Viva Las Vegas (song)

"Viva Las Vegas" is a 1964 song recorded by Elvis Presley written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman for his film ''Viva Las Vegas'', which along with the song was set for general release the year after. Although Elvis Presley never sang the song live, it has since become widely known and often performed by others. The RIAA certified the single disc "Viva Las Vegas/What I Said" gold on March 27, 1992, having sold 500,000 copies in the United States.

History

The song was recorded on July 10, 1963. Released as a single in 1964 with the B-side "What'd I Say" from the same film, "Viva Las Vegas" charted separately from its B-side, reaching No. 29 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 pop singles chart. The Elvis version of "What'd I Say" peaked at No. 21, the two sides having equivalent appeal in the marketplace. "Viva Las Vegas" reached No. 17 on the UK Singles Chart, improving to No. 15 after a reissue in 2007. The single reached No. 20 on the ''Record World'' chart in the U.S. and No. 14 in Canada.

The song was published by Elvis Presley Music, Inc.

In the years since its first release, the song has become one of Presley's most recognized numbers. In the 1990s and 2000s, the song appeared in countless movies and TV sitcoms, either as a reference to the city of Las Vegas, or simply as an expression of joy or bewilderment in related comedic situations.

In 2002, the city of Las Vegas requested Elvis Presley Enterprises, the company that handles a portion of Elvis's legacy and all Elvis-related music rights, to allow it to be the official song of the city. Negotiations stalled over the price requested by EPE, notwithstanding that EPE had not controlled the copyright to the song since 1993, at which time it became the property of the families of the songwriters Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman. Since EPE no longer owns the copyright to the song, it essentially means that EPE does not have the authority or right to negotiate the use of the song "Viva Las Vegas" within the United States, its territories and possessions, although EPE may be able to negotiate the use of the actual Elvis recording of the song.

Use in other media

* The song has been adopted as the victory theme for the National Hockey League (NHL)'s Vegas Golden Knights when they win games at T-Mobile Arena.
* The song got used on the ''The Simpsons'' episode "Viva Ned Flanders". Homer and Ned take a trip to Las Vegas, where they get married to cocktail waitresses during a drunken stupor. The song plays as the two of them try to escape the casino authorities, and then over the closing credits.
* The song is used in the 2003 film '' Looney Tunes: Back in Action'', with Bugs Bunny singing the song and playing a ukulele.

ZZ Top version

ZZ Top recorded a version of "Viva Las Vegas" as one of two new tracks on their ''Greatest Hits'' album (1992). "Viva Las Vegas" was released as a single and reached the Top 10 in both the UK (No. 10) and Ireland (No. 8). This version appeared in a 1993 episode of ''Beavis and Butt-head''. They used some sound elements from Michael Jackson's "Jam" in the track.

Other cover versions

* Punk band Dead Kennedys recorded a version of "Viva Las Vegas" on their debut album ''Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables'' (1980). The song had been a part of their live set almost since the band's inception. Their version strips the musical arrangement down to guitar, bass and drums, and uses a slightly faster tempo, yet maintains the song's melodic structure. It also features satirical lyric changes by lead singer Jello Biafra in the second and third verses, referencing a gambler using speed and cocaine in order not to "sleep a minute away". This version can also be found in Terry Gilliam's film adaptation of Hunter S. Thompson's ''Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas'' (1998).
* Ann-Margret, who appeared in the original film, recorded a version of the song for the 2000 film ''The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas'' (itself a reference to the original song and film) under the title "Viva Rock Vegas". Keeping with ''The Flintstones Stone Age theme, she was credited as "Ann-Margrock".
* The song is featured in the film ''The Big Lebowski'' (1998). Shawn Colvin performs it as a folk ballad during the closing credits. A rock version in the film is credited to a band called Big Johnson, and is styled after the ZZ Top version. The Colvin version was recorded originally for the Rhino/Forward release, ''Til the Night is Gone: A Tribute to Songwriter Doc Pomus'' (1995), and is also featured prominently in Episode 11 of ''Twin Peaks''.
* The Scooby-Doo movie ''Scooby-Doo! and the Monster of Mexico'' (2003) featured a variation of the song entitled "Viva Mexico", done in a Latin beat.
* The song is a part of Bruce Springsteen's live act, and was included in ''The Last Temptation of Elvis'', a commemorative album of renditions by singers, and rock groups, of songs made famous by Presley. Springsteen's studio version of "Viva Las Vegas" was also included in the soundtrack of the film ''Honeymoon in Vegas'' (1992), and in his compilation '' The Essential Bruce Springsteen'' (2003).
* The Thrills performed "Viva Las Vegas" with James Burton at Elvis' induction to the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2004. The song was recorded live and later released as a B-side to The Irish Keep Gate-crashing.
* The Dread Zeppelin version of "Viva Las Vegas" was used as the theme to the Travel Channel reality series ''American Casino''.
* The song was recorded for a Viagra commercial with lyrics changed to "Viva Viagra".
* The song served as the theme tune for NBC's short-lived animation series ''Father of the Pride''.
* Allison Crowe and Richard Cheese perform a duet of "Viva Las Vegas" that plays throughout the title sequence of ''Army of the Dead''.
* Holly Cole covered the song on her 2012 album ''Night''.

Charts

Elvis Presley's original version

ZZ Top cover

References

External links

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1964 singles
1992 singles
Elvis Presley songs
Dead Kennedys songs
ZZ Top songs
Bruce Springsteen songs
Songs with music by Mort Shuman
Songs with lyrics by Doc Pomus
Songs about Las Vegas
RCA Records singles
1963 songs
Vegas Golden Knights