Deseret News | Parallels in lives, deaths of Michael Jackson and Elvis Presley

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Parallels in lives, deaths of Michael Jackson and Elvis Presley

Maurice Colgan | 1:41 p.m. July 4, 2009

In the coverage of Michael Jackson's sad demise, HYPE has taken a quantum leap.

Alongside Elvis Presley, Michael's shadow would be totally eclipsed.

Elvis was in a league of his own and all the world knows it.

Anonymous | 2:29 p.m. July 4, 2009

This all amazes me. Reagan's a hero to some too.

Bret Hernando | 2:56 p.m. July 4, 2009

While I agree with most of the initial points in the comparison between Elvis and Michael, I couldn't disagree more to the premise that Elvis and his legacy will far outshine that of Michael--this is an ambitious and false argument.

Michael has passed away only a week ago or so; you haven't yet seen the totality of the enormous global response to his life and death.

I suggest you wait...and if you live a long time, you will see and experience Michael's fandom which will be comparative to that of Mr. Presley.

It is my opinion that what led you to think and believe that Michael woudn't go down in history as Elvis has is the fact that you are of the past (Elvis') generation, and not of mine (the newer generation). Therefore, you have underestimated and biasedly pre-judged my generation's legendary icon.

Just wait and see...Michael Jackson will catch up to Elvis Presley, and you and your future progeny will "remember the time."

Comments continue below

Michael knew before | 3:10 p.m. July 4, 2009

Acording to Lisa Marie, Michael knew that his death would be similar to Elvis before he died, and according to her, he wasn't happy about that.

It turns out Michaels prophesy was true.

Sophia | 8:24 p.m. July 4, 2009

Although I am a big fan of Elvis myself, I don't think its all that correct to say that his career outshines Jackson's. It has been proven that Jackson is the most successful musician of all time, through his never again possible number of awards.

Also, to say that Michael Jackson hasn't been recording music, well thats a false statement. Michael Jackson has been writing and recording his music for years and years, even after his last official album, Invincible. It has been stated that he has over 100 or even 200 songs recorded in his catalog. However because he was concerned for his children's future financial relations, he decided not to release them as of yet. He told his manager or other close associate to release after his death, suspecting he knew it was coming soon, so that his children's financial gain is guaranteed.

In the world's eyes, the legendary Michael Jackson has surpassed any boarders that Elvis has gained and then some.

Kelsey | 8:31 p.m. July 4, 2009

im sad because michael jackson died! he is my favorite singer! i pray to him and my dad every night.
when i die im finally going to see him and meet him.
he was only 50, he was realy young!

r.i.p michael jackson.

you will be and always the king of pop. you will be missed

stdslove | 2:59 a.m. July 5, 2009

I love him!!!!!!
Many people on the largest STD dating site Positivefish. com said that Michael Jackson donated at least $10,000,000 to
the people with HIV in Africa.

Jerry | 8:49 p.m. July 5, 2009

I really liked Micheal Jackson...had some good songs and loved to watch him dance. But over all...Elvis is still the BEST! Elvis sang Rock & Roll, Ballads, Blues, Gospel, Folk Music, Country on & on & on!!! Micheal sang Pop. What can I say. Elvis just can't be beat.

The Real King | 2:00 a.m. July 6, 2009

Elvis is the best in his time Micheal Jackson can't match all the records and songs Elvis Wrote.

Anonymous | 8:12 a.m. July 6, 2009

Elvis stole songs

chris clarke | 9:37 a.m. July 6, 2009

How pathetic and childish to say Elvis stole songs, Elvis made songs famous for the writers who were only to pkeased that Elvis was singing them. i.e. Paul Anka, My way, simon and garfunkel Bridge over troubled water, the list goes on and on and don`t forget the writers get a share of the profits. How utterly silly.

Leslie | 4:16 p.m. July 6, 2009

To Anonymous: Elvis did not steal songs; he sang them. If you believe he stole songs, then I guess you would say that Frank Sinatra....any every other singer who sang; but did not write songs...stole songs...that's rediculous!

And to anyone else who - additionally - thinks Elvis stole black music...that's equally rediculous. If you believe that, then you'd have to believe he stole Country music...and stole Gospel music too...

