Movie Songs - What are your (guilty) pleasures?

[Cryogenic]

And by "guilty", I don't mean to denigrate anything you like or to even presume you DO necessarily feel guilty in liking/listening to them; I simply would like to hear about movie songs you like that are generally overlooked or dismissed.

I'll start with a couple:

"Paradise, Hawaiian Style"

What a guilty pleasure this is! I've loved this song since hearing it on the American telecast of "Aloha From Hawaii".

The lyrics and arrangement may be about as simplistic as they come (not ridiculously simplistic, but hardly the most artful or inspiring stuff Elvis ever sang)... BUT... what a performance! From the moment you hear that impossibly smooth and distinct baritone perfectly harmonised with the choral singers, you know this song is going to be a pleasant experience. And indeed it is! Elvis sings the song with surprising and admirable gusto - his voice is semi-operatic in parts! It seems like he may have sang it that way to cloak a slight disinterest in the material (i.e. the song is sung with great technical precision but little comes through in the way of the playful Elvis of some years earlier), but... no matter! The end result speaks for itself: Elvis really went for it and that is TRULY astonishing considering how dismal the film is generally held to be. Take this IMDB review, for example:

Whereas "Blue Hawaii" was little more than a travelogue, it was professional looking with some decent songs and a star who still seemed to be in touch with some form of reality. "Paradise, Hawaiian Style" is a grubby, grimy, cheap looking thing with a pudgy, seemingly zonked out Elvis warbling tunes so dreadful ("Queenie Wahine's Papaya," "Datin'"), they weren't worthy of the vinyl record on which they were pressed let alone a gold one.

Although his voice is a little odd in the recording (it sounds like he possibly had a cold), it just adds something extra special to the song for me.

The lyrics as a whole are almost pure fluff - but it doesn't matter; in remaining so simple and unassuming, the words don't overstep their bounds or over embellish what the song is about: pure, unadulterated fun. That said, the gleefully simplistic line, "Gee, what fun, just to swim and surf in the sun" is complemented by something a little more poetic with the line, "Where the trade winds caress the sea". And it all works. Perfectly.

Another movie song I *love* that doesn't get much attention is:

"Charro!"

Again, Elvis REALLY bit into this one. Hot on the heels of singing his guts out in the "Comeback Special", his voice has a rawer-than-usual texture which fits the song perfectly. And as for the song...? That's fantastic, too! It has a wonderful ominous opening, aggressive percussion and great lyrics truly evocative of the film's plot/themes (I imagine being out on the plains everytime I hear Elvis' vocal). Production wise, it does sound very rooted in the 60s Westerner style - but again, that's something that ADDS rather than detracts from the recording, in my opinion.

I particularly love how the song tells a story, taking you "up to speed" with the opening of the film and mounting the tension as it goes; the last verse is truly AWESOME as you hear strings enter the soundstage, a delicate female soprano and Elvis singing the lines, "There's something hanging in the wind/Your past is catching up and closing in". He sings those lines with great delicacy and subtlety (underscoring the inevitablity of being found and "made to pay") and then blasts out, "You've been halfway to hell and back again!", with such furore that you almost gasp. Another favourite part of the song for me is hearing, "Now in a single moment your past grows dim" - I absolutely love Elvis' 60's vibrato on the word "dim"; it just adds something that no other singer would ever have been able to. "Charro!" is a true work of art.

Elvis had this unique ability to create mood with his voice, didn't he? He literally paints a set of emotions or a physical landscape for you as he sings. If anything, it's the simpler songs that seem to enable this ability to manifest itself most fully. When I listen to "Paradise, Hawaiian Style", for example, I don't so much think of a singer in a recording studio but actually some part of Elvis' spirit singing in Hawaii and beckoning us to come along. It would be great listening to that song on a pair of headphones on a plane headed for Hawaii! If you haven't listened to these songs in a while/ever, I highly recommend that you do! OK, enough rambling from me; away you go...

