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bedsitter23It’s an undeniable classic from when you hear those first words “Wise men say...”. Elvis is and was the Worlds Greatest Performer and in 1961 back from the army and into Hollywood, he had a level of stardom mere mortals can only imagine
It’s probably no wonder against that back drop, Presley delivers a song with a vulnerability that few other singers could ever match.
The song is a juxtaposition of the beloved singer who leaves the stage and the adoring crowds for a lonely backstage. It’s as striking of an image as any in pop music. Elvis seemingly knew this since he used the song as his finale for years. It would be the closer of some of his most famous concerts and was the final song of the last concert he ever performed.
The song only went to #2, denied by “The Peppermint Twist”. It was originally “Can’t Help Falling in Love with Him” by a team writers who had a hand in writing or producing “The Lion Sleeps Tonight”, “What a Wonderful World”, “Shout”, “I will Follow Him” and “Twistin the Night Away”
I would be lying if I didn’t say one of my favorite songs of the 90s was the cover by UB40. Featured in some terrible 90s movies like Sliver and Speed 2, it would go to #1 on the charts. I can’t place my finger on why I love their version, but I am sure it’s not only the horns, but how they play against Ali Campbell’s croon that make it work (as they did on Al Green’s “Here I Am”) Pure ear candy.
Almost simultaneously in 1993, Bono started singing the song. It fit well into what he was trying to do with Macphisto and Zoo TV. His solo version would appear on the soundtrack to Honeymoon in Vegas. It’s a barely two minute fragment with Bono overlaid on an Elvis interview about a favorite poem.
What I like about the Bono version is the opposite of the Elvis version. Bono sounds so insincere. It is likely Macphisto’s finest moment. It is no coincidence that this takes place as Bono was spending time in Frank Sinatra worship. The singer of the song has sung the song so many times, he is simply going through the motions. He is the beloved matinee idol decades on, still lonely as ever at the end of the day outliving his friends and lovers. Like the Beatles performing “Your Mother Should Know” in the Magical Mystery Tour, they are all entertainers who are not permitted to do anything else but entertain.
There are many versions of this song including Arlo Guthrie and Bob Dylan. Stereogum gives a fairly definitive (and incredibly diverse list) which includes The Stylistics, Cameo, Klaus Nomi, Pearl Jam, 21 Pilots, Beck and Zayn Malik.
It’s probably no wonder against that back drop, Presley delivers a song with a vulnerability that few other singers could ever match.
The song is a juxtaposition of the beloved singer who leaves the stage and the adoring crowds for a lonely backstage. It’s as striking of an image as any in pop music. Elvis seemingly knew this since he used the song as his finale for years. It would be the closer of some of his most famous concerts and was the final song of the last concert he ever performed.
The song only went to #2, denied by “The Peppermint Twist”. It was originally “Can’t Help Falling in Love with Him” by a team writers who had a hand in writing or producing “The Lion Sleeps Tonight”, “What a Wonderful World”, “Shout”, “I will Follow Him” and “Twistin the Night Away”
I would be lying if I didn’t say one of my favorite songs of the 90s was the cover by UB40. Featured in some terrible 90s movies like Sliver and Speed 2, it would go to #1 on the charts. I can’t place my finger on why I love their version, but I am sure it’s not only the horns, but how they play against Ali Campbell’s croon that make it work (as they did on Al Green’s “Here I Am”) Pure ear candy.
Almost simultaneously in 1993, Bono started singing the song. It fit well into what he was trying to do with Macphisto and Zoo TV. His solo version would appear on the soundtrack to Honeymoon in Vegas. It’s a barely two minute fragment with Bono overlaid on an Elvis interview about a favorite poem.
What I like about the Bono version is the opposite of the Elvis version. Bono sounds so insincere. It is likely Macphisto’s finest moment. It is no coincidence that this takes place as Bono was spending time in Frank Sinatra worship. The singer of the song has sung the song so many times, he is simply going through the motions. He is the beloved matinee idol decades on, still lonely as ever at the end of the day outliving his friends and lovers. Like the Beatles performing “Your Mother Should Know” in the Magical Mystery Tour, they are all entertainers who are not permitted to do anything else but entertain.
There are many versions of this song including Arlo Guthrie and Bob Dylan. Stereogum gives a fairly definitive (and incredibly diverse list) which includes The Stylistics, Cameo, Klaus Nomi, Pearl Jam, 21 Pilots, Beck and Zayn Malik.