To those people, I say just listen to any of the original recordings (Hound Dog sung by Big Mama Thornton...and written, by the way by two WHITE guys, Blue Moon of Kentucky - written and sung by Bill Monroe, a WHITE Bluegrass performer), etc. Then listen to Elvis' version of any of them....with an open mind...and you'll hear a totally different song! The man transformed every song he ever sang and made it an original.

Additionally, Chris Clarke was right...Elvis recorded many songs at the songwriters' request.

mike | 4:40 p.m. July 6, 2009

will they be holding candle light vigils for Jackson 30 years from now? 30 years from now he will only be remembered by his victims.......

murielpippin-miami,fl. | 8:06 a.m. July 8, 2009

both Elvis and MichaelJ. were great preformers.Their music touched all of us in different ways.I beleive Elvis Pressley actually prepared this generation for all of the wild moves that MikieJ made.WhenI was a teen,often my parents would fuss about Pressley's "nasty moves"daddy often said he needed to be a gentleman.But,we loved Elvis,and baby sis rocked with Jackson.I found both guys had some great music that we all can share,and they both did great humanitarian things in their lives.GOD bless them both and their living family members.

Laura | 12:10 a.m. July 9, 2009

I am of both generations. I grew up with Michael and the Jackson Five. Yet I was fortunate to have seen Elvis for the first time at the age of 13. I saw both perform and I can honestly say that Michael cannot hold a candle to Elvis. Elvis had Charisma with a Capital "C." He wasn't "wierd, strange, or have controversery surrounding him. He was just a gentle soul that loved his fan just like Michael did. But when he was on the stage performing - it was an Experience that can not be described. Captivating, and beyond anything that I ever saw Michael do. Both talented, but Elvis is forever the true King. Flash forward 32 years from now - I truly do not believe that you will see thrones of fans visiting Michael's grave site holding candlight vigils. Too much controversy surrounding him and not in the same league as the real king, Elvis. Elvis appealed to everyone - every race, every generation. And that still holds true 32 years after his passing.

Nisha | 5:34 a.m. July 9, 2009

Michael Jacksons victims? I thought he was found innocent of alll 14 charges that was brough against him because of massive lack of evidence. I guess because Michael Jackson is rich, black, super famous, and lets say weird he is guilty as charged!

Sunny | 6:57 a.m. July 13, 2009

Michael was bigger than Elvis: Due to the following reasons:

- Michael wrote most of his own songs- elvis didn't
- Micahel composed his own music - elvis didn't
-Michael has extended the show business to an upper standard
- Michael had presented "songs with video clips" into music business. Elvis didn't
- The mass media coverage was much bigger in michael's time than Elvis' time.......
- Michael gave many international concerts to create a huge popularity over the world - Elvis never gave a single int. concert anywhereelse except north america, yet he still holds his legacy but not as much as Michael's.

- michael was a hugely talented and beyond imagination ,creative dancer- Elvis was a dancer.....

DBerry - Huntsville Al | 1:51 a.m. July 15, 2009

Elvis did something that no one else will ever do again. He can't be duplicated and when people try they look stupid. No impersonator can ever get his voice perfect and the best plastic surgeons can't make his face on someone else. To have both is impossible. And in the future even if they could it still wouldn't be Elvis.
Michael Jackson was a good singer and dancer. That's it. A Michael
Jackson 'Graceland won't draw but a few people for a short time then will fade away. James Brown was the King of Soul and you hear nothing about him. The same will happen with Jackson. And by the way, didn't they have trouble burying Brown too.
Jackson was a good entertainer but not an Idol someone would want to be.
Elvis was a great entertainer and an Idol everyone wanted to be.
30 years from now people will still hear and admire Elvis and say..Michael who?

Judah | 6:54 a.m. July 15, 2009

That MJ was very talanted was without doubt.
However the historical, musical and cultural impact of Elvis in 1956 and the Beatles in 1963 totally dwarf anything achieved by MJ. There are old clips of Elvis live in Tupelo in 1956/7 and you can see these are the first rock concerts and how every rock star and group have been directly or indirectly influenced by Elvis. As the Great Little Richard said - he opened the doors for us all. All of music is indebted to Elvis in some way.
Further despite a lot of hype, no serious analysis of MJ's sales (and very impressive they for his output)will conclude that they are more than about 300 Million. That is a long way behind Elvis sales of well over a billion or about 750M of the Beatles.
Records today despite high chart positions sell well below what they were selling previously. There is therefore little prospect of MJ even getting close to these figures. RCA for instance rushed out 8 Million records in the week of Elvis death and 100 million in the next year and a half. RIP Elvis & MJ.

