The King of Rock and Roll has taken center stage in theaters across the country thanks to Baz Lurhmann's critically acclaimed Elvis. The rousing biopic stars Austin Butler as the titular icon, and tracks Elvis Presley's tumultuous life and indelible impact on American culture — including his remarkably timeless discography.
Elvis classics like "Hound Dog" and "Can't Help Falling In Love" are sprinkled throughout the film, along with several other hits and deep cuts that display the late legend's genre-spanning abilities. He explored rock, blues, country, R&B and even gospel during his two-decade career, in turn having a lasting impact on artists of all types. .
In honor of both the new film and Elvis' legacy, GRAMMY.com asked a disparate range of artists — from those who performed with Elvis like Darlene Love, to rock idols like Kenny Loggins, to the latest generation of stars like Em Beihold — to pick their favorite tracks by the King. Elvis movie personalities Yola (who portrays Sister Rosetta Tharpe) and executive music producer Elliott Wheeler also weighed in on the Elvis songs they believe reign supreme.
Darlene Love
I was fortunate to sing with Elvis. We both shared the same passion for gospel music. "Amazing Grace" or "River of Jordan" or "Heaven Is a Wonderful Place" or "Sweet Hour of Prayer." We called them hymns of the church. There was another one called "Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior."
[My group] The Blossoms were known for their harmony and we'd harmonize with him. That's something we had with Elvis that others didn't have. It was fun to be praised by someone like Elvis Presley.
Yola (country/soul singer/songwriter)
My favorite Elvis song is probably "Hound Dog." His performance is iconic, but more importantly, has eventually helped illuminate rock-and-roll originator and the first artist to record the song, the remarkable Big Mama Thornton.
I've come late to Elvis, mainly by way of Baz Luhrmann's Elvis movie, in which I portray the creator of rock and roll, Sister Rosetta Tharpe. Elvis was deeply immersed in the Black music scene of Beale Street in Memphis — from his relationship with B.B. King, to Sister Rosetta Tharpe's direct musical influence, alongside the showmanship of Little Richard, and of course Big Mama Thornton.
His sound was directly influenced and caused by Black music. The movie does a great job of demonstrating this fact, and reminds us that it is important to remember that when we pay homage to a great song performed by Elvis, we too must pay homage to its originator.
Johnny Rzeznik (the Goo Goo Dolls singer)
"Jailhouse Rock." Looking at the song in the context of the time it was written and performed, I can see how radical and dangerous he was to adults and how raw and sexual his appeal was to younger audiences. Dangerous stuff in 1957.
Dan Smith (Bastille singer)
We were recently on tour in Memphis and lucky enough to go on a private tour of Graceland. I’d always thought Elvis' performance of "Unchained Melody" had some real emotional resonance, but being shown the piano that he sang it on to a small collection of his friends on the night that he passed away was really powerful.
Apparently he’d finished an evening of racquetball and drinks with some of his close companions in Graceland, and his friends asked him to sit and play them some songs before he headed off to bed. He sang another song and "Unchained Melody," and then headed back into the house and upstairs for the final time. The piano itself is a modest German upright, but getting to see the thing in the place where he played it that time painted such a vivid picture of those moments.
Michael Feinstein (jazz singer/pianist)
My favorite song sung by Elvis is "If I Can Dream," which was written by Earl Brown for his 'comeback' TV special, This Is Elvis. The song helped to renew his career and expresses a timeless philosophy, which is even more resonant today. I sang that song at Carnegie Hall last month for the Ukraine Relief concert, and that message of peace and brotherhood embodies what I feel Elvis brought to so many.
Stephen Sanchez (pop singer/songwriter)
"It's Now or Never" is one of my favorite songs from Elvis. It's a song of deep longing and confession between himself and the lover. I relate to that within my own personal life and my own songs. He also has the most insane register in that song!
Em Beihold (pop singer/songwriter)
While maybe cliche, my favorite Elvis song has to be "Jailhouse Rock." I have a fond memory of dancing around to the track when I was maybe 7 or 8 — and making sure I put it on the CD of my Top 10 Favorite Songs that I would give as parting gifts at my birthday parties to prove to all the kids that I had good music taste. Elvis' energy and aura is unparalleled, the song is an immediate mood booster, and the track has undoubtedly stood the test of time.
Kenny Loggins
When "Hound Dog" came out in 1956 I was 8 years old. I would come home from school and would sneak into my brother's room to play his 45 over and over again. It's one of the greatest songs of all time.
Elliott Wheeler (Elvis Composer & Executive Music Producer)
It's an impossible task, but my favorite Elvis track is "Never Been to Spain." It's not the song that moves me the most, nor even the best vocal performance. But there's an incredible joy in the performance — an artist at the height of his powers, performing with a band he clearly loves making music with, who are playing with everything they've got. It's awesome.
VINCINT (pop singer/songwriter)
"Can't Help Falling In Love" has to be one of my top Elvis Presley songs. It's the perfect over-the-top love story with all the bells and whistles, but it's also quiet and gentle in the most heartbreaking way. I love it because it's a rare moment of him just holding his heart in his hands and telling someone, "This is how much I love you."
Dave Cobb (country/Americana producer and songwriter)
Elvis' "An American Trilogy" is by far my favorite Elvis song because it has every emotion. And how many times can you get away with using flute in a pop song?
Allison Ponthier (indie-folk singer/songwriter)
I grew up hearing Elvis around me my entire life. As a child, Elvis as a character was larger than life, an icon of show biz, and representative of something that felt so untouchable to my average life in the suburbs. Maybe that's part of the reason why "If I Can Dream," the emotional live TV performance from his '68 comeback special, affected me the way it did.
My own EP is named Shaking Hands With Elvis after a euphemism for death. It's named after a song I wrote about the loss of someone I was once close to. No matter who you are or what level you're at as a songwriter or artist, vulnerability is the only way forward — and it's wild how timeless that feeling is.
M. Ward (Americana singer/songwriter, She & Him guitarist)
My favorite Elvis song right now is "Baby What You Want Me To Do (Live in Las Vegas)" because I love his vocals and his interplay with his guitarist Gary Burton. And, it makes me want to go to Las Vegas.
Donny Osmond
I was only about 13 when I watched him sing my favorite Elvis song during one of his live performances in Las Vegas. "Polk Salad Annie" is a little hidden gem of R&B and swamp rock that seems to be overlooked by most casual observers of his music. To this date, it influenced my own live performances.
Elvis and I had the same costume designer back in the early '70s. I always wore that iconic high-collar jumpsuit on stage, but I will admit that he was much sexier in his jumpsuit.
Thanks to a rare recording, we get an appreciation for the soul that he mastered. Listen to how he takes control of the band, particularly Ronnie Tutt on drums. This performance will convince you that he most definitely deserved the title of "The King."
11 Amazing Elvis Covers, From Frank Sinatra To Kacey Musgraves