Elvis vs JXL: A Little Less Conversation
- Music companies mock law with poster 'vandalism'
By Anthony Browne
(Times Online, March 15, 2003)
THE world's largest music and sports clothing companies are under attack for "guerrilla marketing", the booming industry in covering bus shelters, walls, litter bins, junction boxes, post boxes and empty shop fronts with posters and stickers plugging their wares. Local authorities say the endemic flyposting amounts to little more than "corporate vandalism" which is blighting Britain's city centres more than teenagers' graffiti. Westminster council is leading the campaign against the practice. Simon Milton, the leader of the council, said: "It's an ugly antisocial scourge of the streets that is degrading the city. Once you allow your city to be taken over by flyposting, you're inviting a lot more serious problems. It is persistent corporate vandalism. Corporate antisocial behaviour is now as much of a problem as noisy neighbours." Flyposting is illegal, but music industry sources admit that multinational corporations deliberately and repeatedly break the law to market their goods because it is so effective, and because the fines are so small that they form a tiny part of the overall advertising budget.
Flyposting fines
Footlocker UK: Footlocker, £2,000
Telstar records: Mis-Teeq, £200 and £300
Warner records: Brandy, £200
Azuli records: Another Late Night, £450
Sony Music: Pay As You Go, £1,800
BMG Entertainment: Elvis vs JXL, £525
Universal records: New Found Glory, £450
EMAP Elan: FHM, £350
Viaduct: SMILE, £1,500
- Pop Idol Gareth stays top of the chart
(Ananova, July 21, 2002)
Gareth Gates is celebrating his second week at the top of the singles chart with his second release. He continues to dominate the chart with Any One of Us (Stupid Mistake), after knocking Elvis Presley off the top slot last week.
- Gareth Gates Topples Elvis to Take No. 1 in Britain
(Yahoo News / Reuters, July 14, 2002)
"Pop Idol" runner-up Gareth Gates' new single "Anyone Of Us (Stupid Mistake)" shot to the top of the charts Sunday, bouncing a remix of rock king Elvis into third place, the Official UK Charts Company said. The success of the single will give the spiky-haired teenage heart-throb another reason to celebrate after reaching the ripe old age of 18 last week.
- King's reign ended by Gareth Gates
(Ananova, July 14, 2002)
Gareth Gates knocked the King off his throne, storming to the top of the singles charts with his second release. Pop Idol runner-up Gates continued the show's chart domination with Any One of Us (Stupid Mistake), while Elvis Presley slipped to number three after four weeks at number 1.
- Elvis NUMBER ONE for the THIRD consecutive week in Australia!
(Click2Music, July 13, 2002)
Elvis vs JXL 'A Little Less Conversation' was helped along by Nike's stunning TV campaign for the World Cup but now has a BRAND NEW CLIP as well. The track is just a taste of the excitement surrounding Elvis' 25th anniversary.
- JXL exhumes Elvis, scores X-Box: A little conversation with the commercial sensation
(Rolling Stone, July 13, 2002)
Dutch DJ Tom Holkenberg -- better known as Junkie XL, or JXL -- is just back from Ibiza, where the British dance scene vacations every summer, and it's safe to say his gigs there were exponentially bigger than prior years. Holkenberg and his remix of Elvis Presley's "A Little Less Conversation" -- featured prominently in Nike's World Cup advertising campaign -- have been dominating the British singles chart for nearly a month, and last week took over the top spot in the U.S. as well. "It's incredible to me how the story gets bigger every week," Holkenberg says, "particularly considering the way this all started. There was a guy at the advertising agency that works exclusively for Nike who was a fan of the stuff that I'd done. So two and a half years ago, he called me and asked if I'd be involved with a commercial for the last Olympics. I did that, and then later I did something for the European [soccer] Championships, and then four or five months ago they approached me to do a World Cup commercial."
Kicking around ideas in brainstorming sessions for the ad, Holkenberg recommended Elvis, one of the few artists popular enough to appeal to audiences of all cultural backgrounds -- essential since the commercial would air around the world. "I was familiar with the song because my father was a huge Elvis fan," he says. "And we thought the line, 'A little less conversation/A little more action,' was really spot-on for football."
- Dr Fox slates record company for 'fixing the charts'
(Ananova, July 12, 2002)
Dr Fox has criticised BMG for deleting JXL's Elvis remix [in the UK] to get Gareth Gates to number one. The Pop Idol judge says the move is a cynical attempt to fix the charts. BMG stopped stocking stores with A Little Less Conversation last Friday. Dr Fox told The Sun: "Gareth would have got the No1 anyway but deleting the JXL track just to ensure it is very cynical. People are always saying the charts are not exciting because they are fixed. It is not true normally but in this particular case I would say there has been a fix."