Evalani | 8:05 a.m. July 29, 2009

The views and comparison expressed above by Mr. Colgan are seriously biased and premature. While Elvis has been gone for many years, Michael has just departed. How can a concerted parallel be drawn. A lot has happened to romanticize Elvis' life and death, and I believe, given a reasonable amount of time, the same will happen for Michael. Elvis came along at a time when the world needed someone with his talents and carisma. Likewise, Michael was very inspirational with his talents as a performer and the things that he has done for humanity. Both men made a contribution to the world, both men were loved, and both men will be very much missed.

Patty | 11:04 a.m. Aug. 18, 2009

I am 56 yeras old and have live in both eras. I didn't see Elvis uniting the races, I don't feel like he cross the color barrier.He may have sounded Black but,he wasn't all that popular with Black people. You did'nt see Blacks at his concerts or, Black teenage girls screaming and crying over Elvis.
He was a great talent, he was the King of Rock & Roll but, Michael Jackson crossed the barrier. He has Fans of all races. His music was enjoyed by people of all colors. With his music he truly united the races. He was strange in his personal life and there even I didn't understand him but, in his music he was universal in a way Elvis never was.
I realized Elvis lived in a different time and the world was a lot different then but, Michael Jackson must be given credit for making a change in the world as well as in the music world and truly bringing the races together where music is concerned. He was truly The King of Pop!

Anonymous | 1:18 a.m. Aug. 19, 2009

this whole story is bogus,Elvis stole his style from Chuck Barry,Michael was original.Elvis sang other people's songs ,Michael wrote most of his ,Michael was a child star Elvis was not!shall i go on Michael could dance circle around elvis

Diana | 1:54 p.m. Aug. 23, 2009

I am in agreement with Sophia's comments. Michael has already eclipsed Elvis. Elvis never had the global success that Michael Jackson has. People all over the world are grieving this entertainer's passing and giving tribute also. I will say this, many african-americans care very little about Elvis. I will not say because of the false statements that were never substantiated, but because of the style of his music. I was born at a time where I could enjoy both entertainers to the fullest, but Michael Jackson was crowned king of pop when there was no one on any level that could compare to him. Quite the contrary when it came to Elvis, there were several rock and roll artist that could sing as well and dance better, but never got the title. I believe it said a lot about our culture during the Elvis years. All races adhered to Michael Jackson, young and old, he was the BEST.

Anonymous | 4:16 p.m. Aug. 25, 2009

Elvis, don't degrade Elvis's name with MJ's. Elvis stands alone...

debby | 6:11 p.m. Aug. 25, 2009

michael was just too beautiful a soul for this world.

Brandonsk | 11:56 a.m. Aug. 26, 2009

Are you kidding?
Michaels death totally overshadowed Elvis passing.
Remember (for US citizans) that the USA (or the UK) dont equals the whole planet!!!

Michaels death shocked the whole planet, including Russia and former comunists states, Asia, Africa, Arabic world...

Elvis could be biggest in 1977, but not on the whole planet like Michael Jackson is!

Thats the point of everything = fame, popularity, fan base, record sale, achievements...., in these points... Michael is the most famous modern artist!

utahdeafman | 11:59 p.m. Aug. 28, 2009

Michael Jackson is the greatest all round entertainer ever! His talent will never be surpassed! Elvis who? Beatles who? Justin Timberlake who? Chris Brown who?
"I am bad you know it, who's bad?"

glenda | 9:18 a.m. Aug. 29, 2009

Michael Jackson was the greatest entertainer to have ever walked this planet. He just sold out 50 concerts at the 02 in london,being another world record.He will never be forgotten ,he feels like part of my soul and will live forever through his millions of fans.WE miss him so much.

Dani | 1:42 a.m. Sept. 1, 2009

Michael Jackson is bigger than... enybody. The most talented musician ever lived.

Anonymous | 9:07 a.m. Sept. 13, 2009

Michael was pure magic.The greatest entertainer ever.Long live the King.

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