Feature Photo: christopher krohn
Elvis Presley’s Most Underrated Patriotic Song is defined by a breathtaking performance of the song “If I Can Dream” as the closing number of his 68′ Comeback Special. How has Elvis Presley’s brilliant performance of this incredible song gone really unnoticed for the past fifty-four years? It is by far his most underrated song.
As the Elvis biopic motion picture directed by Baz Luhrmann opens this week across the country, many people may be surprised to see a pivotal plot point to include this monumental song. Throughout the movie, there are many scenes that focus on the controversial relationship involving Elvis Presley and his manager, Colonel Parker.
One particular scene uses this song to show the height of the strain between Elvis Presley and the Colonel. It is the last song he did on his 1968 Comeback Special. He closed the in-color NBC program in an emphatic fashion. The song is both sonically and visually stunning.
Colonel Parker wanted to close the show with a Christmas song, but Elvis Presley would not relent. Elvis Presley stuck to what his gut was telling himself and played what the press later said was a ‘protest’ song.
Many would say the whole show was a virtuoso performance, but this last song was something unique and very special. It was a tribute to the recently assassinated Martin Luther King. “If I Can Dream” was a song written by Walter Earl Brown for Elvis with the idea of it having a theme closely connected to Martin Luther King’s famous ‘I Have A Dream’ speech.
When he heard the demo, Elvis Presley knew he would have to step up his game to give it the right texture of performance that it deserved. Elvis Presley did not disappoint. In fact, he proved how tremendous of a singer and performer he is by giving his heart and soul to the song.
Elvis Presley looked physically fit at 33 years old. He wore black for most of his ’68 Comeback Special, however, he chooses to wear white in the closing number. It illuminated him in a manner of God-like status. He had no blemishes. He looked perfectly suited to be an icon. And, the Comeback Special in its entirety, is really what gives fans a contemporary perspective on how he went on to become the performer he did. Even his white suit was a precursor for how he would present himself going forward for concerts in the 1970s.
The emotions he sang with from the beginning when he starts with “There must be light burning brighter somewhere…” through the middle till the end with his arm flailing on the beat is rousing. If it’s possible to say this, he is the definitive Elvis in this performance.
It may have been categorized by some as a protest song, but ‘If I Can Dream” is patriotic at its core. It espouses American modern values from the depths of the country’s contentious history and asked for Americans to come together during the most difficult times. It is a fully American song because of its poetry and meaning for everybody. It is the perfect complement and compliment to MLK and his ‘I Have A Dream.’
The 2018 documentary film, Elvis Presley: The Searcher, brought to light a number of interesting aspects to his life and enlightened viewers to his emotions as he became a legendary performer. It also focuses on details from his 1968 Comeback TV Concert Special. The film is really a must-see for anyone interested to know more about his roots as a person and musician, and the travails that led to his rise and fall as an artist.
He gave over 1,600 concert performances in his lifetime. He was meant to be the performer he became to be. He gave so many memorable moments over the years of strutting the stage and belting out rendition after rendition of excellence, but he may never have done better than ‘If I Can Dream’ on the ’68 NBC Special.
This is the most underrated Elvis song because it really has taken a long time for the song to get the recognition it deserves. And, because it is such a tremendous overall performance…take a watch and listen for yourself.
Elvis Presley’s Most Underrated Song article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2022
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