Michael Jackson and Elvis Presley: A reflection of difference

Already balanced and far more sensible views are arriving.

Michael Jackson was merely very successful compared to the massive impact Elvis Presley had on the world of popular music and culture.

http://irelandtoo.blogspot.com

But unlike Jackson – whose flashy sales numbers and personal excesses defined him – Presley’s influence and significance were part of a larger cultural experience.

Writer and music historian Alanna Nash says Presley’s was a trailblazing path.“Where Elvis co-created a musical art form, Michael largely built one. Where Elvis changed sexual mores in the conservative wake of World War II, Michael only made shocking crotch-grabbing movements. And where Elvis, expanding on James Dean’s work, harnessed a burgeoning youth culture, Michael only drew more attention to it. He did it brilliantly…but his cultural impact pales in comparison to Presley’s.”

It will be interesting to see if a cult will spring up around Jackson in his death like the one that grew around Presley. But given the nature of Jackson’s legal and personal troubles over the recent years, it is difficult to imagine millions of tourists visiting Jackson’s childhood home in Gary, Indiana or his former Neverland Ranch in California like the way Presley fans (young and old) make pilgrimages to Graceland every year.

“There will always be throngs of people who will mourn and revere Jackson,” says Nash.“But because his personal life was so outsized, peculiar and tainted with scandal far more lurid than Presley’s drug abuse, I can’t see him morphing into the Disney-zed figure that Elvis has become.

Sure nice to read some common sense.:)

http://www.examiner.com/x-11535-Kansas-City-C...

I imagine that there will be Jackson family members who still want to use him as their bread and butter
but whether people respond to that will be seen
in a cnn poll, with over 15,000 people voting
74% said they were not more interested in Jackson's music

It is a pity I may not live that long to witness MJ surpassing Elvis legacy which I strongly doubt. I am so elated that Elvis still is the bench mark for all the successful performers even the likes of MJ. Not surprising enough comparison already been made as if Elvis is the only solo performer worth the honor. What we Elvis fans believe count most and no matter how far MJ achieved, Elvis need not prove anything and history never lie. It is how fans maintain their devotion and loyalty and Elvis fans prove that more than ever for decades and still counting.

I was able to be in Hobart during the rise of the Jackson 5 and was born in Gary IN., An avid Elvis fan during all the rave of the Beatles. And then moving to a small rural town in Missouri to see Sheryl Crow discovered. I am very fortunate to have gotten to be so close to seeing these talented people become successful. I haven't met or seen any of them perform except Sheryl Crow. Michael Jackson's death really hit home for me, as I suppose because we were born in the same town. I would like nothing more than Peace for both of the performers who have passed. The world will miss MJ as they have Elvis Presely. May God Bless all the family and children of MJ.

ricobpro wrote:

It is a pity I may not live that long to witness MJ surpassing Elvis legacy which I strongly doubt. I am so elated that Elvis still is the bench mark for all the successful performers even the likes of MJ. Not surprising enough comparison already been made as if Elvis is the only solo performer worth the honor. What we Elvis fans believe count most and no matter how far MJ achieved, Elvis need not prove anything and history never lie. It is how fans maintain their devotion and loyalty and Elvis fans prove that more than ever for decades and still counting.

Waving hello...
Thanks for the nice post.

they have had alot in common. death mostly and popularity

ricobpro wrote:

I am so elated that Elvis still is the bench mark for all the successful performers even the likes of MJ.

I have to disagree with this.

thriller still remains the biggest selling, most successful, and revolutionary album in history. And it broke almost every record you can think of.

This album is the bench mark of success that artist today STRIVE for, but are not reaching.

Also he set many legendary standards with his other albums as well.

ANd the same with his tours.

His tours are the biggest and most successful for solo artist.

And the same with music videos. MJ is the King Of Music video's and he is a pioneer in the field.

And you can say the same with many other parts of MJ's success.

What happened to Michael Jackson was quite sad and very unexpected; certainly by me. At least he left, back on top, heading for an incredible comeback in London. I feel sad for his children and extended family. Michael Jackson was a show business superstar and a pop music icon.

Elvis was also a superstar, and music icon. But somehow he also made the leap into "cultural icon" and historical figure. Perhaps the only other media personalities who achieved this were Muhammed Ali, John Wayne and the Beatles.

Regardless, the pressure of being in such positions is a lot for a person to handle. And these kind of stresses take their toll on a person.

