At the beginning of the beatles’s rise to fame, Elvis Presley was already a verified music icon and ‘king of rock n’ roll’. Although he had halted his own performance career in 1969, he generously welcomed the new Liverpool foursome who conquered American’s heart; the beatles.
In his conversations with various celebrities including David Frost, Elvis made a profound mark stating that, ‘ the beatles had a whole new sound…that’s what made them click, i think’. He expressed his admiration for the beatles’s music not only during an official interview, but in private conversations as well. Due to Elvis’s popularity and influence, the beatles achieved success in America in an astonishing and admirable way.
Furthermore, in the meetings he had with various people, Elvis praised the creativity and variety of the beatles’s music; ranging from rock n’ roll to psychedelic music with bizarre yet captivating lyrics.
In addition to praising their musical talent, Elvis also talked about the beatles’s fashion sense; commenting on how it was more advanced compared with the rest of the music scene. One of the experts stated that ” Elvis was the pioneer of revolutionizing fashion in the 1950’s, so his appreciation of the beatles’s fashion sense was quite ‘a compliment from god himself’.
Subsequently, in the mid-1960s, the beatles singer Paul McCartney, made an outstanding speech about Elvis – a response to Elvis’s many words of admiration and encouragement. Paul mentioned how proud he was as a fan, whom Elvis influenced; musically and stylistically.
That special bond between the two music groups and individuals did not stop in 1969. As a matter of fact, a few years after, in 1973, the beatles had the pleasure to invite Elvis over to their studios; where they watched their movie ‘Let It Be’. Elvis even took part in the making of their album ‘Let It Be;’ providing advice and inspiration. He was admired, respected, and loved by the beatles. Thus, in the same year, each of the band members received a letter from Elvis in which he expressed his gratitude for their friendship and support, as well as admiration of their unique talent.
Not to mention, Elvis’s support of the beatles was clearly highly influential in their accomplishments. As mentioned by the experts, ‘ he held a special place in his heart for the beatles, not only because of their talent, but also their bond. He once said, “they are my permanent idols, no one will ever replace them. The beatles are the greatest because they came into this world with something extra”.
Grammy Awards
The beatles have been honoured with multiple grammy awards and inductions. However, surprisingly, Elvis Presley was never granted a grammy award for his impressive achievements. Some experts believe this is due to the strict grammy categories, which were not so flexible at the time. Nonetheless, in 1971 Elvis was presented a ‘Lifetime Achievement award’; recognizing his overwhelming impact in the music industry.
In addition, Elvis’s ‘Keep an Eye on Summer Prize’ was initiated in 1975 to celebrate his golden albums; which won him additional recognition. Various records, films, TV shows, and dramas have followed ever since. Most importantly, his tribute concerts are still being held around the world.
It is remarkable that elvis’s genuine appreciation of the beatles remained unchanged; the admiration was mutual. Despite the huge differences between them in terms of style and target audience, the beatles were always thankful for Elvis’s advice. No one can deny the incredibly mutual admiration between the two giants of music history.
The Beatles vs. Elvis
One of the biggest controversies in music history is the comparison between Elvis and the beatles. Though both bands achieved greatness in their own way, some experts believe Elvis held onto a certain musical power which the beatles could never manage to beat. Elvis was the pioneer of many genres and attitudes, which had a tremendous impact on the beatles and other artists in the music industry.
The experts stated that “Elvis was the king- he set the standards for rock and roll and the beatles followed”. On the other hand, the beatles are said to have contributed to a new genre, called ‘rock n’ roll’, which was not popular at the time of Elvis’s reign. Although both these groups are considered musical kings, they both hold entirely different musical approaches.
The beatles were able to maintain their huge popularity through their extensive use of melodies, while Elvis managed to impress the public with his distinctive style and vocal range. Moreover, it is almost impossible to compare their respective success stories- Elvis was the extraordinary presence of 1950s’ rock n’ roll; while the beatles changed the face of 1960s’ music.
Many believe that without Elvis, the beatles’ legacy would have never been created; although some say it would still exist – just with a different sound. There is no doubt that these two iconic music groups made a radical impact in the music industry but each in their own respective time.
Conclusion- Did Elvis Say About The Beatles?
In conclusion, Elvis Presley was an avid admirer of the beatles; viewing them as true rock and roll kings. Not only did he highly appreciate their remarkable fame, but he also reflected confidence in their creativity and stylishness. The Lennon-McCartney duo grew to love and respect Elvis even more after he attended the ‘Let it Be’ movie premiere in 1973; which was a great honor for them indeed. Furthermore, the debate on Elvis and the beatles will never cease due to the vast differences between them, both having their own unique marks. It is obvious that Elvis said many great things about the beatles and they became popular due to his kind words and support.
Collaboration with Other Bands
The beatles’ experience in collaborating with Elvis Presley had an evident impact on their collaborations with other artists. More precisely, they started to explore and work with other rock n’ roll legends too. For example, the beatles began to collaborate with other iconic artists such as Queen, Pink Floyd, Elton John and Buddy Holly.
The experts stated that “After Elvis encouraged them to form collaborations, they began to openly create unique and captivating songs with other music groups”. This amazing and generous contribution not only granted them various awards but most importantly brought joy and delight to many people all around the world.
One of the most remarkable collaborations was with Bob Dylan. Both of the artists inspired each other in producing uncommon but beautiful songs. It is known that one of the beatles’ most beloved albums is ”Let it be”, where apart from working with Elvis, they collaborated with Bob Dylan on the song “I’ve Got a Feeling”. This collaboration opened the door for other special projects in the future; such as their work with David Bowie.
It is obvious that working with other artists had a powerful impact on the Beatles’s music career. It granted them great recognition and fame, but most importantly it taught them to respect musical diversity in many various forms. That is why even after 50 years of their separation, their artwork still remains inspiring and admired.
The Beatles in The Media
Since their rise to fame in the 1960s, the beatles have been spotlighted in various media outlets. The band was able to share their influence not only through selling records but they also sold their stories to magazines, newspapers and TV shows.
This revolutionary idea of exploiting their fame had many advantages for the beatles and their crew. For one, it granted them huge publicity as they were featured in the most known publications at the time. This marketing strategy did not go unnoticed as they gained followers from all around the world. Therefore, the band managed to express their message to a much wider public.
Anyway, their appearances in movies, shows, magazines and other public outlets also helped them recognize their audience’s preferences to a greater extent. That is why the beatles’s use of marketing campaigns has been highlighted as an innovative way to reach out to the audience in a more direct way. Of course, Elvis was also highly recognized for his appearance in television and his movie ‘Viva Las Vegas’.
It is safe to say that the beatles were able to identify their target audience and develop their unique style among millions of other
