Skip to main content

Madonna is the Queen of Pop and Elvis Presley was the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Aside from these similar titles, the two are very different. Despite this, the “Like a Prayer” singer said she provoked some of the same firestorms the “Can’t Help Falling in Love” star did.

Madonna doesn’t think she or Elvis Presley appropriated cultures

Madonna has been inspired by many other cultures throughout her career. During a 2015 interview with HuffPost, the Material Girl dismissed the idea that she was doing anything wrong. “I’m not appropriating anything,” she said.

“I’m inspired and I’m referencing other cultures,” the “Like a Virgin” singer added. “That is my right as an artist. They said Elvis Presley stole African-American culture. That’s our job as artists, to turn the world upside down and make everyone feel bewildered and have to rethink everything.”

Madonna explained why she is so edgy

While Madonna dismissed listeners’ concerns about cultural appropriation, many people have been upset about the way that she mimicked other cultures. Madonna explained why she has upset so many people. “There’s a part of my character that’s on automatic, that just likes to be a provocateur,” she said. “And to a certain extent, maybe some of the things that I did didn’t really have any thought process behind them necessarily, but they got attention. 

“I wasn’t really thinking of anything specific,” she continued. “I mean, I could even think of shows that I did on the Lower East Side, when I was first starting in punk-rock bands. I can’t say that every creative decision I made was altruistic or came from the deepest part of my soul or with the best intentions or was really well thought-out or anything like that.” You hear that, folks? Maybe Madonna upset you, but at least we can all take comfort in the fact that her provocations had no real meaning and were just designed to get attention.

Related

Madonna Named Her 5 Most Iconic Songs and 2 of Her Picks Are Bad

The Queen of Pop named her favorite Elvis Presley songs

The Queen of Pop didn’t just acknowledge the controversy surrounding Elvis and cultural appropriation. She also had some nice things to say about him as an artist. During a 2005 interview with CBS News, she named two of her favorite Elvis songs. Madonna revealed she’s a fan of the singer, particularly his ballads. While Elvis became famous for his rock music, some fans revere his ballads above all else.

She said his country ballad “Kentucky Rain” is “beautiful.” While the tune was not one of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll’s bigger hits, its reputation has only grown over time. The track has some of Elvis’ most poignant lyrics, narrating the tale of someone looking for a lost love in vain.

Madonna also expressed her preference for Elvis’ “Heartbreak Hotel.” “Heartbreak Hotel” might seem simple to today’s audiences. However, it was one of the tracks that helped usher rock ‘n’ roll music into the mainstream during the 1950s. It also cemented Elvis’ image as a sex symbol. The Queen of Pop would take on that mantle in her own time.

Madonna and Elvis courted similar controversies but they both made some great music along the way.

Best in Entertainment