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The King: Elvis Presley vs. Michael Jackson

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Blackace said:
Maybe just do to the times, but Michael Jackson worldwide is the King. Hands down. Also the MJFC is completely insane, and if he really wanted to start a cult he could do so.
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Elvis was The King worldwide, too. He wasn't just an American phenomenon. He holds records for sales all over the world.

In Soviet Russia, people would risk punishment or death to circulate Elvis' recordings in the underground.

Elvis has more #1 singles than The Beatles in the UK.

The worldwide best selling musician in history is reported to be either The Beatles, Michael Jackson, or Elvis Presley.


Anyways, if it isn't apparent already, I think Elvis is the true King.

Elvis Presley's cultural impact is second to none. That is the key factor in my mind. He changed the cultural landscape forever in the United States and abroad. There will never be another person who was as important to American culture as Elvis Presley was.
 
In terms of popularity, and apparently useless popularity becuase
news-pic_036.jpg


didn't do shit, MJ is bigger in terms of fans, but in terms of influence, in terms of changing the world? Elvis. It's not even a question.
 
Blackace said:
This is true. Elvis (unknowingly) opened doors for other forms of music. With Elvis, we might not have had an MJ..

But MJ still made a bigger impact worldwide than Elvis did, imo.
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No doubt. It would be foolish to think other wise.
 
Just as an addendum to my previous post...#1 singles in the UK:

1. Elvis Presley - 21
2. The Beatles - 17
...
14. Michael Jackson - 7

avatar 299 said:
In terms of popularity, and apparently useless popularity becuase
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If we're talking popularity of their music, then I don't think that is even a fair comparison in this day and age.

Pop music hasn't changed all that much from when MJ was on top. His sound still holds up. Most acts today are trying to recapture that sound. Pop hasn't changed much in the 25 years since Thriller came out.

Rock, on the other hand, has changed dramatically. Elvis' sound just doesn't stand up to today's sound. Even the early sounds of The Beatles and The Rolling Stones don't hold up in the eyes of most. I can't tell you how many times I've heard people say they like The Beatles, but they don't like their first couple of albums. Those albums were heavily influenced from mid-50s rock and roll.

Rock has changed dramatically over the past 50 years.
 
Mecha_Infantry said:
Depends on how you like your music. But MJ all day long, plus Elvis made racist comments so I disregard most of what he says
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One of the great misconceptions were Elvis' supposed "racist" comments.

The fact is that they never happened.

In 1957, Presley was alleged to have said: "The only thing Negro people can do for me is to buy my records and shine my shoes." The singer always denied saying, or ever wanting to say, such a racist remark. Jet magazine, run by and for African Americans, subsequently investigated the story and found no basis to the claim. However, the Jet journalist did find plenty of testimony that Presley judged people "regardless of race, color or creed".
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Another misconception that everybody in this thread seems to be citing is that Elvis was not popular worldwide.

Elvis Presley’s trophy room at Graceland is filled with gold and platinum records and awards of all kinds from around the world. Some of the countries represented are: Norway, Yugoslavia, Japan, Australia, South Africa, England, Sweden, Germany, France, Canada, Belgium, and the Netherlands. It is interesting to note that, except for a handful of movie soundtrack songs, Elvis did not record in other languages, and, except for five shows in three Canadian cities in 1957, he did not perform in concert outside the United States. Still, his recordings and films enjoyed, and continue to enjoy, popularity all over the globe, and he is known throughout the world by his first name.
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It is estimated that Elvis Presley has sold over one billion units worldwide, more than anyone in record industry history.
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I can't get into Elvis, and Michael's stuff is Godly. :P Although, it's hard to compare the impact they've both had considering the hordes of pop acts that had benefited from their influences.
 
elvis's home keeps freshly baked biscuits on hand at all times for tourists. michael jackson's home is a creepy carnival testament to his insanity.

you decide.
 
Elvis didn't really even do his owm material real well. Hound Dog was a cover of a Big Mama Thornton song...which the original was better. Elvis brought black music to whites, so he definitely started shit in terms of rock and roll. But I think MJ is more talented.
 
