The DU Lounge
Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsAnyone remember Elvis' "In the Ghetto"?
So, I fell down kind of an odd YouTube rabbit hole the last couple of days. Ive been checking out young content creators reacting to songs- many older songs they wouldnt have heard and that were recommended. And its a lot of fun, generally very positive, cool seeing them discover these classics (Queen did that song? And that one? And that one?!? I had no idea!)
But one song that Ive now seen reacted to a lot... and which still resonates and surprises people, is Elvis In the Ghetto. So powerful. And unexpected. Ive known the song since I was young, and it still just brings me to tears. And its sadly just as relevant, if not more so, than it was then. I know Elvis didnt write it, but still kinda impressive he used his platform to spread this message. Anyhoo, if you havent heard it, or not in a while, check it out.
soothsayer
(38,601 posts)Remember when he played a doctor in the ghetto, too? With Mary Tyler Moore
Dave Starsky
(5,914 posts)bobbieinok
(12,858 posts)And yeah, sad how little has changed.
Peregrine Took
(7,414 posts)TreasonousBastard
(43,049 posts)genxlib
(5,528 posts)My mom was a big Mac Davis fan. I was familiar with the original long before I knew the Elvis version.
Same with Dolly Pardon and I will always love you
TDale313
(7,820 posts)Wait, Dolly Parton wrote that? I thought that was written by Whitney in the reactions, too. 🙂
TDale313
(7,820 posts)I wish I could like peoples replies 🙂
Ferrets are Cool
(21,107 posts)It got TONS of airplay. Maybe 3 times an hours or something like that.
edit to add: Yes, I have fallen down that rabbit hole also. So many 20-somethings just finding out what fantastic music was created in the 60's, 70's and 80's.
TDale313
(7,820 posts)Cirque du So-What
(25,941 posts)It did indeed get tons of airplay.
randr
(12,412 posts)Very moving
<iframe width="853" height="480" src="
Watched quite a few, and its so powerful how moved people are hearing it for the first time.
Midnight Writer
(21,768 posts)llmart
(15,540 posts)He had a tremendous amount of empathy for the African American community similar to how Bill Clinton felt because of his childhood.
I remember this song when it came out. Elvis was in the middle of trying to find new footing in his career because songs like "Hound Dog" just weren't relevant to my generation and the times of the late 60's.
Wounded Bear
(58,666 posts)Most folks weren't familiar with those concepts back then. People "kinda knew" what was going on, but in many ways it set up the whole rap inner city music culture, which got much more harsh in its language and basic message. A lot of Elvis' music is ultimate sugar laced bubble gum pop crap, but that was a real song, and in many ways an anthem. After that one hit it big, there was a lot more of a "we can sing about real shit" feeding into popular music.