😊Love how Crosby sounded so romantic in his version of the song, Blue Hawaii. Elvis wasn't bad with his version, but Crosby had that golden baritone working for him here. I think that was the difference. Thanks for posting.
In my generation, we thought Elvis Presley was the originator of this song. Is my whole Life a lie? Was Blue Hawaii just a remake of this great Movie? Poor Bing. I would SO LOVE to have this on DVD.
That makes me want to cry. Just to make sure it is as bad as I recall, I suffered through a listening of Presley's shaky vibrato and feminine voice placement. The acceptance of that says as much about the audience for that mush as it does about the loss of the controlled tone and chest generated notes that Crosby perfected. He had a man's voice and a man's delivery. It's not an artistic accident that Bing's version involves a musical dialogue with that lovely woman. This just does not happen with Presley records and videos because his is the feminine voice already. Also, singing part harmony requires and ear and pitch control that Elvis just did not have.
Joe Harkins As far as I'm concerned, Elvis' voice was NEVER as strong or rich as Bing's was, and I feel that his (Presley's) voice deteriorated rapidly as he got older.
Joe Harkins Elvis feminine voice? What are you talking about? Big croons this like he croons everything else. His singing is fine but its all the same. Which is why this version is largely forgotten. Elvis gives it real juice. Elvis could sing anything and make it great, everything from rockabilly Rand B, pop, country, gospel, anything.
My mind is blown! I had know idea Bing got there first! Interesting trivia. Bing died the same year as Elvis, only two months later. Two major crooners, yet Elvis eclipsed Bing in the end.
As the song credits state, this is from the 1937 movie "Waikiki Wedding." The Wiki page for the song includes the following info that it was featured in a Presley movie. ""Blue Hawaii" is a popular song written by Leo Robin and Ralph Rainger for the 1937 Paramount Pictures film Waikiki Wedding, starring Bing Crosby and Shirley Ross. Crosby recorded a version with backing by Lani McIntyre and His Hawaiians, which was released in 1937[2] as the B-side of "Sweet Leilani." The song subsequently received numerous cover versions, most successfully as the title track of the 1961 Elvis Presley film, the soundtrack of which stayed at #1 on the album chart for twenty consecutive weeks." Personally, I just can't accept the Presley version and I do not understand how anyone can take Presley's off-key, vibrato-shaking as in the same class as Crosby. I do not deny that Presley was a wildly popular entertainer. But entertaining and singing are not the same thing. Bing was far and away a better singer than Elvis. So were many singers better than him. But he was a powerful entertainer.
Because Elvis not only was a fantastic entertainer and Rock star he was so varied in his musical input that he could sing anything, could you see Bing Crosby screaming out Jailhouse Rock ? No but you can hear Elvis Sing crooning songs and succeed that’s the difference , everyone put Elvis down and said he couldn’t sing and yet he’s the most successful solo singer in the history of popular music
Bing, the original and the Best!
Crosby is amazing.
I agree Jim
They all loved Bing , So did I .
I am melting!!!!!😵💫💕💕
😊Love how Crosby sounded so romantic in his version of the song, Blue Hawaii. Elvis wasn't bad with his version, but Crosby had that golden baritone working for him here. I think that was the difference. Thanks for posting.
In my generation, we thought Elvis Presley was the originator of this song. Is my whole Life a lie? Was Blue Hawaii just a remake of this great Movie? Poor Bing. I would SO LOVE to have this on DVD.
I have a copy of Waikiki Wedding on DVD-R...you are welcome to it. let me know.
joe.......oldjoe5253@aol.com
That makes me want to cry. Just to make sure it is as bad as I recall, I suffered through a listening of Presley's shaky vibrato and feminine voice placement. The acceptance of that says as much about the audience for that mush as it does about the loss of the controlled tone and chest generated notes that Crosby perfected. He had a man's voice and a man's delivery. It's not an artistic accident that Bing's version involves a musical dialogue with that lovely woman. This just does not happen with Presley records and videos because his is the feminine voice already. Also, singing part harmony requires and ear and pitch control that Elvis just did not have.
Joe Amodei you are too kind, but I did wind up buying it along with a Bing Crosby Collection. Thanks for the thought!
Joe Harkins
As far as I'm concerned, Elvis' voice was NEVER as strong or rich as Bing's was, and I feel that his (Presley's) voice deteriorated rapidly as he got older.
Joe Harkins Elvis feminine voice? What are you talking about? Big croons this like he croons everything else. His singing is fine but its all the same. Which is why this version is largely forgotten. Elvis gives it real juice. Elvis could sing anything and make it great, everything from rockabilly Rand B, pop, country, gospel, anything.
My mind is blown! I had know idea Bing got there first! Interesting trivia. Bing died the same year as Elvis, only two months later. Two major crooners, yet Elvis eclipsed Bing in the end.
Lovely clips :-) Martha raye made me laugh, and Shirley Ross was sweet.
Martha Raye’s Reaction to Bing Singing, is how I feel every time I hear him!!!!!
It a amazing Bing and Elvis never sang together on stage.
They never even met
Love Bing and Elvis, they are both all time greats.Bing's version is king though imho!
Love bing I've got 78 with him on labe of this
As the song credits state, this is from the 1937 movie "Waikiki Wedding." The Wiki page for the song includes the following info that it was featured in a Presley movie.
""Blue Hawaii" is a popular song written by Leo Robin and Ralph Rainger for the 1937 Paramount Pictures film Waikiki Wedding, starring Bing Crosby and Shirley Ross. Crosby recorded a version with backing by Lani McIntyre and His Hawaiians, which was released in 1937[2] as the B-side of "Sweet Leilani."
The song subsequently received numerous cover versions, most successfully as the title track of the 1961 Elvis Presley film, the soundtrack of which stayed at #1 on the album chart for twenty consecutive weeks."
Personally, I just can't accept the Presley version and I do not understand how anyone can take Presley's off-key, vibrato-shaking as in the same class as Crosby. I do not deny that Presley was a wildly popular entertainer.
But entertaining and singing are not the same thing. Bing was far and away a better singer than Elvis. So were many singers better than him. But he was a powerful entertainer.
bings better than elvis on this song
Have you heard the Lisa Ono version? It’s a fantastic bossa nova rendition!
Because Elvis not only was a fantastic entertainer and Rock star he was so varied in his musical input that he could sing anything, could you see Bing Crosby screaming out Jailhouse Rock ? No but you can hear Elvis Sing crooning songs and succeed that’s the difference , everyone put Elvis down and said he couldn’t sing and yet he’s the most successful solo singer in the history of popular music
What movie is this. Sadly Hawaii is very blue at the current time.
The second war destroyed the peace of the world .