FIRST TIME HEARING Elvis Presley - If I Can Dream ('68 Comeback Special) HBD MLK REACTION!

[@pastorjohnnyivey7072]

Greatest tribute song to the death of Dr Martin Luther King Jr ever done. And people called Elvis a racist and BB King was one of his best friends

[@lynnhutchinson713]

Elvis once asked his limo driver, "Do you own this limo or do you work for the company?" He responded, "I work for the company." Elvis said "Well, you own it now." The limo driver's tip was the limo ❤

[@paulasmith3179]

True story because i heard the limo driver talk about this. Elvis was the kindest most generous person. He is still loved around the world.

[@Will-nn3pb]

That's the most Elvis thing 😂 Elvis was the first major Super Star, and he deserved it. He used his fame and wealth responsibility to help others. ❤

[@johnhinkle1138]

Thank you! Elvis loved everyone. He learned his craft as a child/teen from black church and Gospal. That’s just a fact. He had no disrespect for black folks EVER.. He loved R&B, boogie, Rock a Billy and country. He just came at it when it ALL COLLIDED. And BOOM. His made Elvis. No disrespect to anyone. Just that E was the best ever to do it

[@orlandodejesus6541]

People don't realize that he had such a beautiful heart

[@matthewedwards9677]

If people would have listened more to MLK & Elvis is the 60s how much better could the world be today

[@carriemichelle322]

Thank you for reacting to this- Elvis grew up in poverty. He was 1 of 4 white families living in a prominently black community in awful times of segregation. His neighbors helped his family alot!! He was raised in the church and saw people as human beings! He was raised very respectful. He sung this with such soul and compassion! He felt every word! RIP MLK, Elvis and Elvis's only child just passed. RIP Lisa Marie 🙏💔❤😭

[@krystynamichalak6410]

❤

[@karendavis2668]

💖🦋

[@GranmaSam]

MLK, Robert, Kennedy, Medger Evers assassinations all effected Elvis tremendously. They were all devastating.

[@MadcapShambleton]

@Random Female You had to go there. You completely missed the point.

[@stevenparker3541]

I love you for this comment, beautiful stranger. Very spot on.

[@barbaramattson817]

AFTER THIS SONG BACKSTAGE HE CRIED AND WAS INCONSOLABLE. HE WAS A GOOD GUY. JUST A POOR KID.WITH A LOT OF TALENT THAT MADE IT BIG.

[@rolltide9547]

They took several takes of this song. They took #3 for the special.

[@barbaramattson817]

THANKS. I DIDN'T KNOW THAT. I LOVE STUFF LIKE THAT.@@rolltide9547

[@wendygibson1640]

Aw man. No words after this.

[@hollywinningham6375]

Elvis was color blind...beautiful person inside and out ❤❤❤..don't listen to the haters, they are clueless !!!...

[@bwana-ma-coo-bah425]

to say that denies the identity of a person.

[@hollywinningham6375]

@@bwana-ma-coo-bah425 thats ridiculous

[@bwana-ma-coo-bah425]

@@hollywinningham6375 was my comment too intellectual for you? ask a black person if they identify as a black person. FOOL!

[@theapavlou3030]

Colourless doesn't mean what you think it means. We see colour and acknowledge the struggle. The fact that Elvis was in the middle of that struggle is the point. As a successful white man he knew he was in a good position to raise awareness of the Black struggle. They were his people too, he saw their colour fine and tried to help as much as he could. You can't deny IDENTITY & history. That is not the way to say I am not a racist. Long live the King ❤

[@theapavlou3030]

​@bwana-ma-coo-bah425 seriously, can you believe people still don't know this. I hear you, Elvis knew it too ❤

[@gragrn]

In The Ghetto is another great Elvis song that resonates with anyone who grew up poor. Elvis sure did, they were so poor the Presley's lived in the poor black section of Tupelo and all his childhood friends were the black kids that lived next to him. Naturally enough he grew up without a racist bone in his body and counted as his dear friends BB King, James Brown, Sammy Davis Jr, Muhammad Ali and in the movie Girls, Girls, Girls, Jackie Wilson visited him on set, so Elvis had him sit in the crowd for the song Return To Sender, and Elvis mimicked Jackie's dance moves, looking at him and smiling. At the end of the song Jackie stands up applauding and Elvis steps down and bows to him. It's a nice moment captured in time.

