WHY was Elvis Presley SO popular? 

Elvis just smouldered, he was devastatingly handsome with a beautiful unique voice, was charismatic, yet humble. What a man, there will never be anyone like him, EVER.

Elvis not writing songs is irrelevant when you consider - Bob Dylan when asked about covers of his songs; “Elvis’ recording of Tomorrow Is A Long Time is the one that I treasure the most.” Paul Simon on hearing Elvis perform Bridge Over Troubled Water in 1970; “it was unbelievable, I thought how can I compete with that?” Elvis didn’t cover songs, he reinterpreted them as ‘Elvis’ songs.

Elvis’s physical beauty and his charm were irresistible to the mere mortal.

I read a comment that said “when God made Elvis he was just showing off” - I love it. Elvis had it all, even with his flaws, it just made him even more lovable.

Elvis was the embodiment of the American dream. He went from dirt poor to the most popular entertainer of the 20th century. I think that about covers it. 💥

I saw Elvis twice! HE WAS PURE ELECTRICITY!!! You could feel the SEXUAL energy. If you touched the person next to you, both could feel the shock. Amazing voice! Amazing dancer. His smile, his movements, and the way he dressed. He was the most charismatic person I have ever seen. I've been to about 200 concerts...from Jackson Browne to the Rolling Stones to Temptations....no concert ever compared to Elvis!!! One of a kind. That is why he was the King of Rock and Roll!!!

A good singer presents his voice and music. A superstar singer presents his heart. Elvis was a superstar singer.

Elvis was a unexplained phenomenon that shook the world like no other.

It genuinely makes me so sad that he died the way he did, and that one of his fears was he wouldn’t be remembered…. If he only knew ☮️💜

Elvis had a voice like no other, also he had charisma, stage presence. great looks. etc. I do believe songs written by many would never have been hits with other artists singing them. Elvis's voice was unique. bass right up to top C and more, his tone could never have been done by another. Anyone can sing a song Elvis "felt" the songs, his interpretation was "felt" by the listeners. There is no one who could ever match Elvis's voice, not in a million years. He was the the King of Music, never to be forgotten.

When Elvis sings a song i don't just hear it i feel it. He put all his emotions into his music, so even if some one else wrote it , does not mean they can convey the emotions. No one could match him as all these years have proven.

Elvis understood his audience. Critical to success is connection. There are many handsome singers out there. But the fact that he knew we would love what he loved because it came from his soul, and it talked to ours. Whether it was gospel...he reached the religious. Thematic, the poor boy rising to riches so appealing to the masses. Patriotic by loving his country, touching other patriots. Sexy and raunchy, well, look at his moves and his smoldering eyes burning into yours. Thoughtful as he sang lyrics like "If I Can Dream". Activist as he sang " In the Ghetto". He just hit every single fan between the eyes and in the soul because he spoke to each one of us on some gut level. Black, white, rich or poor. A real phenom.

Elivis took the song “How Great Thou Art” and completely rearranged it! Elvis was a musical genius too! 🎸🎸🎸🎸

Elvis was the whole package... just look at him...gorgeous... Elvis could take ANY song and make it better. His voice was velvet and his charisma and stage presence was was unbelievable. Also, Elvis loved his fans and interacted with his audience. ELVIS captured not only the female base but appealed to men too.

his uniquely powerful, emotionally charged voice made those songs his own . He literally owned them to a point no one else could do them justice after .

His charisma was overwhelming. And a voice that was unbelievable ❤

His popularity extended even to his peers. Blues legend BB King said they werent wrong to call Elvis the king, Chusk Berry said Elvis was the best there ever was or will be and the King of Soul James Brown said Elvis kept him from being number one but he loved him. John Lennon said before elvis there was nothing and even Bob Dylan said the greatest thing in his life was that Elvis recorded some of his songs.

