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Elvis is The King...MJ is the King of Pop

No MJ without Elvis.... if for no other reason than Elvis coined flamboyant costumes.

IMO, MJ had the most talent. . .

Great singer. . . dancer. . . performer. . . also, I think, wrote most (all?) of his music. . .

(Maybe the greatest dancer of all time?)

Nothing against Elvis, but he was, at best, two of the above.

Michael...hands down Elvis had no rythm, and could not sing without a choir

They were BOTH kings of their own generation. They even have something in common .. Elvis' daughter

Michael had a bigger impact on the world at large due to video and the internet so his talent reached virtually every corner of the globe, but Elvis will always be the king just because he's, well, Elvis. Michael will always be "The King of Pop" and I wouldn't be surprised if he is just as big in death as in life.

ActiveAndFit saidThey were BOTH kings of their own generation.

Agreed. Furthermore, Elvis preferred to be known as the King of Rock and Roll.

If every station committed to a playlist of either all Elvis or all MJ, my radio would hit the trash faster than you could grab your crotch and emit a high pitched chirp.

Thom Yorke.

I agree with navy96...Elvis is The King...MJ is the King of Pop.

No one on this site actually buys Elvis, let alone listen to him

MJJ.

Better singer.

Better dancer.

Sold more records. The sales of THRILLER alone dwarf Elvis's entire record sales.

Did more tours.

Influenced more music artists than Elvis.

Has more fans than Elvis.

Had a greater impact on the world than Elvis. Remember WE ARE THE WORLD? He co-wrote that song with Lionel Richie and used the proceeds to help starving children in Africa. Remember HEAL THE WORLD?

Although both MJ and Elvis emulated their musical ancestors, MJJ invented a lot of what made him famous. Elvis borrowed a lot of what made him famous. Do you know where?



MJJ is the King. Elvis is, at best, the King of Rock 'n' Roll.

masculine31 saidNo one on this site actually buys Elvis, let alone listen to him

You can say that again. They don't listen to Elvis, but they want to argue that he's king.

MICHAEL JACKSON, of course.

Michael Jackson is the most famous person in the world.

Michael Jackson will never be King until his velvet portrait hangs in trailer homes all over America, and when Michael imitators become as numerous as his former entourage.

BlkMuscleGentYou can say that again. They don't listen to Elvis, but they want to argue that he's king

Yeah, but who here was buying MJ music before he died? MJ stopped being relevant years ago. The same way that Elvis' most important work was his early hits.

Of course most people on this site will pick MJ. How many members are old enough to have seen the influence Elvis had back in the mid-50's?

As for Elvis stealing from black artists here's what Wikipedia says about that:

Presley's early music and live performances are credited with helping to lay a commercial foundation which allowed established black music acts of the 1950s to receive due recognition. Performers like Fats Domino, Chuck Berry and Little Richard, came to national prominence after Presley's mix of musical styles was accepted among White American teenagers.[243] Rather than Presley being seen as a white man who 'stole black music', Little Richard argued: "He was an integrator, Elvis was a blessing. They wouldn't let black music through. He opened the door for black music."[246] Al Green agreed, saying; "He broke the ice for all of us."

I also like these two quotes:

John Lennon said: "Nothing really affected me until I heard Elvis. If there hadn't been an Elvis, there wouldn't have been a Beatles." Bob Dylan said: "When I first heard Elvis' voice I just knew that I wasn't going to work for anybody; and nobody was going to be my boss. Hearing him for the first time was like busting out of jail."

Both artists were important in their day. I think both can be called King without diminishing the other.

madtown said

BlkMuscleGentYou can say that again. They don't listen to Elvis, but they want to argue that he's king

Yeah, but who here was buying MJ music before he died? MJ stopped being relevant years ago. The same way that Elvis' most important work was his early hits.

Of course most people on this site will pick MJ. How many members are old enough to have seen the influence Elvis had back in the mid-50's?

As for Elvis stealing from black artists here's what Wikipedia says about that:

Presley's early music and live performances are credited with helping to lay a commercial foundation which allowed established black music acts of the 1950s to receive due recognition. Performers like Fats Domino, Chuck Berry and Little Richard, came to national prominence after Presley's mix of musical styles was accepted among White American teenagers.[243] Rather than Presley being seen as a white man who 'stole black music', Little Richard argued: "He was an integrator, Elvis was a blessing. They wouldn't let black music through. He opened the door for black music."[246] Al Green agreed, saying; "He broke the ice for all of us."

I also like these two quotes:

John Lennon said: "Nothing really affected me until I heard Elvis. If there hadn't been an Elvis, there wouldn't have been a Beatles." Bob Dylan said: "When I first heard Elvis' voice I just knew that I wasn't going to work for anybody; and nobody was going to be my boss. Hearing him for the first time was like busting out of jail."

Both artists were important in their day. I think both can be called King without diminishing the other.

I'll only address the portion in red.

In my previous post, I said that Elvis Presley BORROWED a lot of what made him famous. (Borrowing musical styles isn't a crime. It's one of the many things musicians do.) I never said he stole anything. The reason Elvis BORROWED is because the music already existed. Yes, his prominence brought visibility and acceptance to those black artists who had failed previously to achieve mainstream success because of their skin color. But that should not diminish the fact that these artists CREATED what Elvis BORROWED. Besides, it's not as if he eventually out-sang or out-wrote these artists. Even Elvis admitted that.

That's my point.

madtown said

Both artists were important in their day. I think both can be called King without diminishing the other.

In this thread you can only choose one King. LOL I guess I should have included "but not both" in my thread title.

Beaux saidIf every station committed to a playlist of either all Elvis or all MJ, my radio would hit the trash faster than you could grab your crotch and emit a high pitched chirp.