- ADVISORY/AOL Music Offers the Worldwide Exclusive Debut -- Before TV Networks -- of Elvis Presley's Video for 'A Little Less Conversation'
SOURCE: America Online, Inc.
(Yahoo News / Business Wire, July 11, 2002)
The highly anticipated video remix of Elvis Presley's "A Little Less Conversation" will be available exclusively through AOL Music "First View" for 5 days - before it is seen anywhere else. "A Little Less Conversation" has been remixed by progressive DJ JXL and will appear as a bonus track to Elvis 30 #1 HITS, which will be released by RCA Records September 24. Starting Thursday, July 11 at 12:01 a.m., AOL Members can access an exclusive video premiere of "A Little Less Conversation." It will be available exclusively for 5 days. AOL Keyword: Elvis and AOL Music on the Web at Netscape Music (music.netscape.com), CompuServe and AIM Today. The "A Little Less Conversation" video will also be available across AOL's international services including AOL in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Brazil, Japan, Mexico, Argentina, Australia and Canada.
- Elvis Presley's 'A Little Less Conversation' Holds #1 Sales Spot For
Second Straight Week
(Yahoo News / PRNewswire, July 10, 2002)
Almost 25 years after his death, Elvis Presley -- recognized the world over as one of the most important figures in 20th century music and pop culture -- has not only regained the top of the charts, but has held the #1 spot on the SoundScan sales singles chart for the second straight week. Presley's "A Little Less Conversation," which has held the #1 chart spot in the U.K. for four straight weeks, reached #1 in sales in the U.S. in its first week of release and has remained at the top. The single also crushed its competition for the second consecutive week by significantly outselling the number two record. Due to overwhelming demand, the single has been added as a special bonus track to "ELV1S 30 #1 HITS," the definitive Presley collection being released by RCA Records on September 24th.
- A little less Elvis?
(DotMusic.com, July 10, 2002)
Record bosses have denied that Elvis's "A Little Less Conversation" is to be deleted to allow Garethh Gates to claim the UK Number One, dotmusic can exclusively reveal. Tablooid reports this morning suggest the JXL remix of the previoously little-known Elvis track was being deleted because record label BMG wanted Gareth Gates to score another Number One single with "Anyone of Us (Stupid Mistake)". ... An industry insider pointed out that ... Gareth sold 80,000 yesterday (July 8) so he's going to be number one by a massive margin. He sold more in a day than Elvis sold all last week ... The deletion is more a sign of the record company drawing a line ... and saying 'let's move on ...'
- Elvis sunk by record company
(itv.com, July 7, 2002)
Elvis Presley is topping the charts for the fourth week following the news of the single's deletion by its record company. Record bosses have decided to stop stocking stores with the remix of Elvis Presley's A Little Less Conversation - the single will only be available until remaining stocks sell out. It was reported BMG was deleting the single to make way for Gareth Gates' second single release Anyone Of Us (Stupid Mistake) - the record company has denied the accusation.
- Elvis retains top chart spot
(Ananova, July 7, 2002)
Elvis Presley stayed on top of the charts once more this week despite the single's deletion by the record company. Record bosses decided to stop stocking stores with the remix of Elvis Presley's A Little Less Conversation as from last Friday - the single will only be available until remaining stocks sell out. It was reported BMG was deleting the single to make way for Gareth Gates second single release Anyone Of Us (Stupid Mistake) - the record company has denied the accusation.
- Elvis still king of UK pop charts after 4 weeks
(Yahoo News / Reuters, July 7, 2002)
Almost 25 years after his death, the King still rules, racking up a fourth consecutive week at No. 1 on the U.K. pop charts. Dutch DJ JXL's dance remix of Elvis Presley's obscure 1968 "A Little Less Conversation" held firm to the top spot, buoyed by its use in a television ad campaign aired repeatedly during the soccer World Cup. The remix has been the longest running U.K. chart-topper since February when Latin crooner Enrique Iglesias reigned for four weeks with his single "Hero." In the U.S., "A Little Less Conversation" debuted at No. 1 on the latest singles sales charts, but at No. 50 on the overall Hot 100 charts, which are derived from both sales and radio airplay.
- Elvis and Oasis enjoy chart success
(BBC News, July 7, 2002)
Elvis Presley has notched up a fourth week at the top of the UK singles chart with a remixed version of his track A Little Less Conversation.
