Will they beat Elvis record?

Elvis Presley fans must be laughing like mad over this new development. More than 30 years after his death in Graceland, the Top 2 pop divas of the ’80s, of course, nobody else but Madonna and Mariah Carey, are in a frantic race to trump the King of Rock & Roll. That means break the chart records Presley set, from way back in 1956 to 1969, with their new, much-hyped about releases, which whether coincidentally or intentionally, were both set to hit the stores this month.

Now Elvis was not tagged “king” for nothing. He not only had great looks and massive charisma, he also had what it took to create big-selling and best of all, innovative recordings. I believe that the latter is the main reason why his popularity has endured. I read arguments that Gene Vincent was better, that he borrowed a lot from Chuck Berry and that Bill Haley was the true king of rock and roll, but admit it, they were no stars like Elvis. And as a lot of young talented stars who came in the later years found out, but not one of them, and the list includes The Beatles and Michael Jackson (MJ), would be able to equal the records Presley set. That is until these divas came along.

Elvis made 17 No. 1 hits. These are Heartbreak Hotel, I Want You I Need You I Love You, Don’t Be Cruel and Love Me Tender, all in 1956; Too Much, All Shook Up, Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear and Jailhouse Rock in 1957; Don’t, I Beg of You and Hard Headed Woman in 1958; Big Hunk of Love in 1959; Stuck on You, It’s Now or Never and Are You Lonesome Tonight in 1960; Surrender, 1961; Good Luck Charm in 1962; and his last entry into the top floor, Suspicious Minds in 1969.

Aside from these No. 1s, Elvis also held the record for most number of weeks spent in the No. 1 slot, a total of 79 by those titles, and the most number of hits in the Top 10, not necessarily No. 1, of the Hot 100 list, 36 times. Then last week, everything changed. What the Fab Four and MJ were not able to do during their heydays, Madonna and Mariah did in one fell swoop. I am sure Dear Reader, that you know how females are. They can do a very effective demolition job if they put their minds into it. And these two really did.

First to go last April 5 was the record for most number of hits spent in the Top 10 of the Hot 100. This one went to 4 Minutes, Madonna’s collaboration with Justin Timberlake, her 37th and the first single out of her album Hard Candy. Previous to this, she made the Top 10 with Lucky Star, Like a Virgin and Borderline in 1984; Material Girl, Dress You Up, Crazy for You and Angel in 1985; True Blue, Papa Don’t Preach and Live to Tell in 1986; Who’s That Girl, Open Your Heart, La Isla Bonita, Come on Let’s Go and Causing a Commotion in 1987; Like a Prayer, Express Yourself and Cherish in 1989; Vogue, Keep It Together and Hanky Panky in 1990; Rescue Me and Justify My Love in 1991; This Used to be My Playground and Erotica in 1992; Deeper and Deeper 1993; Secret and I’ll Remember in 1994; You’ll See and Take a Bow in 1995; Ray of Light and Frozen 1998; Music 2000; Don’t Tell Me 2001; Die Another Day 2002; and Hung Up 2005.

Even more impressive was the performance of Mariah’s Touch My Body from the CD E=MC2. This one topped Presley’s 17 No. 1s. Mariah now has 18. Take a look. Vision of Love and Love Takes Time, 1990; Someday, I Don’t Wanna Cry and Emotions 1991; I’ll Be There, 1992; Dreamlover and Hero, 1993; Fantasy and One Sweet Day with Boyz 2 Men in 1995; Always Be My Baby 1996; Honey, 1997; My All, 1998; Heartbreaker featuring Jay-Z; 1999; Thank God I Found You with Joe and 98 Degrees, 2000; We Belong Together 2005; and Don’t Forget About Us, 2006.

News is expected anytime now about Carey also breaking Presley’s record for most number of weeks in No. 1. He had 79. If Touch My Body stays in No. 1 for just one more week, Carey would have already spent 80 weeks on top. And mind you, she is still counting.