Elvis could sing, dance, act and play musical instruments. Not too shabby. So what if he didn't write songs? His body and voice were his instruments. As for popularity just watch him sing "If I Can Dream" especially written for him. In a white suit, statuesque and eloquent. I have never in my life, seen such an intense, passionate performance. Elvis gives it everything he's got. You totally believe the man. He moves mountains with that gospel voice. You feel like you have been through a marathon of emotion with him as he builds the song until it reaches its climax. Oh yes, authenticity. No one comes close to Elvis.

Elvis had the whole package. He had a great voice & could sing all genres whether ballads, gospel, country, blues, R&B, rockabilly & rock. He had charisma, a great stage presence, a sense of humor, he was good looking & could act.

Why was Elvis so popular?🤔 Let’s see….There’s Charisma, Amazing voice, Talent, Looks, Humbleness, and Generosity…He was the epitome of Greatness. He will never be topped…👍

Black velvet voice, vocal talent, musical talent, dancing style, stage presence, charisma, Southern charm, handsome, ability to convey emotion in his singing, acting talent, kindness and generosity, genuine & humble, and had an onstage appeal to women that cannot be put into words. 💥 Great analysis, Fil!

Whether people want to hear it (let alone agree) or not...Elvis TAUGHT a generation of Americans, in mass, to listen to music differently. He had a real ear for music, had a vision as to how it could/should be presented and really opened the doors for so many of the artists to follow. Simply put, Americans (the world) could not resist. Of course those early pioneers and adopters get their due for creating, feeling, and producing much of it first, but it did not cross the Chasm until Elvis put his own DNA and fingerprint into the music. Undeniable fact. Good analysis here.

Never had a male singer had the whole package as Elvis. - Voice and the ability to sing just about everything, including opera if he wanted to (Placido Domingo, the opera singer, said "His was the one voice I wish to have had") - Charisma and stage presence on a different level - looks, original style and moves - the ability to deliver the messages of the songs in a way that people felt he was singing to them personally

Just listen to him....and I mean look at him !!!! His charisma, his generosity, his humanity !!! He could sing anything, he didn't have to write a song...Elvis is the GOAT ❤❤❤

Because he was Elvis!!!!!!! Devastatingly handsome, fabulous and sexy voice, was able to laugh at himself and not take himself too seriously... the total package.

It's one thing to write a song, quite another to be able to interpret a song. Elvis gets no credit for arranging, because there is no patent on that. But he was one of the best. He refused to take credit for other people writing his songs, though his manager wanted him to. As you know, there are many artists that do that. They will buy the song, maybe change a word or two and claim writing credits. Elvis refused to do that. But when he did record it, he made it his regardless. He was a vocal genius. Just wanted to mention this. Great analogy you gave. 👍

Elvis was like a musical sponge, soaking up influences ranging from Dean Martin, opera, black music and about 1000 other musical styles. He was totally unique, a charisma «monster» that made people emotional, just by being. What a tragedy that he never got to tour the world, he would be totally amazed. His voice, as Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys said, «a total miracle, something that belonged to you, not your mum or dad». He bridged the generation gap, uniting people of all countries and races, we could really need an Elvis Now. Great analysis by the way😀

Elvis had the whole package. No he wasn’t a song writer and yes he did do numerous covers but his vocal ability was such that he immediately put his own stamp on it. Combined with that his ability to sing blues rock n roll gospel ballads the personality stage presence charisma I could go on. It’s little wonder he was is and always will be the KING!!!

Gorgeous with an unbelievable voice! Never has anyone come close to his charisma, looks or talent. NO ONE ELSE!!! Also a very charitable and beautiful personality

Because he was the best rock and roll singer ever… One cold night, I listened to all the great singers and ended with Elvis. It was amazing how much better he was.

You left out his charisma...stage presence, he was the total package and no one else comes close.

