Teddy Bear

[garyt]

I've never particulary cared for this song and always considered it as the first of the subpar Elvis movies' songs. I know it was huge hit but it sounds childish when compared to the other songs in the film. What did Elvis think of the song at the time as he was still making good music?

[JosephC]

A classic to me. Still love it.

JosephC

[bajo]

Simply a great little pop song of it's time! Pure fun, great rhythm and fits the movie! Who cares about lyrics anyway as long as it swings?

[Ciscoking]

Elvis and Teddy Baer belong together in the same line as Jailhouse Rock or King Creole.
Its an Elvis key song...imo..no matter whether you like it or not.

[Rob]

It was an excellent scarf-throwing song.

[Pete Dube]

I've never been a big fan of Teddy Bear due to it being so lightweight and bubblegummy - but - the single is charmingly delivered. It was a record for the 14 year old girls in his audience to swoon over. But I prefer the music of the Elvis who wanted to meet his baby in a hurry behind the barn where they would rock. (Actually, he had another four letter word that ends in ck in mind. Hopefully said baby was older than 14!)

[ale]

i like this swinging pop song and the jordanaires work on it.....the feb. 1970 vesions really rock!!

[Johnny2523]

I like it. I also like the 1971 fun standalone live versions not full versions but fun nonetheless

[TINML]

He never really did it justice till 1977.

[rollinson1]

I've never particulary cared for this song and always considered it as the first of the subpar Elvis movies' songs. I know it was huge hit but it sounds childish when compared to the other songs in the film. What did Elvis think of the song at the time as he was still making good music?

He made some great music for the next twenty years

As a reply to the post it is an Elvis Classic. The fans loved it and Elvis knew it, that is why he kept it in his repertoire to the very end.

[elvis-fan]

One of my favorite Elvis songs. If you're listening to the lyrics and trying to understand what the songs about, you're doing it wrong!
Just enjoy Elvis at his best... great track!!!

..

[drjohncarpenter]

I've never particulary cared for this song and always considered it as the first of the subpar Elvis movies' songs. I know it was huge hit but it sounds childish when compared to the other songs in the film. What did Elvis think of the song at the time as he was still making good music?

"(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear" is essentially a lesser version of "Don't Be Cruel," but still a much-deserved #1 hit because of Elvis' fantastic vocal, the able support of his band (especially Dudley Brooks' rollicking piano) and some terrific, syncopated backing vocals from the Jordanaires. And what an ending! I'm sure many listened just to enjoy that moment. It was a HUGE hit, including seven weeks at #1, one more than "Jailhouse Rock." It was a very likable single, and basically was the top tune for the summer of 1957.

Sadly, on stage in the 1970s, instead of simply appreciating the song for what it was, a worthy vehicle to promote "Loving You," Elvis shoved it into a disinterested melody with the afore-mentioned "Don't Be Cruel." It seems neither song meant much to him at that point, despite each being a massively successful, much-beloved release.

An interesting sidelight to the song was the fact that Memphis DJ Dewey Phillips very stupidly stole an acetate copy of the single after visiting Elvis in Hollywood, in order to play it before anyone else. The backlash from RCA was immediate, Elvis was furious, and it marked the beginning of the end of his friendship with Phillips.

Historian Alan Hanson posted a terrific blog on this song, and nine other super Elvis hits. He finds a very credible way to rank Presley's ten biggest, with "(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear" ranking fifth:

Elvis Presley’s Biggest Hit Records
http://www.elvis-history-blog.com/elvis-biggest-hits.html

[elvis-fan]

Historian Alan Hanson posted a terrific blog on this song, and nine other super Elvis hits. He finds a very credible way to rank Presley's ten biggest, with "(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear" ranking fifth:

Elvis Presley’s Biggest Hit Records
http://www.elvis-history-blog.com/elvis-biggest-hits.html

Hard to disagree with anything on that list...

[Hard Rocker]

Teddy Bear is certainly an iconic Presley track very much of it's time. It belonged to the 1950's (and Elvis of the 1950's!) but perhaps was not the greatest choice of a classic track for his 1970's setlist. He had a wealth of vintage material which would've been much more suitable for that era.

[drjohncarpenter]

Teddy Bear is certainly an iconic Presley track very much of it's time. It belonged to the 1950's (and Elvis of the 1950's!) but perhaps was not the greatest choice of a classic track for his 1970's setlist. He had a wealth of vintage material which would've been much more suitable for that era.

There are few "more suitable" selections, unless one considers Olivia Newton-John covers more important. Simply put, a massive hit recording like "(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear" should have always been in consideration for a 1970s concert set list, and delivered with as much care as the original release.

[Hard Rocker]

Teddy Bear is certainly an iconic Presley track very much of it's time. It belonged to the 1950's (and Elvis of the 1950's!) but perhaps was not the greatest choice of a classic track for his 1970's setlist. He had a wealth of vintage material which would've been much more suitable for that era.

There are few "more suitable" selections, unless one considers Olivia Newton-John covers more important. Simply put, a massive hit recording like "(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear" should have always been in consideration for a 1970s concert set list, and delivered with as much care as the original release.

