Mariah Carey, Madonna Dethrone Elvis

I recognize Elvis´s iconic status, but just because he had a big impact in his generation, it does not make him relevant for everybody and it certainly does not make him the best artist. Both Madonna and Mariah, like it or not, are accomplished, extremely versatile SONGWRITERS. You might not like their music but you can´t deny it´s at least theirs. They don´t just have someone handing out songs to them. Mariah comes only second to two Beatles as the songwriter with the most ones. Madonna´s accomplisments also speak for themselves. Elvis, on the other hand, was mostly known for his covers of other, mostly black artist who did not get the automatic support he got. Is Elvis more popular?Has he sold more?Maybe, but he is certainly not the most influential, nor the best ARTIST. And his life is definitely not more examplary than that of Mariah or Madonna, who have never used hard drugs or had a history of bigotry like your ´King´did.

Sorry...didn't mean to post twice....

Ann: the following should settle any misconceptions you might be having regarding Elvis' singing ability.


“The voice covers two octaves and a third, from the baritone low-G to the tenor high B, with an upward extension in falsetto to at least a D flat. Presley’s best octave is in the middle. D-flat to D-flat. Call him a high baritone.” “Moreover, he has not been confined to one type of vocal production” “He is a naturally assimilative stylist with a multiplicity of voices – in fact, Elvis’ voice is an extraordinary voice, or many voices.” – (Henry Pleasants, The Great American Popular Singers)

“I suppose you’d call him a lyric baritone, although with exceptional high notes and unexpectedly rich low ones. But what is more important about Elvis Presley is not his vocal range, nor how high, or low it extends, where its center of gravity is. By that measure, Elvis was all at once a tenor, a baritone and a bass, the most unusual voice I’ve ever heard.” – (Gregory Sandows, Music Professor at Columbia University)

“He rarely over-sang when recording, delivering a vocal to suit the song.” – (Paul Simpson, The Rough Guide To Elvis)

“(He) could jump from octave to countless other octaves with such agility without voice crack, simultaneously sing a duet with his overtones, rein in an always-lurking atomic explosion to so effortlessly fondle, and release, the most delicate chimes of pathos.” – (Mike Handley, narrator and TV/radio spokesman)

“..a musician … pointed out that despite an impressive vocal range of two and a half octaves – something approaching perfect pitch -, Elvis was willing to sing off-key when he thought the song required it. Those off-key notes were art.” – (Patrick H. Adkins, The Dream Vaults of Opar)

“The guy had a variety in his vocal styles and approach; he could make more vocal tones, with just his voice, than a guitar player with 50 pedals and gadgets. If you never even saw the guy, you could plain feel, not just hear the emotion and passion in his voice.” – (Country singer Roger Wallace)

“The voice has mixed propensities, hovering between tenor and bass and everything in between. Even a convincing falsetto lay within his range.” – (Jackson Baker in Memphis Magazine)

“There is nothing wrong, and everything right, in opening the vowel in the higher register so that the higher notes can be sustained. Elvis Presley was very open in his singing style even though he was ‘the’ rock and roller.” – (Brian Gilbertson, world-famous voice teacher)

“Presley’s registration, the breadth of his tone, listening to some of his records, you’d think you were listening to an opera singer. But …it’s an opera singer with a deep connection to the blues.” – (Jerry Wexler, co-founder of Atlantic Records)

“…Elvis’ range was about two and a quarter octaves, as measured by musical notation, but his voice had an emotional range from tender whispers to sighs down to shouts, grunts, grumbles and sheer gruffness that could move the listener from calmness and surrender, to fear. His voice can not be measured in octaves, but in decibels; even that misses the problem of how to measure delicate whispers that are hardly audible at all.” – (Lindsay Waters, Come Softly, Darling, Hear What I Say)

And here’s what they say about how some of his more enduring songs were rendered.

It’s Now Or Never – “he ends it in a full voice cadence (A,G,F) that has nothing to do with the vocal devices of rhythm, blues, and country.”

Milky White Way - “he’s got the strength of a bassman and the sweetness of a tenor.”

All Shook Up/Are You Lonesome Tonight - “His jagged, bubbly highs, and Southern baritone jump from those recordings like spirits from a cauldron. Elvis crooned romantically, then screeched relentlessly, always pouring his heart into the lyric and melody” (James Campion)

Hurt - “…singing in a register that gave more impact to his phrasing, and even hitting notes that could cause a mild hernia.” (Mike Kalina)

Heartbreak Hotel - “…where Presley alternately shouts words with full lungs, then gulps the following back, as if under water but without missing a beat.” (David Townsend)

Loving You - “…Presley’s baritone on this, the ultimate slow dance number, is almost too powerful, virtually rumbling the floor.” (David Townsend)

That’s Alright Mama - “…what I liked about the early records was that beautifully vulnerable high voice. (Jon Landau, Rolling Stone)

Long Black Limousine &#

Ann, my friend, your anger is surprising. Why all this angst against somebody who had been dead for 30 years? Okay, I must now officially label you tone deaf. Presley, for all his faults, was no mere marketing feat. He was, first and foremost, a wonderful singer. His ability to project and emote through a song is legendary. Many folks who know music, and especially talent, will tell you that he is one of the top ten singers of all time. People who cannot sing do not get enshrined in 3 different halls of fame: country, gospel and rock. The fact that he could sing believably across multiple genres of music alone speaks to his remarkable talent.