As others have said, Elvis took songs and made them his own, even Paul Simon said after hearing Elvis sing "Bridge ..." "how can we ever top that?" Also, songwriters were writing songs specifically for Elvis to sing, a great example is "If I Can Dream". I don't get why people think not writing his own songs should diminish his popularity, a lot of artists today have teams of writers (personally, I think they have their own names added a lot of the time just for appearance sake) Elvis really was the first true superstar. He was so gifted, he was humble, he was ridiculously generous with his wealth and he genuinely loved his fans and made himself accessible to them all the time. He was unique and his voice was just amazingly beautiful and powerful. He was splendid 💕

Dude had a perfect voice and the looks to match he was the top of the top! Came from dirt poor Tupelo and set the world on fire for rock and roll

Looks, unmatched charisma, moves, voice. The king of cool.

Excellent insight. As a person who was a teenager when Elvis came on the scene, I would say his music was innovative. Prior to Elvis, our music choices were crooners, big bands and country singers. Enter Elvis with the “rock” and “soul” sounds. We adored it. This was “our” sound not our parents. It was liberating, rebellious, and fun!

Another element to the popularity was growing up in poverty, being in the military added some validity to his character, he was living most men's dream life, women were crazy about him so fans of all types, he gave 100 percent in the studio and on stage, he actually was very gifted at taking a song and reforming it to suit his shows, I saw him twice live as a kid, his last show I was at in Indiana, he did his best. He is the King for a good reason.

Elvis loved to perform for his fans, They were the ones that meant the most to him

Elvis could really tell an story with his amazing warm, multilayered voice with a great range. He was versatile and great at whatever he sang. He looked dangerous, exiting and had an other worldly charisma. He was charming, kind, had a great sense of humour and had a great imagination for interpreting and arranging a song. Most of the songs Elvis covered sounded better then the original artist’s version. His energy in a live performance was off the charts.

First of all, Elvis did not do only cover songs. His first number one, Heartbreak Hotel, was original to Elvis. He didn't write it, but it wasn't a cover. Secondly, back then few people knew or cared who wrote the songs. People like Frank Sinatra and Judy Garland were not known for writing their own songs. There were singers, and there were songwriters, and the twain did not often meet. Also, when a big hit song came out, a lot of people often rushed to record it. That's just the way it was. To dismiss Elvis as a "cover artist" is just silly.

I think he was a freak of nature. He sang different he walked different he spoke different he lived different. He had 4 aeroplanes who had 4 private planes in those days. Most in important of all he was the real deal. He felt every note and when performed live he left it all out there on the stage

Parker didn’t keep all his eggs in one basket. He promoted Elvis in music and film The films helped sell records and the albums help sell movie tickets. Elvis was a kind, generous, and genuine person. Unlike so many artists today. He was just a likable guy. So glad you’re feeling better, Fil!❤️

I have been an Elvis fan for at least sixty-years, and my friend is a professional Elvis impersonator (or "Tribute Artist") in Las Vegas. We have spent many hours discussing this exact subject, so rather than rehash all of his many qualities, I would like to add the single thing you missed about the man, and it had nothing at all to do with his good looks or his incredible talent. People loved Elvis so much because he possessed the singular quality of HUMILITY. Born from poor country roots, Elvis never lost "the common touch," and always addressed his elders as "Sir" or "Maam." This quality is called, "respect." He was also an incredibly generous person, giving away nearly as much as he ever made- to his family, to his friends, and even to total strangers. In my opinion, this was this single characteristic that make him so singularly beloved by everyone, and what his most loyal fans will remember the most about him. He was not boastful, nor did he ever put anyone down. Would you ever see this kind of behavior from someone like a Kanye West?? To me, it was this factor, having nothing to do with fame or success, that was Elvis' most memorable attribute.

I was born and raised and have moved back to Elvis's birthplace and hometown. His smooth Southern drawl could melt butter. There are still plenty of Presleys in the Tupelo area and many of the young men favor Elvis. It freaks tourist out! Often you will see one of them standing for photos by an Elvis statute, sign or Central Hardware where Elvis's mother bought his first guitar. It's in the same location downtown and still sells guitars. The drawl is still as thick as honey.

