Elvis Presley – What’d I say

About The Song

“What’d I Say” (or “What I Say”) stands as a quintessential American rhythm and blues creation by Ray Charles, unveiled in 1959. Released as a single divided into two parts, this composition marked one of the pioneering instances of soul music. The genesis of the song occurred spontaneously late in 1958 when, after completing their entire set list at a show, Ray Charles, his orchestra, and backup singers found themselves with extra time. The overwhelming positive response from the audience prompted Charles to decide on the spot that he would record it.

Following a string of R&B hits, “What’d I Say” propelled Charles into the mainstream pop music scene, simultaneously giving rise to a new R&B subgenre known as soul. It amalgamated all the elements Charles had been cultivating since his recording of “I Got a Woman” in 1954.

RCA faced a tight deadline, allowing “Suspicion” only two weeks of exposure before hastily releasing another single. This particular release was from the long-delayed and politically contentious (due to disputes between the Colonel and MGM) Viva Las Vegas soundtrack. Film production had concluded the prior summer after disputes over spending and attention given to Elvis’ co-star, Ann-Margret. Despite some resolutions, the initial single faced a challenging environment, contending not only with “Kiss Me Quick” but also with the soundtrack album for Kissin’ Cousins, the cause of its postponement. The crowded marketplace and song selection complexities did not favor the success of Elvis’ singles.

Elvis’ rendition of Ray Charles’ “What’d I Say,” added as an afterthought to the movie, proved to be a bit over the top for both Elvis and the current musical climate. Meanwhile, the title song, a clever creation by Pomus and Shuman, was somewhat overshadowed in the confusion of a saturated market, although it has since gained recognition as a camp classic. The circumstances surrounding this release illustrate the challenges faced in navigating a competitive and complex musical landscape.

Video

Lyrics

🎵 Let’s sing along with the lyrics! 🎤

Hey mama, don’t you treat me wrong
Come and love your daddy all night long
All right, hey, hey, all right now

See the girl with the diamond ring
She knows how to shake that thing
All right, hey, hey, Mmm, all right now

Ahhh, Ohh, Ahhh, Ohh, Ahhh, Ohh, Ohh

Make me feel so good, make me feel so good right now
Make me feel so good, make me feel so good right now
Make me feel so good, make me feel so good

Mmm, see the girl with the red dress on
She can do the dog all night long
All right, hmm what’d I say, tell me what’d I say

Tell me what’d I say, tell me what’d I say right now
Tell me what’d I say, tell me what’d I say right now
Tell me what’d I say, tell me what’d I say

Ahhh, Ohh, Ahhh, Ohh, Ahhh, Ohh, Ohh
It’s all right, It’s all right right now
Baby, it’s all right, Baby, it’s all right right now
Baby, it’s all right, Oh yeah!

Baby shake that thing, baby shake that thing right now
Baby shake that thing, baby shake that thing right now
Baby shake that thing, well I feel all right