On those days when it seems like
the world is against you, you need call upon only one man. He is a rock and roll icon, a beacon in
a studded white jumpsuit. This man
has many names: the King, Big El, the Chief and Elvis the Pelvis, to name a
few. You probably know him as
Elvis Presley.
Although Elvis didn’t invent rock
and roll, he was one of the first popular artists to achieve success in the
genre. He is the embodiment of the
beginnings of rock music, a hybridization of blues, gospel and country music. It is believed that Elvis got his dance
moves from African American artists like Big Boy Crudup, and coveted the singing style
of Dean Martin. His understanding
of both black music and country music shaped his rock and roll sound.
The
first 45-rpm record Elvis released shows just how strongly he was influenced by
both cultures. On one side of the
record was the song “That’s All Right (Mama)” by Big Boy Crudup. On the other, a country western song
called “Blue Moon Kentucky.” To
start off my Elvis Presley adventure, I gave a listen to both. “That’s All Right (Mama)” was fun and
fast, and even inspired a bit of seated dancing as I listened in Doheny
Library. (Note to self: Don’t
listen to spunky rock songs while trying to look studious.) “Blue Moon Kentucky,” on the other hand,
had a much more hillbilly feel.
Although “Blue Moon Kentucky” didn’t grab me as much as “That’s All
Right (Mama)” did, I was still a fan.
There
is just something about Elvis’ voice.
It is strong and sultry, with a rumble that makes you want to move. I was hooked and determined to share my
newfound love with my roommates.
Blasting his songs in upstairs Theta, I continued my research with Elvis’
first hit “Heartbreak Hotel.” With
the release of this song in 1956, Elvis achieved national success. “Heartbreak Hotel” was slow and
deep. I was amazed at how secondary the instruments seemed to his voice. I don’t know how else to describe it,
but it was sexy. I found myself
wishing that I was back in the 50s at one of his concerts watching those hips
and lips that caused such a controversy.
Sitting
on my bed listening to more of Elvis’ songs, I found myself surprised at how
many of his songs I already knew. From
“Johnny B. Goode” to “Jailhouse Rock” to “Hound Dog,” almost every hit was
recognizable and I began to realize what a huge impact he had on American music
and entertainment. Elvis Presley
helped set the standard for what would become rock and roll. He was a true performer: a dancer, a
singer, and a character.
As
I looked into more of his music, I was happily surprised to find that Elvis had
a more emotional side as well.
With songs like “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” Elvis gets slow and
soulful. It is this mixture of
upbeat tunes and slower pieces that have shown me that Elvis was a true artist,
not just some rock legend.
Discovering Elvis has reminded me that sometimes I just need to turn on
some oldies and get silly. Too
often we get caught up in the stress of life and leave impromptu dance parties
behind. With Elvis by my side, I doubt
I’ll be making that mistake again any time soon.
No comments:
Post a Comment