All I know is this - Besides the main reason - Elvis is why I listen to Gospel/Country/Christmas Music. He changed the culture. He never toured the World and is beloved worldwide. I still enjoy his movies. His generosity showed he knew how blessed he was and he gave back to the public. There will never be another like Elvis. There will never be another Fil, either!

He was and is the perennial entertainer, he had the looks , swagger , the smile and THE VOICE , the guy was the total package . He was appealing to many people from all backgrounds. His only grammy awards came from his gospel albums which shows his broad talent . As far as " he does not write his own music " , well many great artists do not write their own music . Sinatra , Dean Martin are perfect examples . Hell , there are lead singers of rock bands that write few or any of the songs for which they are known .

When Elvis released "Return to Sender," I was 13 years old. Elvis was able to sing anything, and both his voice and his films were thrilling. With the neighborhood girls, listening to his records was enjoyable. I would be in their pink bedrooms listening to records whenever they said, "Let's listen to records." I combed my hair like him and even did the thing with the lip, which was very stupid but the females loved it because they loved him too. I loved his music most of all and the way he looked. My biggest disappointment with him as I grew up and continue to do so is that I believe he might have been a fantastic and serious actor. Parker is a jackass for failing to see that, in my opinion. Once again, I appreciate your regard for Elvis.

No one had his voice, no one had a name like him, no one looked like him. He was a phenomenon, As Colonel Parker said and it is true.

I saw Elvis perform 3 times. Each time the audience loved him so much, he didn’t even have to move or sing. All he ever had to do is just stand there. That is how much charisma he had. And, he loved us back. Like no other performer. He loved his fans. Never was mean or felt he was better than us. Beautiful human being.

I would add he had tons of Charisma!! You knew when he walked into a room. I saw him twice in concert and it was magical. Being in the room while Elvis sang for an hour is a once in a lifetime experience. Love your videos btw!

Elvis had natural talent, whole package. Great vocal voicem passion and charisma. Amazing reaction. 💕💕💕💕😊

George Strait never wrote any of his music, yet he's one of the most coveted artists in country music. It's all about delivery and making the best sound out of the song an artist is singing.

Yes, Dagmar S. said it, he was the whole package. He could sing pretty much any genre, his looks, personality , the fact he was so gentle and kind...just everything about him hit all the right chords. And I think you have to figure in the fact we were the generation that just loved everything he had to offer. His fan base was huge and crossed generations. I'm 71 now and was and will always be a huge fan. The day we found out he passed, I was, along with a lot of other people my age, sitting outside a school waiting for our kindergarten kids to be dismissed. EVERYONE got out of their cars as we heard the news on our radios. There was shock, disbelief and yes, tears. Some 'stars', or 'idols' can just never be replaced or copied. He was one of a kind.

"Don't kid yourself....he was the King." -Jerry Reed

As an American, I'm impressed with this British guy's understanding of the American social milieu of Elvis' time and place. Well done, Fil!

You nailed it! As an early fan of Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Fats Domino, Ray Charles and the most famous Blues artist, Jimmy Reed & John Lee Hooker, he was amazing on their covers. He made these uniquely his own! Saw him twice in Atlanta, his live performances were truly electric, and his charisma ap filled the room. There was never anyone like him. As a long time fan in my older years, I have truly come to appreciate his music more over time. Thanks again for a great analysis.

I fell in love with his Music from the age of 8 years. 🤠. Love all of him until this day. Just saw the movie with Butler. Brought tears to my eyes many times. I am 70 now and no one has been even close to him as the complete package. ❤️❤️❤️

A singer shouldn't have to write his own songs any more than a Formula 1 racing car driver should have to make his own car. Writing and singing are very different gifts.

His music spoke to multiple generations. Women from 8 to 80 loved him, and he loved them back. He catered to his fans and they ate it up with a spoon. He could be whatever they wanted him to be. The boy next door or the untouchable super rock star. He knew his fans, what they wanted and he gave it to them.