[@joe2299]

Don’t forget the times this country was in 1968. His manager didn’t want him to do this song but Elvis wanted to close out the show with it, making a statement to the country. MLK was assassinated in April then in June RFK was also assassinated. This song was a dedication to both men.

[@maryawaterbury1305]

Thank you Elvis 💕

[@totalimpactreviews]

Yes it was

[@rolltide9547]

Colonel Parker said Elvis fans would not like this song. Last year it was voted #1 on Elvis XM radio.

[@marcjacobscontinued9411]

Colonel Parker was the ultimate selfish a-hole.

[@Debra-v1e]

There are many evil forces trying to divide us. Great reaction.❤

[@mickibayne4040]

And this was 68!

[@spamalotj.9388]

You do not listen to this performance, you feel it.

[@JudyAdams-c3x]

This is a message Elvis was singing to the world. He loved the Lord Jesus and wanted peace and love to prevail! Awesome song. He always sang from his heart!🙏😊

[@susanstavrou4232]

He was before his time ❤❤❤❤❤

[@markplacker5651]

Elvis made it a point. To pay respect to make during this special. No other artist did. Elvis did

[@USNAV]

Im 49. Elvis died when i was around 5. I grew up in the Eastside of S.A. made friends of many cultures and religions. Served the worlds greatest Navy and there made many friends of different cultures and religions. Elvis was an amazing person and performer. I hope 100+ years from now his music still plays.

[@ccat148]

Still relevant and powerful today. Beautifully written song. Outstanding performance. Elvis...still talked about and loved 47 years after his death. ❤❤😢😢

[@GregoriousGregori9]

Elvis grew up in the church & specifically in a black church that was near his home which welcomed hiim & his mother.. gospel music was his absolute favorite & he had the largest collection of gospel music in america at one time... the network was opposed to his doing this song but he had so much respect & admiration for dr. king & took inspiration from him he stood his ground & basically said no song.. no special.. the infulence of his church upbringing is so up front in this performance & he literally did take us to church with this Thank you for sharing such an honest & heart touching reaction with us check out his performance of how great thou art the best video version is of him in a blue jumpsuit from 1972

[@totalimpactreviews]

He did this song with so much power

[@carmenortiz3450]

I read his background singers were in tears by the end of the song.

[@sherylmcclure400]

The most powerful message song that Elvis has ever performed,he put whole heart and soul in this performance,and it was written special for Elvis, because of the senseless killing of RFK and MLk,and this man didn't have a racist bone in his body ,he was a very humble person, treated everybody with respect,and a great humanitarian,

[@tammyramirez7362]

God bless you

[@anneann9127]

It was actually only written about MLK. Elvis was already in rehearsals for the show before RFK died. But before the 68 comeback special come out RFK was also assassinated. So he pretty much dedicated it to both of them.

[@pammoore180]

The ...IF I CAN DREAM SONG...was so emotionally hard on Elvis, that after he was done he broke down in the dressing room after everyone had left...❤😪

[@BoardGameMuseumer]

My goodness, the emotion Elvis put in this goes right to the heart. Amazing performance.

[@hippiecowgirl]

We've had 46 presidents, but only ONE king. Elvis transported music to a level that only a few singers since him could emulate. Pure music and talent. No auto-tune, lip syncing, or distractions.

[@jamiemcnay]

"You have to have love in your heart". You said it best. Amen.

[@sholomrabin2011]

as a huge elvis fan and have been since i was a little kid, i have love many of his songs, but THIS is the song that made me fall in love with him as an artist. i have heard this over 200 times and i still well up with tears and makes my hair stand on end.

[@charlesmiller4675]

Thank you for sharing your positive thoughts with us.

[@phyllisnowosad2004]

Yes we have o pray. His soul is singing still and touching your soul. That's immortality and Grace from God.

[@michaelw3809]

For me this was the best live performance ever!

