Do you hear Elvis? ITS ONLY MAKE BELIEVE | CONWAY TWITTY REACTION

[@A5Mag12]

This was in Conway's rock-a-billy days. Later in life he fully switched to country. He was one of the best. Many number 1 hits at one time more than anyone else.

[@eclconsulting]

Conway Twitty is a legend, with over 40 #1 hits. He started in the 50's and worked with Sam Phillips, the producer who recorded Elvis, so there's definitely a deliberate similarity. This song was his first #1 hit. He evolved with his country songs, starting in the 60's. He's a deep rabbit hole, especially his duets with Loretta Lynn.

[@jw3109]

He later became one of the BIGGEST country music stars often appearing with the equally big Loretta Lynn. Hello Darlin' is another that you should listen to.

[@jimmypadgett1106]

He and Roy Orbison both started after Elvis they were riding Elvis's coattails I remember how they talked about this back in the early 60's.

[@gavinvanburen1355]

Elvis did also sing it. He said it was his favorite song when it came out so he sang it

[@conniefittro-sharp6276]

Conway Twitty Only Make Believe YES ABSOLUTELY HEAR ELVIS! Unreal!!! Gives me chills! ❤

[@JonBurrows3577]

In the introduction to a box set of his, Conway stated “Back then we were all trying to sound like Elvis, I’m just the only one that admits it”.

[@dsusan17]

Conway is one of the all time greats! This was before he changed to Country Music. In Country Conway could get away with lyrics no one else could. The live version of Goodbye Time is fabulous. Conway always left everything on the stage. He also did duets with Lorretta Lynn. He left us too soon. He had 18 number ones and passed in his 40s. You've Never Been This Far Before, Slow Hand, Tight Fitten Jeans, and so many more. Yes in this song I do see the similarities with Elvis. Thank you Harri! I love Conway!

[@KittyCarlile-490]

Powerful voice

[@carolespinoza8469]

Love him,. 🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶💔💔💔💔💔

[@PenTwist]

I totally hear Elvis! I played this for my mom (83), she heard Elvis in several places too. She grew up during the Conway Twitty era. Good catch.

[@debrabenoist1596]

Conway’s Hello Darling, Slow Hand and so many others, he was great

[@deniseholland9573]

His later years you need to watch.He puts his all in it. PLEASE

[@paulasmith3179]

When this song first came out, I thought it was Elvis.

[@TitaLeopold]

You took the words right out of my mouth! Conway does sound so much like Elvis! Glenn Campbell took this song to another level! Worth checking out 🧐

[@wheelmanstan]

he and elvis were equal in talent in my opinion, very special guy

[@stephanietip]

Conway is one of my guilty musical pleasures.He has the ability to sing an innocent song and make it sound so dirty.

[@karenj3611]

Conway had a very recognizable voice. Love his music

[@philipazevedo2165]

Conway is a legend

[@ejb9545]

I remember listening to it on the radio when it came out

[@BLB272]

My mom absolutely loved Conway. She got goosebumps every time she heard his voice.

[@trishafaulk2067]

Conway did lots of music over the years. The Bee Gees wrote music for him at one point. He did quite a bit of country.

[@TexasMagnolia]

Conway Twitty!!! Thank You Harri! Yes, Conway started out in rock but sky rocketed in Country. You’d love: That’s My Job

[@PattyMcqG]

It's not the words, it is the music.

[@deelawson4551]

Yay! This is my favorite Conway song! Keep On Rockin'

[@mildredpierce4506]

I have never seen him so young before.

[@johncagle6488]

50 #1 hits , most all time until George Strait passed him !

[@garywilson7992]

8:45 pm CT, 9/10/23, I was only 9 years old when I first heard this song in 1958 and loved it. It’s one of those rare kind of songs, you like the first time you hear it. I’m close to 75 now, and there were quite a few years, that I didn’t listen to music anymore. But after I retired, and since the internet became so common place, and I discovered music apps, where I heard all kinds of long forgotten about songs, It’s Only Make Believe, is one of the many that I fell in love with, all over again, and just as much as I did when I was 9 years old.

[@jamesguess2228]

I was 14 years old when I first heard this on the radio

[@dviniso]

Conway twitty was my neighbor in Hendersonville, TN. He was into baseball in our small town. Great man and great talent.

[@39thala]

He chose this stage name, after Conway, Arkansas and Twitty, Texas. Apparently he just formed the name while looking at a road map trying to think of a better stage name.