[Lonniebealestreet]

Two songs on the 'underachievers' list which just popped into my head are The Girl I Never Loved from Clambake (underrated soundtrack IMO, despite Confidence) and So Close, Yet So Far from Harum Scarum. A couple of great love songs which are both rather unique, I think.

Although this one may not be generally overlooked or dismissed, I still don't think people appreciate it as much as it deserves, so I'm gonna mention it: the Today, Tomorrow, And Forever duet released just 3 years ago. I think it's incredible...just a beautiful 'declaration of love' type of song given an affecting, immaculate delivery by both participants.

Back to P,HS...You know what's funny about its inclusion on the Aloha special and how, if you didn't know the song from the movie, you'd assume he sung it then in '73, 7 years after he actually had? To me it's odd because if he had sung that song on the Comeback Special, at the American Sessions, or even around the time of TTWII and a little beyond, and they used it in the special, it wouldn't have matched half as well vocally. That sound he had in '66 he only had for a relatively short while, but after going through a few changes, it basically came back to him later.

[Cryogenic]

Two songs on the 'underachievers' list which just popped into my head are The Girl I Never Loved from Clambake (underrated soundtrack IMO, despite Confidence) and So Close, Yet So Far from Harum Scarum. A couple of great love songs which are both rather unique, I think.

I've only heard "So Close, So Far" from those mentioned - and rough takes at that. But I'm inclined to agree with your assessment as far as that song goes and trust your judgement with regards to the others.

Although this one may not be generally overlooked or dismissed, I still don't think people appreciate it as much as it deserves, so I'm gonna mention it: the Today, Tomorrow, And Forever duet released just 3 years ago. I think it's incredible...just a beautiful 'declaration of love' type of song given an affecting, immaculate delivery by both participants.

Isn't the whole "Viva Las Vegas" soundtrack a magnificently produced, underrated gem? "Today, Tomorrow and Forever" is indeed a beautiful ballad and something Elvis no doubt relished (not least because he was probably having it off with Ann-Margret at the time ).

Back to P,HS...You know what's funny about its inclusion on the Aloha special and how, if you didn't know the song from the movie, you'd assume he sung it then in '73, 7 years after he actually had? To me it's odd because if he had sung that song on the Comeback Special, at the American Sessions, or even around the time of TTWII and a little beyond, and they used it in the special, it wouldn't have matched half as well vocally. That sound he had in '66 he only had for a relatively short while, but after going through a few changes, it basically came back to him later.

It sounds (if it wasn't some can't-be-helped-affliction like a cold or some abormal studio conditions) like Elvis was trying for a different approach. Even when he laughs in the outtakes on the FTD release, it's a different type of laugh to normal. Very odd.

More, more!

[jbgude]

Almost all the movies have one or two really good songs - and I have infact made a compilation of them, - PHS might be the weakest , but it did have "Sand Castles"

[Kapu]

I haven't been an Elvis fan long enough (only a few months!) to have a clear picture of what movie songs are generally overlooked or dismissed, but here are some songs I've rarely seen or heard mentioned so far. Note though that I'm heavily biased towards the G!G!G! soundtrack as it's still the only movie I've seen, the other songs I've only heard on the Elvis internet radio channels.

Flaming Star. Another great title song from a Western to go with Charro! (which I agree is great!)

I Don't Wanna Be Tied. While I love "Return To Sender", I think this is a strong contender for best song in G!G!G!. It's got a wonderful locomotive rhythm and Elvis pushing his voice more than with any other song in the movie (parts of it harken back to his 50's "rocker" voice) and it has a great "Elvis ending". Plus nice pa-dap-pa-dappas by the Jordanaires. Along with RTS, this one makes me tap out the rhythm, bob my head, and generally wiggle around as I watch and listen to Elvis do it.

We'll Be Together. Spanish guitars, a verse sung in Spanish, Elvis' voice, and Laurel Goodwin smiling coyly. A winning combination.

We're Coming In Loaded. Ok, so it's a song about fish. He's a fisherman in the movie, what do you expect? Another song with a great rhythm, with Elvis going "weelll, well well well well" and "oomba-oomba-oom-oom". Gotta love it!

