Potent Quotables: Chris Brown on Elvis' Moves
- Posted on Dec 4th 2007 3:00PM by Kim Davis
- Comments (36)
"You know he got his moves from a brother. He ain't learning no moves from just somebody up in the cornfield. He went to the hood and got some dance moves." -- Chris Brown
- Filed under: Potent Quotables
- Share & Bookmark :
Reader Comments(1 of 2)
i hate bubble gum musicat 1-24-2008
elvis was a huge talent, chris brown is a small talent. in between there have been lots of both, some memorable, some not. the only thing memorable about chris brown is him saying he didn't need to continue his education. actually, he was right, it wouldn't have helped.
Cindy Adamsat 1-30-2008
I just have to say - I spend a lot of time in Memphis and Mississippi. Uh did he say Cornfields - try again maybe Cottonfields. Geez - check out your area before you say things.
vaguememoryat 2-13-2008
If you want to see the earlier version of the swivelin' hips and the curled lip, take a look at Wynonie Harris (an R&B "shouter" from the 40s). If you want to hear Chucl Berry's guitar intro to "Johnny B. Goode", check out "Ain't That Just Like A Woman" by Louis Jordan (40s "jump blues" at its finest). There's nothing new under the sun.
Monifa Fosterat 2-24-2008
Saying Elvis didn't steal from Black folk is like saying the cornrow hairstyle originated from Bo Derek.
jmd0404at 3-02-2008
Wow, so many racist comments! First, saying "blacks always..." is a stereotype. Just had to make sure we're all clear on that. Also, since I've seen many interviews of chris brown I'm almost 100% sure he was playing so all yall can calm down. Lastly, to be honest a lot of Black people aren't even that worried about elvis so it's not like we sit around saying that he stole from us...it's really not that serious. It's just crazy to me how angry everyone seems at black people when I think we're the ones who should be angry; but that's another conversation lol
TheRockofAgesat 3-12-2008
Yeah, blah, blah, blah, you brotha's really believe you are the corner store and nothing came before you or after you. Shut up. You are NOT the only humans that know how to dance; where did you ever get that idea? Somebody lied to you.
Melissaat 4-14-2008
You know, why are you all trying to defend Elvis becuase heres a news flash for you all: HE IS DEAD!!! Deal! He was on drugs and he died, end of story! I mean seriously guys, you are all acting like a couple of babies ganging up on Chris Brown's opinion, you should be ashamed of yourself! And, if you think /elvis wrote all of his songs, guess again! You all know that hound dog song right? WRONG! Becuase that was Big Mama Thorton's song waaay before Elvis stole it. Next time you say Chris' opinion or maybe even facts are wrong, you need to go look things up becuase you apparently know nothing! And I agree with poster Lou Elliott, Forrest Gump gave Elvis his dancing ability!
Darren Nethingtonat 4-23-2008
Elvis Presley didn't steal anything. Music is by it's very nature, derivative. What a lot of folks don't realize is that Elvis came by all of his vocal and physical mannerisms honestly. In other words, he was steeped in Black music and culture as a child and early teens. He had a great respect and love for artists and singers of all shades. Color really didn't matter to him. I think he would be quite shocked by anybody even suggesting that he stole from anybody. The way he sang and the way he moved was really who he was...it was not an act or a mere affectation. It was, I believe, an outward expression of his love and respect for all kinds of music.
The way he sang and the way he dressed pretty much got his **s kicked all through high school, and made him the object of derision and scorn by multitudes of media types all over the US after he became famous. I believe Chris Brown is entitled to his opinion. A lot of folks share it. But I think what Elvis was doing needs to be examined in the context of what was the world was like at that time, ie: the racial inequality that existed in the south.
By the way, Big Mama Thornton did not write Hound Dog, even if she was the first to record it. It was written by Leiber and Stoller, the two guys who wrote most of Elvis' first big hits.
Arianaat 11-10-2008
7. Elvis was NOT the greatest mover of all time. Michael Jackson is. Now THAT is no contest. All Elvis did was wiggle his hips. Woohoo. Big flipping deal. Michael Jackson actually DANCED! You need to get in touch with reality. Michael is the true king. (And don't start about the plastic surgery or what you think he may or may not have done to any stupid little money grubbing kids crap. This is ONLY ABOUT HIS DANCING ABILITIES!)
Michelle at 6:38AM on Jan 6th 2008
micheal jackson is a wacko dufus
& elvis stole nobodies moves!
elvis is elvis!
he had his own style, not any1 elses...
who evr says " he stole our style "
is just tryin to say that that culture
has more talent or something... u get what
im tryin 2 say? no disrespect invvolvedd
Kelseyyat 7-24-2008
i love chris brown and thats his opinion.
nevergiveup93at 8-14-2008
I personally can't stand Elvis. I don't agree with the title he was given because he doesn't deserve it. He did as it was stated sing his best known song "Hound Dog" from Big Mamma Thorton as it was stated. The only reason he is recognized or at least believed to be the writer of the song is because he was white and the time placement. It wasn't uncommon for a white to redo a song that a black had released previously and above that get recognition for it. It was just another form of the bias opinions of the people who owned musical industries and such.
