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Elvis led way in copying black music
Philadelphia Inquirer ^ | 8/16/02 | Kevin L. Carter

Posted on 08/16/2002 5:43:35 AM PDT by 2banana

Edited on 08/16/2002 6:24:22 AM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]

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To: 2banana
I thought it was the Russians who invented Rock-and-Roll ... or maybe it was Al Gore.
Anyway, saying that Elvis stole his music from the blacks is basically like saying that Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, and all the jazz greats of the 40s and 50s stole their music from Cole Porter and the Tin Pan Alley song writers.
61 posted on 08/16/2002 10:23:39 AM PDT by Chi-townChief
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To: Cable225
Eminem's talent lies in his ability to actually make a rap sound like a song. It's the variance of the cadence and voice inflection that stands him out from the crowd. Most "rappers" drone on in monotone to point where they all sound the same. There are very few (Will Smith, LL Cool J, Eminem) that can bang out "songs".

I'd put Nelly in that category, at least for his voice itself.

62 posted on 08/16/2002 10:45:28 AM PDT by NYCVirago
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To: mhking
I don't understand the writer's resentment of the influence of African-American culture on the rest of America. Does he want rhythm and blues back for only black people? There wouldn't be rock 'n roll without black people, and I believe that the fact is comon knowledge by now--surprising considering how few facts are common knowledge these days. Does he want rhythm and blues back for only black people?

He blames Elvis for "stealing"--instead of introducing the rest of us to the power of black music. That is what was special about Elvis. Before Elvis, black musicians made records for black consumers, and white people listened to white musicians--and never the twain did meet. Elvis paved the way for white people to begin to enjoy the music, no matter who sings it. He began the fulfillment of the great influence that black culture would make on America through its music.

63 posted on 08/16/2002 10:53:46 AM PDT by stands2reason
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To: Revolting cat!
...I think they made, bottom line, money? They wrote the music and lyrics, could be, performed in public, for a fee...

...The fact is, it takes many people to produce recordings, and earn a profit. The argument is that those individuals that wrote, performed, advertized, and marketed their product were "screwed". They were not recognized or compensated for their work...

...They get my applause...

64 posted on 08/16/2002 11:06:57 AM PDT by gargoyle
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To: 2banana
Any Rutles fans here?
65 posted on 08/16/2002 11:08:01 AM PDT by rogercolleridge
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To: stands2reason
He blames Elvis for "stealing"--instead of introducing the rest of us to the power of black music. That is what was special about Elvis.

I believe you're thinking of Pat Boone, not Elvis.

66 posted on 08/16/2002 11:44:10 AM PDT by gdani
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To: 2banana
"Black music?"

Give me a Polly Wolly Doodle All The Day break, Bro' Carter!

Try "AMERICAN MUSIC!"

Or otherwise point me in the direction of Africa's Oscar Peterson, Thelonius Monk, Errol Garner, Billie Halliday, James Brown, Jonah Jones, Louis Armstrong, Winston Marsalis, Sassy Vaughan, Little Richard and/or Nat King Cole??!!
67 posted on 08/16/2002 12:04:34 PM PDT by Brian Allen
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To: 2banana
Hmmmm. This is interesting. It's obvious the estate of Elvis must make reparations.
68 posted on 08/16/2002 12:27:14 PM PDT by FryingPan101
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To: 2banana
Chuck Berry says he listened to nothing but whitey music while he was growing up, and he's one of the great founders of rock and roll. Elvis was just a very appealing front man.
69 posted on 08/16/2002 1:22:33 PM PDT by Britton J Wingfield
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To: Cable225
Eminem's talent lies in his ability to actually make a rap sound like a song. It's the variance of the cadence and voice inflection that stands him out from the crowd.

This is insane. M&M makes rap sound like a song? His latest---I don't even know the name of it---is the same cadence over and over, over a disco beat that sounds like it came straight of a 1986 Casio. It's not a song, it's an infinite loop of rubbish.

Most "rappers" drone on in monotone to point where they all sound the same. There are very few (Will Smith, LL Cool J, Eminem) that can bang out "songs".

Will Smith, huh? I'm beginning to understand where you're coming from . . .

Rap isn't everybody's cup of tea and quite frankly, most of today's crowd can't do much more than mumble and cuss in a monotone. It was different 15 years ago, and Eminem really needs to be compared to those guys. Without Me and The real Slim Shady are pretty catchy numbers.

You really want to compare M&M to Public Enemy or A Tribe Called Quest? Even Snoop kicks his ass.

Have you actually listened to him, or are you just repeating what someone else (who never listened to it either) said?

Nice try, but I've listened to him. He gives "sucks" a whole new meaning.

70 posted on 08/16/2002 1:33:30 PM PDT by Hemingway's Ghost
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To: Hemingway's Ghost
Nice try, but I've listened to him. He gives "sucks" a whole new meaning.

