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Sunday, August 21, 2022

Musical Interlude

(For politics, please scroll down)

Elvis Presley (1935-1977) has now been dead longer than he was alive. Hard to believe!

The selection below originates from the 1700's French love song "Plaisir d'amour" and was updated by George Weiss and others for the 20th Century.  Elvis first performed "Can't Help Falling in Love" in the 1961 movie Blue Hawaii, and his version went on to soar to the top of the Billboard charts and remain there for 20 straight weeks, a record which stood until Fleetwood Mac's Rumours (1976).

Even today, over a half century later, Elvis's "Can't Help Falling in Love" is the most popular piece used by wedding couples for their first dance. 


Note: the above song was the last song [Elvis] performed live, at his [last live] concert in Indianapolis at Market Square Arena on 26 June 1977.

14 comments:

  1. Thanks for the memories... I sure feel old... :)

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  2. Funny... I still have Elvis memories from the early 80's... '77 seems "early" for his death. He must have still been "very much in the news."

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  3. I am surprised he hasn't gained more 'iconic' status, and there doesn't seem to be much retro/nostalgia interest in his music.

    I wonder how many people born in the 90's and later even know who he is?

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    Replies
    1. When I arrived in Germany in '85.....I was surprised to learn that a lot of locals were huge Elvis fans. Probably not the case today.

      Part of the lack of icon status could be related to his transformation from a cutting edge rock god...... into a overweight Vegas lounge act.

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    2. No there was always a sharp distinction between <a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mods_and_rockers">Mods and Rockers</a>. As the Rockers were more unionized industrial working class and into 50's music, they're dying off leaving only Mods, who were more urban bourgeoisie and modern hippies....

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    3. Link

      ...the caps key is killer.

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    4. re: Mods and Rockers.

      "Second battle of Hastings" lol the Brits are so droll.

      Quadrophenia is a phenomenal movie.

      Great song and great scene: 5:15

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  4. My hot take: Elvis was overated as a singer, but *under*-rated as a producer/arranger.

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    Replies
    1. Jez,
      I understand your assessment. But I am of the generation who loved Elvis. He had such charisma!

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    2. Only overrated because his rating was so stratospheric!
      But nobody mentions his contribution to the general sound of innovative records such as heartbreak hotel... pity.

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    3. Jez,
      And Michael Jackson? Also an innovator?

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    4. Dunno how much of an innovator he was (strictly re music), but IMO he gets so much credit for his vocals and dancing that the rest of his musicianship is overlooked. I think the demos sounded good even before he let Quincy work his magic on them.

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