is it important to look or sing like Elvis or talk like Elvis?

this is a Question i like to hear people view pionts to me i think its better not to over do it ive seen some guys wear pretty tribble wigs ,i genrally dont wear any ,and i think its better to sound like Elvis vocally with your own style then to over do it or talk like Elvis as if you are Elvis i like to talk in my own voice... and dont like to wear the glasses on stage , ive seen some over the top ,people walk around in jumpsuits , if u cannot offord a exat replica why not make your own suit and save,, i made my own ..its like somthing Elvis may of worn ... i sort of got 4 more new ones i getting made lt.blue red royal and black... i like to play around with idears.

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Permalink Reply by ice-Evis on July 25, 2008 at 10:23pm: thank you i sing elvis for elvis and fans,,i sing a lot at nursing homes i dont get paid ,theres a painting on my wall i would never part with a lady dying of cancer ...painted me alife size painting of Elvis ..i could not belive it becuse i have sung a few xmas there free... to this day i look at that when i feel down if i never make one dollor i know this painting to me is worth more then anything in the world cuse she painted for me a Elvis fan ,somthing elvis would of done,if i nver do anything great ,i achived somthing Elvis would of liked,and fans.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Kambrie and Kelsie- GaddisGirls® on July 23, 2008 at 4:57am: AS A MOM OF 2 YOUNG GIRL ETA'S I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT WE HAVE BEEN SO BLESSED TO BE EXCEPTED INTO THIS ELVIS WORLD THE LAST 5 YEARS. THE GADDISGIRLS HAVE PERFORMED IN 10 STATES AND MANY VENUES SOME ELVIS AND SOME NOT.
SINCE OUR EXPERIENCE HAS BROUGHT US SUCH JOY BECAUSE THE GIRLS ARE SINGING AND BECAUSE WE HAVE MADE SO MANY GOOD FRIENDS. WE HAVE COME TO BELIEVE THAT ELVIS HAD NOT ONLY A SPECIAL GIFT TO SING BUT A SPECIAL GIFT OF LOVE THAT HAS LIVED ON ALL THESE YEARS LATER THRU ETA'S AND FANS.
NO ONE WILL EVER TAKE THE PLACE OF ELVIS AS WE ALL KNOW , SO PUTTING A LITTLE BIT OF YOURSELF IN THE MIX IS OKAY. I (MOM) ALWAYS TELL KAMBRIE AND KELSIE THE FANS WANT TO SEE ELVIS THRU YOU BUT DON'T FORGET TO LET THEM SEE YOU TOO. I FEEL THAT'S WHAT MAKES TRAVELING AROUNG THE WORLD PAYING TRIBUTE TO ELVIS SO SPECIAL IS BECAUSE THE GADDISGIRLS "MAKE YOU SMILE ON THE INSIDE"AND MAKE YOU REMEMBER ELVIS TOO.
I ALSO HAVE TO SAY WE HAVE NEVER BEEN MIS TREATED NOR HAD ANY PROBLEM GETTING VENUES BOOKED BECAUSE WE ARE GIRLS AND YOUTH. THANKS FOR ALL THE SUPPORT AND LOVE WE RECIEVE. WE LOOK FORWAED TO SINGING FOR YOU SOON.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Carli Love on July 23, 2008 at 6:08pm: Thanks Kim, I love doing Elvis just as much as Kambrie and Kelsie. I am glad we became friends.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by --- on July 27, 2008 at 9:19am: As long as you are truly doing your best, with heart and soul, to pay tribute to Elvis Presley the rest will depend on talent and determination. Elvis used his talent to make the world a better place and that should be #1 priority. Too many people forget, Elvis Presley was a giver, not a taker.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by MEMPHIS VOICE OF ELVIS on August 24, 2008 at 8:24am: I think it's most important to have the humble attitude that Elvis did. He never walked around with his nose in the air and his humbleness that lasted from rags to riches, is his greatest legacy.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by katiuska on August 25, 2008 at 6:23am: I think in my experience is essential to be a good soul Elvis performer on the stage!... to understand his music and his talent and have the abbility to perform & COMMUNICATE THAT his elvis heart and mind..the physical is not as essential as to be a good performer!
great question ICE!
katiuska.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Billy Rebel™ on September 2, 2008 at 8:08pm: No. Just be yourself. Drop the IDENTICAL Elvis attire, (that was Elvis own UNIQUE style), employ your OWN stage look... style...although... ATTEMPT to INTERPRET the songs with the SAME DELIVERY and SPIRIT as Elvis did, to the best of your ability, (No small task!!!), just try to sing STRAIGHT from the heart, and you will be allright!

I like black or white boots, black or white stage pants, (occasional leather), fancy white, red, or blue shirt, occasional black leather vest, natural hair, and a finely TUNED black, or blue acoustic-electric Ovation Guitar!!!

Billy Rebel; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by MEMPHIS VOICE OF ELVIS on September 2, 2008 at 11:29pm: Until the age of 29 when I quit touring with secular music acts as a front man, we had professionalism crammed down our throats daily. Over the years it got to a point where playing became more of a job than a privilege. In the real music world you have very few if any, real friends because of all the competition. My dreams of how the music industry would be while growing up were nothing like reality. We played venues from headlining hole in the walls to opening acts at coliseums. We all went through the major ego's but thank God I realized I no longer had anything to prove. The "you have to be a professional like me attitude", is very destructive. Out of the many years I chased my dreams, I still think it would be even cooler to dress up like Elvis and do your own thing because for me, there's no pressure. This is why I love the tent so much. People do what they want and the crowd appreciates it. Never once have I ever heard anyone get boo'd. You won't get that same courtesy in most other venues.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by paul phoenix on January 13, 2009 at 10:17pm: Billy.you have a great outlook on this topic...for me it's the voice..You have to really respect any tribute if it's sung well and gives you the right kind of goosebumps, especially live. That vocal needs to dominate the stadium .

Of course some ETA's strengths lie in their visual portrayal more than the vocal. I guess that's why ETA's are so interesting to many fans..

Regretfully, we will never see Elvis perform live again so fans love to see different portrayals of their hero.
If you observe how many ways ELVIS portrayed himself it's not surprising that all ETA's have different Elvis attributes.
But Katiuska is right when she talks about the main quality being the heart and soul of the great man.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Walter Hale on September 26, 2008 at 3:53pm: This depends on if you are an ETA or an Elvis impersonator. There is a difference a tribute artist can pay tribute to someone without sounding like them. An impersonator is someone who is just that impersonating and should sound and look like who they are impersonating. Many many people pay tribute to Elvis and don't ever put on a jumpsuit.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Queenie on October 2, 2008 at 12:31pm: Of course the voice.. the talent is the most important.. but the look has to be there.. It's the whole package fans are looking for. and if you can talk a little like Elvis and sound natural.. sure.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by TEL-VIS on December 29, 2008 at 9:00am: Hi
Just thought i'd chip in on this discussion.
Firstly there is no BEST" ELVIS", over here in the UK we have best in England,best in Europe,Best in World,best in this best in that etc.etc..Yet all these competitions are won by different people so how can anyone be the best??
I sing Elvis songs because i like them and admire the carisma and the personality of The KING.I don't pretend to sound or look like Elvis,let's face it at my age that would be nigh on impossible (probably the oldest Elvis in the world).
I wear cheap outfits because that's all my budget will allow me to buy.So i don'y consider myself to be an ETA or a EI,
i'm just TEL-VIS singing Elvis songs in my own style because thats what i like doing.
"Than' you very much"
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