Music review: Elvis Presley- 鈥業f I Can Dream鈥�
Long live the King!
Nearly 40 years after his death in 1977, Elvis Presley once again returns to the music charts. 鈥淚f I Can Dream鈥� features a flawless blending of the entertainer鈥檚 original vocal recordings reworked with the lush and elegant accompaniment of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. The stirring orchestration gracefully breathes new life into 14 Presley classics that showcase the singer鈥檚 unforgettable voice.
It seems everyone is a Presley fan to some degree or another. My first exposure to the cultural icon occurred while viewing his comeback performance aired on NBC in 1968. While I may have only been four years of age at the time, I can still fondly recall being in awe of Presley鈥檚 stage presence performing hits like 鈥淗eartbreak Hotel鈥� and 鈥淗ound Dog鈥� and thinking that this guy with all the swagger and charm was certainly one of the coolest dudes I鈥檇 ever seen.
A spirited version of 鈥淏urning Love鈥� opens the album as the added strings feverishly propel Presley鈥檚 passionate singing to a higher level of excitement. In addition to the added orchestration, the refreshed material gets some additional assistance from other artists. Italian pop trio Il Volo adds some vocal assistance on 鈥淚t鈥檚 Now or Never,鈥� Michael Bubl茅 partners with Elvis on 鈥淔ever鈥� and Duane Eddy provides the guitar work on Simon and Garfunkel鈥檚 鈥淏ridge Over Troubled Water.鈥�
My personal favorite track on the album is a touching version of 鈥淐an鈥檛 Help Falling in Love,鈥� which was also played during the first dance at my wedding reception. Other highlights include a dramatic rendition of 鈥淵ou鈥檝e Lost That Loving Feeling,鈥� a stellar version of James Taylor鈥檚 鈥淪teamroller Blues鈥� and an inspirational cover of 鈥淗ow Great Thou Art.鈥�
Priscilla Presley serves as an executive producer of the album and keeps the memory of her former husband alive and well through this special project that she has stated he would have always wanted to do.
For her devotion to making his dream a reality, I simply say in my best King impersonation, 鈥淭hank you, thank you very much.鈥