Would Elvis be as successful if he had become a recording artist now?

Pretty much as the title suggests, would Elvis be as popular/successful if he were a recording artist now, but using the same style he did back then?

maudgonner

Dunno about his recording style, but I'd say his liking for underage girls would get him into a spot of bother.

Ally Dick

He would fit the bill with the stars of today. He never wrote a song

Mister Vain

No. He'd be competing with the likes of Justin Beaver and that Nicki what's her face with the big arse.

Chain Smoker

Well, this kind of time travel stuff doesn't work with a figure as culturally important as Elvis was.

Are we assuming the Elvis shaped hole in the past was filled up by another Elvis? If that's the case, assuming he was raised in a similar area and background as he had, then he'd be a pretty huge star in that really bland US country music scene that's absolutely gigantic but has next to no interaction with pop culture as a whole.

The Backwards Man

Mister Vain wrote: »

No. He'd be competing with the likes of Justin Beaver and that Nicki what's her face with the big arse.

Don't be cruel

Ally Dick

Actually I don't think he would be liked. If you are a white singer nowadays, you have to be able to sing like a black person, or sing music of black origin to succeed

dirtyden

Nobody knows, its a different time.

If I had to hazard a guess I would say yes. He was a proper star, some of his songs will be played for as long as people listen to music. Suspicious minds has a timeless quality unlike a lot of todays pop (in my opinion).

The Gibzilla

Ally Dick wrote: »

Actually I don't think he would be liked. If you are a white singer nowadays, you have to be able to sing like a black person, or sing music of black origin to succeed

That's what he kinda did in the 50s though. Rock and roll was basically blues repackaged for white people.

Whitewinged

He was a huge part of creating the "now" so it's difficult to say. He definitely had a lot of charisma and wasn't afraid to be different, good voice, dancer, confidence, good looking etc. Even though he didn't write his own songs, he was very good at picking ones that would work for him and he was smart because as far as I know, he only did songs that he could buy the rights to.

The Backwards Man

dirtyden wrote: »

Nobody knows, its a different time.

If I had to hazard a guess I would say yes. He was a proper star, some of his songs will be played for as long as people listen to music. Suspicious minds has a timeless quality unlike a lot of todays pop (in my opinion).

I just can't help believing you might be right.

Ally Dick

The Gibzilla wrote: »

That's what he kinda did in the 50s though. Rock and roll was basically blues repackaged for white people.

I get what you're saying, but I think that he would be lost on the hip-hop/rap fans

Ally Dick

Ally Dick wrote: »

Actually I don't think he would be liked. If you are a white singer nowadays, you have to be able to sing like a black person, or sing music of black origin to succeed

What?

You mean like Elvis Presley?

:pac:

Azalea

I'd say he'd be kinda alternative - that "Americana" thing. Albums produced by Rick Rubin (a la late era Johnny Cash) etc.

Ally Dick

Azalea wrote: »

I'd say he'd be kinda alternative - that "Americana" thing. Albums produced by Rick Rubin (a la late era Johnny Cash) etc.

Yes. He'd have a niche audience only

The Backwards Man

Ally Dick wrote: »

I get what you're saying, but I think that he would be lost on the hip-hop/rap fans

You think they wouldn't take to him because he didn't grow up in the ghetto?

I'll stop now.

Fox_In_Socks

Ally Dick wrote: »

Actually I don't think he would be liked. If you are a white singer nowadays, you have to be able to sing like a black person, or sing music of black origin to succeed

If he didn't dye the hair black, theen hee might have a unique selling point

Azalea

Ally Dick wrote: »

Yes. He'd have a niche audience only

Yeah, something like Heartbreak Hotel would be way too bluesy and non catchy for the charts today.

the groutch

Of course he would, sure who doesn't love Oliver's Army.

Ally Dick

the groutch wrote: »

Of course he would, sure who doesn't love Oliver's Army.

Ha ha. Couldn't believe it when I read that the song was about Northern Ireland. It's a classic

Whitewinged

The Backwards Man wrote: »

You think they wouldn't take to him because he didn't grow up in the ghetto?

I'll stop now.

Well I hope you got it all out of your system because it's now or never

maudgonner

The Backwards Man wrote: »

You think they wouldn't take to him because he didn't grow up in the ghetto?

I'll stop now.

Ah, Don't Be Cruel. You can't stop now or I'll be in Heartbreak Hotel. I Just Can't Help Believin' that you've got a few more in you, ya auld Hound Dog!