“The voice covers two octaves and a third, from the baritone low-G to the tenor high B, with an upward extension in falsetto to at least a D flat. Presley’s best octave is in the middle. D-flat to D-flat. Call him a high baritone.” “Moreover, he has not been confined to one type of vocal production” “He is a naturally assimilative stylist with a multiplicity of voices – in fact, Elvis’ voice is an extraordinary voice, or many voices.” – (Henry Pleasants, The Great American Popular Singers)

“I suppose you’d call him a lyric baritone, although with exceptional high notes and unexpectedly rich low ones. But what is more important about Elvis Presley is not his vocal range, nor how high, or low it extends, where its center of gravity is. By that measure, Elvis was all at once a tenor, a baritone and a bass, the most unusual voice I’ve ever heard.” – (Gregory Sandows, Music Professor at Columbia University)

“He rarely over-sang when recording, delivering a vocal to suit the song.” – (Paul Simpson, The Rough Guide To Elvis)

“(He) could jump from octave to countless other octaves with such agility without voice crack, simultaneously sing a duet with his overtones, rein in an always-lurking atomic explosion to so effortlessly fondle, and release, the most delicate chimes of pathos.” – (Mike Handley, narrator and TV/radio spokesman)

“..a musician … pointed out that despite an impressive vocal range of two and a half octaves – something approaching perfect pitch -, Elvis was willing to sing off-key when he thought the song required it. Those off-key notes were art.” – (Patrick H. Adkins, The Dream Vaults of Opar)

“The guy had a variety in his vocal styles and approach; he could make more vocal tones, with just his voice, than a guitar player with 50 pedals and gadgets. If you never even saw the guy, you could plain feel, not just hear the emotion and passion in his voice.” – (Country singer Roger Wallace)

“The voice has mixed propensities, hovering between tenor and bass and everything in between. Even a convincing falsetto lay within his range.” – (Jackson Baker in Memphis Magazine)

“There is nothing wrong, and everything right, in opening the vowel in the higher register so that the higher notes can be sustained. Elvis Presley was very open in his singing style even though he was ‘the’ rock and roller.” – (Brian Gilbertson, world-famous voice teacher)

“Presley’s registration, the breadth of his tone, listening to some of his records, you’d think you were listening to an opera singer. But …it’s an opera singer with a deep connection to the blues.” – (Jerry Wexler, co-founder of Atlantic Records)

“…Elvis’ range was about two and a quarter octaves, as measured by musical notation, but his voice had an emotional range from tender whispers to sighs down to shouts, grunts, grumbles and sheer gruffness that could move the listener from calmness and surrender, to fear. His voice can not be measured in octaves, but in decibels; even that misses the problem of how to measure delicate whispers that are hardly audible at all.” – (Lindsay Waters, Come Softly, Darling, Hear What I Say)

And here’s what they say about how some of his more enduring songs were rendered.

It’s Now Or Never – “he ends it in a full voice cadence (A,G,F) that has nothing to do with the vocal devices of rhythm, blues, and country.”

Milky White Way - “he’s got the strength of a bassman and the sweetness of a tenor.”

All Shook Up/Are You Lonesome Tonight - “His jagged, bubbly highs, and Southern baritone jump from those recordings like spirits from a cauldron. Elvis crooned romantically, then screeched relentlessly, always pouring his heart into the lyric and melody” (James Campion)

Hurt - “…singing in a register that gave more impact to his phrasing, and even hitting notes that could cause a mild hernia.” (Mike Kalina)

Heartbreak Hotel - &

Mariah Carey and I will meet each other on Thursday,April 17th,2008 at Citywalk in Hollywood. I will pre-order Mariah Carey's E=MC2 album on www.MariahCarey.com on 4/-9-2008. And I will not be shy when Mariah Carey and I will meet each other.

I am a true fan of Mariah Carey. I also am a huge fan of Mariah Carey. I really really am madly deeply continuously passionately and romanticly in love with Mariah Carey. I really really love enjoy crave honor cherish respect and obey all of Mariah Carey from head to toe. I really really do care about Mariah Carey. I really really am concerned about Mariah Carey. I am happy for Mariah Carey passed with 18 number 1 singles. I also that Mariah Carey will pass the Beatles. I do hope that Mariah Carey will make more albums than Madonna. And to see Mariah Carey totally nude is my all-time #1 favorite way to see Mariah Carey!!!!

HEY,BEATLEMANN AND CRAFTY : ITS CLEAR AS DAY THAT YOU GUYS DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR TALKING ABOUT....BUT, I DO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF ALL THE ELVIS FANS .....AND SAY.......''YOUR A HORSES ASS'' AND ''IGNORANT'' TO THE LEGACY OF THE MOST BELOVED MAN AND ENTERTAINER OF OUR TIME !!! ''ELVIS A.PRESLEY''

ELVIS WILL FOREVER BE ''THE GREATEST ENTERTAINER OF OUR TIME'' !!! PERIOD !!!!

ELVIS COULDN'T SING WORTH BEANS. HE WOBBLED HIS VOICE AND IT MAKES ME SICK WHEN I HEAR IT. WHEN HE TIRED TO HIT HIGH NOTES, THE MUSIC OUTDID HIS VOICE TO COVER UP HIS ATTEMPT TO DO IT. HE WAS A DRUG ADDICT THAT LOVED HIS DRUGS MORE THAN HE LOVED HIS DAUGHTER AND THIS IS WHY HE KILLED HIMSELF AND CAUSED HER TO BE SO SCREWED UP IN THE HEAD. THIS GUY IS NO KING, HE DOESN'T EVEN REACH THE GRADE OF PEON. BUT WAIT, THAT'S A GOOD THING TO SAY ABOUT ELVIS THE PELVIS...PEE ON HIM.

What folks may or may not realise is that the article stated that Madonna and Mariah Carey have passed Elvis as the top SOLO artist. Fact remains that the Beatles ARE the top recording act of all time. It''l be awhile before anyone (group or solo) ever catches them