Mariah Carey Surpasses Elvis?

It kinda makes you sick, doesn't it? Like you said - even if you're not a huge Elvis fan.

I think it's more a question of longevity. She's been shrieking out songs for about 18 years now.

Elvis cranked out all but one of his #1's between '56-'61. Then shortly after that, some little band from England came along, and Elvis wasn't cool anymore. The Beatles changed the whole scene, and Elvis was on the outside looking in.

He had his "comeback" in '68, and had a #1 in '69 with Suspicious Minds, but after that, he became Fat Vegas Elvis until he ate and pilled himself to death.

But while she beat him there on longevity...people still buy his music, flock to his house, and buy velvet paintings of him - 30 years after he died. I would be willing to bet that Mariah will not have that same dedicated following after she leaves the planet.

Well, here goes my takes.

It's all about the music scene in both eras. In the 50s, there weren't that many artists and all, and commercialization wasn't there, so whoever managed to steal the souls of listeners in the 50s and 60s were the ones who nailed the #1 hits. Now though, radio stations are controlled by commerical interests, and they keep pushing out whatever they think sells. Notice that in the old days, songs might just be #1 for a few weeks, but now, because of commercial interests, they just shove a few songs into rotations and in turn...BOOM, they stay #1 for so damn long...you get less #1 singles each year today than back in the old days. You also seem to get less variety...here are the last 5 hits on the billboards that can be considered as rock music:

July 28, 2007 - Plain White T's - Hey There Deliah

May 12, 2007 - Maroon 5 - Makes Me Wonder

December 22, 2001 - Nickelback - How You Remind Me

November 11, 2000 - Creed - With Arms Wide Open

July 22, 2000 - Matchbox 20 - Bent

There was a 5-6 year gap between Nickelback and Maroon 5. The billboard charts only care now about either pop, hip-hop, or R&B. The environments have changed, and in fact gotten worse. The rock from Elvis and others will never have a shot here and most rely on the alt-rock/emoish/inidish Modern Rock Tracks or the post-grungy/hard rocky/metaly Mainstream Rock Tracks if they want to get a #1 hit...or go into deep pop rock for a shot.

It sucks now...we still give credit to Elvis though for revolutionizing rock and gaining the most number of #1 singles in a short time period.

Also, does this sales volume include digital downloads. If so, this could spike the sales and produce a "number 1 hit." While Elvis and the Beatles lived in a time when the market saturation was alot slower. (Basically expanding on Persephones post, Thanks :-)) Mariah Carey's 20+ career has built her quite a fan base.

Elvis and the Beatles had a longstanding presence on the albums charts. Not a breif showing to make a claim. This including sales around the world. They were so popular they sold albums by the 1000's to people who could not speak english.

Yes, the music biz has changed. Today, a "number one hit" can be affected more by marketing than by talent.

I don't think Mariah Carey having alot of hits is a total sham. But her placement in "number one hits" does not equate her with Elvis or the Beatles in my opinion.

It's bad news although I give Mariah credit for overcoming a very embarrassing public breakdown. She seems to have gotten her house back in order. There might be hope for Britney yet. However, I find it disturbing as well that she's had this much success. It doesn't say much for the music listening public in general. I'm going with your second reason that it's not a fair comparison since there are more people buying music today than back in the 50's and 60's. Also, it's a lot easier to mass produce a particular album today, therefore increasing the circulation. I get the feeling you still gotta grade Elvis on a curve for what he accomplished in a far different era.

everyone has made excellent points, so i will say this: if you put out an album, and it has a #1 hit on it, but the rest of the album sucks....that never happened to the beatles. how many of their songs were in the top 10 but never reached #1? i think #1 hits are overrated and yes i am not a real fan of elvis but someone as iconic as him would never fall second to mariah. i respect her as a female recording artist, shes had plenty of success and back in the day her voice did sound amazing. her music over the course of her career just isnt timeless like the beatles and elvis will be.

I think she's more of an International star than Elvis was which is why she sells so many records. In Elvis' time music didn't travel globally as fast as today.

Either that or it's just teens and guys buying her album for her picture on the cover.

She still needs two more #1 songs to tie the Beatles.

If it makes you and anyone else feel any better, Mariah Carey has a LONG way to go before she overtakes Elvis for the most No.1s here in the UK. At the moment she has just two No.1s compared to Elvis's 18. He also had three re-issues which topped the chart in 2005.

She tied the Beatles too in the number of #1 hits too. It certainly isn't an issue of talent. I think it's about accessibility. You know, I've never thought about your theory, but it falls right in line with a lot of my other theories about the way the business of modern mainstream music (very much built on the concept of "if you tell everyone that something is great over and over again eventually it will be good enough for a large portion of the consumer population).

Since I have a soap box at my disposal now on the topic I would like to add that Mariah Carey is the most merciless wanker I've ever heard. I can't stand the fact that someone with absolutely no vocal tact gets to have the resume she has obtained. grrrrrr.

Keep in mind Elvis had to enlist in the army for a couple of years during his peak. Also, Record sales are determined by a new formula compared to Elvis' day....I don't think I have heard her new song yet, but its #1?

Anyway, Elvis is the King and Mariah is right saying Elvis is better!

I saw her perform her most recent "hit" on tv the other day and it was exceptionally bland. At first I thought there was something wrong with the tv but then realized it was just a crap song. Her people know how to market her. I guess that has a lot to do with it. It certainly is telling of our times when Mariah is the top seller. There are so many great singers and groups out there who are deserving. It's a shame really that a silly diva takes the prize.