- JXL REMIX ON ELVIS LP
(Burn It Blue, July 5, 2002)
Dutch DJ Junkie XL's remix of Elvis Presley's 'A Little Less Conversation' has now had the ultimate blessing from the Presley estate as it's to feature on a new compilation album bringing together The King's 30 number one singles for the first time. The Presley estate waded through more than 100 mixes of the track before bestowing blessing upon the track we know so well thanks to Nike's ad campaign. If you need even more Elvis, there will be a 3 DVD set released in August. The track was originally a B-Side but has now pushed Elvis ahead of The Beatles for the most number one singles. It came to light through the soundtrack for Ocean's 11.
- In Brief: Elvis, Grateful Dead - Elvis hits Number One, Dead come alive and more
(Rolling Stone, July 4, 2002)
A remix of Elvis Presley's "A Little Less Conversation" by Dutch DJ JXL sold 26,000 copies last week, according to SoundScan, making it the best-selling single of the week. . .
Caption: 26,000 fans can't be wrong
- Nelly, Elvis Rule Charts
By David Jenison
(Yahoo News / Entertainment - E! Online Music, July 3, 2002)
This week's chart news in a nutshell: Nelly stopped the show, and Elvis is back in the building. After five weeks of The Eminem Show reruns, music fans put Nelly's Nellyville into the top spot. Fueled by its Neptunes-produced hit single " Hot in Herre," Nellyville closed the week ended Sunday by selling a monster 714,000 copies according to SoundScan numbers. That was more than double the 308,000 copies Em sold at number two. Meanwhile, over on the singles chart, there was a major Elvis sighting. Even though the 25th anniversary of his (alleged) death will be marked on August 16, the King ruled again as the remix of "A Little Less Conversation" by Dutch deejay JXL debuted at number one, selling more than seven times as many copies as Nelly's "Hot in Herre," which had been tops for three weeks. It's Elvis' first U.S. chart-topper in 30 years -- his last was 1972's "Burning Love."
- Historic Remix of Elvis Presley's 'A Little Less Conversation' Debuts
at #1 in The U.S.
Source: RCA Records
(Yahoo, July 3, 2002)
Almost 25 years after his death, Elvis Presley -- recognized the world over as one of the most important figures in 20th century music and pop culture -- has once again regained the top of the charts with the #1 Soundscan sales single. Presley's "A Little Less Conversation," which has held the #1 chart spot in the U.K for three straight weeks, has reached #1 in sales in the U.S. in its first week of release. The single crushed its competition, selling more than seven times the number two record. Now, due to overwhelming demand, the single will be added as a special bonus track to "ELV1S 30 #1 HITS," the definitive Presley collection being released by RCA Records on September 24th.
- Elvis is still the king with top-selling single
Edna Gundersen
(Yahoo / USA Today, July 3, 2002)
Amsterdam-based DJ Junkie XL's update of Elvis Presley's A Little Less Conversation is the nation's top-selling single after one week in stores, according to Presley's label, RCA.
- Elvis holds competitors at bay and proves he's still king on U.K. chart
(Yahoo, July 2, 2002)
- Elvis Presley might be gone, but his music lives on: The remixed single of Presley's "A Little Less Conversation" tops British pop chart for the third consecutive week this week.
- Elvis Rules
(Tiscali Musix, July 1, 2002)
Elvis Presley has retained the UK Number 1 position this evening, after the rejigged version of 'A Little Less Conversation' has made it a trio of weeks on the top spot. Scooter's 'The Logical Song' is the closest contender for the King's crown - but the enormity of the beat-tastic JXL remix's popularity proves just too great to be beaten.
- Elvis king of British charts for third week
(Yahoo News / Reuters, June 30, 2002)
Elvis Presley has notched up a third consecutive week as king of the British pop charts almost 25 years after his death.
- Elvis stays on top
(BBC, June 30, 2002)
Elvis Presley is spending a third week at number one in the UK singles chart with a remixed version of his track A Little Less Conversation. The track, remixed by Dutch DJ Junkie XL, is Presley's 18th UK number one and the first since Way Down, which hit the top shortly after his death in 1977.
- Elvis holds onto top slot
(Ananova, June 30, 2002)
Elvis Presley has notched up a third week at the top of the singles charts with A Little Less Conversation [in the UK]. The King's record 18th number one, remixed by Dutch DJ JXL, held off a challenge from The Logical Song, by German techno-pop group Scooter. Controversial rapper Eminem kept his number one spot in the album charts with The Eminem Show.
