“Priscilla”: How Thomas Mars Made an Elvis Soundtrack Without Elvis Songs

Thomas Mars mastered the soundtrack for Sofia Coppola’s new film “Priscilla” despite not having the rights to Elvis songs.

Thomas Mars, lead singer of Phoenix, told in a recent interview how he managed to create a soundtrack for Sofia Coppola’s latest film “Priscilla” without music rights to Elvis songs.

In the new biopic about Priscilla Presley and Elvis, it was the years of collaboration between Thomas Mars, Phoenix and Sofia Coppola that made this possible: “Their many years of work and their deep mutual understanding enabled them to compose a soundtrack that combines classic Americana and indie music. Songs cleverly combined,” wrote the “GQ”.

Sofia Coppola and Priscilla Presley attend the red carpet for the film “Priscilla” at the 80th Venice International Film Festival on September 04, 2023 in Venice, Italy. (c): : Kristy Sparow / Getty Images
Cailee Spaeny, who plays Priscilla Presley, and Priscilla Presley herself. (c): Daniele Venturelli / Getty Images

The lack of music rights: This is how you can get around the problem

The lack of rights to Elvis songs could have meant the end of the music biopic. However, the film’s musical design now includes the integration of similarly great songs from different eras, including “Crimson and Clover” by Tommy James & the Shondells and Dan Deacon’s “Crystal Cat”.

The film’s closing song is “I Will Always Love You” by Dolly Parton. “Venus” by Frankie Avalon also appears in various versions in the film.

Here you will find content from YouTube

In order to interact with or display content from social networks, we need your consent.

More about “Priscilla”

“Priscilla” is a biopic by Sofia Coppola (release: November 3, 2023), in which Cailee Spaeny takes on the role of Priscilla Presley and Jacob Elordi takes on the role of Elvis Presley. The film’s screenplay was based on the 1985 biography Elvis and Me. In this, Priscilla Presley and Sandra Harmon wrote down their memories of their relationship with Elvis Presley.

Here you will find content from YouTube

In order to interact with or display content from social networks, we need your consent.

Kristy Sparow Getty Images

Daniele Venturelli WireImage

ttn-29