Elvis Presley Birth Anniversary: Unforgettable songs of the legend

The King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley, would have turned 90 today. Elvis’ music inspired generations and are played with similar vigour to this day. He produced timeless classics that shaped his career and made him one of the greatest singers to ever be born. His career, spanning over two decades, gave us powerful hits. Elvis’ stage presence is also widely talked about. His performances, including his last performance of Unchained Melody are still remembered.

On his birth anniversary, have a look at some of the singer’s best songs.

Can’t Help Falling In Love

Elvis Presley first recorded the song Can’t Help Falling In Love in 1961, as a part of his album Blue Hawaii. The other artists who have recorded the song include Perry Como, Doris Day, Patti Page, Andy Williams, and Al Martino. The lyrics are about a person, slowly falling in love and understanding the emotions surrounding it. The melody is based on Plaisir d’amour, a French love song composed in 1784.

Burning Love

While Elvis Presley’s rendition of Burning Love became quite popular, Arthur Alexander first released the song in 1972. Dennis Linde wrote this classic rock-and-roll song and played the guitar intro.

The song speaks about one’s excitement about falling in love. The lyrics go, “Girl, girl, girl, girl, you’re gonna set me on fire / My brain is flamin’, I don’t know which way to go, yeah / Your kisses lift me higher / Like a sweet song of a choir / You light my mornin’ sky with burning love.” According to reports, Elvis wasn’t initially interested in singing the track as he was more focused on recording sad ballads after his divorce with Priscilla Presley.

If I Can Dream

Elvis Presley dreams of a better future in his song If I Can Dream. He shares a message of peace and understanding in the song. The song was written at the last minute for the 1968 television special Comeback Special by Walter Earl Brown of The Skylarks. The song’s lyrics are based on Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous quote, I Have a Dream. The lyrics go, “There must be lights burning brighter somewhere / Got to be birds flying higher in a sky more blue / If I can dream of a better land / Where all my brothers walk hand in hand / Tell me why, oh why, oh why can’t my dream come true.”

Jailhouse Rock

Jailhouse Rock is a rock-and-roll song recorded by Elvis Presley. It is for the 1957 American musical drama film directed by Richard Thorpe and starring Elvis Presley. It was written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. The song begins with solo guitar, following which, Presley’s voice kicks in. The groove of the song dramatically increases as it progresses. The jazzy and relaxed track changes speed multiple times between the verses. However, its dance-like feel makes it appealing and popular among the youth.

Unchained Melody

Elvis Presley’s rendition of Unchained Melody became popular for a couple of reasons. He performed it live at a concert in Rapid City, South Dakota in 1977. Little did the audience know that it would be his last performance. Elvis’ raw vocals matched the independent nature of the song. Despite being sick, he mesmerized the audience with his performance. The song was originally released in 1955 with music by Alex North and lyrics by Hy Zaret.

Suspicious Minds

Suspicious Minds was first released in 1968 but couldn’t do well commercially. Later, Elvis Presley recorded the song which became a hit worldwide. The vintage rock song has hard-hitting lyrics about love and ones unending infatuation towards their partner. The lyrics go, “Well, don’t you know I’m caught in a trap? / I can’t walk out / Because I love you too much, baby.”

In The Ghetto

Elvis Presley’s track In the Ghetto is about a boy who takes up violent measures to escape his poverty-stricken life in a Chicago ghetto. The song was originally titled The Vicious Circle by songwriter Mac Davis. However, he later changed the name to In the Ghetto because he felt the desperation in the song was like that of Jewish ghettos during wartime. The song was released as a part of the album From Elvis in Memphis.