support coop I suport jim burrows. Shut up Jimi Hendrix you piece of Itchy hyena of the envy. While you speak of Elvis presley means that is more important than you piece of drugged hendrix

Shut up Jimi Hendrix you piece of Itchy hyena of the envy. While you speak of Elvis presley means that is more important than you piece of drugged hendrix

But how many people saw Elvis during this 837 concerts?...(total)

>>>>>>>>>>>>

The showroom in the International, later the Las Vegas Hilton, held over 2,000 seats. Multiply that by 837 shows (dinner and midnight and sometimes 3am for about 2 weeks straight) and you will get your number. During the 70s, that showroom was the largest in town and only Elvis could fill it. Back in the day, the Hilton had quite a roster of stars, and #1 was ELVIS. Elvis won attendance records for many years in a row, acknowledged by the media, tourism agencies and all Vegas hotels.
You're welcome!
Sue L
Viva Las Vegas Fan Club

To sue: Thank you for your reply

Fuck this stupid article. It doesnt make sense. Really it does not. Overrated because of graceland? What the fuck does that mean. Stupid shitheads. I mean what the fuck is pastemagazine anyways. Cancer of our society that's what. Fuck the writer of this article. I hope he becomes impotent and gets repeatedly raped by angry buffalo's.

Elvis Presley was a great singer and entertainer with a fantastic
vocal range.
And what is this crap about him not
writing his own songs.Who cares.
Do great actors write their own movies,
I dont think so.
All i can say is that you are idiots
that like to make up junk.

Elvis Presley is king forever

This article is not criticism, those are cheap shots based on twisted facts just to get a reaction. Ten pieces of truth all twisted up in a ridiculous way just to put him down with no other propose than what? to show all over that you are witty music critic that is telling what nobody dares to say? give me a F"#$ break! This is the same kind of stuff that had been said over and over about Elvis, overrating his failures but giving no light about the man.
No, I do not expect Elvis always receiving praise and flowers every time they write an article about him in a mag, I do expect serious criticism biased on facts and aiming to understand from a different perspective (the fan one) the phenomena that he represents.
Signs of live in music, film and culture? Cheap journalism I would say.
Good Luck.

This article is not serious criticism, just cheap shots based on twisted facts to get a reaction. Ten pieces of truth all twisted up in a ridiculous way just to put him down with no other propose than what? to show all over that you are witty music critic that is telling what nobody dares to say? give me a F"#$ break! Those were the 10 most overrated fallacies that have been said over and over about this man.

No, I do not expect Elvis always receiving praise and flowers every time someone write an article about him in a mag. I do expect serious criticism biased on facts aiming to understand from a different perspective (other than fan praise) the phenomena that he represents.

Signs of live in music, film and culture? cheap music journalism I would say by this kind of article.

Good luck lads.

Just for the record:
"He plays a movie star (naturally) who’s kidnapped and taken to a Middle Eastern country where he’s enlisted by—get this—the Lord of Assassins to kill an Arabian king". Was the Beatles movie "Help" plot, to far from that? both movies are nothing but an example of the same crap, just as "Jailhouse Rock" and "Hard Day's Night" are examples of the same formula in a successful way.
"Elvis hardly wrote any of his songs, but he sure got credit for all of them." ALL of them? now that is simply lying. That stuff was standard practice in all mayor record labels. Yes Elvis agreed doing that when he started with RCA, he did not do that while on SUN records, but the fact here is, he was one of the first performers to put a stop to that practice, and you don´t find that happening anymore since early 1957, so one year and a couple of months from a 22 years recording career is ALL of them?
Now to state that Elvis (A PERFORMER) is overrated cause he did not write all of his music, is as narrow as to state that Pomus/Shuman, Holland/Dozier/Holland or Leiber/Stoller (SONGWRITERS), are overrated in music history cause they did not perform all of his material !!!
"...to hold the title of "The King" one should be the most influential in all of rock music." According to who? Anyhow, Elvis never asked neither proclaimed himself the owner of that title, in fact he hated it. It was AMERICAN media how came out with that, this guys are right on one thing: "it's questionable whether anyone deserves the title." But if we are to proclaim one according to this people and their "one should be the most influential...", Elvis surely is, as he is the rosette stone of all of what rock music was gonna be about, and that also includes his biggest failures.
"Elvis recorded nearly 100 gospel songs over the course of his career, and rarely, if ever, did he bother to drop his affected delivery out of reverence. There's nothing wrong with making a song sound sexy, but hands off the Hymnal, Your Majesty." Get a book and learn from where this guy Elvis came from, and what were his true aims and also his achievements by recording gospel. In fact I would rather say, get a book and just learn a bit about Gospel music.
About the fashion issue, he was a trend setter in the 50's, and didn't MIck Jagger during the '72 Northamerican tour had a jumpsuit, identical to one Elvis used during his Sep/Nov 1970 Tours?
"Whether Elvis was drawn to Vegas, or Vegas was drawn to Elvis, the relationship was a match made in a rhinestone-adorned hell—giving rise to a culture of unoriginal shows that consistently place style over substance." Really, did Elvis gave birth to that? or was he a victim of that already existing culture which is the core of American entertainment, or should I say even music journalism, well no, this guys didn't even got a decent writing style.
About the impersonators, what does Elvis had to do with them, that is just plain US alienation feeded by mags like this. Easy to impersonate him? Sure I guess that why they all suck at it.
"Jailhouse Rock", overrated? well only in the way "Hard Day's Night", the Woodstock and Monterey Pop festivals, and any other iconic rock music entity.
Parents dragging their kids to Graceland, well that might happen in the same way parents drag their kids to any other place, but to get the facts right, most of Graceland visitors are aged between 25 to 45, perfect adults far removed from the original Elvis fans, visiting the site on their own will.
"He won't go away". No, HE WON'T.

