by Baz Luhrmann Elvis Presley show youth”“King of Rock” Befriending blues legend BB King, the film has sparked debate about the real story behind these two icons and whether they’re really friends. In Luhrmann’s signature style, Elvis Presley It was a dizzying two and a half hours, a mix of old and new. However, many have argued that the film misrepresents Elvis’ role as a civil rights advocate and exaggerates his relationship with the black community, specifically with BB King. In fact, there are some little-known details that show just how close they really are, including BB King’s own words.
As Luhrmann’s biographical shows, Elvis grew up in a poor, predominantly black neighborhood in Tupelo, Mississippi, where he found his lifelong musical inspiration in the local Protestant church. Elvis and his family moved to Memphis in 1948. From the age of 14 to 18, he and his family lived in Lauderdale Court, an apartment complex within walking distance of Beale Street for young musicians. Elvis and BB King met on the famous Beale Street. Elvis Presley. The two bond, joking, and marveling at the incredible music before King proposes to Elvis about the music industry. Elvis Presley It is clear and unmistakable that Elvis and King are friends, and King himself has repeatedly confirmed this relationship during his lifetime, but the actual history is disputed.
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BB King’s previous review of Elvis Presley
Born in a riverside house in Belle Claire, Mississippi, BB King (at Elvis Presley go through by Cyrano Kelvin Harrison Jr.) told reporters in 2010 (via judge san antonio), he was in love with Elvis because of the two of them”We grew up poor and had a poor childhood in Mississippi, we studied and made a living through music. “ That blood relationship and mutual struggle nurtured the friendship between Elvis and BB King, The two often talk about music together. During the interview, King discussed how he and Elvis agreed “Music belongs to the universe. It’s not specific to black or white or any other color. It is shared in our souls and shared by our souls…”
In King’s autobiography, blue around meKing also recalls how Elvis Presley staged a show for him at the Hilton in 1972. Though Elvis is at the mercy of his domineering manager, Colonel Tom Parker (aka “Mr.snowman“), King declared (via judge san antonio) Elvis”Call up” And booked a performance for the king in the lounge, while Elvis performed in the hotel’s main theater. This is something Elvis has done many times throughout his career. King spoke fondly of their performances together, saying that they often went to Elvis’s room after the show, chatting and playing music. “I’ll play Lucille (his guitar) and sing with Elvis, or we’ll take turns singing. That’s how he relaxes”… “We’re the original blues brothers, because he She knows more blues songs than most people in the industry—after a couple of nights, it feels like we’ve all sung one of those songs.”
Why is Elvis and BB King’s friendship controversial?
Although kings often claim, Elvis Presley How exactly the film talks about the friendship between Elvis and BB King is still a matter of debate. Author Alanna Nash, who has written several books about Elvis, asserts (via USA today) King and Elvis just “acquaintance” Their relationship was more than a fleeting interaction, an opinion that King’s writings and countless interviews seem to vehemently reject.
Meanwhile, others, such as former music editors pride magazineHelen Kolawole, claims that Elvis Presley appropriated the songs of black artists who became rich and famous through the work of others. King also weighed in on this opinion, writing in his autobiography (via Vanity Fair) That thing”Elvis doesn’t steal anyone’s music. He just had his own understanding of the music he grew up with, and so did everyone. I think Elvis is very upright.“
So while Baz Luhrmann may have Elvis Presley, The film seems to portray a version of Elvis’ friendship with BB King, at least as accurately as BB King’s description of the delicate situation. While it’s unclear if the two hung out together on Beale Street like in the movie, King’s words and actions suggest that the two legendary artists have maintained a friendship throughout Elvis’ career. Furthermore, King’s account of the mutual respect between him and Elvis, as well as Presley’s insatiable love for black music, seem to confirm many aspects of the legendary character portrayed in the novel. by Luhrmann. Elvis Presley.
The relationship between Elvis Presley and black artists has always been challenging for Luhrmann
by Baz Luhrmann Elvis Presley The choice highlights Elvis’ connection to black music and empathy for the civil rights movement in a way that is sure to be controversial. While this approach includes the use of modern black music Elvis Presley, which directly addresses criticisms of cultural appropriation, it can also be interpreted as overly flattering to Elvis and his fans, assuming the artist is more progressive than he really is. As a white Australian executive, Luhrmann is also not exactly an insider on the matter.
The relationship between Elvis Presley and BB King is a microcosm of this dilemma. The extent to which King and Elvis’ relationship has remained historically disputed, even with those who were there at the time, means that no matter how Luhrmann describes it, it would contradict at least at least one instance of the event. If he chooses to remove the film’s BB King, Luhrmann’s Elvis Presley One could be accused of ignoring the inspiration Elvis took from black musicians. In fact, the meeting between BB King and Austin Butler’s on Beale Street Elvis Presley It may not be the most historic scene in the film, but it’s a way of acknowledging Elvis’ connection to the black musical culture he grew up in.