Imagine being a teenager strumming your guitar, completely obsessed with your favorite rock star. Then, imagine growing up and watching that exact same rock star stand in front of millions of people to sing a song you wrote!
It sounds like a wild dream, but it actually happened to George Harrison, the lead guitarist for The Beatles.
When George was just a kid growing up in England, he idolized Elvis Presley.
Elvis was the ultimate king of rock and roll, and his energetic music inspired The Beatles to start their own band. In their early days, the young Beatles constantly practiced and played Elvis songs. Little did they know that the musical universe was planning a full-circle surprise for them in the coming years!
Elvis Presley – Something (Aloha From Hawaii, Live in Honolulu, 1973)
By 1969, George Harrison had grown into a famous songwriter. He wrote a beautiful, romantic love song called “Something” for The Beatles. The song became a massive hit, reaching No. 1 in America.
It was a masterpiece that caught the ear of the King himself. Elvis loved the track’s dramatic melody and deep emotion, and he began performing it at his own concerts.
The ultimate magic moment happened on January 14, 1973. Elvis hosted a historic television concert called Aloha from Hawaii via Satellite. Dressed in his iconic white jumpsuit, Elvis stood before a gigantic worldwide audience and sang George’s song, “Something.”
While The Beatles’ original version was soft and gentle, Elvis used his powerful baritone voice and a huge orchestra to turn it into a majestic arena anthem.
There was no secret bet or dramatic backstage drama behind the song choice. Elvis simply recognized an exceptional song when he heard one. By choosing to sing “Something” on one of the biggest stages of his life, Elvis gave the ultimate gift of respect to the generation of musicians who followed him.
The Beatles started their historic journey by looking up to Elvis, and in the end, Elvis looked right back to find a song worthy of a King.