Daily Dirt: Best Elvis song ever? That’s an easy one

Daily Dirt for Saturday, June 25, 2022

It’s hard to believe Elvis Presley has been dead almost 45 years … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 320 of The Daily Dirt.

1. I’m not close to being the biggest Elvis fan on the planet (or anything close), but I enjoy quite a few of the King’s songs. Here’s my top three:

• Gold medal: “Can’t Help Falling In Love With You” might be more than just the perfect love song. It might be the most perfect song period. It was also perfect for the voice of Elvis. It has since been covered by numerous artists, ranging from Bob Dylan to U2 to UB40. In fact, UB40 had a monster hit of its own with the song in 1993. 
• Silver medal: “Suspicious Minds” will be one of many Elvis songs introduced to a new generation of would-be fans through the release of the new Elvis movie. Other than the Beatles and probably the Rolling Stones, has there ever been another artist whose music has successfully spanned such a timeline?  
• Bronze medal: “Burning Love” has you hooked as soon as the King utters, “Lord Almighty, I feel my temperature rising.”

2. Oh heck, let’s have a little more fun with Elvis. These are my LEAST favorite Elvis songs (among the major hits):

• “In the Ghetto”: Maybe it’s just too sad?
• “Jailhouse Rock”: Ever have one of those songs that first time you heard it your brain goes, “Nah!” This was one of those for me.
• “Love Me Tender”: Just … too … slow.

3. And to top off our Saturday tribute to Elvis, here’s my three favorite movies featuring the King:

• 1. “Flaming Star”: Many consider his performance as Pacer Burton the finest of his career. Elvis the cowboy!
• 2. “Viva Las Vegas”: Elvis. Ann-Margret. Yes!
• 3. “Blue Hawaii”: Not much of a plot, but the music was great.

Steve Thought O’ The Day
Few realize that for the exception of a handful of concerts in Canada, Elvis never performed outside the United States.

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. He’s our hunk, a hunk of burnin’ love.