MaverickX9 said:
Just as an addendum to my previous post...#1 singles in the UK:

1. Elvis Presley - 21
2. The Beatles - 17
...
14. Michael Jackson - 7
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C'mon man, MJ hasn't produced anywhere near the volume of work that Elvis did.
 
Barkley's Justice said:
elvis was a hero to most but he never meant shit to me, you see. straight up racist that sucker was simple and plain. motherfuck him and john wayne
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Ah racism, the easiest cop-out ever. Never mind MJ was a fan of black supremacists like Al Sharpton and accused people that worked with him of being racist against blacks with no evidence
 
Barkley's Justice said:
elvis was a hero to most but he never meant shit to me, you see. straight up racist that sucker was simple and plain. motherfuck him and john wayne
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See, it is ignorant douches like Chuck D who have no idea what the fuck they are talking about that give Elvis that racist title.

His misguided theories have been further promulgated by the likes of equally ignorant "artists" like Mary J. Blige.

I'm pretty sure Chuck D has recanted on those comments, though...I saw an Elvis documentary called "Elvis Lives" a few years ago where he was praising Elvis.
 
benita316 said:
C'mon man, MJ hasn't produced anywhere near the volume of work that Elvis did.
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How's that? MJ has been making music since he was like 7 years old. His recording career has spanned nearly 40 years.

Besides, I pointed to those numbers only to show that Elvis was popular worldwide. It doesn't mean he is better or anything, but it definitely shows that he had a HUGE presence outside the United States.

icarus-daedelus said:
If we're going to use numbers, then:

# of copies sold worldwide:

1. Thriller
.....
.....
.....
.....
.....
.....
.....
2. everything else
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See above.
 
MaverickX9 said:
One of the great misconceptions were Elvis' supposed "racist" comments.

The fact is that they never happened.



Another misconception that everybody in this thread seems to be citing is that Elvis was not popular worldwide.
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Yeah I know when I posted it, then edited it, then deleted it. I heard the comments sometime ago but googled it and it was somewhat u in the air
 
MaverickX9 said:
How's that? MJ has been making music since he was like 7 years old. His recording career has spanned nearly 40 years.
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MJ would have never happened if not for Elvis because the timeline of music would have been completely different and chances are MJ might have not been born. Space-time is pretty fragile.
 
MaverickX9 said:
How's that? MJ has been making music since he was like 7 years old. His recording career has spanned nearly 40 years.

Besides, I pointed to those numbers only to show that Elvis was popular worldwide. It doesn't mean he is better or anything, but it definitely shows that he had a HUGE presence outside the United States.

See above.
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Elvis released more than 200 singles during his career.

I'll take your point that people claiming Elvis was only big in America are deluded however.
 
I'd say Jackson's a lot more talented as far as singing, dancing, and actually writing some of his own hits.

Elvis has some more charisma in certain areas and has a lot better promotion/hype over the years.
 
Its fucking Elvis. I've never even heard someone call MJ the king.

Elvis is the fucking man.
 
masud said:
Elvis was a thief. So yeah MJ wins.
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so you choose a black dude that is now basically white that basically has no nose and likes little boys because elvis was a thief? anyways I choose Elvis in this poll.
 
elvis - only deluded white conservative people think elvis had any talent other than hipshaking and a boppy voice!!!!

MJ - the man is fucked but can you argue that his music is so much better than elvis's ? Fact: SUUUURRE!! Plus, he didn't appear in no shitty movies
 
masud said:
Elvis was a thief. So yeah MJ wins.
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To take a quote from awesome movie on the first page " Even a pissass cockroach like you should know, NEVER, NEVER, FUCK WITH THE KING".
 
benita316 said:
Elvis released more than 200 singles during his career.

I'll take your point that people claiming Elvis was only big in America are deluded however.
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Elvis also was popular during the period when the album wasn't exactly the prominent way of releasing music. The music industry back then was vastly different than the modern industry. You didn't release a single or two, then release your full album as artists do today.

A lot of Elvis' songs were only issued as singles. His first 30 some songs, for instance, were only issued as singles. They were never released as an actual album until somebody put together a compilation CD years after his death.

Keep in mind, also, that when you released a single on an LP, you released two songs. An A-side and a B-side. If Elvis recorded during the CD era, his number of singles would be dramatically lower.

The 200 singles number may look astonishing or whatever, but when you think about it in the context on the 1950s and 60s, then it makes more sense.

MJ has released over 100 singles in his own right.
 
jasonbay said:
so you choose a black dude that is now basically white that basically has no nose and likes little boys because elvis was a thief? anyways I choose Elvis in this poll.
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Everything you've named has nothing to do with him being more responsible for his own fame than Elvis, who was a doll propped up on an stolen outsourced style and other people's songs.

There will never be another person who was as important to American culture as Elvis Presley was.
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Whoa.
 
UltraMarioMan said:
mgmbubbahotep500.jpg

Did Michael ever have a Bruce Campbell about him? Didn't think so.

Elvis>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Michael
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:lol :lol :lol
I was gonna post the same exact thing

MJ doesn't team with The black JFK to fight the return of an ancient mummy and scrabs now.

....And yes...This is the actual plot of the movie:lol
 
Dali said:
Everything you've named has nothing to do with him being more responsible for his own fame than Elvis, who was a doll propped up on an stolen outsourced style and other people's songs.
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An outsourced style?

Listen to the original recordings of Elvis' songs by the original artist, then listen to Elvis' version.

There is a reason people started listening to those songs when Elvis started singing them.
 
MaverickX9 said:
Just as an addendum to my previous post...#1 singles in the UK:

1. Elvis Presley - 21
2. The Beatles - 17
...
14. Michael Jackson - 7
Click to expand...

Elvis has both an advantage on the sheer quantity of his work as well as the lack of true competition for #1 singles that MJ had to deal with.
 
MaverickX9 said:
An outsourced style?

Listen to the original recordings of Elvis' songs by the original artist, then listen to Elvis' version.

There is a reason people started listening to those songs when Elvis started singing them.
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The colored folks been singing it and playing it just like I’m doin' now, man, for more years than I know.

-Elvis Presley
 
To the people who think this is a poor comparison because their music is so different: We aren't necessarily comparing their music. The reason why both of these artists are considered The King is because of their influence and popularity all around the world as solo artists. And to those who claim that Elvis was only popular in the Americas, you may want to crawl out of your shell. I've known about Elvis Presley...when I was 4 year old living in the former Soviet Union, Uzbekistan. Likewise, I knew of MJ too, but in the mid-80s he was a current success, where as Elvis was long dead.
 
Dali said:
The colored folks been singing it and playing it just like I’m doin' now, man, for more years than I know.

-Elvis Presley
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Elvis would be the last one to say he changed anything. He hated being called The King, for instance.

There is no denying that he didn't write his own music and that he borrowed heavily from blues music, but to say he copied the style of other musicians is wrong. His style was all his own - an amalgamation of blues, gospel, and country.

Milkcow Blues

Kokomo Arnold: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWIYc6y1u1I

Elvis Presley: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5OZ9tOvhg0&feature=related

Blue Moon of Kentucky

Bill Monroe: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffhqOy_A8KM

Elvis Presley: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upxstc776V0

Mystery Train

Little Junior: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TIX3mnxD3E

Elvis Presley: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xWjmznpCA0&feature=related

Hound Dog

Big Mama Thornton: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-YR8aejyGc

Elvis Presley: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=We8P_Ww27hY

Reconsider Baby

Lowell Fulson: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dN4UoyeiL0

Elvis Presley: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmNXXUmP8W0
 
Elvis:
+1 Catchy songs
+1 Brought sexuality to television
+1 Served in the military
+1 Created multiple delicious food combinations which are terrible for you
+1 Knew kung fu, man!
-1 Movies sucked
-1 Ripped off his sound from poor black folks
-1 Died on the toilet
Total: +3

Michael:
+1 Catchy songs
+1 Impressive dance moves
+1 Amazing videos
+1 Hit songs during childhood, puberty and adult life
+1 Married/Dated/Awkwardly kissed Elvis' daughter
-1 Changed from a black man to a white lady
-1 Dangled his kid over a balcony
-1 Literally set himself on fire shilling for corporate America
-42 Molests children
Total: -40

Winner: Elvis
 
For my generation and music tastes, I would definitely side with Jackson. I've given up hope he'll ever crank out some half-decent work but he'll always be remembered.
 
Being a child of the 80s. MJ, all day.

But, to say that Elvis was a "racist" or "stole" music is ignorant.

"Elvis had to come through the streets of Memphis and turn out black crowds before he became famous," Chuck D said. "It wasn't like he cheated to get there. He was a bad-ass white boy.... Elvis had a great respect for black folk at a time when black folks were considered niggers, and who gave a damn about nigger music?"

"A lot of people have accused Elvis of stealing the black man’s music, when in fact, almost every black solo entertainer copied his stage mannerisms from Elvis" - Jackie Wilson

"Elvis was a great man and did more for civil rights than people know. To call him a racist is an insult to us all." -Ernest Withers

Both are kings, in my mind.
 
verio said:
Being a child of the 80s. MJ, all day.

But, to say that Elvis was a "racist" or "stole" music is ignorant.

"Elvis had to come through the streets of Memphis and turn out black crowds before he became famous," Chuck D said. "It wasn't like he cheated to get there. He was a bad-ass white boy.... Elvis had a great respect for black folk at a time when black folks were considered niggers, and who gave a damn about nigger music?"

"A lot of people have accused Elvis of stealing the black man’s music, when in fact, almost every black solo entertainer copied his stage mannerisms from Elvis" - Jackie Wilson

"Elvis was a great man and did more for civil rights than people know. To call him a racist is an insult to us all." -Ernest Withers

Both are kings, in my mind.
Click to expand...

I didn't say he was a racist. I'm just saying some of his style was birthed (or fathered) by black musicians whom didn't get much praise because they were hmmm......black!

It always pisses me off by this Elvis guy is the King of life while the people that birthed some of his style are forgotten. :(
 
verio said:
Being a child of the 80s. MJ, all day.

But, to say that Elvis was a "racist" or "stole" music is ignorant.

"Elvis had to come through the streets of Memphis and turn out black crowds before he became famous," Chuck D said. "It wasn't like he cheated to get there. He was a bad-ass white boy.... Elvis had a great respect for black folk at a time when black folks were considered niggers, and who gave a damn about nigger music?"

"A lot of people have accused Elvis of stealing the black man’s music, when in fact, almost every black solo entertainer copied his stage mannerisms from Elvis" - Jackie Wilson

"Elvis was a great man and did more for civil rights than people know. To call him a racist is an insult to us all." -Ernest Withers

Both are kings, in my mind.
Click to expand...
Elvis was not racist clearly, but he did steal music and he became famous largely due to the fact that America was not wiling to listen to black artists singing the same stuff.
 
MJ allegedly boned Elvis daughter. So he should win on that count alone. :/

but seriously:

Micheal jackson owns the rights to half of the beatles catalog
thriller is the most popular video,music video, and dance in history.
jackson 5 - nuff said
thriller and bad cds is still selling to this very day world wide.

i mean, elvis still could sell more albums then micheal head up in billboard sells. but History have spoken. :/
 
mckmas8808 said:
I didn't say he was a racist.
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I was referring to other posts in the thread. Not yours.

mckmas8808 said:
I'm just saying some of his style was birthed (or fathered) by black musicians whom didn't get much praise because they were hmmm......black!

It always pisses me off by this Elvis guy is the King of life while the people that birthed some of his style are forgotten. :(
Click to expand...

I agree, but I'm pretty sure people generally know where rock and roll originated from. Face it, though... Elvis is an icon.
 
ari said:
MJ allegedly boned Elvis daughter. So he should win on that count alone. :/

but seriously:

Micheal jackson owns the rights to half of the beatles catalog
thriller is the most popular video,music video, and dance in history.
jackson 5 - nuff said
thriller and bad cds is still selling to this very day world wide.

i mean, elvis still could sell more albums then micheal head up in billboard sells. but History have spoken. :/
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Dont remind me.
 
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