Kevin Keller and Kate Kiefer
If you look in the 2009 dictonary edition They are mention as Stupid and overated bitch!

Kevin Keller and Kate Kiefer
If you look in the 2009 dictonary edition They are mention as Stupid and overated bitch!

To jimi hendrix
quote Esposito also said Presley was not manipulated by controversial manager Col. Tom Parker and got upset by charges he sexualised music.

Esposito was The old Col's right hand man in the Memphis Mafia!!!!! I don't believe a word he says. He always tries to make himself the look the best.

As for the writers of this article. Only Elvis Presley is in every music hall of fame!!! Enough said.

10 reasons why Elvis is still the KING.

The first ROCK superstar
Most influential recording artist of all time
Fused a combination of different types of music to produce a new sound
Broke the ground for black music to gain wider acceptance
Established the Guitar as the principal instrument of Rock
The most exciting and charismatic stage performer of all time
Greatest vocal range of any popular singer
Biggest selling recording artist of all time – over a billion
More Platinum and Gold certifications than anyone else
The first live international broadcast of a concert from Hawaii , watched by over a billion

Long live The KING OF ROCK. May he rest in peace. Thank you ELVIS for everything you did.

This lis is obviously written by someone who is too young or just too ignorant to understand the cultural importance of Elvis Presley. You don't have to like Elvis but you do need to understand his cultural impact. You say that the Beatles should hold the title of Kings of Rock and Roll but the truth of the matter is that there would not have been a Beatles had it not been for the success of Elvis. He is the reason rock and roll music is where it is today. He didn't invent it, but he broke down the doors to get it heard. The whole name on the credits deal to make money was not just done with him. Every artist back then was involved with that. As for his sideburns, that was the style at the time. It wasn't just Elvis growing sideburns because he wanted to be different. The jumpsuits also reflected the times. Do you think Kiss is wrong for the make up and their outfits? Those are along the same vein. Don't blame the man for styles of the past. And don't blame the man for what happened after he died. He can't control any of that.
Again, you don't have to like him, but you do need to understand where he fits in rock and roll history. All of your favorite bands owe him their existence.

Who ever these two person are they know nothing at all about Elvis or his music
The way they talk about his gospel music
well he won 3 Grammy Awards for his gospel music.
he has sold more records and has more gold and platinum awards than any recording star in history,Elvis is in the Rock n Roll / Country Music /Gospel Music halls of fame he is the only person to do this. Elvis was honored with the first posthumous presentation of the Award of Merit by the American Music Awards

i absolutely 100% agree with this article. elvis was overhyped. im glad the writers of this article had the guts to stand up and make note of this. during his peak in the 50s, chuck berry, little richard, fats domino, etc. were far more talented. in the 60s he was upstaged by rolling stones, beatles, every Motown artist, etc. he used comeback concerts in the 60s and 70s just to hang on. on top of this, he did not write his own songs (which were, for the most part, overrated themselves) and was a terrible actor at best. but he was a good looking man, at least early on, and it was admirable that he enrolled in the armed forces.

The guy that wrote this list is obviously a Beatles fan. Elvis is pretty much neck and neck with the beatles but the difference is that he did it all by himself where it took 4 guys to accomplish close to what Elvis did.Elvis is called the king for a reason and he had staying power.Look at Aloha from hawaii in 1973. It was one of the biggest events ever and 1.6 BILLION people all over the world watched it on satelite and he also holds the record for selling out MSG 4 times in a row.The man has been dead for over 30 years and he is still the most famous singer ever,even little kids know who he is. Dont ever diss the king again or I will find you and smack you.

There are many blind people out here in the world.Rock n Roll was a genre that was not excepted(I keep hearing people say "Elvis is the king" "Elvis made rock n roll what it is", oh yeah and the best "he opened the doors for the rest to follow",which may be, true but why?)because of the people who originally inspired the sound,and worked their souls through to make this music.That includes writing the song, playing the song, owning the song.All you hear is Elvis sold so many records made so much money,the reason all the above may be true is because,nobody wants a nigger around.So when Black's were making this music,which I would imagine if anyone other than Blacks(coons,monkeys,niggras)heard this music they had to bite their lips to keep from moving and grooving to the beat, otherwise they would be a race traitor or nigger lovers.That was a time then and now where in societies eyes Blacks were good for nothing,so when Elvis came along(his manager even said,if he could find someone with a black(nigger)feel,who wasn't Black he could make a lot of money)whites would not have to admit blacks had something to offer the world,that wasn't straight from "THE BIRTH OF A NATION" KKK classic.In the beginning even called it race music so as not to be associated with it.Then when Elvis and other whites started performing black songs white America said"this white boy is pertty darn good" let's crown him king and claim the scene and that's how it went down.Chuck,Little Richard,Ike never stood a chance as long as whites,owned the record labels,the radio stations and the people.Cause no one likes a Nigger, or his music.

I am STAGGERED - Elvis sold more records than Beatles/Jackson/Stones put together and:

made 30 movies - not the best but cute
first to have satellite broadcast
sold 1 BILLION records
700,000 visit his home annually
his name is known WORLDWIDE
reaches across musical tastes
endures long after his death
you can go to ANY country in the world (I live in Thailand) and you will see Elvis photo's in hotels and bars - where I live there are 3 - count them! 3 Elvis bars!!! how many Beatles/Jackson/Stones bars? Errrrrr let me count... NONE!

Elivs is ENDURING and number ONE without a doubt on any rational scale

Ha! Brilliant list guys. I've always maintained that the best route towards true racial reconciliation is for white people to admit that Elvis was overrated...and for black people to admit that OJ did it.

We're making some progress, I see. Minimal, yes. But progress nonetheless! :)