The thought of Elvis Presley crooning “Blue Christmas” in the late 1960s with today’s country artist, Martina McBride, sounds like a dream come true. But then you quickly shake your head realizing the absurdity, as she would have been too young at the time for the duet to occur.
Well, thanks to creative thinkers and the advancement in technology – this vision actually came to life. It’s a classic performance from the King you’re likely familiar with. Yet, the special twist makes it one you’ll never forget.
During the late 1960s, Presley famously sat down with a group of fans for an intimate concert where he sang to them and played his guitar. It was his way of jumping back into the music world after years of working on his movie career.
The mini-concert was filmed in Los Angeles and later released by NBC. It’s known as Presley’s ’68 Comeback Special.
One of the tunes Presley covered during the event is the ever so popular, “Blue Christmas.” Before he began, the 33-year-old revealed that it was his “favorite Christmas song” (out of those he recorded).
Presley’s acoustic rendition is one that’s still enjoyed by music lovers to this day. But it received a unique addition when the performance was transformed into an on-stage duet.
40 years after the taping of the Comeback Special, an album called Christmas Duets hit the shelves. It contained old Presley recordings, which were beautifully mixed in with the vocals of modern-day singers like Carrie Underwood, Sara Evans, Olivia Newton-John, and Martina McBride.
Yet, McBride not only had the chance to “sing” a duet with Elvis Presley – she actually was gifted the opportunity to sit down next to him during the famous “Blue Christmas” clip for a second version.
The footage begins in the same way with Presley surrounded by his adoring fans. After announcing that he’s going to be singing “Blue Christmas,” he starts strumming his guitar and serenading them with the lyrics.
It appears that everyone is awestruck watching the musician, who’s dressed in a black leather jacket that reveals his chest. He, of course, is making his iconic facial expressions that have caused many hearts to melt.
Shortly in, the fans are given a huge surprise when suddenly McBride walks out from the darkness singing.
The country star’s dressed in a late 1960s outfit, complete with a hairstyle and makeup to match the era. She then dips into the circle of musicians and takes a seat next to Elvis.
It appears that an audience member is emotional watching both of them as they perform “Blue Christmas” together.
Interestingly enough, McBride would have only been a toddler during the time of the original taping in 1968.
The duet is masterfully done, both by the artists and those who created the video using technology.
Since the video was uploaded to Elvis Presley’s official YouTube channel, it’s been viewed more than 30 million times.
Although Presley passed away decades ago – we’ve witnessed many incredible duets over the years that he’s been part of (all with the help of computers and clever minds). Susan Boyle, Celine Dion, and his daughter Lisa Marie have all combined vocals with the King.
Elvis Presley and Martina McBride joining for “Blue Christmas” in the late ’60s is a magical idea that became a reality. You can watch their beautiful performance below!
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