VIVA LAS VEGAS (SONG)

"'Viva Las Vegas'" is a 1964 song written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman^[1] and recorded by Elvis Presley for his ''Viva Las Vegas'' film vehicle of that year. It has since become widely known and often performed by others.

Contents

History

Cover versions

Notes

History

Released as a double-sided single along with "What'd I Say" from the same film, "Viva Las Vegas" was a modest hit at best at the time, reaching number 29 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart and number 17 on the UK Singles Chart.
However in years since, it has become one of Presley's most recognized numbers. In the 1990s and 2000s, the song has been contained in countless movies, TV sitcoms, either as a reference to the city of Las Vegas, or simply as an expression of joy, or bewilderement in related comedic situations. Somewhat amusingly, it is said that Doc Pomus wrote the words to "Viva Las Vegas" some thirty years before ever venturing west of Newark, New Jersey.
In 2002, the city of Las Vegas requested Elvis Presley Enterprises, the company who handles a portion of Elvis's musical legacy, and all Elvis-related music rights, to allow it to be the official song of the city but negotiations, to this date, have been stalled over the price requested by EPE. Notwithstanding, EPE has not owned the copyright to the song "Viva Las Vegas" since 1993, when it became the property of the families of the long under credited and (believed by many) almost criminally undercompensated songwriters Doc Pomus (Halberstadt, Alex "Lonely Avenue The Unlikely Life & Times of DocPomus". 2007 DaCapo Press) and Mort Shuman. That EPE no longer owns the copyright essentially means that EPE does not have the authority or right to negotiate the use of the song "Viva Las Vegas" in Las Vegas or anywhere else within the United States, its territories and possessions. Although, EPE may be able to negotiate the use of the actual Elvis recording of the song.

Cover versions

★ Influential punk band Dead Kennedys recorded a version of "Viva Las Vegas" on their 1980 debut album ''Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables''. The song had been a part of their live set almost since the band's inception. Their version strips the musical arrangement down to guitar, bass, and drums, and uses a slightly faster tempo, yet maintains the song's melodic structure. It also features satirical lyric changes by lead singer Jello Biafra in the second and third verses, referencing a gambler using speed and cocaine in order not to "sleep a minute away". This version can also be found in Terry Gilliam's 1998 ''Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas'' .

★ ZZ Top recorded a version of "Viva Las Vegas" in their own inimitable blues-rock-meets-techno style, as one of two new tracks on their 1992 ''Greatest Hits'' CD. (This remake can also be heard on the compilations that succeeded it, the box set ''Chrome, Smoke & BBQ'' (2003) and the double-CD anthology ''Rancho Texicano'' (2004).)

★ Film co-star Ann-Margaret recut a version of the song for the live action movie ''The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas'' (2000) under the pseudonym of her animated alter-ego Ann-Margrock and with the song's title changed to, of course, "Viva Rock Vegas".

★ The bluegrass novelty act The Grascals did a version of the song on their debut album in 2005.

★ The Chilean Punk Band Fiskales Ad-Hok covered the song (in Spanish) and changing it to "Viva Santiago".

★ The song is featured twice in the film, ''The Big Lebowski''. Shawn Colvin performs it as a folk ballad during the closing credits. A rock version in the film is credited to a band called Big Johnson. The Colvin version was recoreded originally for the 1995 Rhino/Forward release, ''.

★ The song is a part of Bruce Springsteen's live act, and was included in ''The Last Temptation of Elvis'', a commemorative album of renditions by singers, and rock groups, of songs made famous by Presley. Springsteen's studio version of the "Viva Las Vegas" was also included in his 2003 compilation, ''The Essential Bruce Springsteen''.

★ There are also cover versions of the song by Wayne Newton, The Residents, The Misfits, Nine Inch Nails, Billy Swan, Dolly Parton & the Grascals, Dread Zeppelin, Engelbert Humberdinck, Lee Rocker, Phil Cody, The Gipsy Vagabonds, The Stray Cats, Cornell Hurd, King Junior, The Blues Brothers, The Royal Crown Revue, Mort Shuman himself, The Southern Boys, and many, many others.

★ At UNLV athletic events, UNLV's band often plays a version of "Viva Las Vegas" in the same way most college bands play schools' fight songs.

★ Viagra commercial [1]

Notes

1. Doc Pomus - Biography