Who deserves the title "The King of Rock and Roll"?

Terrible Lizard · 08-06-2009, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ToeAndno

^^Erase both from history, one at a time, and we'll see who makes the biggest whole in music history.

Hmmmmmm
Well Weezer won't exist.

Akira · 08-06-2009, 07:19 PM

^^There's always that bonus

Bugs · 08-17-2009, 10:48 PM

Elvis wasnt the starting of rock n roll just one of the first white guys but he did dominate rock n roll for a while so is definitly a strong contender

slimjim · 08-21-2009, 02:22 PM

Bucks fizz and shakin stevens-living legends

slimjim · 08-21-2009, 02:26 PM

That was after a hefty blow on a joint my friends, sorry about that. in all seriousness i would say Elvis but that's my rock n roll music choice. If it's rock music in general i would have to say jim morrison.

Certif1ed · 09-22-2009, 02:39 PM

I don't know what the criteria are - hey, Kings aren't elected, they just take their rightful place, correct?

It has to be Elvis.

As has been noted, his was the face, voice and hips of rock and roll - he effectively kicked off the rock and roll party and kept it swinging right into the 1970s, when by rights it should have given way to the musical trends that followed.

Just because someone starts a trend, it doesn't mean that they were either better at it or better at "ruling" the music.

Elvis, while he was alive, completely ruled - it's easy to forget that now he's not here, like it is difficult to appreciate the impact of Glenn Miller, Frank Sinatra and Little Richard, but people continued to play his songs, slick back their hair and generally want to be him in so many other ways right through the 50s, 60s and 70s. There's a guy in my town who thinks he IS Elvis, and there's a guy works down the chip shop...

Little Richard wasn't king of rock and roll - he was a huge explosion of wildness into a scene that was already considered wild, and his legacy lives on - but his energy died out pretty quickly - he had no momentum.

Likewise Chuck Berry. Guitar God and all that, with a few stonking numbers, but only Elvis actually kept it going the whole time and grew (quite literally) with his subjects.

Ask someone to name an Elvis song. Easy right - they can probably name several.

Now a Little Richard song. Bet they can't name as many - they may get "Tutti Frutti" or "Lucille", but that's about it.

Now Chuck Berry. "My Ding-a-Ling". Hmm. Not much of a legacy, eh Chuck?

Then there were the films - Presley had the whole media machine in the palm of his hand right from the start, while Little Richard and Chuck Berry were simply flavours of the month. Films? What films!

Harsh but fair, I think.

Elvis = The King.

eponymous · 09-28-2009, 12:25 AM

Why the heck do we insist on comparing artists in this way. The way I see it, there are three categories: Phenomenal rockers, then there are those that are listen-to-able, then there are the others.

In the Phenomenal rockers category, i dont bother to rank them, that would be useless and I think it would make me have less of an appreciation for the music

eponymous · 09-28-2009, 12:32 AM

...and I dont think elvis should even be on this list, unless celebrity is the main factor under consideration. When I have conversations with friends and over the internet about the legends of rock, elvis never comes up. One of the biggest celebrities, but as far as the music is concerned, not worth a mention. i know i stepped on many toes, but so be it

Certif1ed · 09-28-2009, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eponymous

Why the heck do we insist on comparing artists in this way. The way I see it, there are three categories: Phenomenal rockers, then there are those that are listen-to-able, then there are the others.

In the Phenomenal rockers category, i dont bother to rank them, that would be useless and I think it would make me have less of an appreciation for the music

That was exactly the scenario I tried to avoid - I wasn't getting into aspects of "good", "bad", "better", "phenomenal" or any other nonsensical opinionated term - I made a case, dependent on criteria, which I think is a reasonably strong one.

Quote:

Originally Posted by eponymous

...and I dont think elvis should even be on this list, unless celebrity is the main factor under consideration. When I have conversations with friends and over the internet about the legends of rock, elvis never comes up.

As I said - dependent on criteria.

And if Elvis never comes up with your friends, maybe he's either taken as read, because he was the first Rock and Roll star proper and hence his legend status is assumed to be undisputed (which, frankly, it is!) - or maybe you and your small circle of friends don't talk about or maybe even don't like his music. Takes all sorts.

