About The Song
– The song “The Lady Loves Me” is a duet performed by Elvis Presley and Ann-Margret for the 1964 film “Viva Las Vegas.”
The beginning of 1963 was busy as usual for Elvis, but was able to spend time with Priscilla before beginning filming. Since Priscilla’s presence in Memphis, Elvis was beginning to be influences by her sweet-natured attitude. Elvis has become politer to those in the house and more protective of Priscilla. Though Elvis had been seeing Anita Wood sense 1957, Priscilla influenced him to stop seeing her. Anita had been around for many other flings, but Elvis was serious about this relationship. By the middle of the month, Elvis heads back to studio in order to record songs for his upcoming film Fun In Acapulco. (This included one of my favorites, Bossa Nova.) Filming begins for Fun In Acapulco January 28th in L.A. and then later moves on to Mexico.
There were rumors going around that Elvis was having a relationship with his costar in the film, Ursula Andress. Elvis continues to party during the filming and stays until early April, even though filming was already over. RCA announced in April that Elvis has sold over 100 million records. It Happened At The World’s Fair premiered April 10th and has mixed reviews from critics. Though he has returned to Memphis after his long stint in L.A., he spends most of his time in the studio during the month of April and most of May.
June 14th, Priscilla graduates from high school at Immaculate Heart. Once she had graduated, she attends Memphis’ Patricia Stevens Finishing Elvis’s latest hit is Devil In Disguise and is high on the chart. Elvis begins recording for his next film, Viva Las Vegas. July 11th, Elvis records his duet with Ann-Margaret in the studio. This is when their relationship began. Elvis and his crew head to Las Vegas for filming, leaving Priscilla back in Memphis. They remain in Vegas until July 27th when the crew heads to LA to complete the film. Elvis continues to deny the relationship with Ann-Margaret in order to convince Priscilla nothing was happening.
– Ann-Margret was the most important woman in the entertainer’s life. Playing opposite Elvis in 1963’s Viva Las Vegas, she became the most memorable of Presley’s leading ladies during his Hollywood career. The Swedish immigrant first met Elvis in early July 1963 on a soundstage at Radio Recorders studios in Hollywood. That day they were introduced to each other and the press as the stars of MGM’s upcoming film, Viva Las Vegas. It was 28-year-old Presley’s 14th film, while, at age 22, Ann-Margret’s career was just starting to explode. Her previous film, Bye Bye Birdie, released just three months before she reported for work on Viva Las Vegas, made her an instant star.
– Before filming began, the two had to record their musical numbers. On July 9-10 they each recorded their separate songs at Radio Recorders. Then, on July 11, they entered the studio together to work on three duets—“The Lady Loves Me,” “You’re the Boss,” and “Today, Tomorrow, and Forever.”
– Ann-Margret says at the start, “What do I do?” to which Elvis replies, “You give me a cue”. This is missing from this release and the audio mix is also different with Elvis centre channel this time. A classic cool duet but the real delight is discovering Ann-Margret leaning very close to Elvis as she sings, “I’d rather kiss a rattlesnake.” Her voice obviously bleeds into his microphone. Now why would she be making a point of that lyric to Elvis!? I hope that Priscilla never listened that closely on headphones!
Video
Lyric
She loves me, she loves me not
She loves me, she loves me not
She loves me, she loves me, she loves me
The lady loves me and it shows
In spite of the way she turns up her nose
I’m her ideal, her heart’s desire
Under that ice she’s burning like fire
She’d like to cuddle up to me
She’s playing hard to get
The lady loves me
But she doesn’t know it yet
The gentleman has savoir-faire
As much as an elephant or a bear
I’d like to take him for a spin
Back to the zoo to visit his kin
He’s got about as much appeal
As a soggy cigarette
The lady loathes him
But he doesn’t know it yet
The lady’s got a crush on me
The gentleman’s crazy obviously
The lady’s dying to be kissed
The gentleman needs a psychiatrist
I’d rather kiss a rattlesnake
Or play Russian roulette
The lady loves me
But she doesn’t know it yet
She’s falling fast, she’s on the skids
Both of his heads are flipping their lids
Tonight she’ll hold me in her arms
I’d rather be holding hydrogen bombs
Will someone tell this Romeo
I’m not his Juliet
The lady loves me
But she doesn’t know it yet
She wants me like poison ivy
Needs me like a hole in the head
Everyone can see she’s got it bad
He’s mad!
The gentleman is an egotist
I’m simply aware, I’m hard to resist
He’s one man I could learn to hate
How’s about having dinner at eight
I’d rather dine with Frankenstein
In a moonlight
The lady loves me
But she doesn’t know it yet
Oh yes, she loves me
Dig that shrinking violet
Oh, she really loves me
Here’s one gal you’ll never get
She love, love, loves me
Would you like to make a bet?
I said, “The lady loves me”
The gentleman’s all wet