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| MJ | 71% | 653 votes | Total: 923 votes | |
| Elvis | 29% | 270 votes |
MJ
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Add to FavoritesHe was a Wunderkind. At a very early age he showed incredible musical talent and by 5 years old, he was traveling far and wide with his family under his father's tutelage. He was greatly influenced by preceding musical legends.
His popularity grew and it wasn't long until his name became internationally recognized. He was even found in the company of royalty and heads of states.
As he grew older, his music wasn't just a novelty of youth; he proved himself a mature musical genius. His compositions became more daring, wider in scope harmonically, rhythmically and melodically. He experimented with sounds no one had ever dared before.
And yet his soul remained childlike, simplistic. His pale face was scarred with a childhood malady. He was thin and sometimes frail looking. He dressed extravagantly. He loved jokes and colored them with his infectious laughter. His voice: "was a tenor, rather soft in speaking and delicate in singing, but when anything excited him, or it became necessary to exert it, it was both powerful and energetic." He enjoyed playing games and kept a variety of pets.
Of course he was criticized and unaccepted in some circles but he concentrated on his art and brushed it off. He once said: "I pay no attention whatever to anybody's praise or blame. I simply follow my own feelings."
Throughout his adult life he carried with him injuries and illnesses from his younger days that would never heal. He was often sick or in pain but that never hindered him being prolific. There were sleepless nights with the worries of his incurred debt and he was forced to sell off his possessions.
The end came much too soon for this genius. He was diligently putting something together that would have been hailed a masterwork. Examples were found posthumously to verify this. It was his last hope that this work would finally bring him back from financial ruin and regain some notoriety.
The cause of his death was never certain. It could have been medication for an illness or heart failure from so much physical suffering. There would be countless speculations about the circumstance surrounding his death for years to come. Was he poisoned? Was it a conspiracy? Who would have gained by his demise?
After his death, many well-attended memorial services were given. This also sparked a re-interest in his works, an "unprecedented wave of enthusiasm." Complete editions of his works were published. His family struggled diligently to hold on to his estate. He was mourned, especially by the peers who greatly admired him. One fellow musician stated: "Posterity will not see such a talent in 100 years."
This Wunderkind influenced a whole genre of music and left a legacy which will resound not only through the years, but the decades, and centuries to come.
Who had the most influence on music, the King of Pop or the King of Rock?
The answer: Mozart.
Learn more about this author, Teresa Ringholz.
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Elvis
Elvis changed music and life as we knew it - without the technology. Think about the early days of Elvis. The guitars were good; Better than many today. But the electronics were horrible. The amps may have had a smoother sound but they overheated and the tubes blew. The pickups were fragile, temperamental things. They were meant for a different kind of music. Then along came Elvis; and look what happened.
Here came someone with a voice that never failed him, with a body that moved in ways that would make a Baptist minister blush, with music that made you move - a bluesy rhythm with a back beat. Elvis did things that no-one had done so far. He weaved and bobbed his way into the fabric of our lives. He changed us. Without him, music would be much different now. He influenced everything. He was in the roots of the Beatles. Without him they may never have been; and without them the entire Rock industry, NO! The entire Rock Ethic may not have ever been. Which means Michael J would never have been. It becomes a question similar to "Who built the Pyramids" vs "Who maintained them."
This is not to say that Michael Jackson was not a king in his own niche. Nor is it fair to say that he did nothing new and different. He had exceptional talent, a voice that wouldn't fail and a body that moved in ways to make a Baptist minister cringe and say, "Not again!" And there it is, "Not again." There was someone before; someone who made it all possible. Elvis made it all happen without the "Special Effects." He was the first. Elvis was the catalyst that created the fire; that brought light to the Blues; that brought the Beatles and the Stones; that brought Fleetwood Mac and Jefferson Starship; all the great bands and, ultimately, Michael Jackson. Without Elvis, life would be very different; Rock n' Roll would be different or, maybe, not even around. Elvis will always be the King of Rock and, as such, the Grandfather of POP. Michael was the offspring and a king in his own right. Elvis broke the mold but allowed other to build their own.
Yes, give the devil his due, Michael Jackson was an incredibly talented individual with a body of work that surpasses Elvis in volume but not in impact. Elvis opened a door to a new world, the rest built the house where each had a room. Michael decorated his with a style all his own and one that will not be forgotten. But even Michael owned a pair of blue-suede shoes.
Learn more about this author, Gary Rushworth.
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