[@danielh3179]

Well, it's a nice review of Conway Twitty's performance which deserves to be in the pantheon of rock-n-roll history. Like so many other songs, we often imagine how it would have been performed by Elvis who clearly would have knocked this song out of the park. One can only imagine how Elvis must've reacted when he heard this song and whether he considered recording it as he had done with several songs by different artists. Had Elvis recorded it, it might have been a somewhat weird situation in which Elvis would be perceived as imitating Conway who was imitating Elvis.

[@jeansalzman2.012]

One of the many musical loves of my life. Thank you for your wonderful analysis.

[@wayne_twentyfive]

I love this song, and I still think Conway's original version was the best one, despite the numerous covers that have been done of it .. But Glen Campbell does a very, very, good version, which you should really check out, Harri .. I know you like Glen's singing, and you will definitely enjoy his soaring voice on this one .. Cheers, Wayne

[@jimmyaye4204]

Glen's wonderful cover of this song was released in 1970. I fondly remember hearing it on the radio when it was on the charts.

[@allan6977]

Conway was the Elvis of country music. It's only make believe, Hello Darlin, White sport coat, the list goes on and and on and on.

[@stevenklein3195]

He sure is!!

[@Philtration]

The only time I ever saw my mom and dad dance was to this song in my living room. I had to be around 6 or 7 years old and I can remember it like it was yesterday.

[@barrysmith4492]

First time I heard this I thought it was Elvis also. Always been one of my favorites though

[@donnabost4445]

My favorite from Conway is " Tight Fitting Jeans" and Hello darling" and of course "Id love you lay you down" Ah he was a smooth talker as they say!!!

[@39thala]

Should do Conway and Loretta Lynn's duet, "Louisiana Woman, Mississippi man" (Conway was born in Mississippi. Just like Elvis)

[@oldermusiclover]

As Soon As I Hang Up The Phone and the funny Youre the Reason OUr Kids Are Ugly

[@richardkeep8651]

He was only 2 years older than Elvis, born Harold Lloyd Jenkins. released this in 1958

[@39thala]

A country music legend!

[@cathyhetzel5944]

Such a beautiful voice!!

[@damonhines8187]

The hit musical 'Bye Bye Birdie'(stage:1960; film:1963, with Janet Leigh, Dick Van Dyke and Ann-Margret) was written about a Twitty-like "pop-idol". 8>D

[@jonnno243]

This song co written and sung by Conway Twitty was part of my growing up in the 50s and 60s. I love it. Maybe listen to the UK singer Billy Fury singing this. Its good too.

[@DebraCampoli]

God bless you. Really enjoyed your comments on this. God bless you v

[@rickward460]

That's Harold Jenkins, before he was Conway Twitty. Spread the love Brother😎🇺🇸

[@Ghost-304]

Everyone wanted or tried to sound like Elvis back then lol

[@gavinvanburen1355]

They thought Conway twitty already sounded similar to elvis so yes they did push for him to sound more like elvis because at the time elvis was a sensation and everyone wanted to sound like him

[@luckyskittles5007]

At the time a number of artists imitated the Elvis sound. Conway Twitty may have been the best and he did get air play on the Rock stations. As you stated the song went to #1 but Twitty evolved back to country music where he had a hugely successful career

[@v.downes9608]

I had such a crush on him. Still do.

[@EarthWalker2023]

Love

[@caseysheehan8643]

I'm 61 and up until today I thought this was Elvis. Then I heard Glen sing it and then found myself in your company and none of that is make believe.

[@39thala]

He-he, Harri, you should hear Steve Holy's cover of this. 😃 Conway along with Elvis was one of Steve's idols.

[@debbiechang5781]

I spent my entire life, until this moment, thinking this was Elvis! Oops! Harri, thank you for leading me to the light! 🌺✌️

[@terryfarrar451]

I have a box set of Conway Twitty before he switched to Country music it has 6 LP vinyl discs called Conway Twitty the Rocko'n' years all his rock and roll hits some really great early songs bought it over thirty years ago now.

[@chrism.c9965]

Conway definitely trying to put some Elvis in his sound and he is great singing this song

[@darrylhughes7797]

The first time I heard this song on the oldies channel here in NYC I swore up and down that this was Elvis. I was actually shocked when the DJ said it was Conway Twitty. But a lot of singers in the late 50's after Elvis went into the army were getting popular sounding like Elvis like Eddie Cochran, etc.

