I really like american history and would like to know what do americans think about Elvis!
2006-06-27 15:29:40 · 7 answers · asked by Curisoso001 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Mythology & Folklore
ELVIS IS an all American Icon who truly changed the cultural landscape in sseveral respects.
However, that said, I believe his accomplishments and his life are rapidly becoming irrelevant to anyone under 30.
Americans in general have a poor appreciation of their own cultural history, and where they came from, and its getting weaker all the time
2006-06-27 15:37:47 · answer #1 · answered by Renegade 5 · 2⤊ 3⤋
They absolutley do! Why? Because Elvis changed the face of music. Although he wasn't the first, and he most certainly didn't do it alone, Elvis had a huge impact on an ever-changing popular culture that would eventually change the nation... rock n' roll.
As most of us know, before Rock n' Roll, music consisted of harmonizing ballads or ditty's that family's can sit around the radio and listen to. But along came power hitters like Elvis, who sang differently than people were used to. Elvis was heavily influenced by music predominately sung by black singers... blues and gospel. This genre of music hadn't yet made it into mainstream, so America wasn't ready for it yet.
When Elvis bursted on the scene swiveling his hips and singing with an extra edgy twang, youngters across the nation lost their mind! This was the future! Something they'd never ever seen. Suddenly fashion started to change. Men exchanged their military buzz cut haircuts for longer side-burned hair shaped by a heavy use of mousse and gel. They even started to dress like Elvis.
Although other people like the Big Bopper, Buddy Holly and Little Richard were already singing Rock n' Roll, Elvis caused a wave of people to adopt the new music almost overnight. Even programs started changing their formats to adapt to the new tunes. For example, before The Ed Sullivan show started producing rock acts, they had your usual jokester and jugglers on the program. And the show was called Toast of the Town. But when Elvis and others came along, the show changed its title along with its format. They still weren't ready for Elvis just yet, though. As you probably already know, they only showed Elvis dancing from the waist up at first, because they felt it was way too provocative for the youth of America.
Elvis many rock n' roll acts to follow... The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, the Motown movement. All acts who influenced music as we know it ourselves. Also, it's pretty much a known fact that rock n' roll eventually shaped public opinion and still does. We can thank Elvis, America's rock n' roll pioneer, for that.
So to answer you question, it wasn't just marketing. Elvis had a huge impact on American culture.
2006-06-27 22:48:43 · answer #2 · answered by friendinneed76 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He is definately an important piece of music history. He advanced rock music and influenced everybody that came afterwards.
However, his image has also become a money maker. He is over-marketed.
2006-06-27 22:33:55 · answer #3 · answered by BAM 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well elvis was in my history text book this year so yea i guess he was a big part of the world when he was alive and made many contributions- personally i love him
2006-06-27 22:34:11 · answer #4 · answered by B 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't care for Elvis or any of his songs; I also don't really like how he sang or dressed, either.
2006-06-27 22:31:32 · answer #5 · answered by Iamnotarobot (former believer) 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the marketing made the culture
2006-06-27 23:11:59 · answer #6 · answered by Cabana C 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
marketing elvis dead is worth more money
2006-06-28 01:54:15 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