Elvis Presley is one of the greats, there’s no denying that. But this video of a live performance from The King during his Aloha from Hawaii Via Satellite concert in 1973 proves he really is the best.
Singing My Way , a song that was popularized by Frank Sinatra, Elvis belts out at the top of his lungs and shows the world why exactly he is considered to be The King.
Elvis (1973), (RB/Redferns/Getty Images)
The song starts with a pensive piano melody before Elvis begins singing the opening lines: “And now, the end is near / And so I face the final curtain / My friend, I’ll say it clear.” The King is on stage with his backing band and already his many fans can be heard whistling and cheering him on.
Wearing his trademark white jumpsuit that’s emblazoned with hundreds of studs and rhinestones, Elvis also has a bright yellow lei around his neck — a clear signifier that the concert is taking place in Hawaii.
Singing in his signature low voice, the song starts off quite serious and slow. Soon the music kicks in, and while the song doesn’t speed up, it does elevate in theatrics. About halfway through, Elvis begins singing higher and louder, with the music helping to add grandiosity to his already magnificent voice.
By the end, Elvis is showing off those vocal chords and his range, hitting the high notes and low ones with equal skill. As he sings the final memorable words: “The record shows I took the blows / And did it my way,” it becomes clearer than ever why exactly Elvis is The King.
The Aloha from Hawaii Via Satellite concert was a historic event worldwide. Taking place on January 14, 1973 at the Honolulu International Center Arena, the event was beamed live via Globecam Satellite the next day to many countries across Asia and Europe.
Although the United States was behind the satellite innovation, it was not aired stateside until April 4, 1973, as the event took place on the same day as Super Bowl VII. This decision to delay the stream paid off for NBC however, as when it did air they attracted 51 percent of the television viewing audience, making it their highest-rated program of that year. Costing $2.5 million to produce, Aloha from Hawaii was the most expensive entertainment special at the time.
Eventually, over 40 countries and close to 1.5 billion people witnessed the concert, which was a global rating smash, and marked Elvis’ place in music history as a performer who was able to hold the world’s attention.
The concert showed Elvis in his full glory at the peak of his superstardom, in which he gave one of the best performances of his career — and that is clear from this incredible video.
Are you an Elvis fan? What did you think of this incredibly powerful rendition of My Way? Let us know in the comments and be sure to pass this on to any fans of The King!