As for his moves...I agree he didn't steal them. They look unnatural for him in my opinion, but they aren't stolen. You can't steal dancing, it is something you just pick up. No one owns dancing. It can be associated with a race, but not owned. Musical genre can't be stolen or owned either. Rap and Hip hop are believed to be only for blacks, but that shouldn't and isn't true. Now rap and Hip Hop did branch off from styles common in Jamaica, but that doesn't make them owned by blacks. It just means that they have black roots. There is a difference between a genre being black or white and it having roots to the black or white culture. A very big difference! It needs to be realized and respected.
Just my little tid bit, I personally believe that James Brown was the king. He taught Micheal Jackson after all. I won't say he created the moon walk because it has of course probably been done before we just don't know it. He did how ever teach Micheal Jackson how to dance and was also the better at it. So Micheal Jackson definitely loses, but would win against Elvis in my opinion. I have given Elvis a chance and listened to him as well as watched him with an open mind. I personally found it horrible, but again that is only my opinion.
You can't truly decide if one person is better then another when it comes to singing or dancing. It is a matter of perspective as well as point of view. Because of this no one can truly be the king or queen of any musical or dance style. They can how ever have had more publicity and such. So really the title of King Of Rock And Roll is invalid if you see it as a title of the greatest and more talented rock and roll singer. It isn't possible to prove such a thing.
Kennyat 12-05-2008
Hey guys. Relax.
Chris Brown does not hate Elvis. He did this interview after he did his rendition of Jailhouse Rock. This quote is taken out of context. He was praising Elvis and was joking around that Elvis had to be "hanging around the brothas" to have those moves.
And as for Elvis stealing, you guys need to do some research. He didn't steal anything.
Big Mama Thorton's "Hound Dog" was written by TWO WHITE JEWISH guys named Leiber and Stroller. Elvis did a cover of it 5 YEARS LATER and changed the sound of the song and some of the lyrics. They are two different songs in the way they are performed.
Also, Elvis was GIVEN the demos of "All Shook Up" and "Don't Be Cruel" by Otis Blackwell. Elvis liked the songs and co-wrote some of the lyrics. Blackwell still got credit for writing the songs, and Elvis performed them and got credit for co-writing. He didn't steal anything...
Black people shouldn't hate Elvis. He opened the doors for everyone to express their music. Without Elvis to transcend the racial barriers of the music industry, who knows how music would be today...
Joseph N. Scottat 1-23-2009
"try naming a single black artist who was singing rockabilly and sounded like Elvis [by 1955]."
Junior Parker, "Love My Baby," 1953.
MOONCHILD22at 9-23-2009
No one stole anything when it came to Elvis. You either got it or you don't when it came to dancing in the 60's,
50's. The man had IT. Most boys today do not.
that's all one needs to say.
moniqueat 12-04-2007
Everyone knows that Elvis not only stole dance moves, but lyrical content and style as well. But I guess the best form of flattery is imitation! its not new that the black culture is constantly robbed my mainstream america. I wouldnt have a problem with that if the same people who bobbed their heads to hip hop didnt clutch their purses and wallets when coming face to face with a black male. I agree that Alot of the hip hop music that gets radio play is vilent and degrading, and as a black woman I choose not to listen to it, but satanic heavy rock music is no better, and I dont clutch my purse when a goth walks behind me in a dark alley because passing judgement just on someones appearance is wrong in more ways than one.
Frankat 12-05-2007
To Chris Brown: Here's a quote from a black R&B artist who was there and knew what he was talking about...
"Almost every black solo entertainer copied his stage mannerisms from Elvis." -- Jackie Wilson
To Monique: You might try listening to 1954-55 Elvis. After you did so, try naming a single black artist who was singing rockabilly and sounded like Elvis. You know what? There wasn't any. To quote another black artist who was there and knew what he was talking about...
"Elvis, he was unique." -- B.B. King
Maurice Colganat 12-05-2007
Ah Yes the ol' Elvis stole black stuff ploy.
Just as African-Americans stole step dancing from the Irish?
Just as the great Ludwig Van Beethoven stole an Irish air for the Finale of his magnificent 7th Symphony?
It's just all so amusing :-)
No race or nation owns music or dance. They cannot be stolen, they can only be shared.
Boy did Elvis share! The whole world got a piece of his action.
Brian Quinnat 12-05-2007
Elvis Presley was the GREATEST mover of all-time. No contest. He stole nothing from anybody. Two of the greatest black American singer/dancers, Jackie Wilson and James Brown both credit Elvis as an original. BB King stated that when they called Elvis "The King" he did not think they got it wrong. In fact, Jackie Wilson went further and stated that MOST black entertainers got their moves from Elvis.
Neil Schmidtat 12-07-2007
Elvis himself credits much of his influence from black musicians and their musical style. Black musicians of the day (as have been quoted by others here) credit Elvis for helping their cause and say how unique he was. Those who say Elvis 'stole' black music need to read up on musical history before making these stupid comments. A lot of musicians played a part in making rock and roll, but Elvis brought it all home.
William J Mitchellat 12-26-2007
It cracks me up when ignorant young people make comments about subjects they obviously know nothing about. Any one who knows musical history knows that Elvis took most of his moves from Jimmy Cagney from the film "Yankee Doodle Dandee" (Cohen) These folks need to study up on music/ history and maybe even learn to read music instead of sampling somebody's music, putting a simple poem to it , and saying they wrote this song. Yeah right, you wrote a sophmoric poem and put it to a real musicians music.