Elvis Presley: The King of Rock ‘n Roll
Elvis Presley was born on January 8, 1935 in Tulepo, Mississippi, United States. He came from very humble beginnings and grew to become a very significant cultural icon and is one of the biggest names, so he is commonly known as The King of Rock n Roll. Even forty-five years after his death, he is still one of the most popular singers in the world and an influence to many, so let's dive into this!
Can’t Help Falling In Love
Known for his free and passionate dance style, this easily became Elvis’s trademark to be known across the nations. Meanwhile, for his singing, he was described as a baritone and a tenor. Apart from those, He is also known for his many popular songs such as Jailhouse Rock, Suspicious Minds, and a fan favorite: Can’t Help Falling In Love.
His most popular song, “Can't Help Falling In Love” was featured in his 1960 film Blue Hawaii, and what most people don’t know is that the melody of the song was based on a popular French love song called "Plaisir d'amour", composed by Jean-Paul-Égide Martini. After the ’60s, this song has been recorded by many different artists such as Bob Dylan, Tom Smothers, Swedish pop groups, and the British reggae group, which in 1993, topped the UK and US Charts. In the song, there is a lyric that might be familiar to everyone: “Take my hand, take my whole life, too I can't help falling in love with you”. In many ways, this love song always has all-or-nothing stakes, and this song definitely falls on the "all" side of the spectrum. The song suggests that Elvis isn't just going to give his woman his hand or his heart. He's going to give her his whole life too. Isn’t that nice?
An impact on the world
It came as a shock to the world when he died forty-five years ago considering he was known as one of the most significant cultural icons at the time. The reason why he was considered an icon was that he helped create the rock ‘n roll era, introduced a beat to everything, and changed everything from music, culture, and records. He was able to bring all groups of people together through his unique style of music by fusing country-western music of the South and the rhythm blue of the African Americans and Gospel. Elvis created cultural pandemonium. America had been shot with the rhythm and blues, and as a result, record, film, and retail sales rocketed (as did the requests for his ducktail haircut).
Conclusion
I find it amazing how Elvis was able to unite certain groups of people despite the cultural norms during his time. The reason why I like him is because of his talent and not only that, I also admire his love for God. Who would have thought that a boy from Tulepo, Mississippi would influence the lives of millions and still do that to this day from culture, music records, and even haircuts apparently?
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