[@Airihi]

The group backing him on this song would also back Elvis Presley on his songs. In his older age, Conway had mentioned that the head of Sun Records, engineers, managers, and pretty much everyone else at the time was telling him he sounded just like Elvis and wanted him to continue making songs like this but he wasn't interested in it. Everyone thought he was crazy and throwing away his career but he wasn't interested in mainstream rock, he was a country singer and wanted to have fun. He also reflected on his favorite songs of his being his humorous songs saying they gave him the greatest joy and he would have prefered singing more of those kinds of songs and said he wanted to have fun with his music but the world (music fans) wanted him to always be so serious all the time lol I always had the feeling that he and Roger Miller shared a similar love for life and humor.

[@Candy-of2hq]

The voice is close, true. But it's, the style that caught my attention.

[@annmills3163]

Conway and Loretta Lynn have 11 albums together ☮️💜

[@aggiemom4894]

Yay! Love Conway Twitty! Looking forward to your reaction 🤠

[@darlaflorence7428]

Never thought of that

[@sherigrow6480]

So glad Elvis didn't sing it. I love all of the versions Conway Twitty did of this over the years. He became an even bigger country music star, some really great stuff.

[@jamesguess2228]

He had 50 no.1 hit songs

[@MommaBird52]

This has always been one of my favorites!

[@jamesguess2228]

His name comes from 2 towns in Arkansas...Conway and Twitty

[@31Mike]

His real name was Harold Jenkins. How he got his stage name is detailed in another comment, so I won't go into that again. I saw him once, at an amusement park near Richmond, Va, back in the middle 80's. Though I was never a real big fan of his.

[@patticriss2238]

Everyone tried to sound like Elvis until they realized they had to look like him too and that never worked!!! Haha

[@chrisporter7984]

You'd love his cover of Slow Hand from the Pointer Sisters!

[@Ghost-304]

So glad I’m not only one hearing Elvis , Elvis version is better but Conway knocks it it if the park as well

[@curtismartin2866]

In the Broadway Musical Bye Bye Birdie, the lead character was an obvious "Elvis" type was was named "Conrad Birdie" as a knock off of the name Conway Twitty.

[@craigholt3485]

Conway over Elvis....everyday

[@Tonidolls]

more Conway Please

[@seanjohnson6186]

Conway had lots of hits. Hello Darlin’, Tight Fitting Jeans, are just 2 of the many. I haven’t looked it up but I an 99% sure Elvis covered this song and did very well with it.

[@FollowerofChrist11]

If I’m not mistaken Ronnie McDowell is the only one that covered it. Because Conway even appeared on the recording with Ronnie.

[@seanjohnson6186]

@@FollowerofChrist11 I stand corrected. After I wrote the above I quickly looked for an Elvis version and I found a few that said they were Elvis but they were obvious fakes.

[@patriciakeith6755]

@@FollowerofChrist11, when Ronnie first came on the music scene, people thought they were hearing Elvis because Ronnie sounded so much like him.

[@debbielopez2544]

Glen Campbell did a cover version which was quite good..

[@debbiesenatore5433]

Conway Twitty is a country legend. He does a cover of The Rose by Bette Midler that is my favorite. He has tons of excellent songs....he’s one of my favorites

[@davidzimmerli489]

Elvis Presley's uncle ! LOL !!! I actually met Elvis Presley's uncle, Vester Presley, in the Elvis gift shop across the street from Graceland, many years ago. I was on a south-bound vacation trip with my mother, several years after Elvis had died, and we had stopped in Memphis, Tennessee, to see Graceland. We crossed the street to visit the gift shop, and there inside the little shop sat Vester Presley in a big old chair (almost like a throne ... LOL). We purchased a book about Elvis (I believe it was written by Vester), and I walked up to his uncle and asked him to sign the book. And, believe me, Vester had none of Elvis's good looks! LOL!

[@berryscott3590]

Conway Twitty was also a baseball player, back in the day, signed by the Phillies if I'm not mistaken, was hitting over 400 at one point... BUT chose a different path...

[@michaellazzeri2069]

Sir----------I cannot verify this, but the background voices really do sound, like The Jordanaires, , who backed Elvis in the 50's & early 60's. And yes, he did sound like Elvis.--------------------------MJL< 76 y/o

[@JohnHazelwood58]

This is one of my fav. songs to sing ... this song and "Sixteen Tons" by Tennessee Ernie Ford ♥ Just a great (music-) time!! I love it!

[@MommaBird52]

Have you listened to Geoff Castellucci doing 16 Tons! Fantastic!