I think what you also should look at is his body language and facial expressions that also matched perfectly to the music and the voice. You could see, how he turned his attention inside and got into the song. Even when he made jokes in between, after a few seconds he was back again into the mood of the song.

Agreed Fil. Elvis was the perfect storm of an artist who had looks and talent that was hard to miss!

Great analysis FIl. It was Elvis's voice that was most important for me. He could sing any song form any genre. Many thanks

Elvis was a once in a quadrillion phenomenon that just doesn’t happen by accident!!! There hasn’t been anyone that was able to take looks voice talents and super God given abilities and combine them all together to give a performance to the world and while he sang the world stopped stood completely still and listened watched and analyzed everything that Elvis did.I was only 7 years old when Burning Love came out and I bugged my older brother everyday to buy it for me at the store finally one day I came home he gives it to me and I must of played it 100-200 times in the first 3 days of having it and all along steering at the picture on the 45 record wearing what came to me named and rightfully so his Burning Love Suit and this was after watching him when I was only 4 years old in 1968 and dancing to his 1968 Christmas special in front of the TV.

It's simple he was the greatest vocalist of the twentieth century.

Elvis had the incredible ability of taking ANY song he sang, no matter who had done it before, and making it 100% his! He heard in his head how he wanted it to sound! He was a great arranger and producer! He was the total package

Elvis had the voice, the looks, the stage presence.. that swagger... that package together is what made him popular.. btw Phil, great to see you appearing back to full strength... hope you're well.

Put simply He was incredible. My Sister and I were having a conversation about Young Musical Artists including Elvis being ripped off over bad Managers and their Contracts. Elvis is the prime example, others included in our conversation included The Beatles and Creedence Clearwater Revival (especially John Fogerty). To anybody considering accepting a Contract I highly recommend hiring yourself a good lawyer before signing. The Colonel really ripped him off. As a manager he was only entitled to %10 not 50% and of course he never told him why there weren't any International Concerts. The Colonel would have been arrested if he'd left America. To bad everyone would have loved to have seen Elvis live. Both Elvis and all of those fans would have loved it.

Elvis was not only a fantastic vocal talent with great God-given vibrato, but he had God-given heart and soul. He also knew what it took to combine R&B, Gospel, ballads, and elements of early Rock N Roll. Elvis was so very multi-talented. Sam Phillips (Sun records) knew who he had in Elvis and others such as Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash. Many thanks, FIL! Merry Christmas, FIL!

Brilliant analysis! I've nothing to add except- Music was in every cell of Elvis' body.

Elvis changed the world!

Elvis broke the mould, he created the teenager, he was so versatile in his music from rock n roll to gospel to country to pop. Yes he did other peoples songs but early on these songs were written originally for him. He was an incredible producer of music and most of what happened in the studio or on stage was all him. He successfully created a myth around him too and his manager was instrumental in this. He reinvented himself over n over from the early rock n roll, to the post army days, late 60s comeback and then the 70s Vegas style. He was also a decent guy and people could relate to him in so many ways from a poor boy to a celebrity who was so generous and so humble. He gave everything to his fans and was always accessible to them. He was the ultimate entertainer. Great analysis and good to see you in good health again.

ELVIS IS THE KING OF ROCK N ROLL!! 🎶🔥💖🇺🇸

He was handsome, he could sing, and he had a great stage presentation. He also started something new in music.

Also many songs were written especially for Elvis with him in mind. And some songs had been out before but were not popular, then Elvis came and sang them and they were a hit. Suspisious minds were released by the songwriter and did nothing, Elvis then recorded it and it became his first number 1 hit in 7 years. Sam Philips (the Guy from Sun Records, who "discovered: Elvis) said, "He(Elvis), seemed like he wanted to put everything he knew into a song. I have heard musical analysts say about Elvis "you really felt like Elvis meant every word he sang" so that abillity to conway a feeling is another really important thing about him that stands out.