"Few"?! Nah... there were many, many more suitable songs from The King's vast repertoire of classic material. Many.
The ONJ snidery misses the point by a country mile.... as usual!

[r&b]

As many people love to point out, Elvis neglected or rushed his oldies because he thought it was kids music or childish and yet he kept maybe the most childish one of all as part of his set list for most of the 70's, (altho in a medley). I for one, would have liked to see this song performed to its fullest as well as many other 50's gems which were rushed or never made the cut at all. As he said in 1972, he wasnt in the least bit ashamed of them, but sure rushed thru them like he was. Not a favorite of mine like his 1958 work or other work from 1957, but a song (and a toy!) very much identified with him. While Im at it, if he was going to pick some songs from 1957, I wish these would have been considered:

Treat Me Nice
I Want To Be Free
Loving You
Mean Woman Blues
I Need You So

[drjohncarpenter]

As many people love to point out, Elvis neglected or rushed his oldies because he thought it was kids music or childish and yet he kept maybe the most childish one of all as part of his set list for most of the 70's, (altho in a medley). I for one, would have liked to see this song performed to its fullest as well as many other 50's gems which were rushed or never made the cut at all. As he said in 1972, he wasnt in the least bit ashamed of them, but sure rushed thru them like he was. Not a favorite of mine like his 1958 work or other work from 1957, but a song (and a toy!) very much identified with him. While Im at it, if he was going to pick some songs from 1957, I wish these would have been considered:

Treat Me Nice
I Want To Be Free
Loving You
Mean Woman Blues
I Need You So

IIRC, Elvis never sang the wonderful ending to "(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear" on stage in the 1970s, and did very few standalone versions.

[midnightx]

It was an excellent scarf-throwing song.

It is certainly a comic gold highlight from Elvis In Concert, and sadly it should not have been that way.

[Hard Rocker]

Obviously he had little interest in it. He had moved on and both he and his audience would've been much better served by his performing material which he was fully invested in... start to finish, the whole way through. Clearly, he did not find singing Teddy Bear in his 40's an inspiration, which in fairness is understandable for obvious reasons. On the other hand, something along the lines of Mean Woman Blues would've been a fantastic inclusion, if delivered with conviction. But again, he seemed less than motivated to revisit much of his back-catalog gold. More's the pity, but that's the way it was.

[drjohncarpenter]

It was an excellent scarf-throwing song.

It is certainly a comic gold highlight from Elvis In Concert, and sadly it should not have been that way.

That's when the elderly woman hits the deck in a scarf-tossing melee, yeah? That is quite a moment.

[elvis-fan]

As many people love to point out, Elvis neglected or rushed his oldies because he thought it was kids music or childish and yet he kept maybe the most childish one of all as part of his set list for most of the 70's, (altho in a medley). I for one, would have liked to see this song performed to its fullest as well as many other 50's gems which were rushed or never made the cut at all. As he said in 1972, he wasnt in the least bit ashamed of them, but sure rushed thru them like he was. Not a favorite of mine like his 1958 work or other work from 1957, but a song (and a toy!) very much identified with him. While Im at it, if he was going to pick some songs from 1957, I wish these would have been considered:

Treat Me Nice
I Want To Be Free
Loving You
Mean Woman Blues
I Need You So

One can only dream of Elvis performing a committed version of Treat Me Nice in concert in 1969/1970... wow!
After hearing him rehearse A Fool Such As I in July 1970, that could have been phenomenal to see/hear him perform in concert as well... damnit all...

[mjsantafe]

It was an excellent scarf-throwing song.

For the summer shows in Lake Tahoe in 1971, Elvis was throwing teddy bears.

[poormadpeter2]

"Few"?! Nah... there were many, many more suitable songs from The King's vast repertoire of classic material. Many.
The ONJ snidery misses the point by a country mile.... as usual!

To be frank, your constant antagonizing of other people on this forum, the joyless and angry posts towards anyone who questions your grand pronouncements, is a real drag. One would think that the multiple suspensions you have incurred in barely one year as "hard rocker" might have given you pause, but that is not the case. You are incapable of an adult discussion, and come off as a very sad, insecure person. I'm sure this post won't change a thing, but it needed to be said.

How many people are going to accuse of being insecure people in a week? You are aware that a personal attack is against the forum rules, right? I would suggest that telling someone they are incapable of adult discussion and of coming off as sad and insecure falls into that category.

[elvis-fan]

"Few"?! Nah... there were many, many more suitable songs from The King's vast repertoire of classic material. Many.
The ONJ snidery misses the point by a country mile.... as usual!

To be frank, your constant antagonizing of other people on this forum, the joyless and angry posts towards anyone who questions your grand pronouncements, is a real drag. One would think that the multiple suspensions you have incurred in barely one year as "hard rocker" might have given you pause, but that is not the case. You are incapable of an adult discussion, and come off as a very sad, insecure person. I'm sure this post won't change a thing, but it needed to be said.

How many people are going to accuse of being insecure people in a week? You are aware that a personal attack is against the forum rules, right? I would suggest that telling someone they are incapable of adult discussion and of coming off as sad and insecure falls into that category.