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"Viva Las Vegas" | ||||
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Single by Elvis Presley | ||||
B-side | "What'd I Say" | |||
Released | April 28, 1964 | |||
Recorded | July 10, 1963 | |||
Studio | Radio Recorders, Hollywood | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 2:24 | |||
Label | RCA | |||
Songwriter(s) | Doc Pomus, Mort Shuman | |||
Elvis Presley singles chronology | ||||
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"Viva Las Vegas" is a 1964 song recorded by Elvis Presley written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman [1] for his film of the same name, which along with the song was set for general release the year after. Although Elvis Presley never performed the song live, it has since become popular and often performed by others. The RIAA certified the single disc "Viva Las Vegas/What'd I Say" gold on March 27, 1992, having sold 500,000 copies in the United States. [2]
The song was recorded on July 10, 1963. Released as a single in 1964 with the B-side "What'd I Say" from the same film, "Viva Las Vegas" charted separately from its B-side, reaching No. 29 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart. [3] The Elvis version of "What'd I Say" peaked at No. 21, the two sides having equivalent appeal in the marketplace. "Viva Las Vegas" reached No. 17 on the UK Singles Chart, improving to No. 15 after a reissue in 2007. The single reached No. 20 on the Record World chart in the U.S. and No. 14 in Canada. [4] The song was published by Elvis Presley Music, Inc.
In the years since, the song has become popular. In 2002, the city of Las Vegas requested Elvis Presley Enterprises, the company that handles Elvis-related music rights, to allow it to be the official song of the city. Negotiations stalled over the price. EPE had not controlled the copyright to the song since 1993, at which time it became the property of the families of the songwriters Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman. [5]
The song was featured in the 2010 video game Just Dance 2 . [6]
The song has been adopted as the victory theme for the National Hockey League (NHL)'s Vegas Golden Knights when they win games at T-Mobile Arena, and was played during their victory parade following the 2023 Stanley Cup Finals. [7]
During the trophy ceremony of Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium, Travis Kelce, a tight end for the victorious Kansas City Chiefs, "belted out an impromptu, raggedy chorus" of the song. [8]
"Viva Las Vegas" | ||||
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Single by ZZ Top | ||||
from the album Greatest Hits | ||||
B-side | "2000 Blues" | |||
Released | 1992 | |||
Length | 4:47 | |||
Label | Warner Bros. | |||
Songwriter(s) | Doc Pomus, Mort Shuman | |||
ZZ Top singles chronology | ||||
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ZZ Top recorded a version of "Viva Las Vegas" as one of two new tracks on their Greatest Hits album (1992). "Viva Las Vegas" was released as a single and reached the Top 10 in both the UK (No. 10) and Ireland (No. 8). [9] [10] This version appeared in a 1993 episode of Beavis and Butt-head . [11]
San Francisco hardcore punk band Dead Kennedys recorded a sardonic version of the song for their debut album Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables . This version has altered lyrics, making references to cocaine and methamphetamine. It appeared on the album as the 14th and final track. [12]
"Viva Las Vegas" | |
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Song by Dead Kennedys | |
from the album Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables | |
Released | September 2, 1980 |
Genre | Punk rock |
Length | 2:42 |
Label | Cherry Red, Alternative Tentacles, Faulty Products, Manifesto |
Songwriter(s) | Doc Pomus, Mort Shuman |
Chart (1964) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia | 4 |
Belgium | 12 |
Canada (CHUM) Hit Parade [13] [4] | 14 |
Denmark | 3 |
Germany | 21 |
Ireland (IRMA) [14] | 8 |
Italy | 8 |
New Zealand (Lever Hit Parade) [15] | 4 |
Norway | 6 |
Spain | 16 |
Sweden | 5 |
UK Singles Chart [16] | 17 |
US Billboard Hot 100 [17] | 29 |
US Cash Box Top 100 | 16 |
US Record World | 20 |
Chart (2007) | Peak position |
---|---|
UK Singles Chart [18] | 15 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom (BPI) [19] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
United States (RIAA) [20] | Gold | 500,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Chart (1992) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (ARIA) [21] | 28 |
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) [22] | 21 |
Germany (GfK) [23] | 34 |
Ireland (IRMA) [14] | 8 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [24] | 27 |
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [25] | 17 |
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) [26] | 7 |
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) [27] | 20 |
UK Singles Chart [28] | 10 |
US Billboard Album Rock Tracks | 16 |
Jerome Solon Felder, known professionally as Doc Pomus, was an American blues singer and songwriter. He is best known as the co-writer of many rock and roll hits. Pomus was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a non-performer in 1992, the Songwriters Hall of Fame (1992), and the Blues Hall of Fame (2012).
