Elvis Presley made a return to live performing in 1969 with his International Hotel residency in Las Vegas, Nevada, but in all the time he played there, he never once performed “Viva Las Vegas.” This song would later become the unofficial theme song of the city, but Elvis never performed it in all the 636 sold-out shows he performed in Vegas. Why? Many have pondered this question, and there isn’t one straight answer. However, there are rumors and speculation surrounding the conundrum, many of which involve Elvis’ romantic relationship with Ann Margaret.
Videos by American Songwriter
In 1964, Elvis Presley and Ann Margaret starred in the film Viva Las Vegas, a campy musical that Variety called a “guilty pleasure” in 2022. However, it remains one of Elvis’ most popular films and introduced him to the city which played a major role in his later life.
Elvis’ chemistry with his co-star Ann Margaret can be immediately felt. While it’s rumored that Elvis had affairs with his female co-stars in the past, there was something different about Ann Margaret. The blog Vintage Rock describes Ann Margaret as more of a peer of Elvis’ than a co-star, stating that he had never been faced with a woman who was so similar to himself. Rumors and gossip flew, as usual. However, Elvis was dating Priscilla at the time, and he often deflected or lied when it came to talking about Ann as mentioned in Ray Connolly’s biography of The King, Being Elvis: A Lonely Life.
[RELATED: The Musician Elvis Presley Called the “Female Elvis” (And Why She Later Rejected Him)]
Why did Elvis Presley Avoid Singing “Viva Las Vegas” During his Vegas Residency?
“Viva Las Vegas” didn’t do well commercially, as it was more Broadway-influenced than Elvis Presley’s standard rock and roll-blues style. However, it quickly became a cult hit, and then one of Elvis’ greatest songs ever. Still, he never played it during his Vegas residency, and the rumors that surround the reason remain just that: rumors.
Although, his passionate relationship with Ann Margaret while filming Viva Las Vegas seems to have had an influence. Biographer Albert Goldman described their affair as “the only authentic romance in Elvis’ long career of dating Hollywood actresses.” While Goldman’s biography as a whole is wildly biased and controversial, there may be a nugget of truth behind the statement.
The Music Brought Them Together
Ann Margaret had undeniable chemistry with Elvis Presley, which elevated the film beyond a simple movie musical. Whether they had an intimate relationship or were simply close friends is up for debate, although Ann Margaret all but confirmed an affair in her 1994 memoir My Story. “We were indeed soul mates, shy on the outside, but unbridled within. We both lived on the edge and we were both self-destructive in our own ways,” she wrote.
Overall, there’s no denying the fact that Ann Margaret had a profound impact on Elvis’ life. It’s quite possible that he refused to perform “Viva Las Vegas” because of their relationship. In her memoir, Ann Margaret described the way they both experienced music, and that seems to be what drew them together.
“We experienced music in the same visceral way,” she wrote, per an Elvis history blog. “Music ignited a fiery pent-up passion inside Elvis and inside me. It was an odd, embarrassing, funny, inspiring, and wonderful sensation. We looked at each other move and saw virtual mirror images. When Elvis thrust his pelvis, mine slammed forward too. When his shoulder dropped, I was down there with him, when he whirled, I was already on my heel.”
Featured Image by GAB Archive/Redferns
Leave a Reply
Only members can comment. Become a member. Already a member? Log in.