Elvis Presley the king of Rock N Roll was born in 1935 Tupelo, Mississippi. His first interaction with the music happened at the local church where he sang along with his family (Wallace, p.101). Elvis was an only child. He comes from a poor family, that did not stop him from reaching a peak in his career and becoming an internationally acclaimed artist of all times, but before that he had to go a long way from a truck driver to a talented singer. Indeed, he used to think to become a truck driver that was eventually replaced by the singer’s profession (Rolling Stone).
His breakthrough started since he met Sam Phillips, a head of the recording studio, who was later called for his talent of discovering music stars as an “uncle Sam” (Garner).
Later, Phillips said that he has found what he was looking for: “a white man with the Negro sound and the Negro feel” (Rolling Stone). Presley achieved his first major success in 1956 when he released his first RCA single, “Heartbreak Hotel.” By October, Variety found him to become a millionaire, which was yet a new phenomenon at that time (Gray).
During his success, he even managed to serve in the army, where later he was discharged. Meantime, his songs were often replaced by songs of the Beatles and the period of a downfall slowly began for Elvis Presley coronate as the king of the Rock N Roll. As a result, Presley became more concentrated on his family. On May 1, 1967, Elvis and his fiancée married. After a year the only child, Lisa Marie, was born (Rolling Stone).
Elvis Songs are popular these days too and are used in countless movies that easily bring one in a different epoch when Rock N Roll was a dominant genre in music.
Although his performances caused frequently riots since his fans used to be very expressive on the shows of Elvis, but as Tim Gray noted, indeed Elvis “caused a riot, all right, but it was within the music industry. And while some skeptics had dismissed Presley as a flash in the pan, he had an amazing 20-year career while he was alive — and an amazing 38-year career since then, with no signs of letup” (Gray).
In fact, his one of the most famous and beloved songs by millions of fans include:” love me tender”, “Can’t help falling in love” and “Heartbreak-hotel;” and many others, however, I will take a close look precisely on those songs and the meaning behind the words. “Love me tender” is an adaptation of civil war song, however when one listens to this song, there is a less space and even hint on a war theme. The song can be deemed as the love poem and one of the most memorable ever performed. Fans and rock and roll enthusiasts to date still believe that “Love Me Tender” was Elvis’ best song. “Love Me Tender” was the only performance that Elvis did not ignore in each of his concerts until he died. “Love Me Tender” is the primary act to see Elvis in his performance mode. The thrilled crowed with girls in squealing dresses and clusters tell all about how great the performance is. The behaviors and movements of Elvis can critically be read from the rare full body shots during the performance. A pure happiness at providing happiness to other equally happy people, sheer show of massive energy in performance, the evident long life and his, presumably trademark pompadour flaps describe the holistic manner with which Elvis envied “Love Me Tender.”
Elvis’ performance of “Love Me Tender” can further fit the description of a performance that touches all the emotional links a listener may have. Who would not offer a grin to the manner in which Elvis takes edge off the girls’ squeal when every attendant expects him to join in. Elvis, having noticed the disappointment in the face of the dancers comforts them with a smile to suggest “everything is alright.” Elvis must have been a mercurial man. Each of his personas can be read from the lyrics of “Love Me Tender.” Elvis offsets his performance with the magical words of “love me tender, love me sweet,” an evident inspiration of a man who is symbolically opening his soul to the world of romance; could be disappointing to unearth the zeal behind the lyrics. Unsurprisingly, the repetitive aspect of the lyrics in conjunction with the energy with which each word finds a space in Elvis’ mouth lands an individual into a totality effect. Harmony is read in the performance’s entirety of the voice, the instrumentations and the image depicted during the performance.
“Love Me Tender” was also a commercial success as it “has achieved one million sales before being released to the public” (Gray). It was an amazing achievement that a Fox quickened post-production on Presley’s movie debut, completing it in a short amount of time and hurrying it into theaters Nov. 1. In fact, Fox wanted “to capitalize on the current teenage craze” for Presley (Gray). Indeed, the song brought much cash and acclaim to the singer, but it also was deemed as sensation because for its controversial lyrics less suitable at the time; namely, it contained “an emotional vulnerability that could lead to the forbidden sexual expression” (Wallace, p. 109).
