Saturday, December 17, 2016

Elvis Presley - G.I. Blues & Classical Music

Elvis Presley: Tonight's So Right For Love [G.I. Blues: 1960]
Offenbach -Barcarolle from Les Contes d'Hoffmann (The Tales Of Hoffmann)
Please listen to the Elvis video and the original classical composition below.

UP TO 1,300 VIEWS - 17 COMMENTS

Hold me tight 
The moon's so bright 
Tonight is so right for love... 

In the early 60's, while listening to Elvis Presley's, Tonight Is So Right For Love from G. I. Blues (1960), I found the melody familiar.
Barcarolle from 'Les contes d'Hoffmann' by Offenbach
YouTube video by: mezzocristina.

Since the world of popular music has gleaned many of its hits from the classics, the Wayne, Silver and Lilly composition is actually based on Offenbach - Barcarolle from Les Contes d'Hoffmann (The Tales Of Hoffmann) and not from Johann Strauss as some surfers claim it to be.  Listen to Elvis' version, then key in Google Video for Offenbach Barcarolle. 

Della Reese* is one singer who had recorded songs classical music based on Puccini, Tchaikovsky, Schubert and other composers. 

The list below provides information on popular songs from classical music. Some songs are not from the 60's:

Procol Harum: 
Whiter Shade Of Pale
Bach's Air On The G String.

Eric Carmen: 
All By Myself
Melody of Rachmaninoff's 2nd Piano Concerto in C Minor.

Eric Carmen: 
Never Gonna Fall in Love Again
Main Theme Rachmaninoff's 2nd Symphony.

Tony Bennett: 
Stranger in Paradise (Kismet)
Alexander Borodin's Polovtsian Dances.

Della Reese: 
Don't You Know
La Boheme by Puccini.

Freddy Martin: 
Tonight We Love
Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto in B Flat.

Elvis Presley:
It's Now or Never
O Sole Mio.

Elvis Presley:
Surrender
Torna A. Surriento.

Jackie Wilson: 
Night 
Saint-Saens Opera Samson and Delilah.

Della Reese:*
Till The End Of Time
Chopin adapted.

And the list goes on. It is common knowledge that many of today's pop musicians are well-versed with classical music. Pop stars like Bono, Keith Richards, Elton John, Paul McCartney and Elvis Costello are just a few of these artistes. And Elvis?

I had records by Mario Lanza when I was 17, 18 years old, I would listen to the Metropolitan Opera. I just loved music. Music period. (Elvis Presley, 1972 interview).

Song list compiled from classical music websites.

Images: Google.
Original Article: Andy Lim.

You Tube: Elvis Presley video from Kevin Allen. 
               Barcarolle video from mezzocristina.

17 comments:

  1. Putting kids to sleep is a cinch with, "Big Boots," from Elvis' "GI Blues" EP.

    "Wooden Heart" is another classic and great for picnics and singalongs!

    ReplyDelete
  2. and, i think, there's an influence from a piece by Chopin. listen to Elvis sing -Today Tomorrow and Forever- from the Viva Las Vegas soundtrack.

    i am a classical music lover. big fan of bach and mozart.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thank you vivalasvegas for the contribution. It'll be a dream to have as many songs to add to the list.
    Cheers.

    ReplyDelete
  4. For readers' information vivalasvegas is an Elvis Presley fanclub. Just click on the name and check out the website.
    Cheers.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous30.6.09

    Scene from Viva las Vegas with Ann Margret, quiet and cool with Elvis at the piano in his white suit. Ann margret is beautiful and sexy. Song is Today, Tomorrow and Forever. Can watch on utube.

    ReplyDelete
  6. This post has been rejuvenated. Hopefully it will draw as many readers, especially those people interested in the connection between classical music and pop.

    ReplyDelete
  7. chakap chakap19.12.16

    The Tales of Hoffmann (French: Les contes d'Hoffmann) is an opéra fantastique by Jacques Offenbach.

    The French libretto was written by Jules Barbier, based on three short stories by E. T. A. Hoffmann, who is the protagonist of the story. It was Offenbach's final work, as he died a year before the premiere.

    From Wiki

    ReplyDelete
  8. chakap chakap219.12.16

    The melody for "Tonight Is So Right for Love" was taken directly from a barcarolle composed by Jacques Offenbach, one of Strauss's contemporaries.

    An American release of "Tonight's All Right for Love" did not occur until it appeared on the compilation album Elvis: A Legendary Performer Volume 1 in 1974.

    ReplyDelete
  9. 33 bellant utuber19.12.16

    'BARCAROLLE' AS SUNG BY SISTERS IRINA AND CHRISTINA LORDACHESCU. A MUSIC OF GREAT BEAUTY.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Milos 0219.12.16

    Tonight is so right for love (J. Offenbach - A. Silver - S. Wayne), from the film ''G. I. Blues'' (Paramount, 1960).

    Elvis Presley (vocals), The Jordanaires (backing vocals), Scotty Moore (electric guitar), Tiny Timbrell (acoustic guitar), Neal Matthews, Jr. (electric bass), Ray Siegel (double bass), Dudley Brooks (piano), Jimmie Haskell (accordion), Bernie Mattinson (drums), D.J. Fontana (drums), Frank Bode (bongos).

    Recording date: April 27, 1960 (Radio Recorders, Hollywood, California).

    ReplyDelete
  11. HIROSHI DEGUCHI (JAPAN)11.3.19

    Hi, Andy.

    May I share one of your articles -some Pop songs are derived from Classics to my Japanese friends. I am sure they will be interested in.

    We also have many pop songs we got caught up in which originate from classics, like "情熱の花”
    sung by The Peanuts derived from "For Elise" written by Beethoven.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hiroshi please do so any time. (My apologies I was out for lunch)

    Yes Hiroshi, very popular indeed and in Singapore too. Love THE PEANUTS and FUR ELISE.
    Thank you for the feedback.
    I love feedbacks with pieces of information.
    Whenever we exchange info. we learn.

    ReplyDelete
  13. PETER CHEONG11.3.19

    I remember Flaming Star.

    ReplyDelete
  14. FACEBOOK9.1.22

    THANKS TO LIST WHO LIKE THIS POST

    Ericbronson Wong
    Philip Chew
    Koh Sui Pang
    Michael Fonseca
    Ann Rowena Lim
    Ericbronson Wong
    Roop Singh
    Patrick Teng
    Rose Khoo
    Koh Daisy
    Stephen Han
    Charlie Bogosoff
    Yen Chow
    Davy Chan

    MOODY CASH n
    BEN - WITH LOVE

    ReplyDelete
  15. MRS DAISY KOH9.1.22

    Like Sorrento (Surrender) and O Solo Mio (It’s Now or Never) and La Paloma ( No More)?

    ReplyDelete
  16. YEN CHOW9.1.22

    Must be familiar to the original music to catch it.
    I like the clip 'Barcarolle' but not a single word I understand. Haha

    ReplyDelete
  17. STEPHEN HAN9.1.22

    I had seen Michael Banger with Silver String and like Jerry Murad style and his voice

    ReplyDelete