Introduction:
Elvis Presley’s controversial rise to fame made him one of America’s most talked-about names. He went from being a poor boy to one of America’s greatest men.
In the mid-20th century, Elvis Presley emerged as one of the most influential figures in popular culture. It was hard to believe that the young truck driver for Crown Electric would make young girls across America go crazy, crazy about his name, and worship him as a saint.
Adolescence was associated with poverty and enlightenment for music
Young Elvis Presley was born into a poor family in Mississippi, often relying on the help of neighbors and government food assistance. Presley soon realized his interest in music from an early age, his mother once recounted that when he was only 2 years old, young Elvis “leaned out of his mother’s lap” and ran towards the choir, wanting to see them and sing with them.
Elvis got his first guitar at the age of 11, and it changed his life completely. He knew how to play guitar, piano and bass, and he taught himself everything with his hands without going to any formal school. The naturally gifted boy Elvis Presley found a strong connection between himself and music. In the 6th grade, when he transferred to a new school, Presley was often teased and shunned by his classmates when he brought his guitar and sang at school. However, the boy Elvis Presley gradually “bloomed” in both appearance and talent. After performing “Till I Waltz Again With You”, Presley became extremely famous at school.
Although Elvis Presley was determined to pursue a music career from a young age, the path to pursue his passion was not easy, especially with his family background. After graduating from high school, Presley began working at Crown Electric as a truck driver, and although he had already released two records, he was still criticized as “not suitable for singing”. Not giving up, Presley continued to make more recording sessions, and the performance of “That’s All Right” was the turning point in his career.
One of the greatest icons of American pop culture
In the mid-1950s, the name Elvis Presley suddenly rose to fame, becoming one of the hottest stars of the time. Presley’s unique performance style, his unique body movements never seen before, all drove young girls crazy. At that time, Presley, standing in the spotlight, also received countless criticisms. Young girls went crazy for him, while teenagers were angry, boycotted, and even had extremist groups constantly stalking and hunting Presley. Experts praised and criticized Presley’s music, and his controversial popularity made Presley one of the most talked about names in America. From a poor boy to one of the greatest Americans, Elvis Presley is the real-life embodiment of the phrase “American Dream”.
Despite the controversy and the idea that Presley relied on vulgar movements to attract attention, his music quickly climbed the charts and became popular. The recording of “I Forgot to Remember to Forget” in 1965 – the year Presley first appeared on national television – reached number one on the Billboard country music chart. Twelve weeks after its release, Elvis’s debut album, released that same year, became the first rock n’ roll album to ever reach number one on Billboard, and even held that position for 10 weeks. Elvis Presley’s subsequent singles and albums, notably Hound Dog, Love Me Tender, Are You Lonesome Tonight?, Stuck on You and Can’t Help Falling in Love, were all huge successes, selling millions of copies and staying on the charts for long periods of time.
Elvis Presley’s music is synonymous with the word “innovative”. He was one of the most important figures in the rockabilly genre – a rock n’ roll style that combined country music, rhythm and blues – in the 50s, with wildness, emotion and sensitivity to sound. The resounding success of That’s All Right, which brought the name Elvis Presley to light, is a typical example. His debut album has 7 songs in a variety of genres, from pop, country music and R&B, which redefined the genre at that time. Elvis Presley’s voice also became more and more perfect, affirming that Elvis’ success came from his natural musical ability, not just his sexy dance moves.
Moments associated with life
1954 marked the first time Elvis Presley and his band performed in front of a crowd – the first time people saw the explosive effect he had on his audience. With his wide-leg pants that emphasized his leg movements, Presley created a shockwave in the audience, as young women started screaming. With his guitar, he created crazy, wild sounds, causing the crowd to go wild.
The Elvis Presley effect with his seductive and daring performance style that drove young girls crazy also received a lot of criticism, as well as orders from officials asking Elvis Presley to “control himself”. In response, he boldly asserted: “I will show you what Elvis is really like”, or just wiggled his fingers throughout a performance as a protest and irony for the unreasonable orders imposed on him.
All of those memorable and significant moments in Elvis Presley’s life will be brought to the big screen when the first feature film about him – ELVIS – hits theaters this summer. The life of the music legend in the context of the current chaotic American society will be shown through the lens of genius director Baz Luhrmann, who created the masterpieces Moulin Rouge! and The Great Gatsby. The film received a 12-minute standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival last May and a high score on the review site Rotten Tomatoes.
With stunning visuals from Catherine Martin – Production and Costume Designer who won 4 Oscars and is also the partner of director Baz Luhrmann, and a heavily invested music score performed by the male lead Austin Butler himself, ELVIS will be the perfect cinematic experience for movie lovers, as well as Elvis Presley fans at the theater.