MJ gave us the public so much, dancing, singing, himself, he gave us soooo much, well all the family J5 did. But Michael suffered in the end. He loved what he was doing, there will never be another like him. I don't want to compare the two, but EP was the same way. God Rest your soul Michael, you are whole again. Sing loud with God and the Angels. Michael, you are an Angel. Say hello to Elvis for me. Love you, Sunny

KB50MJ wrote:

<quoted text>
I have to disagree with this.
thriller still remains the biggest selling, most successful, and revolutionary album in history. And it broke almost every record you can think of.
This album is the bench mark of success that artist today STRIVE for, but are not reaching.
Also he set many legendary standards with his other albums as well.
ANd the same with his tours.
His tours are the biggest and most successful for solo artist.
And the same with music videos. MJ is the King Of Music video's and he is a pioneer in the field.
And you can say the same with many other parts of MJ's success.

Well KB obviously many disagree with you.

Paul wrote:

<quoted text>
Well KB obviously many disagree with you.

And you can contradict my statement?

KB50MJ wrote:

<quoted text>
And you can contradict my statement?

He already did, numbnuts.
Look up the word "contradict".
Man, you're not the brightest f'loon out there, are ya?

Elvis is more famous than Michael Jackson - Graceland is more famous than Neverland & always will be.

They did have a lot in common. Both fantastic performers and both white and sadly....both dead.

Recent quote from the July Billboard magazine commenting on sales of Jackson records since his death-
Others aren't convinced that the sales gains will be sustained through the end of the year but agree that they'll last a while. "Usually when an artist dies, the sales surge is over within two weeks, but for John Lennon and Elvis Presley sales went on for a while," says the head of purchasing at a large music account. "I would put Jackson as bigger than Lennon.".......
Notice he did not say-bigger than Elvis.
KB you and I went round and round a couple months back-I think I made my points over and over.
You believe all you say-all you post-that does not make it fact.

The day after Elvis died depending who you believe-Elvis sold 8-22 million records.......

.......Speaking of pressing plants the INDIANAPOLIS plant run by RCA was the largest in the States at the time of ELVIS death and had the capacity confirmed by a number of sources (BILLBOARD/ CASHBOX/ the book WHEN ELVIS DIED) of producing 250,000 albums a day. When Elvis died the plant went into a seven day shift that exclusively manufactured Elvis albums until February 1978 (CASHBOX magazine)

BILLBOARD said that RCA shipped 8,000,000 albums the first week after Elvis died. This claim also appeared in the excellent book WHEN ELVIS DIED. They went on to say that they had the capacity to ship twenty million albums a week Stateside as long as the demand exists..........
(Billboard magazine)

Fact -RCA had to subcontract out to approximately forty plants to keep pace with backorders. Most were based in the South and were family run country labels.
Fact-For the end of the 1977 financial year RCA had turned around a ninety million dollar loss of the previous year into a $247 million profit, with the record manufacturing division of RCA responsible for 39% of the turnover up over one hundred & forty per cent on the previous year, all due to sales of Elvis records.

Remember RCA cancelled their Autumn country release schedule to concentrate on filling the demand for Elvis product.
(Billboard magazine)

Fact- in 1977 you could not buy and download in a second albums or songs-you had to go to a store and buy them. Which is harder selling 5 million in a day in 2009?.........or selling 8 million (the low end figure for Elvis sales the day after he died) in a day in 1977?

TCB-girl wrote:

But unlike Jackson – whose flashy sales numbers and personal excesses defined him – Presley’s influence and significance were part of a larger cultural experience.
Writer and music historian Alanna Nash says Presley’s was a trailblazing path.“Where Elvis co-created a musical art form, Michael largely built one. Where Elvis changed sexual mores in the conservative wake of World War II, Michael only made shocking crotch-grabbing movements. And where Elvis, expanding on James Dean’s work, harnessed a burgeoning youth culture, Michael only drew more attention to it. He did it brilliantly…but his cultural impact pales in comparison to Presley’s.”
It will be interesting to see if a cult will spring up around Jackson in his death like the one that grew around Presley. But given the nature of Jackson’s legal and personal troubles over the recent years, it is difficult to imagine millions of tourists visiting Jackson’s childhood home in Gary, Indiana or his former Neverland Ranch in California like the way Presley fans (young and old) make pilgrimages to Graceland every year.
“There will always be throngs of people who will mourn and revere Jackson,” says Nash.“But because his personal life was so outsized, peculiar and tainted with scandal far more lurid than Presley’s drug abuse, I can’t see him morphing into the Disney-zed figure that Elvis has become.
Sure nice to read some common sense.:)
http://www.examiner.com/x-11535-Kansas-City-C...

Excellent post! You said it all.