- Elvis' magic lives on at top of charts: No need for conversation: DJ hits pay dirt with re-mixed Presley song
By Robert Messenger
(Canberra Times, June 30, 2002, p. 18)
Shock! Horror! Elvis Presley is alive and well and has been sighted by tens of millions at the top of the Australian and British hit parades Well, not quite, though The King is back where he belongs, even if posthumously. And the unmistakeable voice sounds as good as it did 30 odd years ago, despite the intrusion of modern musical technology. ... dead or alive, he has never lost his magic. The latest [reissue] is, of course, A Little Less Conversation, released in Britain on June 10, Australia a week later and in the United States last Tuesday. ... It is as if Elvis has been born again, at least to a whole new generation of fans.
- Put Elvis on the radio
By MAXINE SHEN
(New York Post, June 27, 2002)
Elvis has a whole new sound, but will anyone hear it? Dutch musician Tom Holkenburg's (also known as "JXL") catchy dance remix of Elvis Presley's "A Little Less Conversation" grabbed the top of the charts in London - giving the singer his 18th No. 1 hit - but it got minimal air time here on its first day of release. The only place on the dial where "A Little Less Conversation" has been in heavy rotation is oldies station CBS 101.1 FM, where there's been an overwhelming demand for the song. Programmers at several FM stations say they're waiting to see how the single sells before adding it to their play lists.
- ELVIS PRESLEY: "A LITTLE LESS CONVERSATION"
By DAN AQUILANTE
(New York Post, June 26, 2002)
Dead men tell no tales - but if they are as revered as Elvis Presley, they can still kick butt 25 years after they're in the ground. Elvis' irresistible new single "A Little Less Conversation" - which hits stores and radio here today - will be the hit song of the summer. In the U.K., the remix of the little-known tune snagged the top-chart slot, giving Presley his 18th No. 1 hit there. The song - originally written by Mac Davis and Billy Strange for the 1968 film "Live a Little, Love a Little" - has undergone a transformation in the skilled hands of Dutch musician Tom Holkenburg. His new dance track additions make for a cutting-edge remix that dovetails perfectly, despite the time and style gap - and wisely leaves Presley's distinctive vocals totally intact. In the new single's three versions - two lengthy remixes and the original 1:38 minute format - Elvis swings through the fast-tempo number with his incredible baritone at full power.
- Oasis left crying by Elvis
By Chris Leadbeater
(Thisislondon.co.uk, June 24, 2002)
It may have become the unofficial anthem of England's World Cup demise on Friday morning, but heavy rotation of "Stop Crying Your Heart Out" on both BBC and ITV was not enough to get Oasis back to number one.
- Elvis holds on to top spot on British charts
(Bay Area / Reuters, June 23, 2002)
Bad boy rockers Oasis have failed to dethrone the King at the top of the British charts. The dance remix of Elvis Presley's "A Little Less Conversation" hung onto the No. 1 single spot despite the challenge from the Gallagher brothers, figures from the Official UK Charts Company showed Sunday.
- Elvis still rides high
(BBC News, June 23, 2002)
Remixed Elvis advert theme A Little Less Conversation has held onto the top of the singles chart, outselling Oasis's new release. Elvis's 18th number one held off competition from the Manchester band's Stop Crying Your Eyes Out in second as well as Christina Milian's When You Look At Me.
Elvis sang the hit in "Live a little, love a little"
- Elvis beats Oasis from beyond the grave
(NME.com, June 23, 2002)
Elvis Presley still the king! ELVIS PRESELY and the JXL remix of his track 'A LITTLE LESS CONVERSATION' stayed at the top of the UK singles chart
for the second week running tonight - beating off strong competition from
OASIS for the Number One spot.
- The King keeps his throne for another week
(Ananova, June 23, 2002)
Elvis Presley stays on top of the singles charts for the second week with A Little Less Conversation. Oasis were unable to knock the King off the number one spot with their new single Stop Crying Your Heart Out. Mis-teeq and Nelly also managed to get in to the top 10 with their new songs Roll on and Not in Herre. Kylie Minogue dropped to number 8 with Love at First Sight after just one week, while Sophie Ellis Bexter plummeted eight places to number 11.
- 'Elvis wooed me with hit song'
(Ananova, June 23, 2002)
An actress has told how she fell for Elvis Presley's charms when he wooed her with the song A Little Less Conversation. Celeste Yarnall co-starred with Elvis in the 1968 film Live A Little, Love A Little and was the woman to whom he sang the now-famous song. The 57-year-old says she is pleased the forgotten track has finally been given some recognition after it went to number one in the UK last week.
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