(The Hit Hammer is where I'm reviewing each #1 song on the Billboard Hot 100. Starting from when the chart started in 1958 and eventually working my way to the present. To see my inspiration and more information about this blog, please refer to the "Poor Little Fool" post.)
Elvis Presley - "It's Now Or Never"
Hit Number 1: August 15, 1960
Stay at Number 1: 5 Weeks
Elvis Presley could sing, man. In his third #1 single on the Hot 100, "It's Now Or Never", he continues to use his distinctive voice so effortlessly. After branching away from his iconic 1950s rock and roll sound, he had his new sound, which we saw with "Stuck On You". These songs were still very upbeat and fun, but you can't exactly call them "rock and roll" tunes. But here's the thing about them: They're still fantastic songs.
"It's Now Or Never" has one thing in common with Presley's previous #1 hits. They are all about a guy who has a serious longing for a girl, and he almost seems a little bit demanding in the songs. In "A Big Hunk O' Love" he's almost "hungry" for this girl. (That's the best way for me to describe it) In "Stuck On You", he pretty much stalks her and mumbles under his breath, "you're mine". "It's Now Or Never" is tamer than those two songs, but is pretty much about the same thing. He's basically saying that this girl should be all his tonight, but she needs to make up her mind if she's willing to be his in that moment that they first met. He claims that his love can't wait and that he doesn't think they will ever meet in that way again.
If you remember, I was a pretty big fan of "Stuck On You", but "It's Now Or Never" is definitely a BETTER song. The Jordanaires, who were Presley's backing group, play a much bigger role in "It's Now Or Never" than the other two #1 hits that Presley had. In fact, when the song first starts out, they are the first thing you hear when they do their "ooing". There's almost a Tex-Mex sounding guitar, and then the song eventually gets its beat going, and then BOOM! Elvis starts singing, and then you have to listen to the rest of the song. It's not an option to stop listening to it. The rest of the song is great, but it's ending is potentially the best part of the whole song. The song, and Elvis, soften themselves, with Presley singing "It's now or never, my love won't wait" over and over again. But then, things just get a smidge louder and Elvis steals the show with his last lyric. It's still the same "It's now or never, my love won't wait", but the note he hits when says "WON'T WAIT!" is not only amazing, but it makes Presley sound very convincing that he is someone who wants this girl, well, now or never. I almost see that part of the song as a "grand finale". And fasten your seatbelts folks, because we will of course see Elvis a few more times in this blog.
GRADE: 9/10
JUST MISSED:
The Ventures' instrumental "Walk -- Don't Run" peaked at #2 behind "It's Now Or Never". It's an 8.
One of Elvis' best