Elvis, Beatles & Michael Jackson

iconic influence on contemporary music and popular culture

• Elvis was ‘the body’ (Rebellion)
• The Beatles ‘the Mind’ (Rebellion & Revolution)
• MJ ‘The mind, body, heart and soul’ ( Rebellion,
Revolution, Compassion & a sense of Posterity)
• Elvis, The Beatles & MJ, all pioneers of their respective eras and generations
• Elvis – for pioneering ‘Rockabilly’ music and giving a historic sense and
emotional definition to Rock n Roll. He fused White country music with
Black R&B. He never wrote any of his own songs but his stage shows, with
his flamboyant costumes and him always as a central character in the
production, was a presentation of a combination of patriotic songs, slow
romantic ballads, war songs, pure gospel and the ‘dirty’ blues
• Chuck Berry says that Elvis was integrated and a blessing. He actually
opened a door for black rock n roll and other musicians who were masterful
and talented but segregation had ensured that they were kept down.
• Elvis with his physical attractiveness and white interface enhanced the
popularity of the black entertainer
 The Beatles - Pioneers
• The fab four from Liverpool went on from skiffle and rock n roll and wrote,
recorded and performed live a huge and wide variety of songs which
included influences from baroque music, classic overtones, Indian music,
European avant garde, American rock n roll, folk, country and also laid the
foundation for early ‘rock’. Their experiments in the studio are some of
the most innovative, creative and path breaking in the history of song
writing. They became the thinking man’s musicians with simple as well as
complex lyrics and thoughts placed within either simple songs or complex
ones.
• They were pioneers of the modern music video
• Their popularity within the 10 years was unparalleled and they were a
highly influential part of what is known as the ‘The British Invasion’ in the
music industry of the world. ( eg. Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Queen, Uriah
Heep, Deep Purple, Peter Frampton, Eric Clapton…
 MJ - Pioneer
• The first African-American musician/artist/entertainer to be featured on MTV.
• He took studio production and live stage production to dizzying heights and
another level
• He was the only child artist who’d perform on an equal stage along with adult
musicians
• Not only did he write songs, he also mastered all aspects of song writing,
singing, performing, arranging, composing, conceptualising, directing and
conducting, sometimes event a single song. Each was turned into a mega
production.
• So seamless that the audience couldn’t tell between a live production and a
music video. He also grasped all nuances of the business of the music industry
and ensured critical acclaim and commercial success for himself and became an
industry by himself, controlling all aspects of his career till the bitter end.
 Connections
• The Beatles met Elvis at his home Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee. Elvis
was the All American White poster boy, the Beatles had turned into the
poster boys of Britain. Michael Jackson was the poster boy for black
America and the world in general because of the universal themes of his
songs which were racial prejudice, poverty, environment issues, etc.
• MJ went on to acquire rights for early Beatles recordings held by Northern
Songs label and Paul McCartney also co-wrote a song with MJ on his
Thriller album.
• Elvis and MJ can be considered tragic heroes. Both basically rode on solo
careers. The Beatles were a band that remained a sole entity from 1960
to 1970.
• After their break up solo careers were met with marginal success and later
on the deaths of band members ensured that their stature was depleting
but their legacy still remains because of the relevance of taking music
outside their countries and adding a sublime dimension to pop
 Legacy
• Their legacies live on even today in the form of contemporary musicians
who frequently acknowledge the influence of these 3.
• Also in their fan following, the number of Elvis impersonators worldwide,
versions of Beatles songs performed and vast number of dancers, singers,
production people, writers, artists and designers who are influenced by
MJ’s work in one or the other form.
• Elvis’ Rhinestone encrusted jumpsuits, capes, sideburns, hair puff and high
collar, shiny shoes, swivelling hips and gyrations and black American vocal
timbre
• The Beatles haircuts, ordinary grammar school clothes, sometimes
downright grungy and casual singing
• MJ – Moonwalk, skinny pants, gloves, head gear, almost ballet like shoes
and falsetto voice and squeaks
 Role of Media
• Media (in America) has played a big role in promoting and
publicizing the three icons specially MTV, the Ed Sullivan
Show, radio and the motion pictures where Elvis grew in
popularity in his music inspite of his insignificant acting. The
Beatles also acted in movies named after their songs like
‘Help’, Please Please Me.
• MTV played a huge part in MJ’s music and videos watched
worldwide
• Because of the media they were able to influence musicians
and audiences throughout America, Britain and the rest of the
world, apart from their live shows