[@Anne6621]

after 55 years i still cry every single time i hear Elvis sing this song

[@donaldmackeller8634]

I am 64 a.d still cry every time I hear this

[@vickiebrown1064]

I'm 70 and it still touches me deeply. Elvis was such a gift.

[@donaldmackeller8634]

@@vickiebrown1064 I agree 💯

[@magic32v7182]

I’m 41. I love Elvis!

[@susandowney2243]

This was when he defied the C. Tom Parker; this is what he intended for himself, his gospel his message. The voice and the words..simply sublime!

[@kimmurphy1398]

I have loved Elvis since I was about 10. He sang with every fiber of his being. Great video reaction. I was struck by the picture behind you of Tupac. Totally different artists but they shared a vision of peace and harmony. Thanks for sharing. And yes I'm a 63 year old woman who loved Pac as well ❤

[@dominiquejenkins5495]

Watched the Elvis movie last night and that was my first time ever hearing this song clearly I ran straight to youtube😂😂

[@RuthannPrice-k9s]

Elvis loved everyone regardless of skin color

[@charles-mp9nt]

Amen brother and this is considered the greatest live performance ever

[@lawrence5039]

The words in this song are wonderful, and I agree 100% with you. Peace and understanding; hope shining on everyone; we're lost in a cloud with too much rain; and so much more. Best song to memorize for myself.

[@danellacoffey5836]

There is such a beautiful sentiment to this song. Sadly those sentiments still ring true today

[@elvis7772]

I truly appreciate people reacting to Elvis' "IF I CAN DREAM".... I was 15 years old and everyone in my family listened to Elvis. I really didn't understand the song when he did it in 1968 to much, I did think that it was a really good song. Years later I found out what it was all about. I am 70 years old now and every time I hear that song or watch the video of him singing it I still break out in tears. It is an amazing song with a lot of meaning and emotion in it.... It would truly fit in to the way the world is today. If people would only listen to it as it was meant be to hear him sing! Great Job on the reaction. Elvis sang a lot of songs with a lot of meaning to them. GOD BLESS YOU and YOURS!!!! LOVE & PRAYERS ALWAYS and FOREVER!!!! Wayne

[@armendinaguerrero1898]

Thank You for spreading the Word “ Dream”

[@reneekenney3122]

Elvis the legend the Goat of music.

[@FrankHowell-if8pl]

I can never get enough of this song and the man who's singing it. I miss him. Thanks for presenting this.

[@christimanley13]

Me too. I mourn all the years since he wrote this song that the dream still hasn't come true.

[@aprilreedy8104]

Never has a better tribute to MLK been performed! R.I.P Elvis

[@natalygibson8367]

It was for john F. Kennedy and Martin L. King

[@aprilreedy8104]

@@natalygibson8367 yes indeed it was! Both Great Men! I always think of MLK more when I hear this song though.

[@inekebaalman3320]

@@natalygibson8367 I think you probably mean Robert Kennedy. JFK was killed 5 years earlier, in 1963😊!

[@kellifranklin9872]

With respect, U2’s Pride in the Name of Love is a very powerful tribute to Dr King.

[@PoPoPresley]

Elvis especially did this song, in tribute....It was just before that MLK was killed.....he demanded to this to end the tv show.......

[@RosieTime_]

He sang that live too. What a voice. I shed a tear. I was barely crawling when this came out.

[@marywarren9620]

You are so right love is the answer

[@ronaldjspolar1501]

He is talking about Dr. King's dream. Elvis musically and in his soul identified with the Black culture.

[@Sunny-jz3dy]

Yes, Elvis was an MLK supporter! Growing up in the south.... he was a rare individual that never had the prejudice that others did. There is a documentary "Elvis and the Black Community" that gives you a really good picture of what kind of person Elvis was. Not to mention attitudes that were indicative of those times! Elvis was referring to a dream of equality for us all!

[@bwana-ma-coo-bah425]

how many people make up the black community?

[@markstrittmatter6325]

The message is clear today as it was yesterday we are all brothers in the lord we all bleed red. Black ,white ,brown it doesn't matter we need each other. Great reaction God bless

[@pennybrock4858]

Best reaction I’ve ever seen to this video. GOD BLESS

[@lionden8421]

You are so right...we must be prayed up to face this craziness & exist in peace!