Sexuality was never hidden in his songs and performances. He used to dance by moving his hips that were quite an unusual way of dancing in the 50s and later too. He was overly passionate and expressive that drove away an elder generation although attracted the younger one; His music and performance were seen as dirty and parents were reluctant to accept Elvis since they were afraid of his bad influence on the young generation, whose idol Presley became as soon as he stepped the scene. Indeed, “the Rock N Roll was demonstrating the power of libido" that libido the society was trying to cover up by traditional mindsets and values, that Elvis and his Rock N Roll challenged and this was a sensation or revolution brought by music and by talented and bold singer (Wallace, pp.100-111)
“Love me tender” may resonate well with “Can’t help falling in love” with its emotional and contextual application. In both songs, a protagonist used to demonstrate a dedication and warmth to the beloved one. The songs somewhat are melancholic so it has a slow mode that very much fits the strong vocal of the singer. A major focus in the songs is on the vocal of the artist rather than on the sound. Thus the instruments are important but on a rather subordinate position in relation to the singer. Indeed, the driving force of songs is precisely Elvis himself with his charismatic and outstanding performance.
Distinctively, “Can’t help falling in love” can be described as the only song by Elvis that talk out true love. “Can’t help falling in love” commences its emotional attachment with sharp tunes from Elvis' guitar strings. A soft, but firm Elvis voice then follows the guitar strings, a humbling moment in an electrifying performance. Elvis the twitches hugs his guitar to begin a story that not only thrills, but triggers love emotions. “Wise men say only fools rush in” are the commanding words of the first line of an equally appalling song. In that line, Elvis, kind of, tells the audience what to expect out of the entire performance, a subtle but motivated individual who has set out to pursue love. The accompanying harmony in the performance attracts the audience who joyfully join in the singing.
Most Elvis’ performances are marked out of their distinct characteristics of heavy instrumentation and massively choreographed dances. The same cannot be said of “Can’t help falling in love,” a performance that almost every viewer believes does not depict the true performance personality of Elvis. Perhaps, Elvis tries so hard to match the thematic content of “Can’t help falling in love” with performance. What cannot be taken off this performance is the unrelenting voice of an Elvis who is motivated to let the love take him just “like a river flows” and that “some things are meant to be.” Elvis’ performance of “Can’t help falling in love” brings to soul the authenticity of love in human nature.
“Heartbreak-hotel” is indeed different in rhythm and in the thematic. It is a love ballad rather than love poem as used to be the other two songs. Here, Elvis represents the every heartbroken person and how it feels to be left alone, that much alone, that one may die of loneliness. This song also was a success as it well resonates with everyday dramas. “Heartbreak-hotel” cannot fall under the category of those performances that an individual watches and forgets about. Watching “Heartbreak-hotel” sticks in the memory. “Well since my baby left me,” is the ear-piercing words with which Elvis kicks the performance of “Heartbreak-hotel.” The introduction is abrupt, eye-catching and details the genesis of sorrow. The following words from Elvis are a sound narration of loneliness after being defunct by love; “they are so lonely, they could die.”
The performance and the lyrics of the song explore how people relate to the real world; a world marred by the ecstasy of love. Normally, there is an endless gulf of loneliness at the demise of a romantic relationship. Even in places that used to be fun turn out to be so boring. Elvis relate such sorrow with a street full of people but still can afford some space for “broken-hearted lovers to cry.”
Overall, the epoch that gave a Presley was never again after he rose to fame. It was a period of war, sexual revolution, and freedom, and the rise of Rock N Roll and popular culture and most importantly he was a big part of it. Therefore, the birth of Rock N Roll by so many linked to the birth of Presley is absolutely fair. Since Elvis, with his incredibly beautiful voice and memorable performance, bright costumes, and car trucker’s hair style, charisma and talent fairly deserve the title of the king.
References
Rolling stone. Elvis Presley. Retrieved from: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/elvis-presley/biography
Gray, T. (2015). How Elvis Presley Started a ‘Riot’ and Changed the Music Industry. Retrieved from:http://variety.com/2015/music/news/how-elvis-presley-started-a-riot-and-changed-the-music-industry-1201567745/
Wallace, M. Elvis Presley: A Revolutionist. History
Garner, D. (2015). Review ‘Sam Phillips: The Man Who Invented Rock ’n’ Roll,’ by Peter Guralnick. Retrieved from: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/06/books/review-sam-phillips-the-man-who-invented-rock-n-roll-by-peter-guralnick.html?rref=collection%2Ftimestopic%2FPresley%2C%20Elvis&_r=0
YouTube. (2013). Elvis Presley - Can't Help Falling In Love (In Concert). Available on: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bfa09l_qfbI
YouTube. (2012). Elvis Presley - Love Me Tender (live) 1972. Available on: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kj-zYHHwVNU
YouTube. (2011). Elvis Presley Live on April 14th,1972 Greensboro,NC PT.1. Availableon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gtezPgF3wc
