Elvis Presley vs. Michael Jackson - Essay Example

?Elvis Presley vs. Michael Jackson 20th century American culture has produced some of the greatest entertainers of all times. These entertainers havea revolutionary impact upon the nature of entertainment through the introduction of new ideas and technologies. Elvis Presley was perhaps one of the most influential figures of American culture in the twentieth century. He enjoyed success in several music genres like pop ballads and country music. In addition, he used his multipurpose voice for achieving success in a number of media formats. Presley was the recipient of three Grammys while being nominated for over fourteen awards. Michael Jackson was one of the most important cultural icons of the 1980s and 1990s. His singing career involved several hits like Thriller, etc. He redefined music through the introduction of videos. Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson were cultural icons for several generations as evidence from the huge fan base that they have. A social meeting between the two would have definitely led to talk about their similarities and differences. A major similarity between the two artists was eccentricity.Elvis and Michael belonged to working class families which shaped their lives in the future. Yet they exhibited talent at a very young age and eventually used their voices for attaining success in life. They had the uncanny ability to mesmerize crowds and entertain them in an exhilarating manner. Each celebrity had a unique way of enthralling the audience as evidence in Michael’s dancing and Elvis’s great voice. Elvis’s Jungle Room and Michael’s Neverland have become an integral part of pop culture folklore. Michael was inspired by Disneyland that was restructured as representing the ideal definition of a pop legend’s home. The fame accompanied by stardom was marred by feelings of loneliness for both the King of Rock and Roll and the King of Pop. Elvis sought to escape the scrutinizing judgment meted by the world by creating an impenetrable barrier composed of close friends and associates. Similarly, Michael Jackson retreated to an artificial environment that was characterized by childlike behavior. Both artists sought to fight loneliness because the external world was dubbed to have sinister motives that would pry into their lives. Possibly the greatest similarity in both artists’ lives was the presence of Lisa Marie Presley. She was the daughter of Elvis Presley and the wife of Michael Jackson at one time. She had a profound influence in the lives of both artists. Public celebrities have an intrinsic desire for perfection since they consider themselves to be role models for millions of fans. The quest to attain perfection in life was a recurrent theme in the lives of both Michael and Elvis. This was accomplished through several adventures with plastic surgery. Michael’s experiences with plastic surgery have now become legendary in the popular media. Similarly, Elvis got a facelift as a quick remedy to enhance his public image. Extreme fame often brings with itself stress and anxiety to celebrities whose public and private lives are always under the prying eyes of the world. Such situations eventually lead to celebrities taking prescription drugs as a means of fighting loneliness and increasing self-awareness. Presley and Jackson could not escape the inevitable drift towards prescription drugs as they fought to suppress the pain that emanated from loneliness. Elvis Presley’s death in 1977 would spawn a number of rumors that he did not actually die on that day. These rumors have eventually led to extensive debates among fans about Elvis’s death. Interestingly, the death of Michael Jackson has also spawned some of the same rumors that spread in Elvis’s case. Elvis Presley had a radically different cultural impact because he was responsible for creating a vibrant youth culture and challenging conservative attitudes in the post-world war society. He was a music rebel who inspired scores of groups and musicians throughout the 1960s and 1970s. Michael on the other hand increased the responsiveness to the youth culture yet did little to transform it. Furthermore, while his personality regressed to the state of bizarreness and depression, Elvis was always identified with beauty and exhilaration. Michael transformed music through the introduction of MTV and music videos. His era was characterized by a series of technological revolutions that continue to this day. Michael’s career spanned almost four decades from 1969 till his death in 2009. His popularity among the relatively young generation remains strong. Elvis on the contrary had a relatively short career span of two decades. He was a musician who learned how to play the blue guitar from a teacher. Michael on the other hand did not have expertise in using musical instruments. Yet he was widely associated with charitable causes and attempts to unite the different races of the world. Presley was more associated with the flamboyant lifestyles of celebrities in the 1960s and 1970s. Michael Jackson transformed from a young entertainer in the 1980s into an eccentric individual with numerous plastic surgeries. Elvis transformed from a handsome and elegant entertainer into an overweight individual who frequently used prescription drugs. Ultimately the final years of both celebrities was marred by tragedy and scandals. Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson had many similarities and differences. But the common theme that emerges from their lives is the nature of extreme fame that is accompanied by success and ultimately tragedy. Both celebrities started out in a magnificent manner as their career would enable them to reach the epitome of success. Belonging to working class families, Presley and Jackson attained social mobility to rub shoulders with the rich and powerful members of society. Ultimately, both celebrities were unable to handle the stress of extreme fame and would eventually die at relatively young ages. Yet the fact remains that they will retain a fan base for many decades to come. Both of them have served the world of music with full dedication. Both of them have had huge fan followings. They were the true music industry icons. Reference: King, Calista. Fallen Icons: The life and death accounts of infamous stars, Including Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson and Others. Webster’s Digital Services. 2011. Print. Read More