[@singluna888]

I still have the dream. I can't give up. God bless everyone.

[@danielgallegos6884]

What a great and powerful message! Elvis is the best!

[@joedirt9850]

The best

[@vincentmaniscalco4421]

This is why he is known as the king !

[@victormccoy1671]

To me this is the most important song ever done in history and the message it conveys to the world and from the greatest voice there ever was. Elvis was and is one of a kind

[@marykatan7324]

Agree 💯

[@bwana-ma-coo-bah425]

you have a limited knowledge of music.

[@TakersMissy]

Amen to that!

[@robertdavis8010]

I believe that is why no one else has done this song. Nobody else could come close to a delivery even close to it. And I'm not a Elvis nut,but my gosh!

[@robertdavis8010]

Even at the age of 8 when MLK was assassinated, I felt very bad for the loss of what I knew was a great man.PS. I'm as white as you can get.

[@EVERLYNFRIENDS]

I just watched the Elvis movie today and I honestly was blown away. I was only 15 when he died so I wasn't into him I missed out for sure. But my mom was a teen when he broke out. Nice job

[@Mary-bk2wj]

This is the greatest performance ever recorded.

[@gregsandell]

Elvis is not even in my top 5 favorite artists, but I agree this is the greatest performance ever recorded.

[@jax43]

Amen......, Elivs HAD a DREAM that we all loved each other, The same as MLK jr and Bobby Kennedy. This is such a great dream for us all.

[@bwana-ma-coo-bah425]

and he did what about it?

[@robertblades6209]

At the end of the song Elvis Presley sang he said "thank you,goodnight ".

[@LClark-ry9to]

Thank you , I’m glad you like Elvis, Texas saying hello to you, good show sir.

[@TheRealMightyHokie]

This one performance, just this one, shows why Elvis is the greatest of all time. Everything about this is perfect, and if you can't feel that he's feeling it, you have no soul.

[@sparx2391]

A very powerful song, performed to perfection.

[@equalityforall4175]

I love me Some MLK Beautiful Human Being. His posters in my Bedroom Happy Birthday to the King Martin Luther king!🙏🙏🏼🙏🏾🙏🏿🌈 LOVE ONE ANOTHER!❤️

[@Cinerouquine]

Yes! Hope. Pursuing an ideal. ❤

[@michelehopper449]

I did not know about Elvis singing this song to MLK awesome I love him even more! I agree with you we need more love in this work!

[@davidgibbs7232]

This is 55 years old and is more relevant today than ever.Its also the Kings greatest performance.Which means it's the greatest performance ever by anyone ever 👑👑👑👑👑👑

[@janetkeys8356]

Wow.. never knew about this!!! Man got SOUL!!!

[@heavenbound9144]

The prayer heard around the world...

[@stefaniaorlando4047]

Elvis Is Elvis: soul, voice, heart! Thank you for posting, R.I.P. Elvis🙏, from Italy 🇮🇹

[@aniea5664]

Elvis loved all people. ❤

[@ananyoroy1487]

It's Elvis...nuff said

[@spencerwarren9219]

Elvis was the king sorry MJ . 5his song needs to be blasted around the world right now..

[@paulhadfield7909]

he is amazing, thats one of his best songs, a great message to the world

[@tedred8869]

Subscribed. you seem like a person who everyone needs as a friend. ❤

[@greeneyelove2003]

I can't think of another performance where a singer has put so much of his heart and soul into every word. This was more than just another song to him. He was delivering a message. One the world needed then and still needs today.

[@yourdaywillcome5694]

Powerful for all of us to hold each others hands

[@ronjohnson2276]

Amen brother. You spoke words of wisdom. There is more of people like you and me world wide. But the media only spreads their evil spew, so it looks like the good is the minority, that way we will be quite as they take over. This song is actually of the Great Martin Luther King Jr. Stay strong and spread God's Love.

