MJ vs Elvis Who will be remember as the biggest icon?

[Cajuncowboy]

well, I didn't know who zack efron is until now, hehe. I don't know what he looks like though, nor have I ever or will ever see HSM.

Well, if you are ever on a terrorist watch list and get caught, they are replacing waterboarding with watching endless loops of HSM.

 

[theogt]

This brings up another point. I don't think I would classify Elvis or Michael as musicians. I know Elvis played Guitar and piano and some drums but he wasn't what I would call an accomplished musician by industry standards. I have never seen Michael play any instruments. I would love to know if he did.

He wrote his own music.

 

[Hostile]

This brings up another point. I don't think I would classify Elvis or Michael as musicians. I know Elvis played Guitar and piano and some drums but he wasn't what I would call an accomplished musician by industry standards. I have never seen Michael play any instruments. I would love to know if he did.

Michael played piano and quite well.

 

[ethiostar]

As I have already said, I find it very hard to believe her father never heard of Elvis Presley until 1990 when they came to America. It is just that simple and nothing devious is meant. I find it mind boggling to say the least.

I can understand someone saying they didn't like Elvis. Never heard of him is far fetched.

When the government controls most if not all media outlets and possession of foreign contraband (movies, music, print media) is punished severely, its not that far fetched to imagine. You've never lived under those types of conditions so i can see why it is hard for you to believe but for those who have first hand experience living under authoritarian and undemocratic conditions it's not that hard to imagine.

Plus, Elvis's music didn't have the same kind of reach as MJ's did. Elvis was popular outside of the US but not to the same extent as MJ. It might also have a lot to do with improved media access and exposure by people in other countries and the fact that the world was becoming smaller or a lot more interconnected starting in the 80's.

 

[Cajuncowboy]

He wrote his own music.

Granted. But I wonder if he came up with the music or just the melody. I really don't know. There is a big difference. I ask because usually someone who writes their own music can play and instrument. I just never saw him play anything. Not a big deal, just wondering.

 

[Cajuncowboy]

Michael played piano and quite well.

That's cool. I never saw that or knew that.

 

[Cajuncowboy]

When the government controls most if not all media outlets and possession of foreign contraband (movies, music, print media) is punished severely, its not that far fetched to imagine. You've never lived under those types of conditions so i can see why it is hard for you to believe but for those who have first hand experience living under authoritarian and undemocratic conditions it's not that hard to imagine.

Plus, Elvis's music didn't have the same kind of reach as MJ's did. Elvis was popular outside of the US but not to the same extent as MJ. It might also have a lot to do with improved media access and exposure by people in other countries and the fact that the world was becoming smaller or a lot more interconnected starting in the 80's.

Actually, Elvis never performed outside of the United States. Another testimony to his popularity with people in other nations. And as you said, he didn't have the benefit of MTV, more media exposure as we know it today and internet downloads.

 

[Hostile]

When the government controls most if not all media outlets and possession of foreign contraband (movies, music, print media) is punished severely, its not that far fetched to imagine. You've never lived under those types of conditions so i can see why it is hard for you to believe but for those who have first hand experience living under authoritarian and undemocratic conditions it's not that hard to imagine.

Plus, Elvis's music didn't have the same kind of reach as MJ's did. Elvis was popular outside of the US but not to the same extent as MJ. It might also have a lot to do with improved media access and exposure by people in other countries and the fact that the world was becoming smaller or a lot more interconnected starting in the 80's.

Ah, but her Mother lived under the same conditions and had heard of him.

See how this all falls apart?

BTW, the idea that Michael was more appealing outside the US only further proves the point. If Elvis had that disadvantage as well, then he was even more an American Icon.

In other words, I reject the notion that Elvis was not hugely popular outside the United States. I think he was every bit as popular for his time period as Michael is for his. There are just different standards and methods to know of their music.

Elvis did not have the luxuries Michael did and yet sold more in less time as an alive and performing artist according to posts in this thread backed up by stats. Where I come from doing more with less is considered a good thing.

Think about it folks, for almost a decade he and the Beatles were the faces of Rock n Roll while it was grabbing the world. Every group was compared to them, every solo artist to him. For over a decade.

Do people really not grasp the impact of rock n roll? is that the problem? Has to be part of it.

One last time, I am not saying Michael is not an icon. I have never thought he reached Elvis status even in death. No one else has even come close. At least he has.

I repeat, I probably like him better than Elvis even though neither one are really my cup of tea. I think Michael is probably more brilliant. Elvis was simply bigger. There is not a question in my mind.

 

[ethiostar]

Actually, Elvis never performed outside of the United States. Another testimony to his popularity with people in other nations. And as you said, he didn't have the benefit of MTV, more media exposure as we know it today and internet downloads.

True but MJ was popular in places where he never foot in.

Another thing that i think helped MJ as opposed to Elvis, and i have no proof for this, is the fact that he was non-white. Even in communist countries during the cold war, there was more leniency when it came to non-white Americans. Communist governments usually pointed to the conditions of minorities in the US, especially African Americans, to say that US foreign policy of spreading democracy and freedom was full of hipocracy. So, at least in my mind and based on my own experience having lived under one of those governments, MJ's music was allowed to enter into countries that would have otherwise banned many things US.

 

[VietCowboy]

Ah, but her Mother lived under the same conditions and had heard of him.

See how this all falls apart?

my mom and her family is from the South. My dad's family from the north. Kinda of a Romeo and Juliet/West Side Story type. The only reason we are in the US and was granted asylum was because my maternal grandfather was supporter of the US, and once we escaped vietnam (yes, by boat), we couldn't return without severe punishment.

 

[ethiostar]

Ah, but her Mother lived under the same conditions and had heard of him.

See how this all falls apart?

