Elvis: 20 Minute Setlist

Wow! This is a hard one (said the actress to the bishop).

How can you even try to condense Elvis into 20 minutes? I'm lost, so lost on this quest. Rigorous editing, and tough internal fights, have led me - reluctantly and with many regrets of lost songs - to this Elvis 20 minute set list.

As I've said many times before, if I could have seen anyone live, it would be Elvis. From the fanfare of The 2001 Theme to the end of 'Can't Help Falling in Love' an Elvis concert was a ritual; a carefully calibrated event to whip the audience into a frenzy. 

He reinvented himself you know...

By 1968 he was a joke. A has been rock n roller starring in shite films.

By 1970 he was back, power-housing his way through some of the best performances ever. Jump suit. scarves, big belts, new hits, old hits, 50 piece back up, fuzz tone bass and wah-wah pedals. The King was back!!

Anyway, here it is, Elvis in 20 minutes...

1. 2001 Theme

2. That's All Right Mama

3. Never Been to Spain

4. Polk Salad Annie

5. Early Morning Rain

6. Suspicious Minds

7. Can't Help Falling in Love

Do you agree?

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The King

A question I'm often asked (by myself usually) - who would you have most like to have seen in concert? The possibilities are endless - The Beatles (obviously), The Stones, Queen, Led Zep, The Who, Sinatra... But there is only ever one answer. The one person I would have loved to have seen in concert, is Elvis.

To be clear, Elvis from 1969 onwards. Elvis in his mature years.

Like much of his life story, his last few years have acquired a mythology. The myth is that of a fat, drugged Elvis, bulging belly in a white tasseled sparkling jump-suit, sweating his way through a tired set to drunken middle-aged audiences at The International, Las Vegas. 

Well let's scotch that myth. Take a look at E - lithe and on form, slaying them in 1970...

From the 2001 opening to the Fools Fall in Love (Elvis has left the building) ending, an Elvis show had rituals and designed peaks and troughs. Where to start? Well, start where I did, aged 10 - Elvis Live at Madison Square Garden. This 1972 was peak Elvis. The set list has all the live greats - Polk Salad Annie, Suspicious Minds, American Trilogy, You Gave Me A Mountain, Proud Mary, You don't have to say you love me...

You can listen online.

Battle Hymn of the Republic

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Christmas Cheese

I wish it could be Xmas everyday, and here it is, Merry Christmas, I'll be lonely this Christmas, Stepping into Christmas, Stop the Cavalry, they said it would snow blah blah blah.

We all know the hey-day of this genre - the 70's and 80's. It's probably the most ubiquitous of my Christmas song categories but also, my least favourite. But - culturally - these cheesy types of festive songs evoke Christmases past, slow dances with girls long forgot in venues either burned down for the insurance money or long converted into flats.

And the nominations for best cheesy Christmas song go to:-

1. 2000 Miles - The Pretenders
2. All I want for Christmas is You - Mariah Carey
3. Last Christmas - Wham, Cascada, Taylor Swift
4. Wrapped in Red - Kelly Clarkson
5. One More Sleep - Leona Lewis

Yeah - I added a couple of more modern ones as I think the genre kinda died in the 80's but these last two are pretty decent reinventions (I've posted Kelly Clarkson's song here already).

Sorry for the multi artist nomination for Last Christmas but I like Cascada's version and Taylor Swift's Holiday EP is pretty awesome and her Last Christmas, countrified, is a great interpretation. 

Anyway - results in a couple of weeks! Please enjoy The King looking (and sounding) his best in 1968 in his comeback special. And yes, it's Elvis on electric lead guitar.

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