The Walls Have Ears. I love this song. The scene in the movie is fun for many reasons, but also the fact that it's the only tango Elvis ever sang (to my knowledge) makes it special. A version sung in Finnish was actually a hit here in 1963.

A Boy Like Me, A Girl Like You. Hawaii, a sailboat, Elvis' voice, Laurel Goodwin. Another winning combination. Maybe a bit simplistic and muzak-ish, but an incredibly beautiful ballad nonetheless, and better than "Angel" if you ask me! Like many of the other songs, it benefits greatly from the orchestral backing you can hear in the movie.

Song Of The Shrimp. This seems to be on some hate lists (and on Elvis' Greatest *hits, I believe?), and I don't know why. Sure, like many other movie songs, it works much better with the visuals, in this case Elvis almost throwing his guitar into the sea and doing a double-take as one of his crewmen starts wailing in a falsetto voice. Still, even on its own it's good fun, and would make a great song to sing around a campfire. What more could you want? (No, don't answer that! )

Earth Boy. Only the version in the movie though, with the Tiu sisters and the orchestral backing. Yes, it's a children's song, but I'm enough of a child at heart to still appreciate it. Plus, to hear Elvis sing in Chinese (Cantonese?) has loads of novelty value for way more than one listen (for me, anyway).

Crawfish. Take out the annoying, ear-splitting female vocals and it's a great tune, with an incredibly cool accompaniment. Again with seafood lyrics, but baby I don't care!

Roustabout. A fast, spirited happy-go-lucky song. Perfect for a compilation to be played during a long car trip.

Ku-U-I-Po. I'm a sucker for the romantic ballads, and if you throw in a Hawaiian guitar and some lyrics in Hawaiian, so much the better!

Moonlight Swim. There's that Hawaiian guitar again!

Petunia, The Gardener's Daughter. Yes, I actually like this one, even if Elvis does sound a bit... strained at the end. Another one featured, I believe, on Elvis' Greatest *hits. I really don't think it's that bad - am I off my rocker or something?

Yoga Is As Yoga Does is a definite guilty pleasure that has me in stitches every time I hear it. It's only good for a laugh, but that's all it was meant for and laughter is one of the best pleasures, guilty as it may be in this case.

Of course, there are many, many more. As you can see, I'm very much into the lighthearted, fluffy, quirky, playful and just plain fun Elvis songs. I don't feel particularly guilty about listening to them either - life is too short to be taken too seriously, and besides, if people can listen to "Burning Love" without being ridiculed then I think I'm entitled to these!

[richardo316]

for me it's come on everybody and today tomorrow and forever from viva las vegas, and clambake and the girl i never loved from clambake.

[elvis1977br]

Song Of The Shrimp and Sand Castles!!

[Liverbobs]

Doin' The Best I Can
Pocketful Of Rainbows
No More
Dominic ( One of my son's is called Dominic!)
Because Of Love
Girls,Girls,Girls
This Is My Heaven

[MysteryTrain]

Charro: I love this song. It deserves more spotlight, than many other movie songs imo.

Edge of Reality: Another song i think is really overlooked. I think the lyric is actualy cool, and fits well in the movie scene.

Pocket full of rainbows: Im not sure if this song is actually dissmissed. But i have never heard it on radio etc. Elvis sings thee song wonderfule.

stay away: This song i recently started to listen to. I think it's a gem in many ways.
But lets face iit. Elvis could almost turn any movie song into a classic.

Angel: A real beuty. This is one of the best ballads from the Hollywood years imo.

[paultoronto]

Yes, I agree with a lot of the choices! As I was reading Cryo's post, I was listening to Paradise Hawaiian Style.. absolutely... Charro, yes! Edge Of Reality... a bizarre movie sequence, but a good song on its own! Song of The Shrimp.. it is cute, I have to admit, I didn't like it initially, but it has grown on me.. So Close, Yet So Far.. definitely great songs.

