Presley shouldn't even be in a poll like this. For starters, he was not really a songwriter - he was for the majority of his career either a covers artist or singer of songs written specifically for him by professional songwriters. I repeat: Elvis was not a songwriter. Costello, on the other hand, is an actual singer/songwriter artist. In other words, there are no actual grounds on which to compare the two other than purely as singers.

So, if you want to ask the question "who was the better songwriter", then it's a no contest: Presley wasn't really songwriter to begin with so Costello wins by default. If you want to ask "who was the better singer", then I think anybody with working ears can tell that the answer is clearly Presley. Really good voice.

Presley is not overrated either. Which claim about Elvis is suggestive of him being overrated? All people say is that he was a great singer and concert performer, which he was. Anybody who denies that has simply got to be an idiot. If he was neither, he would never have been the most popular singer on earth.

I am literally amazed that in 2008 people still don't realize that Elvis Presley was not a songwriter or a trained musician of any sort.

I have to disagree about the voices. Have you heard What's So Funny About Peace, Love, & Understanding or God Give Me Strength? Costello can be overambitious, but more often (those are the two tracks that immediately come to mind) he's up there with the greats.

People say that Presley had a great voice; I really don't think he did. I don't think he could sing rock very well (compare Jailhouse Rock to Maybellene, or even Rave On; the songwriting's not an issue here because a great rock singer can make even the worst songs sound great), and I don't think he was able to put the ballads across very well. You say that if Presley was not a great singer/performer, then he wouldn't have been the most popular singer on earth. Do you think Britney Spears (or any other "most popular" singer of the modern pop world) is a great singer/performer?


I think he's been cheated out of his rightful place in rock history. He wasn't as innovative as some of his contemporaries, but he wrote some amazing songs and, with the help of the Attractions, made some of the most memorable records of the late 70's and 80's.

He was doing it on National Television, no one else was. As I mentioned it's not about his talent it's about the circumstances.

I suppose it is true that Elvis was ultimately marketed to people on grounds other than his singing, much like Spears or whoever.

I do think that he was at least a very good performing artist, though - taking things like crowd control etc into consideration.

I was raised on the Elvis that Mr. Costello got his name from. Gotta love the King. Some of these overrated comments are so off the mark it's slightly blasphemous.

jesus christ (neither of those words spell check) **** he wasnt talented yeah but he was shown on television!!!!!!. If you dont celebrate that today then why do it yesterday. Yeah they showed HIM who gives a flying FFFFFFFFF.

Think of Rock and Roll as a religion if you will, in a hypothetical sense. Elvis Presley is the greatest preacher Rock ever had.

However I am tired and I accidentally voted Elvis Costello.

Your subconscious serves you well, young Padawan.

My vote actually goes for Elvis Hitler. Some good crampsy garage rock that seems to excel over both Costello and Presley.

:nono: