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Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley. By: Leann Boisvert. “The King of Rock and Roll”. In what ways did Elvis represent a challenge to the status quo of the 1950s and 60s?

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Elvis Presley

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  1. Elvis Presley By: Leann Boisvert

  2. “The King of Rock and Roll” • In what ways did Elvis represent a challenge to the status quo of the 1950s and 60s? • Elvis Presley represented the challenged status quo of his time period by introducing a black sound to a white audience and a white singer to a black audience. http://videos.elvis.com/

  3. Background Information • Elvis was born in Tupelo, Mississippi and grew up in the ghettos of Memphis, Tennessee • He attended a gospel church (Pentecostal Church) • Presley was discovered when he went to Sun Studios in Memphis to record a song for his mom, a song entitled “That’s All Right Mama” • For many teens Elvis represented a low class southerner who sang black music, wore black clothes, and danced suggestively http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWg2vLEyRZc&feature=fvst

  4. Elvis’s Style of Music • Elvis drew from country and western, bluegrass, R&B, and gospel for his musical style • His style made teens want to dance closer and in a more sexual fashion • He was nicknamed “Elvis the Pelvis” • He had a “daringly sexual performing style” (LaBlanc) • Presley’s dancing was loose and passionate; it was said to be suggestive and led to teen promiscuity • In his 1956 performance on the Ed Sullivan Show, Presley was only shot from the waist up by cameras because many Americans thought his hip gyrations were inappropriate • His dancing was said to be the symbol of awakening female sexuality

  5. Black and White • Elvis “bridged the gap between so-called white music and black music” (Cramer). • Elvis worked with many prominent African American artists such as BBKing (at right) • His style of music appealed to both whites and blacks • His concerts were desegregated; black and white teens danced and listened to Elvis together • His style of music as well as his appearance faded the lines between white and black • The South began to slowly change and desegregation spread across the country

  6. Elvis and His Appearance Elvis’s clothing reflected the changing teen image He wore clothing bought from stores that tailored to African Americans He wore tight-fitted black leather suits and motorcycle/gang jackets His hair was dramatically combed back; some saw his ‘long’, loose hair as a symbol of rebellion White teens wanted to wear ‘black‘ clothing; they wanted to look more like Elvis Parents feared that their kids would end up in gangs because they wore ‘gang’ apparel

  7. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpzV_0l5ILI “Jailhouse Rock” • His song lyrics contained emotions never before expressed in music of this period • “Jailhouse Rock” is a song written to get teens to dance and listen to Rock ‘n’ Roll; it is a rebellious song • The setting of the song and music video is a jailhouse and the song talks about gangs and jailbreaks ; Elvis makes being in jail seem fun • “Party in the county jail,” “prison band,” “let’s rock, everybody, let’s rock,” “dancin’ to the Jailhouse Rock, ” “no one’s lookin’ now’s our chance to make a break…I wanna stick around,” “everybody in the whole cell block was dancin’ to the Jailhouse Rock”

  8. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iycWGvpih4 “Heartbreak Hotel” • “Heartbreak Hotel” is a song about heart-ache and the pain of a bad break-up • White singers did not usually write about the sadness life can have (drawn from gospel and R&B) • The song has words that are very sad and discuses the loneliness a person might feel after being dumped by the one they love • “Since my baby left me,” “place to dwell,” “end of lonely street at Heartbreak Hotel,” “so lonely I could die,” “broken hearted lovers cry away their gloom,” “dressed in black,” “if your baby leaves you and you got a tale to tell just take a walk down lonely street to Heartbreak Hotel”

  9. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZBUb0ElnNY&feature=related “Love Me Tender” • “Love Me Tender” is the name of Elvis’s first featured film and is the title of the theme song for that movie • The lyrics to the song are very sensitive and touching • “Love me tender, love me sweet, never let me go,” “made my life complete,” “love me true,” “I love you and I always will,” “love me long, take me to your heart,” “we’ll never part,” “love me dear, tell me you are mine,” “till the end of time”

  10. Elvis and the Status Quo • Elvis represented the challenged status quo of the 1950s and ’60s through his style of music, his musical background (who he collaborated with), the way he dressed, the way he danced, and the emotions he conveyed in his songs • He was a symbol for teenage rebellion and the awakening of teenage promiscuity • His music helped erase the lines between blacks and whites

  11. Image Citations • http://ginavivinetto.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/15-elvis-presley-081407.jpg • http://scrapetv.com/News/News%20Pages/Entertainment/Images/elvis-presley.jpg • http://www.elvisinfonet.com/image-files/rare_bbking-claudiaivy.jpg • http://www.texasexes.org/images/hs/hook/ElvisPresley.jpg • http://benzbaby.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/elvis-hair.jpg • http://www.anglonautes.com/voc_arts_music/voc_arts_music_rock_roll_1/voc_arts_music_rock_roll_1_pic_presley_jail.jpg • http://www.sergent.com.au/elvis/Heartbreak%20Hotel%20EP.jpg • http://www.moviefans.de/a-z/e/elvis/elvis-presley.jpg • http://images.ask.com/fr?q=elvis+presley&desturi=http%3A%2F%2F • http://www.tonyassante.com/gif/elvis_presley.jpg

  12. BIBLIOGRAPHY • 10 Days That Unexpectedly Changed America. History Channel: 2006, Film. • Carlin, Richard. Rock and Roll 1955-1970. Facts on File, 1988. Print. • Cramer, Alfred W. "Elvis Presley." Musicians and Composers of the 20th Century. 4. Pasadena, California: Salem Press, Print. • LaBlanc, Michael. "Elvis Presley." Contemporary Musicians. 1. Detroit: Gale Research Inc., 1989. Print. • Mercer, Johnny, and Floyd Tillman. "Presley, Elvis." The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music. 3. England: Guinness Publishing LTD, 1992. Print. • Orazi, Deborah. "ROCK OF AGES; THE SHRINES TO THE MUSIC OF YOUTH SHOW THAT ROCK 'N' ROLL IS, INDEED, HERE TO STAY." Sarasota Herald Tribune 6 Oct. 1996: 1G. General OneFile. Web. 9 June 2010. • Simpson, Paul. "Interview with Elvis Presley - Press Conference Canada 1957 - Elvis Articles, By: Elvis Australia." Elvis Australia - Official Elvis Presley Fan Club. Web. 10 June 2010.<http://www.elvis.com.au/presley/interview_elvis_presley.shtml>.

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