Elvis Presleyis undoubtedly the King of rock ‘n’ roll. His music, a mash-up of country, gospel, and rhythm and blues, not only revolutionized the 1950s and beyond, but his distinct voice, electric dance moves, and magnetic persona did too. Beyond his influence on music, his talent graced the big and small screen, and he defined what it meant to be a triple threat. Today, his legacy is synonymous with the word' icon.' During his lifetime, few could outmatch his talent. Unsurprisingly, the music legend also possessed an innate ability and passion for music and wasn’t shy about voicing his opinions on various songs, including his own.One of his biggest hit singles, “Burning Love”, was also the track he hated the most.
Elvis Presley Hated His Hit Song “Burning Love”
In 1968, following his widely televised comeback special, several media outlets proclaimedElvis Presley as the greatest living music performer. The title of greatest music performer was not given without merit to the then 33-year-old. By the time of his tragic passing in 1977,Presley was already one of the best-selling solo artists of all time. To his credit, he achieved seventeen number-one singles and eight number-one albums, starred in seventeen top-ten films, and won threeGrammy Awards. However, despite his global fame,the “Can’t Help Falling In Love” singer wasn’t always pleased with his work. Case in point,the 1972 track “Burning Love” was, by Presley’s own admission, his least favorite song.In fact,according to the music publication Grunge,the crooner not only didn’t want to record the song, he also hated it!As recounted by the publication, Presley had, towards the end of his career, wanted to sing more somber songs and veer away from blues-themed rock ‘n’ roll tracks. The reason behind this sudden shift in creative expression,according to the blog Music Weird, is that Presley’s marriage to Priscilla was coming to an end.
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Regardless of the reason, music executives were unhappy with Presley’s previously low record sales and pushed him towards keeping up with the blues and rock ‘n’ roll genres that had made him famous. Despite protests,executives persuaded him to record the rock and soul track “Burning Love.“The song became a massive hit for Pressley and arguably one of his most iconic, but it was also to be his last mainstream song. According to Paul Simpson’s biography, “The Rough Guide to Elvis: The Man, The Music, The Movies, The Myth,“not only did Presley continue to severely dislike “Burning Love,” he also “sang it as rarely as possible.“In another book about Presley, titled “I and A Guy Named Elvis,“author and former Presley associateJerry Schilling went deeper into Presley’s aversion to “Burning Love.“Schilling recounted thatPresley couldn’t keep track of the song’s frantic, disjointed lyrics.“Elvis,“he wrote,“who had close to a photographic memory when it came to books, scripts, lyrics—always insisted that he needed a lyric sheet to perform ‘Burning Love.'”
“Burning Love” Wasn’t the Only Thing Elvis Didn’t Like
Despite his immense fame and talent,Elvis Presley was known for being relatively humblein the industry. It was a trait his longstanding partnerPriscilla Presleysaid followed him throughout his career.
According to the latter’s 1985 memoirElvis and Me, the “A Little Less Conversation” singer was impressed by several contemporary and longstanding acts. “Elvis could spot talent instantly,” said Presley. “In Las Vegas, we regularly took in lounge acts featuring various up-and-coming artists and if Elvis liked the show, he patronized the club, encouraging the entertainers to pursue their careers, infusing them with confidence and enthusiasm.” The then forty-year-old added, “Some of his favorites were Ike &Tina Turner, Gary Puckett, and the Union Gap, dancersTybe and Bracia, and old-timersFats Dominoandthe Ink Spots, all talented people deserving acknowledgment in their craft… Elvis [also] had some other very special favorites –Arthur Prysock, John Gary, opera star Robert Merrill, Brook Benton, Roy Orbison, and Charles Boyer’srecording ‘Where Has Love Gone?'”
Presley would later recall in her memoir that there were also some artists the King didn’t particularly enjoy. “He couldn’t abide singers who were, in his words, ‘all technique and no emotional feeling’ and in this category, he firmly placedMel Tormé and Robert Goulet,” she said. “They were both responsible for two television sets being blown away with a .357 M*gnum.”
