Introduction
Elvis Presley – What Now My Love (Aloha From Hawaii, Live in Honolulu, 1973): The King Faces the End With Unflinching Power
When Elvis Presley walked onto the stage in Honolulu in 1973 for his Aloha From Hawaii concert, he wasn’t just performing for a crowd—he was performing for the world. Broadcast via satellite to over a billion people, it was a defining moment not only in Elvis’s career but in the history of live music. And in that monumental setlist, his rendition of Elvis Presley – What Now My Love (Aloha From Hawaii, Live in Honolulu, 1973) stands out as one of the most hauntingly powerful performances of the night.
Originally a French ballad, “Et Maintenant” by Gilbert Bécaud, the song had already traveled the world before Elvis claimed it in his own way. With its English adaptation, “What Now My Love,” it became a canvas for Presley’s dramatic delivery. On the Honolulu stage, dressed in his iconic white “American Eagle” jumpsuit, Elvis took this song of despair and finality and elevated it into something unforgettable.
What makes this performance so striking is its sheer emotional weight. Elvis doesn’t just sing the lyrics—he inhabits them. His voice builds from a quiet, aching vulnerability into a storm of passion, matching the orchestral swell behind him. By the final notes, when his voice soars to its peak, the song feels less like a performance and more like a confession. It’s as if Elvis is confronting the universal question: after love, after fame, after everything—what now?
There’s also a theatrical brilliance here. Elvis had always been a master showman, but “What Now My Love” demonstrates his ability to combine vocal power with dramatic tension. Every gesture, every inflection, feels intentional yet raw. In the context of Aloha From Hawaii, this performance was a centerpiece—a reminder to his global audience that Elvis was not only an entertainer but an artist capable of conveying the deepest emotions.
Half a century later, this rendition still resonates. It captures Elvis at a crossroads—weathered by years in the spotlight, yet still commanding, still capable of shaking the very soul of a song. In “What Now My Love,” we hear not just a man singing about the end, but an artist reflecting on the fragility of love, life, and legacy.
👉 For fans who want to see Elvis at his most dramatic and emotionally raw, this performance remains essential. It’s not just a concert number—it’s the King of Rock and Roll daring to ask the hardest question of all.