Who is the greatest ever American?

[Deejay]

2. Elvis. Yeah, Elvis. Not for his music specifically, but for what it did. Elvis was Rock and Roll. He took predominately black blues and bluegrass music and turned it into something wholly different. He gave something for kids to identify with. For the first time, teenagers had their own music. If America had a national music style, it would be Rock and Roll.

You mean he stole black blues, repackaged it with a sweet hair-do and made thousands off of raging white females?

Sure, cool.

[Maxxthepenguin]

You mean he stole black blues, repackaged it with a sweet hair-do and made thousands off of raging white females?

Sure, cool.

He changed the sound of it significantly. He made Rock and Roll its own thing. He never claimed to have made up the songs, but he did remake them in a more appealing fashion. I'm not a big fan, but he did significant stuff.

He also paved the way for acceptance of the musical styles of black people to be accepted by white people. He may have done a lot of covers, but he was very innovative with them.

[Deejay]

He also paved the way for acceptance of the musical styles of black people to be accepted by white people. He may have done a lot of covers, but he was very innovative with them.

I guess you're right. Taking something else then passing it off like it's yours for max profits IS pretty American.

[Maxxthepenguin]

I guess you're right. Taking something else then passing it off like it's yours for max profits IS pretty American.

It's how hip hop guys make all their money.

[Elesirdur]

It's how hip hop guys make all their money.

I wish I could remember how the quote goes from Clone High where Ghandi and JFK are discussing how they can "sample" existing songs for a new rap, ending with JFK proclaiming "I call it...song stealing!"

[Gunitsoldier]

Why the fuck is Oprah Winfrey in that list, Dimmauk? I thought people just laugh at Oprah so that she'd shut the fuck up. People actually listen to her?

[Charismatic]

It's how hip hop guys make all their money.

If you're gonna make blanket statements you might as well just say it's how modern musicians make their money, doesn't really happen with hip hop any more than any other type of music, and if you think it does I'm gonna go out on a limb and say you don't listen to much (if any) hip hop.

[Lordender]

john wayne, the dude defines the american attitude in just about every film he did.

[Dimmauk]

Why the fuck is Oprah Winfrey in that list, Dimmauk? I thought people just laugh at Oprah so that she'd shut the fuck up. People actually listen to her?

LOL I dont know, its not my list. I blame women.

[Maxxthepenguin]

If you're gonna make blanket statements you might as well just say it's how modern musicians make their money, doesn't really happen with hip hop any more than any other type of music, and if you think it does I'm gonna go out on a limb and say you don't listen to much (if any) hip hop.

I was using his standards for music stealing.

But yeah, hip-hop does sample things a lot more and uses the same beats, the same hooks, and the same patterns a bit more frequently.

[Beckwin]

Elvis was pretty in-tune with the roots of black music; the shame is on white America requiring a white artist to make it culturally acceptable (and even then there was opposition). He also was fairly inventive/distinct as a musician and performer, and a talented vocalist.

[Deejay]

I was using his standards for music stealing.

But yeah, hip-hop does sample things a lot more and uses the same beats, the same hooks, and the same patterns a bit more frequently.

You can't progress forward if you don't know where you came from. Hip-hop borrows a lot of old beats yes, but the best do it for the sake of innovation. Even the likes of Kanye West has the ear to take something great and make it sound better. A bulk of Elvis' work wasn't really all that better than the dude's he stole from. The only difference was his skin color and charisma.

And besides, you don't see me listing any rappers for best american evar, so...

[Maxxthepenguin]

You can't progress forward if you don't know where you came from. Hip-hop borrows a lot of old beats yes, but the best do it for the sake of innovation. Even the likes of Kanye West has the ear to take something great and make it sound better. A bulk of Elvis' work wasn't really all that better than the dude's he stole from. The only difference was his skin color and charisma.

And besides, you don't see me listing any rappers for best american evar, so...

I don't think Elvis is best american evar either, but he was talented, innovative and had a significant impact on American life no matter how much you resent him on behalf of Big Momma Thorton.

[Beckwin]

if you're gonna label one guy the original rock n' roller, it'd have to be Chuck Berry. but despite Elvis being the white bridge into the genre, he was super talented (honestly had a beautiful voice; listen to some of his gospel/hymn/spiritual/whatever recordings) and played an important role in re-sexualizing America, intentionally or not, not to mention was perhaps among the first men idolized by teenage girls (Sinatra and Co. before him appealed to women too, but in a different way, I think).

but yeah, I wouldn't list Elvis as a greatest american, even though his importance in music is pretty hefty. but then again i listed Woody Guthrie... I guess I just like his story better. more of a "favorite american" than greatest I admit, but it seems like that's where the topic has headed anyway, in part. all good stuff though.

[Dimmauk]

http://www.marvel.com/news/comicstor...olbert_Team_Up

Stephen Colbert wins this thread!

[Nuketwig]

I wish I could remember how the quote goes from Clone High where Ghandi and JFK are discussing how they can "sample" existing songs for a new rap, ending with JFK proclaiming "I call it...song stealing!"

What if, we take a sample of a song that already exists, and you rap over that sample? I call it... songtaking.

I needed a reason to torrent Clone High anyway.

[Byrd]

The fact that George W. Bush is 6th makes this list null and void.

While that list sucks in many ways, I was actually more disturbed to see televangelist Billy Graham at #11. The standing and recent presidents will always get more credit than they deserve (Bush, Clinton, Reagan, etc.)

[Elesirdur]

I needed a reason to torrent Clone High anyway.

2 Internets™ to you Sir.