Songs like “Love Me Tender”, “Can’t Help Falling in Love” and “Suspicious Minds” exemplify the artist’s meteoric rise, absurd fame and tragic end.
Few artists feel comfortable with an actual title attached to their names. Of the few, Elvis Presley was perhaps the most comfortable with the crown. or “King of the rocks” he conquered the United States and the world in the 1950s and 1970s and was the first artist to become a global icon. From poor childhood in Mississippi to stardom in the world of music, the artist’s life is portrayed in Baz Luhrmann’s new film, Elvis (2022).
The film, which premiered on July 14 in Brazil, revisits Presley’s story and tackles his meteoric rise, fame and eventual decline, highlighting the artist’s troubled relationship with his manager. Actor Austin Butler plays the king of rock and Tom Hanks he plays Tom Parker, the man who catapulted Elvis to stardom.
If you are a fan of the elegant swagger, the shiny tuft and the shiny dresses, the Estadio separated seven songs detailing the trajectory of one of the greatest artists of the 20th century.
‘It’s all right’ (1954)
Elvis’s life has never been easy. Born in Mississippi, the singer lived a troubled life with his father, Vernon, and his mother, Gladys. Despite his poverty, the boy attended church and had his greatest source of inspiration in black songs. After moving to Tennessee, Elvis began to have more contact with black music and decided that he would pursue a career in music. Despite having no formal training in the world of music, the young man began to stand out for his unusual style: flashy clothes and an extravagant posture. After a few failed attempts with record companies, his version of the blues Everything is alright, by Arthur Crudup, hit the radios and was quickly released as a single. The Elvis phenomenon was just born.
‘Heartbreak Hotel’ (1956)
Few dance moves are as legendary as Elvis’ famous swing. Unsure at the top of a stage, the singer tried to mask his shivering body with dance. The move worked, perhaps too much. Presley continued to perform live and snatch fans wherever he went. The success, however, was still at the regional level. That all changed with the release of Heartbreak hotel, funded by a major. Success made the Mississippi youth a national star and it wasn’t long before he became the most in-demand figure on radio and television programs. It was the first time, among many that followed in the star’s career, that Presley reached the top of the Billboard charts. after all, Heartbreak hotel remained eight weeks in first place.
‘Love me tender’ (1956)
In addition to music, Elvis also became famous for his film performances. It is true that most of his films weren’t exactly masterpieces, but his participation in film productions produced excellent soundtracks. That was the case with Love me tenderly, song written for the first film starring the singer. Elvis performed the song in the traditional program The Ed Sullivan Show, which propelled him to # 1 on the Billboard charts. The popularity of the song was such that the studio chose to change the name of the film, which it would be The Reno brothersfor the same song title.
‘Jailhouse Rock’ (1957)
Another song written for a movie with Presley, Jailhouse Rock is the perfect definition of “rockabilly” – the genre he popularized. A mixture of the words “rock” and “hillbilly”, a pejorative term for those living in rural areas, the rhythm mixed influences of country and blues music with rock. For many, Elvis was able to popularize musical genres that were prevented from being associated with minority groups, particularly the Black American community. Others, however, understand that Presley appropriated and profited from black culture, while many black artists were ignored by society.
‘Now or Never’ (1960)
The strange style of the star on stage, with his influence and his peculiar voice, was one of the main attractions of Elvis. His ways, however, also brought infamy to his career. Considered a rebel and a transgressor, the older, conservative American public did not swallow Presley that easily. That changed when the “King of Rock” was called up to serve in the United States Army. At the height of his fame, the musician put his career on hold and became a soldier. His shiny forelock had to be shaved too. The move ended up being positive for Elvis’ trajectory, who after serving in the Army found an older audience much more receptive to music than he was. His time in the army also marks the beginning of Presley’s tragedy: in addition to his mother’s death, it was during his military service that he began using drugs. Two years after the hiatus, the king’s return to the stage was marked by the song It’s now or neverwho spent five weeks at the top of the Billboard charts.
“I can’t help but fall in love” (1961)
Elvis’s downfall occurred in the 1960s. After his return, Presley even managed to score other hits, but his participation in the cinema began to occupy almost all of his time. In all, there have been 27 films in about 10 years. And the features were anything but of good quality, continually massacred by specialized critics. The star’s productions had entered a stereotypical logic, where he had become a caricature of himself. Soundtracks also followed this path, but there were exceptions. The famous I can’t help but fall in lovecomposed for the film blue hawaii (1961), emerged around this time.
‘Suspicious Minds’ (1969)
Elvis continued to release music throughout the 1960s, but they no longer attracted audiences as they once did. Despite this, a 1968 television special showed the world that Presley wasn’t finished. After the success of the special, the songs released by the musician in 1969 returned Elvis to the position of King of Rock. Leaving aside the sombre image he had built up in cinema, the star’s new productions were modern and spoke of styles that were popular at the time. Between the songs, Suspicious minds it was the one that stood out the most. It was also Presley’s latest number one hit on the Billboard charts. It was at that time that Elvis began performing in Las Vegas. The concerts revolutionized entertainment at the venue, but over the years the singer’s performances have become increasingly sloppy. The star’s image began to deteriorate, as did his private life and her health. In 1977, Elvis was found dead in his home at the age of 42.
Source: Terra
Emily Jhon is a product and service reviewer at Gossipify, known for her honest evaluations and thorough analysis. With a background in marketing and consumer research, she offers valuable insights to readers. She has been writing for Gossipify for several years and has a degree in Marketing and Consumer Research from the University of Oxford.
