<\/p>\n
The music world was shocked by the untimely passing of Elvis Presley<\/a> in August 1977. The singer was only 42 years old when he died from cardiac issues<\/a> at his home in Memphis.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Fans of Elvis had no idea that they were seeing his last public performance when they gathered to watch the star on June 26, 1977 at Market Square Arena in Indianapolis. The setlist\u00a0consisted of Elvis rock favorites like \u201cSee See Rider\u201d and \u201cJailhouse Rock\u201d as well as slower hits like \u201cIt’s Now or Never\u201d and a cover of \u201cBridge Over Troubled Water.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Then there was the well-known ballad that finished off the night, capping off Elvis’ performance and later becoming the last song he performed publicly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Presley’s appearance in Indianapolis pulled in 18,000 fans, ending a three-night run of shows<\/a> in the Midwest that also included Madison, Wisconsin, and Cincinnati, Ohio. The singer hit the stage in a white-and-gold jumpsuit that has become synonymous with his 1970s style, along with long sideburns and some karate kicks.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n After running through his setlist that included plenty of his popular hits, he ended the show with one of his most famous ballads: \u201cCan’t Help Falling in Love.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The song had become a signature closer<\/a> for his shows in the late 1970s, which might be why \u201cCan’t Help Falling in Love\u201d still holds a sentimental place for fans\u2014not only because it was the last song fans saw him sing in public, but because of its place in his setlist in the ’70s.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A review in the Indianapolis Star <\/em>after the show shed a positive light on Presley’s performance. \u201cAnd then he appeared, in a gold and white jumpsuit and white boots, bounding onstage with energy that was a relief to everyone,\u201d recalled dwriter Rita Rose. \u201cAt 42, Elvis is still carrying around some excess baggage on his mid-section, but it didn’t stop him from giving a performance in true Presley style.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Fans of Elvis Presley were introduced to \u201cCan’t Help Falling in Love\u201d in 1961 when the song appeared in his movie Blue Hawaii.<\/em> The film, about an Army vet working as a tour guide in Hawaii, starred<\/a> Elvis along with Joan Blackman and Angela Lansbury. The song was written<\/a> for the screen by Hugo Peretti, Luigi Creatore, and George David Weiss.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n But the song’s origins can be traced back way before that movie\u2014or really any movie\u2014was released. “Plaisir d\u2019Amour” (or \u201cThe Joys of Love\u201d in English) was written in 1784 by Jean-Paul-\u00c9gide Martini. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n\u201cA performance in true Presley style\u201d<\/h2>\n
The Hawaiian connection to Presley’s \u201cCan\u2019t Help Falling in Love\u201d<\/h2>\n