Elvis Presley! The king of Rock and roll! Ingenious song writer, briliant rock and roll composer!

WRONG!!!

I'm a big Elvis fan, it's almost inherited. So I was quite saddened when I did some research behind the Public enemy Fight the power lyrics:

"Elvis was a hero to most
But he never meant shit to me you see
Straight up racist that sucker was
Simple and plain
Motherfuck him and John Wayne!"

Okay John wayne was a nazi or at least a redneck but why hate Elvis? Was he really a racist?

Well doing some backround stuff I found some racist quotes, some were false, a few even true, what caught my eye was a statement that he stole black music. Stole black music? Yes, infact many Elvis songs are covers by black blues, r&b and rock'n'roll musicians of the fifties and sixties. Did I say covers? I ment stolen songs. He did not file a request to cover that music, he took unknown songs, rock and rolled them up, and sold it as his own.

But stop right there, I'm not trying to say Elvis stole all of 'his' music, he stole a bunch, but most of his songs were written and composed for him by songwriters, after wich Elvis said Oui or Non. You know like they do for Britney Spears or Paris Hilton nowaday.

Don't Believe me? Well let's make an alaysis; since Elvis released just a shitload of songs I've taken 15 songs that are considered to be his greatest hits. So let's see how many he wrote VS How many were written for Elvis (WFE), and how many are by other artist shall we?

Hound dog - Big Mama Thornton
Love me tender - WFE - A Mix of lyrics by Ken Darby and a 1861 Civil War song
Suspicious minds - WFE - Mark James
Jailhouse rock - WFE - Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller
Viva las vegas - WFE - Doc Pomus & Mort Shuman
Return to sender - WFE - Winfield Scott and Otis Blackwell
I can't help falling in love with you - WFE - Jean Paul Egide Martini (1741-1816), George David Weiss (president of the Songwriters guild of America )
Blue suede shoes - Carl Perkins
A little less conversation - WFE - Mac Davis and Billy Strange
In the ghetto - WFE - Mac Davis
All shook up - WFE - Otis Blackwell(composer), Elvis Presley(lyricist)
Always on my mind - Brenda Lee
Don't be cruel - WFE - Otis Blackwell
Heartbreak hotel - WFE - Thomas and Mae Boren Axton
That's alright mama (His first single) - Elvis Presley

Conclusion; DAYM! Elvis wrote his own stuff at first, later he grew so famous he could get away with other people doing his job for him for the right buck. Yes The King of rock and roll is actually like 30 people. I don't mind if people sing and perform music that is not their own, if they do it well, why not, but fuck me at least don't try to sell it as your hard work! The greatest cover artist of all time is what he is.

I will admit one pro-Elvis thing though. He was one heck of a bloody good performer. The way he performed on stage and did his shows influenced all the music industry as everybody looked up to Elvis (wether that be a good or a bad thing I'll leave up to you), not to mention he was an inspiration to many legendary artist, such as my man Jimi Hendrix.

So I guess Roy Orbison really is the true king of Rock and Roll, heck even Elvis said he was a huge fan of him. Well I still listen to Elvis, it is good music and who knows maybe the originals sucked, but stealing music sucks even more.

Fuck that.
-Mark

PS
Public enemy ownz all yo assez.