QFT

just because one was known as "king", and one was known as "king of pop", doesn't mean the king was better. they both represent different things, to different people, and different generations. calling the king of pop, "king" now, is like changing his name/identity. why would one want to do that?

ME

I am king

Elvis is the king of rock.
Michael is the king of pop.

michaeltex saidElvis is the king of rock.
Michael is the king of pop.

Finally, somebody got it right. Thanks....

michaeltex saidElvis is the king of rock.
Michael is the king of pop.

I despise quotes, but he said it best.

Michael Jackson was the king of looking and acting like a freak.
He had worlds of talent, and he definitely could have been a legend in the entertainment industry. But, his insanity held him back.

Elvis was, and is, and will always be the King of Rock and Roll.

Neither. They're dead and you can't be king when you're dead.

Webster666 saidMichael Jackson was the king of looking and acting like a freak.
He had worlds of talent, and he definitely could have been a legend in the entertainment industry. But, his insanity held him back.

Elvis was, and is, and will always be the King of Rock and Roll.

You're obviously living on Pluto, Mr. 666.

Michael Jackson is a legend.

You can hate the man all you want. That doesn't negate the fact that he changed pop music--and for the better!

BlkMuscleGent said

madtown said

Both artists were important in their day. I think both can be called King without diminishing the other.

In this thread you can only choose one King. LOL I guess I should have included "but not both" in my thread title.

Fine. Since there can be only one, I pick Elvis.

It pains me too, because I will always remember watching MJ on the Motown 25th Anniversary show and being blown away. Luckily we were recording it, so my family watched the moonwalk over and over again, trying to figure out how it was done.

But I will pick Elvis because I believe he was more important musically. As you correctly said, it wasn't his own creation, but he popularized rock and roll. He was revolutionary. Look at what popular music was before Elvis (e.g. Pat Boone) and what became of it afterward.

MJ on the other hand, was already well known when Thriller came out thanks to his work with the Jackson 5. He wasn't coming out of nowhere, playing a new type of music. I think his impact was in his mind-blowing performances and use of video to promote incredible pop songs.

Benny is still the king. Elvis and Michael were made by the media, not vice verse.

Good grief, the man could actually write music. He used to publish a new song - fully orchestrated - every week.

madtown said

BlkMuscleGent said

madtown said

Both artists were important in their day. I think both can be called King without diminishing the other.

In this thread you can only choose one King. LOL I guess I should have included "but not both" in my thread title.

Fine. Since there can be only one, I pick Elvis.

It pains me too, because I will always remember watching MJ on the Motown 25th Anniversary show and being blown away. Luckily we were recording it, so my family watched the moonwalk over and over again, trying to figure out how it was done.

But I will pick Elvis because I believe he was more important musically. As you correctly said, it wasn't his own creation, but he popularized rock and roll. He was revolutionary. Look at what popular music was before Elvis (e.g. Pat Boone) and what became of it afterward.

MJ on the other hand, was already well known when Thriller came out thanks to his work with the Jackson 5. He wasn't coming out of nowhere, playing a new type of music. I think his impact was in his mind-blowing performances and use of video to promote incredible pop songs.

Elvis more importantly musically? I don't think so. LOL hahaha

But in this thread, every vote counts. Elvis has your vote ;).

I wish RJ could add a "poll" feature.

LOL! This is like asking who the real Queen is, Elizabeth of England or Beatrix of Holland.

Elvis - rock
Michael - pop

BlkMuscleGent said
Elvis more importantly musically? I don't think so. LOL hahaha

Please educate me then. How did music change after MJ?

I'm NOT a fan of Elvis but see his attraction to what mainstream was at his time he broke barriers and set precedence! He combined rock w/ a subtle hint of rhythm. Michael in the end set the tone for the world musically. ask yourself how many Elvis songs you have on your Ipod? How many Michael songs do you have on your Ipod. What is the longevity of Elvis' music? What is the longevity of Michael's music? Now ask who is the king?
Hands dwn.......MICHAEL

King Kong. because he has huge. dong

Nah MJJ. because he influenced the world more / gave more to the world then Elvis.

michael: he still has young fans, even though he hasn't put out new material, so his legacy will live longer. plus there are lots more artists who tap michael as a direct, lasting influence. plus michael has told 750,000,000 records. plus michael is a triple inductee in the hall of fame. plus michael holds more guiness records. plus michael's influence extends past music into dance, video, fashion (see the recent designers who are making all sorts of references to mj - it's time for the 80's to be retro)...

plus... you know it's a pic of mj even if all you see is his shoes/socks/hand/glove/silhouette/hair/insert any other iconographic image here.

elvis is the king of rock. michael is the king of pop. they're both invaluable, but mj influences more people in more media.

madtown said

BlkMuscleGent said
Elvis more importantly musically? I don't think so. LOL hahaha

Please educate me then. How did music change after MJ?

There's enough education in this thread. What's making you devalue MJJ's contribution to the music industry and the world? I'm curious.

BlkMuscleGent said

madtown said

BlkMuscleGent said
Elvis more importantly musically? I don't think so. LOL hahaha

Please educate me then. How did music change after MJ?

There's enough education in this thread. What's making you devalue MJJ's contribution to the music industry and the world? I'm curious.

I didn't want to pick between the two; you made me! If you look above I said they both can be Kings without having to take away from the other. You asked us to include reasons for our choice. I've stated my case. You can deride my comment, but everyone's argument above is based on MJ's popularity, not on influence, so I confidently stand by my statement.

I'd still argue that because none of us were alive when Elvis hit it big, we are not the best group to make an unbiased choice a week after MJ's death.