I probably should have snipped all your comments into my reply to justify what I'm going to say, but I just couldn't be bothered. It's apparent you don't care for Eminem, and that's fine. Music, like all art forms, is a personal experience and people appreciate different things on different levels. For example, my oldest daughter became a huge Clash fan by listening to my collection. However, she doesn't share my appreciation for the Pistols, and I can't really get with her favorites, NOFX.

My girlfriend and I went to a concert last summer. I was ecstatic to see Billy Squier, but she doesn't care much for him. She was happy to see Styx, but they really don't knock me over. We both agreed Bad Company was a nice filler between those two acts.

The point is, people agree on some things, and disagree on others, and it's all personal taste. That being said, it's just music, and your smarmy, arrogant, smart-ass, comments aren't really called for or appreciated.

The reason I asked you if you had ever listened to Eminem is because more people get on this forum and trash the guy without ever listening to a single track. They just freak out over what their preacher/sister/whoever said about him without having the slightest idea what they are talking about. You have listened and formed an opinion, so fine. Incidentally, I didn't much care for Public Enemy, but that might be just because I can't stand Chuck D.

If you want to talk music, I'm game. If you want to argue, save us both the trouble and don't bother.

71 posted on 08/16/2002 2:29:56 PM PDT by Cable225
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To: Revolting cat!
Wynonie Harris Bump!!!
72 posted on 08/16/2002 2:39:58 PM PDT by Keyes For President
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To: ohioman
That must be it - white bad etc.

Elvis never sounded black to me and the first rock n' roll hits I remember were Bill Haley's Comets doing "Rock Around the Clock" etc.
73 posted on 08/16/2002 3:11:26 PM PDT by Let's Roll
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To: Eric in the Ozarks
The point of this article was simply to serve Mr. Carter himself; an intent to release and influence his jealousy over another man. Elvis Presley was high on his list. It is due to the lack of accomplishment and credit in Mr. Carter's own life and his resentment towards others who supercede his accomplishments (or at least actually achieve them), receive praise for their accomplishments, and accept the praise with humbility. This eats away in the stomache of Mr. Carter's inferiority complex.
Mr. Carter comprehends the truth, but his only hope is that others will not.
74 posted on 12/07/2002 8:03:15 PM PST by HandleTheTruth
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To: Belial
If it's annoying to black artists and others, it is simply due to their ignorance, which is actually a decision of refusing to view the history of Elvis Presley as it actually occured...
This is the truth, which no one i've heard to this day has had the intelligence enough to break down...
Elvis Presley was called "The King" for more reasons than just his songs. But as far as the inclusion of black songs go in being part of the influence of Elvis Presley being called "The King", the number of black songs he sang (in his unique way) were minimal and were of no influence to Elvis being crowned. What? Tootie Fruitie? Money Honey? Get this straight everyone... it was songs like Heartbreak Hotel, I Want You, I Need You, I Love You, Love Me Tender and Don't Be Cruel (all non-black songs) crooned out with his talented voice and girated to with his sexy style, his handsome looks and his charisma that earned him the title as KING aside from 'HOUND DOG' right? Which was originally Big Mama Thornton's song, right?... WRONG! Big Mama Thornton's Hound Dog was written by Leiber and Stoller! Two white dudes who later re-wrote Hound Dog to suite Elvis Presley.
And so, yes, a white guy comes in, picks up some black songs, sings it his way on the A side of the records, and the black version from the original artists on the flip side (didn't know all this eh?), and he did all this BEFORE he made it to RCA and was shown to the world. After that, he mostly left all that black music behind. The black songs he re-did was barely marketed to the public.
So he's filthy rich not because of black artists, but because of white artists such as Leiber and Stoller, his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, and... HIMSELF!
Hurts... don't it?


75 posted on 12/07/2002 11:43:24 PM PST by HandleTheTruth
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To: 2banana
Yes, we should see past color, but the present is colored by our past. The main thing to remember is that this country is one stolen by racist rebels which led to the types of prejudices our majoir institutions are based on e.g. government, education, and economy. The second is to remember that when ownerships and credits over these and other things such as music and other creations were written, they were recorded to exclude non-whites. As Cornell West argues in Race Matters, "[C]ulture is as much a structure as the economy or politics." Two good examples: 1. In 1858, the US Attorney General ruled that Ò...since the slave was not considered a United States citizen, he could neither make a contract with the government nor assign his invention to his master." 2. Ask yourself why Elvis is king of rock 'n'roll, Clapton is the guitar god, Sinatra is the voice, Astaire is the greatest dancer, and Babe Ruth is the best hitter (historically)? A clue: They are the best WHITE heroes. What's legitimate to the institution of America is relative to who is acceptable, as in the case of Elvis and Jackson.
76 posted on 05/13/2004 7:09:37 AM PDT by saintly_vsv
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