"The Wonder of You" is a song written by Baker Knight. It was originally recorded by Vince Edwards in 1958, but this recording has never been released. In an interview with a DJ from Chattanooga, Tennessee, Ray Peterson told the story of how Baker Knight confided that "The Wonder of You" was originally written as a gospel song.
Viva Las Vegas is a 1964 American rock and roll musical film directed by George Sidney, written by Sally Benson, choreographed by David Winters, and starring Elvis Presley, Ann-Margret, Cesare Danova, William Demarest and Nicky Blair. Set in Las Vegas, Nevada, the film is about two competing race car drivers who also compete for the same girl.
Mortimer Shuman was an American singer, pianist and songwriter, best known as co-writer of many 1960s rock and roll hits, including "Viva Las Vegas". He also wrote and sang many songs in French, such as "Le Lac Majeur", "Papa-Tango-Charly", "Sha Mi Sha", "Un Été de Porcelaine", and "Brooklyn by the Sea" which became hits in France and several other European countries.
Florence Kaye was an American songwriter who worked with Bill Giant and Bernie Baum. She was born in New York City. She performed a radio show in Georgia and entertained troops for United Service Organizations. The three built a significant list of credits, including many songs recorded by Elvis Presley. The majority of their tunes were used in Presley's musicals. Their work was also credited in the American version of Osamu Tezuka's anime Kimba the White Lion (1965). The only hit song by the trio was Elvis' "(You're the) Devil in Disguise", in 1963.
Bernie Baum was a songwriter who worked extensively with Elvis Presley. He grew up in New York City and later worked with Harvey Zimmerman and Florence Kaye. The majority of their songs were used in Presley's musicals. He and his two collaborators also wrote a theme music package for the NBC Weekend radio service called "Monitor" in 1965. Their work was also credited in the American version of Osamu Tezuka's anime Kimba the White Lion (1965). He had a #1 Hit with his song "Music! Music! Music!", Teresa Brewer's B side recording which unexpectedly took off, selling over a million copies and becoming Teresa's signature song with his other works included:
"Save the Last Dance for Me" is a song written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman, first recorded in 1960 by American musical group the Drifters with Ben E. King on lead vocals. It has since been covered by several artists, including the DeFranco Family, Dolly Parton, and Michael Bublé.
Elvis' Gold Records Volume 4 is a greatest hits album by American rock and roll singer Elvis Presley, issued by RCA Victor in mono and stereo, LPM/LSP 3921, in January 1968, with recording sessions taking place over an eight-year span at RCA Studio B in Nashville, Tennessee, and at RCA Studios and Radio Recorders in Hollywood. It is a compilation of hit singles released between 1961 and 1967, peaking at number 33 on the Billboard 200. It was certified Gold on March 27, 1992, by the Recording Industry Association of America.
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"(Marie's the Name) His Latest Flame" is a song recorded in a hit version by Elvis Presley and published by Elvis Presley Music in 1961. It was written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman and first recorded by Del Shannon on the album Runaway with Del Shannon, which was released in June 1961.
"Surrender" is a number 1 song recorded by Elvis Presley and published by Elvis Presley Music in 1961. It is an adaptation by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman of the music of a 1902 Neapolitan ballad by Giambattista and Ernesto de Curtis entitled "Torna a Surriento". It hit number one in the US and UK in 1961 and eventually became one of his best-selling singles. Presley held the record for most consecutive number one singles on the Billboard Hot 100 before 1966, when The Beatles beat the record, with six consecutive number ones released between 1965 and 1966. That record eventually was broken in 1988 by Whitney Houston, who continues to hold the record today with seven. It would hold the record for most consecutive number ones by a solo artist until Houston broke that record with "So Emotional". This was one of 25 songs which Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman wrote for Presley. It has been recorded by many other artists, including Michael Bublé, The Residents and Il Volo.
"Suspicion" is a 1962 song originally recorded by Elvis Presley written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman. It became a major hit in 1964 in a recording by Elvis Presley sound-alike Terry Stafford.
"A Mess of Blues" is a song originally recorded by Elvis Presley for RCA Records in 1960, and written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman. Although released as the B-side to "It's Now or Never", "A Mess of Blues" reached number 32 in the U.S. It reached number 2 in the UK as an A-side.
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