Palacký University Olomouc Faculty of Arts Department of English and American Studies
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Palacký University Olomouc Faculty of Arts Department of English and American Studies Adéla Vymazalová Elvis Presley and His Significant Impact on American Culture Bachelor thesis Supervisor: PhDr. Matthew Sweney, Ph.D. Olomouc 2018 Prohlašuji, že jsem tuto bakalářskou práci vypracovala samostatně pod odborným dohledem vedoucího práce a uvedla jsem všechny použité podklady a literaturu. V Olomouci dne …………… ………………… Adéla Vymazalová Děkuji PhDr. Matthew Sweney, Ph.D. za odborné vedení práce, poskytování rad a podkladů k práci. Table Of Contents Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 5 1 Rock and Roll ............................................................................................................ 7 1.1 What Is Music? ...................................................................................................................... 7 1.2 Music and Culture ............................................................................................................... 8 1.3 Rock and Roll Origins ........................................................................................................ 9 2 “The King of Rock and Roll” ................................................................................ 11 2.1 Early Life .............................................................................................................................. 11 2.2 The Beginning .................................................................................................................... 12 2.3 Colonel Parker ................................................................................................................... 12 2.4 The U.S. Army ...................................................................................................................... 14 2.5 1968 Comeback ................................................................................................................. 15 2.6 The King Is Dead ................................................................................................................ 16 3 Elvis Presley and His Impact ................................................................................. 17 3.1 Presley’s Impact on American Culture ....................................................................... 18 3.2 Why Was Presley So Popular? ....................................................................................... 26 3.3 Impact on Other Artists ................................................................................................... 27 3.4 Influence on Popular Culture ........................................................................................ 30 3.5 The Identification With Elvis Presley ......................................................................... 33 3.6 Mark Duffett’s Study ......................................................................................................... 35 4 Song Analysis .......................................................................................................... 37 4.1 “If I Can Dream” .................................................................................................................. 38 4.2 “In The Ghetto” ................................................................................................................... 40 4.3 “Heartbreak Hotel” ........................................................................................................... 41 4.4 “Hound Dog” ........................................................................................................................ 43 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................... 46 Resumé ........................................................................................................................... 48 Bibliography .................................................................................................................. 51 Appendices ..................................................................................................................... 57 Annotation ..................................................................................................................... 62 Anotace .......................................................................................................................... 63 Introduction Music is an essential part of human life. It is constantly around us. From the moment when we are born and our parents sing lullabies to send us to sleep, to the moment when a sad song is played on our funeral. Music has the power to influence people and evokes all types of emotions. It can bring tears into our eyes, it can fill us with joy and happiness but it can also evoke irritation or detestation if a negative association is connected to it. Nonetheless, life without music would be sad and empty. Music is the spice that gives our lives zest. Musicians are able to spread messages through the lyrics. Many artists use music as a tool to express their feelings towards the events happening in the world. Music has a tremendous power to connect people and create massive energy. Even the Hussites knew how powerful a song can be and used their war hymns to scare the enemies. Furthermore, many protest and anti-war songs helped to bring people together and to encourage them to fight for their future. Music also mirrors the culture. Artists, who comment on current cultural events and trends, create a picture of the society through their music. Culture is constantly changing and so is the music. A perfect example of this is the difference between generations and their taste in music. Teenagers often think the music their parents listen to is old fashioned and embarrassing. Simultaneously, parents often do not understand the music taste of their children. The change is natural. The music that is popular now might be outdated in a few years. Luckily, everyone is different and has different taste in music and therefore even the outdated music will still have its loyal listeners. Elvis Presley was on the peak of his popularity many decades ago yet there are still thousands of people who enjoy his music today. On a summer evening in 1954 in Memphis, Tennessee a poor young boy from Tupelo, Mississippi came to the Sun Records studio with four dollars in his pocket in order to record a song as a birthday present for his beloved mother.1 That night a special chapter in the history of rock and roll began. Elvis Presley is one of the most significant representatives of the rock and roll era. He was influenced by the gospel, blues and country music and he revolutionized the 1 Scott Schinder and Andy Schwartz, Icons of Rock: An Encyclopedia of the Legends Who Changed Music Forever, Volumes 1 & 2 (London: Greenwood Press, 2008), 2. 5 sound of popular music as well as the way people related to it. He introduced African American music to millions of white people and contributed to the racial harmony. He brought a new fresh wind into the industry of entertainment.2 Tracy Kathleen describes Presley as following, “to some, he is simply the King. To others, he’s the poster child of overindulgent excess. But whether viewed as musical pioneer or tragic figure, Elvis remains one of the most influential performers—and cultural catalysts—of the twentieth century”.3 Presley was a controversial figure in the music industry. Some people loved him. Some people despised him. Nonetheless, he contributed to social and racial revolution and shaped the culture of 1950s remarkably. This thesis aims to introduce the life and career of one of the icons of rock and roll Elvis Presley with a focus on his significant impact on American culture. The thesis consists of four parts. In the first part I will touch upon the theme of music in general. In order to understand the role of music and its relevance to our everyday lives, I will cover what is considered to be music and its relationship with our culture. Then I will inspect the background of rock and roll genre. In the second section the main focus will be placed on the personal and professional life of Elvis Presley. The third chapter will revolve around Elvis Presley and his significant impact on the culture in the United States. I will address the range of his influence along with the changes in the society caused by his actions. I will explore the reasons why he became such an icon and I will mention other artists and works that were influenced by Presley. Finally I will address two studies regarding Presley’s impact on people. In the final chapter I will focus on some of Presley’s recordings. I will try to provide an analysis of the songs “If I Can Dream”, “In The Ghetto”, “Heartbreak Hotel” and “Hound Dog” in order to understand his enormous success and to explore some of the themes in his music. Finally a conclusion will be provided in order to sum up all the important information in the thesis. 2 Schinder and Schwartz, 2. 3 Tracy Kathleen, Elvis Presley: A Biography (London: Greenwood Press, 2007), 1. 6 1 Rock and Roll 1.1 What Is Music? What is music? There is no right or wrong answer to this question. Everybody has their own taste in music and their own definition of what music means to them. Music is and has always been part of the human culture and each culture has its own specific features. As it is stated in The Origins of Music “For every structural feature that can be