Rock fan

Wise men say.... totally different then and now, what did you have back before Elvis complete drivel and ****e mainly I reckon there was a lot of luck involved in his success white trailer thrash kid from the southern states hears proper blues and gospel music mixes it up with roots / blue grass influence and comes up with a kind of hillbilly country rock and roll with out doubt the original band put together was very special Elvis , Scotty Moore, Bill Black and DJ Fontanna these dudes laid down the foundation of what was to become rock and roll
There was nothing before Elvis (in the popular music scene)
Elvis was finished when he joined the US army never made good music after in my opinion
He would definitely not have been as big now but if we didn't have him what would you have ???

Ally Dick

This thread needs a little less conversation and a little more action

The Backwards Man

maudgonner wrote: »

Ah, Don't Be Cruel. You can't stop now or I'll be in Heartbreak Hotel. I Just Can't Help Believin' that you've got a few more in you, ya auld Hound Dog!

That's just you and your suspicious mind.

Ally Dick

The winner of the X Factor :

White girl with a black girl's voice

That's what sells songs nowadays

the groutch

maudgonner wrote: »

Ah, Don't Be Cruel. You can't stop now or I'll be in Heartbreak Hotel. I Just Can't Help Believin' that you've got a few more in you, ya auld Hound Dog!

so many puns, you're just the devil in disguise.

maudgonner

The Backwards Man wrote: »

That's just you and your suspicious mind.

I Can't Help Falling in...

..ah no, maybe I can help it after all

Azalea

Ally Dick wrote: »

The winner of the X Factor :

White girl with a black girl's voice

That's what sells songs nowadays

But it's been like the spoiler for decades. The blandness is what the problem is with chart songs today, not how their voice sounds.

Fox_In_Socks

Ladies, would ye still have a go on him if he looked like he did in his prime?

maudgonner

Fox_In_Socks wrote: »

Ladies, would ye still have a go on him if he looked like he did in his prime?

No. He's dead. No matter how well he looked, it would still be necrophilia, ya sicko.

Capt'n Midnight

Nah , if he came back today he's be seen as just a Shakey Stevens impersonator.

And on that subject

‘The number of Elvies Presley impersonators has reached an all-time record high – there are now at least 85,000 Elvis’s around the world, compared to only 170 in 1957 when he died. At this rate of growth, experts predict that by 2019 Elvis impersonators will make up a third of the world population.’

LorMal

Ally Dick wrote: »

Actually I don't think he would be liked. If you are a white singer nowadays, you have to be able to sing like a black person, or sing music of black origin to succeed

That's hilarious. Elvis was totally influenced by black music and he sang the blues and gospel as well if not better than any black singer ever.

Capt'n Midnight

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

Nah , if he came back today he's be seen as just a Shakey Stevens impersonator.

Pretty much it. He'd be a bad tribute act, of no relevance.

donegaLroad

I heard Burt Reynolds interviewed on RTE during the week, and he mentioned that he had played poker with Elvis on a couple of occasions, and that he came across as being a genuinely nice guy but who hadn't come to terms with, or knew how to handle his rise to fame and fortune.

If he were to be a performer today, I think he would be more of a country act like Gareth Brooks.

Earthhorse

maudgonner wrote: »

Dunno about his recording style, but I'd say his liking for underage girls would get him into a spot of bother.

Are you kidding me? It's a staple of rock 'n' roll.

nullzero

Op question is daft, all you need to know is, old music was quite good on the whole and modern music is quite bad on the whole, so much so you can stick your modem music up your hole.

Capt'n Midnight

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

Nah , if he came back today he's be seen as just a Shakey Stevens impersonator.

And on that subject

Isn't that just the ones that have become official Elvis impersonators? Don't they have to be vetted to be an official one?

Or am I just talking bullsh1t now?

thomasj

Going on x factor or the voice would've destroyed his career (if he was only starting up as an artist)

Mr. Motley

It would depend on how well he was able to cry on X-factor.

Summer wind

All you have to do is listen to a song like "His Latest Flame" or "One Night With You". This will let you know why Elvis will always be The King.

suicide_circus

The question dosnt work because Elvis influenced too much of what came after him. Rock n Roll was black (negro spiritual/blues) mixed with white (folk/country) and Elvis bridged this gap perfectly with a fair bit of hip wiggling and camp winking thrown in. His risqué dance moves were just as culturally significant as his singing if not more so. Crowds of teenage girls screaming and fainting etc