I was recently telling a coworker about Elvis. When the camera was on him above the waist because how he would shake his hips. That was considered indecent in the 50s. He looked astonished when I told him this. The coworker came back to me about an hour later and asked me what his name was again. I told him the name and recommended he watch some of his videos to show how awesome a performer he was. Hopefully introducing another generation of Elvis fans. Cheers from Ottawa.

He knew how to pick great songs and put his signature on them. He played guitar, piano, and electric bass. Not well enough for session work, but well enough to show the musicians he was working with what he was after. He also had pitch memory. Once he knew a song, he could always start it in key. In my family we're all Elvis fans.

Love your channel! Elvis was enormously talented vocally, but he had that elusive “it” factor. He was a lover, brother, friend, idol and entertainer all rolled into one. To your point as a singer, he is unmatched vocally, but I believe that his staying power decades later is his projection dynamic. No one since has had that powerful projection effect on people. He was the total package for sure! Shame that he was financially abused by the Colonel.

When I watch his movies, especially the early ones, I see that when he is singing, he's truly enjoying himself and can be rather comical with his facial expressions. He probably got a big kick too out of making the girls scream with a mere blink or sudden jerk of a knee. 😏

Simple. He was the only artist that had everything and his voice is like nothing else on earth.

He was the first rock god. He looked like a god, moved like a god and his voice was absolutely unique. Innovator beautiful just amazing. Still now

Phil, your dissecting and analyzing all the elements that make Elvis so popular even today is spot on. You touched on all elements perfectly. I love that video where he was being interviewed and was asked if he learned anything from the criticism of his singing and moving physically. He said "no Sir, I did not learn anything from the criticism because I'm not doing anything wrong." He was a rebel who just imagine wore pink in the 50's. He loved the black sound related to the outrageous clothing and oh yes, what a voice and what an amazing good looking man. Blues, rock, country and gospel. I still don't know how one man could be so "All It." Loved, God, Mother and his country and proud to put it out there. Like you said "He was the Perfect Storm. He looked to die for always especially from videos I've seen in 1973-1974.

Elvis was able to make the listener believe every word he sang as if the lyrics relayed his own experience or feeling. He remains The Utimate Talent. Thanks Fil once again! 👍🏻

No matter what, Elvis fans will tell you that it's his voice. Yes, he has other things going for him but it's the voice and quite frankly, what sound he's going for at any particular point in his career because he mixes his own songs up at different stages. Also, how he makes you feel like he singing just for you. I've never heard about another singer who has that remark as to why people love him. Elvis is this enigma that no one can quite explain.

Just the voice (without today's technology), that's what I fell in love with in the late 60s/70s; then the compulsive dancing (un-choreographed) from first time seeing his moves... Every genre (Rock and Roll, Rhythm and Blues, Country and Gospel); then the charismatic stage presence and clean cut, polite down to earth manner. I could go on forever and ever, 🙏

There are many examples of when Elvis would rearrange a song OR go several steps beyond that, but I'll mention one. Recorded in 1970, I think you can find it on the recent Nashville compilation. It's an interleaving of two entirely different blues. "Mojo Workin'" and "Hands Off." And it's fascinating how he made them into one song, essentially a new song. It would be great if you could listen to it, either just for yourself or do a video. It gives you an idea of his creative process. Most people just listen to the hit records, with demos provided by the publisher. But his deep catalog isn't like that at all. And there were times when he didn't like either a demo of a new song (and changed it) or if he did a cover and over the course of the takes, decided to make something else of it. ("It's Only Love" is an example where you hear him get very frustrated and he starts really changing it to where it makes sense to him.) In the early days, there were some extensive rewrites. But I don't want to go on and on. Yes, if he liked something a lot, he'd even duplicate a mistake! And it was on purpose because he he liked it just it was. Elvis was also a fan and if he loved something, he'd do it like he loved it. And he loved so many different styles of music. In the end, though, you always heard HIM - his heart and soul. But when Elvis changed even a line on some songs, he often changed the meaning of the entire song. But I'll stop here. Glad to see you well! ❤️