Quote:

Originally Posted by eponymous

One of the biggest celebrities, but as far as the music is concerned, not worth a mention.

You forgot in my opinion

Since you don't qualify your opinion, I think you'll find that few will rise to such a tired troll.

mountainmaniac · 10-06-2009, 03:29 AM

As Far as I'm concerned, Elvis never was the King of Rock, The man was a Ballard singer.
"Jailhouse Rock" is about the only Number i know that came close to Rock-n-Roll.
All just marketing hype as far as i make out.

View Poll Results: Who deserves the title "The King of Rock and Roll"?
Elvis Presley	103	41.53%
Chuck Berry	75	30.24%
Little Richard	14	5.65%
Neither	56	22.58%
Voters: 248. You may not vote on this poll

08-21-2009, 02:22 PM	#104 (permalink)
slimjim Groupie Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 9	Influential artists Bucks fizz and shakin stevens-living legends

08-17-2009, 10:48 PM	#103 (permalink)
Bugs Groupie Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 3	Elvis wasnt the starting of rock n roll just one of the first white guys but he did dominate rock n roll for a while so is definitly a strong contender

08-21-2009, 02:26 PM	#105 (permalink)
slimjim Groupie Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 9	That was after a hefty blow on a joint my friends, sorry about that. in all seriousness i would say Elvis but that's my rock n roll music choice. If it's rock music in general i would have to say jim morrison.

09-22-2009, 02:39 PM	#106 (permalink)
Certif1ed Music Addict Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 194	I don't know what the criteria are - hey, Kings aren't elected, they just take their rightful place, correct? It has to be Elvis. As has been noted, his was the face, voice and hips of rock and roll - he effectively kicked off the rock and roll party and kept it swinging right into the 1970s, when by rights it should have given way to the musical trends that followed. Just because someone starts a trend, it doesn't mean that they were either better at it or better at "ruling" the music. Elvis, while he was alive, completely ruled - it's easy to forget that now he's not here, like it is difficult to appreciate the impact of Glenn Miller, Frank Sinatra and Little Richard, but people continued to play his songs, slick back their hair and generally want to be him in so many other ways right through the 50s, 60s and 70s. There's a guy in my town who thinks he IS Elvis, and there's a guy works down the chip shop... Little Richard wasn't king of rock and roll - he was a huge explosion of wildness into a scene that was already considered wild, and his legacy lives on - but his energy died out pretty quickly - he had no momentum. Likewise Chuck Berry. Guitar God and all that, with a few stonking numbers, but only Elvis actually kept it going the whole time and grew (quite literally) with his subjects. Ask someone to name an Elvis song. Easy right - they can probably name several. Now a Little Richard song. Bet they can't name as many - they may get "Tutti Frutti" or "Lucille", but that's about it. Now Chuck Berry. "My Ding-a-Ling". Hmm. Not much of a legacy, eh Chuck? Then there were the films - Presley had the whole media machine in the palm of his hand right from the start, while Little Richard and Chuck Berry were simply flavours of the month. Films? What films! Harsh but fair, I think. Elvis = The King.

09-28-2009, 12:25 AM	#107 (permalink)
eponymous Groupie Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 17	Why the heck do we insist on comparing artists in this way. The way I see it, there are three categories: Phenomenal rockers, then there are those that are listen-to-able, then there are the others. In the Phenomenal rockers category, i dont bother to rank them, that would be useless and I think it would make me have less of an appreciation for the music

09-28-2009, 12:32 AM	#108 (permalink)
eponymous Groupie Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 17	...and I dont think elvis should even be on this list, unless celebrity is the main factor under consideration. When I have conversations with friends and over the internet about the legends of rock, elvis never comes up. One of the biggest celebrities, but as far as the music is concerned, not worth a mention. i know i stepped on many toes, but so be it

10-06-2009, 03:29 AM	#110 (permalink)
mountainmaniac Groupie Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 2	As Far as I'm concerned, Elvis never was the King of Rock, The man was a Ballard singer. "Jailhouse Rock" is about the only Number i know that came close to Rock-n-Roll. All just marketing hype as far as i make out.