Lately this site gets over flooded with bootleg remix-singles. I really wonder what makes people give their money to such things. Probably they are the same people that complain about the zillionth soundboard on FTD. I don’t want to discuss that second thing, since I do understand that more or less.
What I do not understand – especially in the case of Elvis – that people can listen to those remixes. As all Elvis fans know Elvis was very much involved in the producing of his own music, and he was (especially in the 70’s) pretty conservative regarding his style. So it is pretty sure that he wouldn’t have liked what is done to his music.
Those remixes are so far away from the original thing, why even bother? If you like those irritating drum machines and synthesizers, why just don’t listen to (most) of today’s so-called “artists”.
If you became an Elvis-fan in the first place, why the need of screwing his music like this? One would expect that you would explore other fields, being it in the same style or totally different.
Of course I – old fashioned as I am – prefer the same style mainly. For those with taste who agree with me, I have a tip: Michael Bublé – one of today’s artists, who is the exception that confirms the rule, as we say in Holland. He is a real artist and first class entertainer, crooner style, but with his own mark on it. His latest release “Caught in the Act” (sounds familiar, doesn’t it?) is really a must have for music lovers… with an Elvis connection in “Fever” and “You Don’t Know Me”. I hate to say it, but I wish I had such a great live version of the first by Elvis, instead of all those rush and fool around versions.
With “You Don’t Know Me” Mister Bublé is in a league extraordinaire, it is the most beautiful rendition I have ever heard by any performer.. Even Queen’s “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” can be seen as an E-connection.
To me MB is closer to the real thing than the products of those who should be regarded as plain criminals. But that is just my opinion.
The Real Thing
By Lex Raaphorst, November 25, 2005 | Other
Jth wrote on
November 26, 2005
What's wrong with liking remixes? I really like the remixes of A Little Less Conversation and Burning Love (found on the FTD cd "Too Much Monkey Business"), because I find them much better than the originals, especially the A Little Less Conversation (but I dislike intensely the remix of Rubberneckin'). On "Elvis By The Presley's" DVD was a comparison between the version of, if I recall correctly, Suspicious Minds, and I liked the RCA version much better.
I really can't explain why I like some versions of Elvis songs better than another, because it just depends on your taste, and tastes vary from one person to another ...like the fact that I don't like how much is written about a rip-off singer (off Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett) called Michael Bubl.
JerryNodak wrote on
November 30, 2005
Give me the originals. Stuff the remixes. They're not Elvis. They're gimmicks.
PaulFromFrance wrote on
December 18, 2005
Lex... you really are a music lover, aren't you ? -) I totally agree with you (Michael Bublé is one of my wife's favorites, and he is GREAT). Those Elvis remixes are a shame and show how low some people can be. Because it shows an abyssal lack of respect for a fantastic artist and his work.
Fakeelvis1 wrote on
December 30, 2005
I love Elvis` music, he was, is & will always be the greatest singer in the universe. But, he also did a few throw away songs plus some garbage from later movie soundtracks, He hated these songs with a passion. It was in his contract, so he rushed through them & got them out of his mind. This, in itself is a dirty, rotten shame, that he was forced to do that. But, my point being...in my opinion, "A little less conversation" and "Rubbernecking" were terrible songs & did nothing for his career or his fans. The remixes, I thought were fantastic, I loved both of them & ran out & bought them. They filled in the boring gaps & put life into these songs, without taking anything away from Elvis singing voice. I think Elvis would have loved these remixes. These are the only remixes I know of & I have no problem with them, whatsoever. Our local DJ did a remix duet on "Love me Tender" He put Elvis` version together with Linda Ronstadts version. It was great...he was warned to take it off the air or else & I have never heard it again. My loss. I am for "almost" anything done in good taste to keep Elvis alive & to attract new, especially younger fans, to keep the legacy going, from generation to generation. And, for me, "That`s the way, the mop flops".
potluck62 wrote on
February 06, 2007
I'm 38 and have been an Elvis since 1973.I agree I prefer the originals as well. I did like the little less remix and the reggae version of In the ghetto and I forgot born to rock as well.But,I think this stuff is aimed at a younger audience who isn't familiar with Elvis.If they like these versions maybe,that will get them into the original stuff.Thanks