Great analysis. I think one thing that gets slightly overlooked is the timeliness of Elvis's arrival. I have a theory that a performer becomes popular because they do something that chimes with what a section of the public, deep down, needs to express. And the US at the time was a buttoned down society with a teenage demographic that wanted to express their own feelings through pop music, instead of the music being served to them by a music industry that appealed to their parents. So Elvis was the physical and musical manifestation of those dreams. The more he outraged parents the more teenagers loved him. I also think that was why he was inducted to the military, to get him out of tge way. It worked for a while, but when the Beatles and Stones came along they reconnected with those fantasies and the 1960s were created. The greatest era ever for teenagers. Apologies for rambling on, but I thought these ideas might be a propos to your analysis.

Talent, charisma, good looks, and a country boy charm.

Look, soul, charisma and an amazing voice!⚡️

Elvis was truly the first in so many ways. Many legends have said he invented rock and roll because he made it mainstream. Everyone recognizes he was an awesome singer but I think the one thing that’s possibly overlooked is his “timing” while singing. He could transition and flow like no other singer. He could go high , low in between and never miss a note. I truly can’t think of any other singer that could do that as well as Elvis. The tragic side is always discussed and it would’ve been interesting to see him mature to an advanced age because his voice never declined.

@wingsofpegasus Early on, Elvis had writers compose new songs for him, so technically they were not cover tunes that were tested. People like Otis Blackwell wrote new songs for him. He picked what he wanted to sing from the Demos made for him, which was part of his genius and musical gift and intuition.

Elvis! That’s all that needs to be said. Elvis Presley was the Greatest singer that ever lived, bar none. He had the talent, the charisma, the incredible looks, that unmistakable, incredible, remarkable voice, the smile, the moves, the love he had for his family and the love of his fans. God gave Elvis the whole shebang. There is always more to analyze about Elvis but can be summed up as about as perfect as a person can be. Forget Tom Parker, he could have been managed by the three stooges and he still would have soared to fame. This was really well thought out. Thanks

Great video Fil. What more can we say about this man. Let’s just say he had it all.

His moves drove the girls crazy…

His voice was his instrument and nobody could play it as well as he could. No matter whose songs they were, given the Elvis spin on them took them to a whole different level.

Elvis and The Colonel also started the merchandising Machine...that set the standard for other artists and music groups to follow....THE BEATLES, LED ZEPPELIN, KISS, IRON MADDEN, teen idols ect....all followed the path ELVIS set on merchandising... Elvis made a fortune on merchandising... the first to do that on a big scale.

I'm 65 and Elvis died on my 20th birthday. As a child I would literally cry when his movies ended and my parents made me go to bed. Elvis did SO much in the short 20ish years he was in show buiness. He was much more than a Star...he was a Galaxy of his own. Thank you so much for all the kind and truthful information that you give. I love your British voice and you have a great smile.

Thank you for providing your insight on Elvis’s popularity. I was a baby when he passed and grew up listening to his music because of my mom, but it wasn’t until the movie came out earlier this year that I started doing more research and now have become a fan and now understanding his fame and popularity.

Elvis was a force of nature… and that force can still be felt.

Growing up as a child in the sixties, Elvis was like a human Empire State Building...you couldn't miss him.

Elvis had the whole package.

Good video Phil. The only thing I would add is that Elvis came along at the right time. Although he was causing hysteria during 1955 touring the South, like you mentioned, it was the new medium of TV that made him a big star. The American teens were looking for a role model to identify with,as they were becoming a social class for the first time. James Dean was killed in 55, and Marlon Brando was a movie actor. Presley filled that role with music and his performances on Milton Berle and Ed Sullivan. Elvis did cover songs for sure, most of the times improving on the original version- but many of his number one songs and top ten hits were new songs never heard before. Heartbreak Hotel was as different as can be. In the end, it's his voice that made him Elvis. Other countries soon adopted their own copycat Elvis' like Cliff Richard in England and Johnny Halliday in France- but Elvis was the role model that pop stars still follow today.