From Indie Music to Video Games, Elvis Presley’s Influence in Modern Pop Culture
Almost all of us know about, have heard, and/or recognize the Elvis Presley persona, but not many people fully comprehend how the King of Rock and Roll influenced popular culture as a whole to further cement his legendary status in the industry. For his part, Elvis blended various styles in music to form his own brand called rockabilly, a genre that became one of the most recognizable sounds in rock and roll.
The same process of combining different forms of music is still apparent up to this day. We can see and hear the ingenuity of today’s batch of indie groups, ranging from up-and-comers like Three Dimensional Crew to more established bands such as Arcade Fire, Death Cab for Cutie, and The Black Keys to name a few. Experts in the field acknowledge how these artists somewhat followed Elvis Presley’s footsteps, in terms of fusing two music genres to create a distinctively unique sound.
No matter which way we look at it, Elvis Presley really has influenced modern popular music. This ripple effect even spilled on to other genres including hip-hop, rap, and RNB, as seen in this so-called “Elvisualization” table on Spotify. In addition, the Elvis effect isn’t just limited to the music industry, as his persona has even been the basis of a few video games. For one, his image is used on classic 8-bit favorites such as ClayFighter and Super Gem Fighter Mini Mix. He even has a themed online slot game on Slingo aptly titled Elvis the King Lives. These are just a few testaments of how the King truly is more than just a character in the music scene; that he’s also a significant influencer in contemporary pop culture.
In hindsight, Elvis Presley wasn’t the first artist to star in a venture outside music, let alone sing in – what’s known today as – a rock and roll style. Similar to the many indie bands and artists of the modern era, Elvis carved his own niche in the industry by injecting his own flair and charm to an already established genre. Back in the day, rock and roll music became popular to the listening public, thanks to his concerted effort to not just promote the sound across the US, but also to give it a new spin. With that, he can truly be considered as an innovator, a genius who was way ahead of his generation.
Collectively, these are all mere representations of the proverbial tip of the iceberg. Elvis Presley’s influence in modern popular culture goes beyond indie artists, video games, and the likes, as – in more ways – his name has become synonymous with the whole rock and roll movement. At the end of it all, because of these, Elvis is and will always be known as the one and only King.
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