[@moonbeam2062]

Harri , Conway was definitely influenced by Elvis. Conway said in an interview, everybody was trying to copy Elvis at that time.

[@joankisloski6972]

I was only 9 when this song came out & I still love it 63 years later. "Suspicion" by Terry Stafford is more of an Elvis sound-alike. It is a 1962 song originally recorded by Elvis Presley & became a major hit in 1964 by Stafford.

[@MommaBird52]

Conway was only 16 months older than Elvis so they came from the same era. He tragically died of a stomach aneurysm in the early 90s. He had so many great hits, both solo and duets over the decades.

[@svenrb]

Written by Conway Twitty and Jack Nance.

[@rollomaughfling380]

This is definitely Conway's "Elvis phase," Harri. Just like every single dude in the Western World had an "Elvis phase" back then :). 7 years later, he turned back to Country and recorded some absolute classics, many with Loretta Lynn. They had a great partnership. Definitely worth diving into.

[@corawheeler9355]

A singer who really sounded like Elvis was Ral Donner ... "You Don't Know What You've Got ... "

[@ericgerena6042]

Yes I totally agree with you . There was another singer that sounded like Elvis his name was Terry Stafford and the song " Suspicion" . These were called oldies but goodies. 👍👍

[@ednafenton7558]

Ronnie McDowells 1st hit was, "The King is Gone". He sings just like Elvis. In the TV movie about Elvis starring Kurt Russell, they didn't use Elvis recordings for the soundtrack. It's Ronnie McDowell that sings all of Elvis's songs.

[@garyjohnson801]

Conway twitty was the best of all time and he had more Number one hits then Elvis and the beetles and Michael Jackson combined

[@openfor45]

Uncle Elvis! {I loved that comment} Twitty has several songs to his credit. Another Twitty great song 'Don't Cry Joni'.

[@george217]

Actually, Elvis did cover this song (but then so did Jon Bon Jovi, Glen Campbell and many others).

[@bethhutto3138]

One of my favorite singers ever! He actually signed one of his 8 x 10 B&W photos for me on the high school football field in Cayce, SC (which is near Columbia) sometime in the mid to late 60's. There was a local country music radio station that was having a mini concert on one of those trailer's with a stage on it. He was so good looking. He had jet black hair! I have no idea what happened to the signed photo. But I sure with I had it now!

[@davehagi9883]

Beth I had signed photographs of so many from that era, heaven knows where they they have gone, lost with the memories of what went on behind the bike shed.

[@ronpotter9810]

His real name was Harold Jenkins. He adapted his stage name from Conway Arkansas & Twitty Texas. He will go on to have a HUGE country career. This did indeed hit #1 on the pop chart in the US & UK but also in Canada. It was his only #1 pop hit.

[@gregrenn2138]

I am thrilled you are doing Conway Twitty. While my Aunts were throwing their underwear at Tom Jones, my mom was swooning over Conway Twitty.

[@lindanicholson950]

Everybody tried to look and sound like Elvis. I liked him better as. A country singer but he was fantastic in this song.

[@garydeforest7911]

Don't think it was "a coincidence" that Conway Twitty sounded like a superior Elvis imitator at this moment -- when Elvis had been in the army eight months by the time this disc was a hit at the end of 1958. The public was hungering for a good Elvis sound. Elvis hadn't had time to record really good material when he was caught in the draft -- with his manager self-styled "Colonel" Tom Parker insisting that he go into the army for public relations reasons -- and scored just one Billboard number one disc while he was out of the public eye over those two years' of enlistment.

[@jasonchilders5398]

Before Elvis

[@LaptopLarry330]

If you get the opportunity to do so, please react to his 1990 TV performance of this song, which is available for viewing here on KZbin. A talk show host briefly interviewed Conway Twitty before his TV performance. He really puts everything he’s got into that TV performance.

[@lovemyrainydays]

The Elvis "thing" never occurred to me before, but yes! I hear it now - I wonder if subconsciously that's why this song is by far my favourite of Conway Twitty. Incidentally, I always think of this song as part of a trio alongside Bobby Darin's Dream Lover and The Everly Brothers' All I Have to do is Dream.

[@ivansavoie3190]

I always thought he sounded like Elvis when I had his I guess you call rock album from 50s. He did rock and roll before he did country

[@edithdavis2848]

Conway came first. Him and Elvis were friends.

[@powoodworker1751]

Conway Twitty sings my theme song: Lonely Blue Boy.

[@somethingyousaid5059]

Try some Twitty and (Loretta) Lynn duets.