BTW, the idea that Michael was more appealing outside the US only further proves the point. If Elvis had that disadvantage as well, then he was even more an American Icon.

In other words, I reject the notion that Elvis was not hugely popular outside the United States. I think he was every bit as popular for his time period as Michael is for his. There are just different standards and methods to know of their music.

Elvis did not have the luxuries Michael did and yet sold more in less time as an alive and performing artist according to posts in this thread backed up by stats. Where I come from doing more with less is considered a good thing.

Think about it folks, for almost a decade he and the Beatles were the faces of Rock n Roll while it was grabbing the world. Every group was compared to them, every solo artist to him. For over a decade.

Do people really not grasp the impact of rock n roll? is that the problem? Has to be part of it.

One last time, I am not saying Michael is not an icon. I have never thought he reached Elvis status even in death. No one else has even come close. At least he has.

I repeat, I probably like him better than Elvis even though neither one are really my cup of tea. I think Michael is probably more brilliant. Elvis was simply bigger. There is not a question in my mind.

Living under those conditions doesn't mean NOONE will ever hear of him. It's just that the music won't spread as freely as it would if there were no restrictions.

The album sales figures is a compelling argument but considering the amount of piracy in the last few decades, it needs to be taken with a grain of salt.

Plus, in many poorer countries people just do not have the purchasing power for many to buy brand new albums from the store. Someone in your neighborhood buys an album, just about everyone will make a copy from someone who made a copy from someone who made a copy.......

You do have a point that it might be a matter of time frame. Elvis was popular during his time and so was MJ for his. Who knows what the popularity of Elvis had been if he had the same advantages as MJ did but he didn't and we'll never know.

 

[ka0mow]

I was not a fan of either one but I would guess that Elvis has the lead on being
remembered.

 

[FloridaRob]

Elvis and it isn't even close. If both of them came back to life in 10 yrs and had a concert on the same night in the same city, Elvis would outsell him 10 to1. Michael Jackson annoyed as many people and he entertained. I don't know how somebody as controversial as Michael Jackson could ever be considered iconic.

Everybody at some time of another in their life has tried to imitate Elvis' voice just for the fun of it. It was that unique. The only people that try to imitate Michael Jackon are trick or treaters with one glove on their hand.

 

[ZB9]

Elvis, The Beatles, and Michael Jackson are all there together as the most successful and influential artists of all time. It would be difficult to rank them, but anyone who says Michael Jackson is not up there is crazy, considering what he did to the industry.

The fact that he spiraled into a weird freak show for the past 20 years or so is a different subject altogether imo. He put out some brilliant music. I can see why the younger generation wouldnt get it because they didnt see either the 70s or the 80s Michael Jackson. All they remember is the freakshow.

Elvis was before the Beatles and before Michael Jackson, so he is probably more influential, but I dont think you can rank them. All three are on the "Mount Rushmore" of entertainers.

 

[ZB9]

Granted. But I wonder if he came up with the music or just the melody. I really don't know.

both, depending on the song

"Billie Jean", for example, was written, arranged, and composed by Michael Jackson. He was a co-producer, and involved in the arrangement, of all of his stuff.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billie_jean

"The song's lyrics refer to a real-life experience, in which a mentally ill female fan claimed that Jackson fathered one of her twins."

With his female fan in mind, Jackson wrote "Billie Jean", and later stated that when writing the song, he knew it would be a hit. "A musician knows hit material. Everything has to feel in place. It fulfills you and it makes you feel good. That’s how I felt about 'Billie Jean'. I knew it was going to be big when I was writing it." The singer explained that he was so absorbed by the song that, in one instance, he did not notice that his car had caught fire as he drove down a freeway with a friend until a passing motorcyclist informed him. Jackson noted, "The kid probably saved our lives."[5][7]

The pop star faced numerous disagreements with the song's producer. Quincy Jones did not want "Billie Jean" to appear on Thriller; he felt that the song was too weak to be part of the collection.[3] The producer disliked the demo and did not care for the song's bass line.[8] Jones wanted to cut Jackson's 29 second introduction, which Jackson insisted be kept. "I said, 'Michael we’ve got to cut that intro'", Jones later recalled. "He said, 'But that’s the jelly!'...'That’s what makes me want to dance'. And when Michael Jackson tells you, 'That’s what makes me want to dance', well, the rest of us just have to shut up."[7]

 

[RomoIsBack]

people dont even know who elvis is mj appeal to all race mj is the king

 

[ethiostar]

people dont even know wo elvis is mj appeal to all race mj is the king

 

[RomoIsBack]

thriller tells it all 70 million

 

[CowboyWay]

thriller tells it all 70 million

No it doesn't. By that rationale, "Titanic" is the world best movie. Hogwash.

I know you young'uns want to say MJ is the more iconic figure, but its simply not true.

I was in Memphis once about 15 years ago. It was a bitterly cold day, and it wasn't an anniversary of his death or birth, just an regular old wednesday. I decided to go to Graceland and check it out. I got there at like 8am, and there was a line out the front door, all the way down the driveway, halfway to the friggen gate. You would have thought they were giving away free cars in there or something. People from all around the world coming to pay homage to the King of Rock and Roll.

Elvis was ENORMOUS. Worldwide fame same as MJ. But he did it in the 50's-70's. Back before MTV, hell, back before Cable TV.

MJ changed music, I'll give him that, but without Elvis, there wouldn't be the beatles, the Stones, hell I could go on and on, and one.

Elvis WAS rock n roll. He started it all. His memory will never die. I've said before, I believe MJ was more talented, but he will never reach iconic status the way Elvis did. If you think otherwise, its fairly evident you're younger than 35 or so.

 

[Maikeru-sama]

I have very serious doubts when someone claims to not know who Elvis is.

I can't name any of his songs but I definately know who the man is.