# Elvis: a musical genius or \_\_\_\_\_ ? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 16, 2012, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elvis-a-musical-genius-or-_____/637922 "2012-10-16T19:42:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2012, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elvis-a-musical-genius-or-_____/637922/21 "2012-10-18T02:46:47Z")
Whaddya mean was? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2012, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elvis-a-musical-genius-or-_____/637922/22 "2012-10-18T03:10:42Z")
He was a fine singer and great showman, though I wouldn’t call him a genius. One interesting point of view was from rock critic (and former minor rock star) Ian Whitcomb, who pointed out how much Elvis owed to Bing Crosby and Dean Martin. ---
**Author:** ![the\_diego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@the\_diego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_diego)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2012, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elvis-a-musical-genius-or-_____/637922/23 "2012-10-18T03:27:43Z")
It turns out he was a phony. He just got his dance moves from the young Forrest Gump. ---
**Author:** ![Imasquare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Imasquare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Imasquare)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2012, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elvis-a-musical-genius-or-_____/637922/24 "2012-10-19T04:02:13Z")
He had a great voice and loads of charisma. But the genius was whoever wrote those classic early songs. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2012, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elvis-a-musical-genius-or-_____/637922/25 "2012-10-19T04:05:52Z")
Just a good ol’ boy, albeit a talented one, who found himself in the right time and place. ---
**Author:** ![Imasquare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Imasquare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Imasquare)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2012, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elvis-a-musical-genius-or-_____/637922/26 "2012-10-19T04:07:38Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I voted “other.” Definitely not a hack. No way in hell. An argument can be made that he was a certain kind of genius. He did have impeccable rhythm and timing, great stage presence, and an artful, soulful vocal styling. Granted, I grew up with my mom playing Elvis records almost non-stop, but his voice carried so much emotion, he could really sell a song. I would not argue with anyone saying he was a genius for that alone. Two of the songs where his voice carries a lot of emotion is on his two last singles - Way Down and Moody Blue. He struggles to keep in tune and just sounds like he is full of angst and suffering. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2012, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elvis-a-musical-genius-or-_____/637922/27 "2012-10-19T04:49:13Z")
I vote other. I don’t think he invented anything, but what he did, he did damn well. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2012, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elvis-a-musical-genius-or-_____/637922/28 "2012-10-19T11:34:11Z")
Like almost everyone else I’d say very talented but falling short of genius. ---
**Author:** ![Lochdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/edb3f5/32.png) [@Lochdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lochdale)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2012, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elvis-a-musical-genius-or-_____/637922/29 "2012-10-19T13:44:32Z")
Pure genius. One of the greatest voices in rock music history if not the best. Really, if you haven’t made the effort just you tube some of his live performances. His vocal range is unparalleled in my opinion. Complete innovator who did something that no artist, black or white was doing. He had the voice, the looks and the charisma that made him huge. To suggest it was luck is to miss the point entirely. You couldn’t invent Elvis, he was a force of nature who hasn’t been replicated despite all the imitators. He literally created an entire genre of popular culture and his impact really can’t be overstated. He is likely the best selling artist of all time. As BB King noted, there’s a reason they call him the King. ---
**Author:** ![Lochdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/edb3f5/32.png) [@Lochdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lochdale)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2012, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elvis-a-musical-genius-or-_____/637922/30 "2012-10-19T14:24:36Z")
Just revisiting this. It’s hard to quantify just how big of an impact he had. He is an instantly identifiable cultural figure. He is lauded by giants in the industry like Lennon and Dylan (who reportedly kissed the ground of Sun Studios where he first recorded). James Brown credited Elvis with opening the door for black artists. When the Prime Minister of Japan makes a literal pilgrimage to your home then you know it’s something big. He didn’t write his own songs but then nor did Sinatra. It’s how he interpreted them. It was original and literally innovative and unique. No one did it like him before and everyone else copied it afterwards. And he sustained it and is still doing it 30 years past his death. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2012, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elvis-a-musical-genius-or-_____/637922/31 "2012-10-19T16:08:46Z")
> [@Acid\_Lamp](#): > > Other. Elvis was a talented vocalist and a gifted performer who popped up in the right place and right time. Much like the Beatles, Elvis just got a good dose of lucky confluences coupled with talent. Exactly my response. Certainly not a hack, but not quite a genius, either. Somewhere in between, with very fortunate timing. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2012, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elvis-a-musical-genius-or-_____/637922/32 "2012-10-19T17:08:10Z")
Not a genius. Elvis never experimented or pushed boundaries of music like the Beatles. He wasn’t even a trained vocalist. He was a very naturally talented singer that moved well on stage. Tom Jones has very similar abilities. ---
**Author:** ![Lochdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/edb3f5/32.png) [@Lochdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lochdale)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2012, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elvis-a-musical-genius-or-_____/637922/33 "2012-10-19T21:51:33Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Not a genius. Elvis never experimented or pushed boundaries of music like the Beatles. Jones certainly didn’t have the range of Elvis. Tom Jones wouldn’t even suggest that. Moreover, Jones certainly didn’t have the charisma Presley had. To suggest that he just showed up, or came along is too miss the point entirely. He was an innovator as much, if not more so, than the Beatles. He was unique and didn’t sound or look like anyone at the time. He really was a unique and revolutionary figure. The number of entertainers he influenced is dramatic. Leonard Bernstein called him the greatest cultural force of the 20th century. Lennon, Dylan, Young etc. all comment on his influence. Tom Jones, not so much. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2012, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elvis-a-musical-genius-or-_____/637922/34 "2012-10-19T22:55:04Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > He was an above average singer and entertainer. Neither genius nor hack. +1 He had charisma by the truckload. He could sing and he could move. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elvis-a-musical-genius-or-_____/637922.md?page=1)