Urban Hat€monger ?

And interpreting someone else's song your own way has had no merit?

You do realise that expecting a band to write and perform their own songs is only a recent development from the mid to late 60s onwards and is only really a small part of pop culture rather than music at large.

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blackdragon123

I think if you understood anything about history, you'd know that Elvis copied the twisting leg dance steps from a young Forrest Gump, whilst holidaying at his mother's Alabama guest house.

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'Well, I'm a common working man,
With a half of bitter, bread and jam,
And if it pleases me, I'll put one on ya man,
When the copper fades away!' - Jethro Tull

Dylstew

Might be the case, but I don't really care for it. There's so much music out there I want to listen to that I'd rather just listen to original material. I like it when a band just does a few covers of something in their own sound, especially when I actually know what the original song is, but I just don't care much for most cover only studio albums. I wasn't around in the sixties, I'm not used to that. I do have a few other bands in my MusicBee that mostly made covers that I like(The Specials for example), but most of the time I don't care much for it.

Urban Hat€monger ?

If someone performs a song it's still original regardless of who wrote it.

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Soulflower

But you are missing the argument. The argument is he is being credited for things that he has not innovated and created.

I never said he was NOT talented but he is average in comparision to Jackie, James and Little Richard. There were better singers and perfromers during his era. My point was he benefited from being a white handsome man in a racially driven era.

I think its obsurd to argue the only reason why he was successful is because he was talented. That is a bunch of b.s.

Urban Hat€monger ?

I wasn't referring to your argument

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Soulflower

Elvis covered a alot of African American songs and took from alot of African American songwriters.


Otis blackwell (renowned African American songwriter)- wrote Elvis's "Don't Be Cruel", "All Shook Up" which he originally recorded but like I said..... Elvis scouted the African American rock n roll songwriters/musicians because it was easy to cover their music without crediting them.

He heard Otis version and really liked it which is why he wanted to record those songs and it became a hit. Of course nobody knows about Blackwell's original versions though.


NONE of those black songwriters got a nickle from those Elvis songs, NONE.
Sad really when you think about it. The Elvis Estate is worth a billion I don't see why the family of those songwriters can't be compensated.

CoNtrivedNiHilism

I'd just like to say...

Absolutely in no way does it take away from Elvis' merit or talent that the majority of his material, are covers. As was stated by many others before me. Being that a lot of his music was a cover song. That man managed to pull off something spectacular because he was genuine talent, he was a fabulous entertainer/singer. If any person can actually say seriously that Elvis was not all that talented of a fellow, or he has no merit or contribution to the music he played...sir or madam, the door is over there, please leave with your opinions.

Just saying, haha...

realtalk92

People don't need to be attractive to be successful, nor talented. There's examples of artists that prove that true. And you sound a bit ignorant to say Elvis contributed nothing innovative to the music he made a career out of. Sir. I'm just not so sure about you sometimes.

Soulflower

I still disagree.

When I see Elvis twisting his legs and moving his hips. He is imitating Jackie Wilson and it is nothing original.


I wonder if the artist in question was African American would people have no problem with that artist copying other artist and being credited for it. People are so quick to trash MJ but not Elvis, its disgusting.

Soulflower

Elvis was a white imitation of black music and entertainers. I rather watch the real kings and originators: Chuck, Little Richard, Jackie Wilson, etc because they are real Rock N Roll and Blues.

I also find it disgusting that the white media insist on claiming Elvis originated Rock N Roll and Blues when he did not.

Actually the truth needs to be said especially on a board like this that seems biased towards African American artists.