[@karirazo678]

Excellent Commentary! Elvis was one of the biggest advocates for civil rights. He had major concert at sports arena, the owner of the arena told him, his black performers had to enter through back door, he publicly said all his musicians enter together through the front door, or he's not entering. Pls see the Elvis Movie with Austin Butler to understand the significance of this live performance of "If I can Dream," Elvis went through many measures to defy his manager & the network to make this performance happen. Thanks! 😇🙏♥️

[@royandval3395]

There was also the time in 1970 at the astrodome. Elvis was told by the rodeo producer not to bring The Sweet Inspirations. He refused to play without them. After getting his way he insisted the producers daughter drive The Sweet Inspirations around the arena

[@bwana-ma-coo-bah425]

Elvis was no advocate for civil rights. In order to be an advocate you need to speak about it. Elvis never did. In relation to the black artists, Elvis only started using them in 68. His career started in 54, 14 years earlier. Why? The only reason Elvis used any black artist was because white musicians were using black artists and Elvis had to get in on the act.

[@youtubeuserthinker]

@@bwana-ma-coo-bah425 Actually he chose to employ the Sweet Inspirations because he liked their sound. He had every genre of music backing him. He couldn't have afforded back up singers initially and then was directed by others and had the Jordanaires, I believe. He got distracted by the army and his film career. As soon as he was back to performing he worked with artists of any ethnicity. Why do so many people want to label Elvis as racist - usually people who know nothing about him. Elvis didn't need to get in on any act - he was Elvis. The Sweet Inspirations loved him to death and he them. Have you ever heard this beautiful tribute to Arthur Crudup from Elvis? "I used to hear old Arthur Crudup bang his box the way I do now, and I said if I ever got to the place I could feel all old Arthur felt, I'd be a music man like nobody ever saw!" Elvis adored black artists and was heavily influenced and grateful to them.

[@adamski27]

@@bwana-ma-coo-bah425you are probably the most delusional person I’ve ever seen, this song is written to stand out against people like you. Every comment you’re hating, I hope you find better things to do with your time.

[@sharonstirk8340]

Absolutely selfless 🙏 love elvis presley ❤

[@ChrisManley1994]

Elvis was way ahead of his time and this song proves it, we need it now more than ever

[@bwana-ma-coo-bah425]

Elvis was not ahead of his time, he was a puppet.

[@davidclarke8398]

Like your reaction so sad not much has changed in 56 years 😢

[@garnetwilliamson7817]

I remember watching this performance with my family when the song ended the room was silent. 68 was a tough year we lost MLK RFK and the Vietnam war was full blown. This song resonated with all of us.

[@sandbach7195]

Perfection

[@stevepomeroy-rockin-pa-realtor]

Wow terrific reaction and God bless our brothers and sisters in Christ on MLK Day. Death threats followed Elvis throughout his life and right into his grave from the mid 1950s until the day he died. At first because he would dance and sing far too provocatively for the era…. Similar to the way black performers would. Shop owners would get threatened to remove his albums by by local gangs. After his military service the death threats calmed down until Elvis' MLK tribute soon after MLK was assassinated. NBC execs insisted that Elvis sing a Christmas song to end his TV show. MLK and Robert Kennedy’s assassinations devastated Elvis, two people that he greatly admired because of their roles in the Civil Rights Movement. Elvis was a strong supporter - donating money to black businesses and organizations and hiring black musicians to high paying positions in his band and even among his staff. This wasn’t done in the 1960s. When these two icons were killed, Elvis wanted to deliver a message to a hurting nation bewildered with the violence and chaos. NBC sponsors threatened Elvis that he end with a Christmas song. Everyone was afraid to touch the topic of race during the race riots but Elvis knew what he was doing. NBC finally relented and Elvis delivered maybe the greatest social justice song ever recorded in his honor: If I Can Dream. Another Recommendation: Elvis and the Black Community. A great collaboration of interviews by legends and historic figures in the black community discussing Elvis. kzbin.info/www/bejne/rpWUoYutZqmgqaM

[@janussobyski6369]

Haha loser

[@MAGIKMARTIAN9526]

WELL said

[@tdmw6516]

Not just any Christmas song, but "Here comes Santa Claus," while wearing a Christmas Sweater. Elvis was too cool for that, and had a much bigger message to share with the world. Thank God for that!

