Reply With QuoteWell, he also did some Italian in a live version of O Sole Mio in 1976...
Sonny
As a brand new fan, I've lately been hearing quite a few Elvis songs for the first time in my life. One thing that's kind of surprised me is that he didn't just sing in English.
So far, I've heard him sing in three languages other than English: German (Wooden Heart), Cantonese (Earth Boy), and Spanish (Guadalajara, Mama). Now, I don't speak any of those languages, but it sounds to me like his pronunciation is not bad at all!
So, I'm just curious if Elvis has other linguistic surprises in store for me!
Well, he also did some Italian in a live version of O Sole Mio in 1976...
Sonny
it's so sexy and adorable when he sings in other languages
Elvis sing also in French, with "Auld lang syne" at Pittsburg, December 31, 1976 evening show. He sing the refrain with the chorists "ce n'est qu'un au-revoir", and the other words in english.
Christophe (from France)
Elvis also sang in Hawaiian, I believe, in "Hawaiian Wedding Song".
Which show was that, Sonny? I can only think of the 'Just Pretend' show, 12/13/75.Originally Posted by Sonny
Great topic. I've wondered about this too. So it looks like the answer is 6, unless we come up with another.
...you won't forget me when I go.
Elvis sang in (bad) Spanish. But at least he did. (Guadalajara) (Mexico) (I Think I'm Gonna Like It Here)
He sang some German parts (Muss I Denn)
He sang some Chinese parts (Earthboy)
He sang some Italian (Santa Lucia) (O Sole Mio)
And it could be possible he did some more during home sessions. Remember that a lot of songs came from foreign sources and that he was interested in the true meaning of the song.
Naturally the performance I was talking about is the one in Vegas, December 13, 1975, Bobby.
Typing...very difficult...
Sonny
Just a word about how Elvis sung in Italian.
The only song where we can hear Elvis singing in italian is "Santa Lucia" where he sing in a almost perfect italian...just beautiful!!!
In O sole mio (it's nowor never) he sing in neapolitan dialect...very approsimative..but still better than S.Nielsen.
Viva Elvis in every language hi sing..he is the king.
Bruno Pause
Italy
Sonny, thanks. Just making sure I wasn't missing something.
Bruno, thanks for your assessment of Elvis' Italian. That's interesting. I thought Santa Lucia sounded pretty good, but then I wouldn't know. Although I did suspect that he was not as on the money with O Sole Mio.
It all makes for great listening though.
...you won't forget me when I go.
I posed this same question on another board... and someone there told me that his German in "Wooden Heart" sucked!
You can't have everything, I suppose.
But you're right... it's all good.
it dosen't suck!!!
So, we have a sum total of seven languages so far!
With his singing voice, the accuracy of his pronunciation seems kind of a trivial issue, doesn't it?
I was watching a Special about Nat King Cole the other day and he sang in almost every language you can imagine and also toured in those countries. But he didn't speak the language. He learned it fonetic. He did it so well and they liked it so much that the Mexican people started to sing their songs with the accent they heard on his records. I think it went the same way with Elvis' other languages. Learning it fonetic that is.
It doesn't have to be perfect but it's the thought that counts, something of a homage you pay to that specific country. Now Elvis love for Italian music is obvious since he loved opera songs especially from Mario Lanza. It's not surprising that his Italian was the best. I wonder if they ever met......
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