Also:

Speedway -- it has a weird feel and timing to it, but I kinda like it!
Spinout
Don't Leave Me Now -- Very similar to Give Me The Right as well
Long Legged Girl with the Short Dress On - I know Elvis didn't really like it, but I like the guitar.. wish it wasn't so short!
Lonesome Cowboy -- very unusual song, but I kind of like it too
Almost In Love -- How much more James Bond/ Lounge singer cool can you get? I had a show at the Niagara Falls Fallsview Casino here in Canada, and I HAD to do that song ... it's just.. so Casino!

My two cents anyway!

[EnigmaticSun]

There are definitely more than just a few songs from the movies era which are really kind of nice!


I'll try to type some titles here - I guess my list isn't complete, in fact there are so many great songs!

How about:

-Love Me Tender
-Jailhouse Rock
-Trouble
-No More
-Blue Hawaii
-Can't Help Falling In Love
-Guadalajara (is that spelled correctly?)
-What'd I Say
-Edge Of Reality
-Stay Away
-Almost In Love

Keep in mind it's only a small selection - there are many other gems as well!

[nashville cat]

Here's my choices:

C'mon Everybody
How Can You Lose What You Never Had? (collector's gold version)
Stop, Look, Listen
I'll Be Back
Have A Happy
Poison Ivy League

[Scottishthistle]

No one has mentioned my favourite song from the Elvis movies at the moment

its has to be : Shake That Tambourine

It makes me want to get up and dance.

Other favourites for me include:

I got lucky
I don't wanna be tied
One broken heart for sale
Clean up your own backyard



...grooovy

[JerryNodak]

In My Way
Forget Me Never
Happy Ending
Cotton Candy Land
How Would You Like To Be?
El Toro
Ku-ui-po
Smokey Mountain Boy
There's Gold In The Mountains
Tender Feeling
Once Is Enough
Hard Knocks
One Track Heart
Big Love, Big Heartache
Meanest Girl In Town
Do Not Disturb
Puppet On A String
Do The Clam
Harem Holiday
My Desert Serenade
Mirage
Animal Instinct
Come Along
Beginner's Luck
Shout It Out
Everybody Come Aboard
Easy Come, Easy Go
You Gotta Stop
I'll Take Love
Stop, Look, Listen
Am I Ready?
You Scratch My Back
House Of Sand
All I Needed Was The Rain
A House That Has Everything
Hey, Hey, Hey

City By Night
There Is So Much World To See
Change Of Habit
Let Us Pray

[Elena/The Russian EP Fan Club]

I love A LOT of Elvis movie songs Yes indeed. I don't want to write them because it will be a very very very very very very very long list

[Elvisgirl]

i love them all...

[circa1956]

Some I can remember off the top of my head...

Lonesome Cowboy (from Loving You)
One More Day (though Elvis doesn't sing it in "Jailhouse Rock" I hum it anytime I have one more day to go before I get a day off )
As Long As I Have You (from King Creole)
Doin' The Best That I Can (esp. that version on Elvis Close-Up)
Summer Kisses, Winter Tears (cut from Flaming Star)
Girl Happy Soundtrack
Little Egypt (from Roustabout)
C'mon Everybody (from Viva)
Wonderful World (from LaLa)
City By Night (from Double Trouble)
Frankie & Johnny (the movie version w/ everyone singing in it )
Night Rider (from Tickle Me)
The one he sings in Double Trouble--"Baby it's wrong, wrong as can be, to try and tie a guy like me" Don't remember the title
Spinout Soundtrack
Charro (though I have yet to see the movie)
You Don't Know Me (from Clambake)
Please Don't Stop Loving Me (from Frankie & Johnny)
Once Is Enough (from Kissin' Cousins)
One Boy Two Little Girls (from Kissin' Cousins)
Hawaiian Sunset (from Blue Hawaii)
Angel (from Follow That Dream)
The one he sings w/ the little girls in Girls! Girls! Girls!

And many others that are escaping my mind at the moment...

- Stace

[Pieterpix]

The one he sings in Double Trouble--"Baby it's wrong, wrong as can be, to try and tie a guy like me" Don't remember the title

There's so much world to see

By the way, i love all the songs, no matter what he sings