[@tamesullivan6340]

Perfectly described..and to think Quincy Jones using race card cause Elvis didn't want to work with him.. get bent .. no one in history or ever could possibly light a candle to the full package Elvis was. A true heavenly angel walked among us... ✨️ 💖

[@patriciaesposito8941]

Excellent explanation!

[@stevedahlberg8680]

Dude! You missed the mic drop moment at the End by cutting it off too early. I would say about 40% of reactors do this. It amazes me every time. You missed the emotional climax of it for sure man. Go back and check it man he's exhausted cuz he gave it is all puts it up Breathing heavily and says thank you good night and then apparently he went backstage and just cried for a long time.

[@funshine817]

I'm always surprised Elvis doesn't faint after every performance, cuz he gives it his ALL! 💯 Soooo much passion! 🔥👏💖 The KING!

[@aniea5664]

I truley believe you can't stop dreaming! ❤

[@carolhayar3037]

Per producer-director Steve Binder, he & Elvis had a lengthy discussion about the assassinations of both MLK & Robert Kennedy (2 mos. apart) & Elvis' thoughts & feelings about everything that was going on at this turbulent time in the '60's. Binder asked song writer Walter Earl Brown to come up w-something relevant to Elvis' feelings & what was happening in the world & Brown composed a song loosely based on MLK's speech. Binder said Elvis took the unusual stace of lying down on a dimly lit rehearsal room floor w-a mic & only a few people present to learn the song. It was decided that a red tie (purchased by Elvis' costume designer Bill Belew) should be worn as a tribute to the blood shed in Vietnam. Thank you for this.

[@adg4875]

People are people then how you going to treat each other that's what really matters

[@bryanstock281]

That was indescribable. Wow. When you combine the meaning of the song with the quality of vocals, back up singers, trumpets, the passion AND this was LIVE! Dude this was a 10. I mean, what else could he have done to improve it. This was a flawless performance.

[@paulfranklin4276]

Happy MLK day from Canada

[@udohaderlein2398]

Yeah man there is only one heart of love all together 🍀🍀🍀

[@Judy0910]

I was 17 the night this special was on. I was in awe of this song and his performance. I shed tears, and then the show ended. He saved the best for last.

[@jozefhatert6231]

I believe whole world was in awe with this comeback

[@willow0828]

Everything in this performance has a purpose. The song itself was written by Earl Brown, inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King’s speech I Have a Dream. The song was written with Elvis in mind & it’s a tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Mr. Brown was aware of Elvis’s love for Dr. King. He also knew that Elvis was devastated by the news of Dr. King’s assassination. Just 9 miles away from Graceland (Elvis’s home). The white suit was also worn to accompany the song’s dream for better days. At the time, the conflict in Vietnam was heart wrenching. In remembrance, of the lives lost during the Vietnam war. The burgundy colored scarf Elvis wore around his neck, was for them. Fun fact: Elvis performed "If I Can Dream", in the face of being explicitly told NOT TO by the producers and his manager. He was supposed to close the show with "I’ll Be Home For Christmas". However, he chose to follow his heart & DEFY the powers that be.

[@qso3566]

Thank you for a great reaction to this soulful song and a wonderful performance by Elvis.

[@caterinas1627]

Very nice reaction ❤

[@sandyleewhite]

Elvis is one of the most recognized & famous people in music history, & no doubt, one of the most talented, however his heart & love for humanity, is his true legacy 💗💜 I wish with every fiber of my being, that his dream would come true right now!!! 💗💜 RIP **Martin Luther King** RIP **Robert Kennedy** RIP **Elvis Presley** 💗💜 3 amazing men, who tried to change the world for the better, in their own unique ways, & paid the ultimate price💗 ****Luv your reaction **** 💗

[@jeffjeff-j6t]

Elvises producer of this special wanted elvis to sing a christmas song for his last song of the night. They argued back and forth, Elvis finally said Fuk you man Im singinging If I can dream for my friend Martin man !! And He did. I think his best song ever IMO.